I.

Sir John Lucas and M. Newcomin a Minister, barbarously used by the Brownists and Anabaptists of Colchester: Sir Johns house plundered, his Mother, Lady, and Sister abused, and committed to the common Ga [...]le. The inhu­mane usage of Sir William Boteler in Kent, his house plundered, and his servants tortured, &c.

ON Monday Aug. 22. 1642. Sir John Lucas in­tended with some Horse and Armes, to begin his journy towards the North to wait upon the King; which purpose of his being on Satur­day by a treacherous servant discovered to Joh Langley of Colchester Grocer, and Captain of the Train Band; He, with Henry Barrington Brewer, and Alderman of the Town, spent the next day being Sunday, in riding to Cog­geshall, Bocking, Bayntree, Halsteed, & other Towns of their own Faction, to communicate to them the knowledge of it, and invite them with strong guards of muskets, to beset the wayes, & intercept him in his journey, & did also (by the assistance of the Major) set a guard of Colchester Train­band, [Page 2] on Sunday night about his house. Sir Ioh. Lucas in­tended to begin his journey carely by one or two a clocke on Monday morning, supposing he might so passe with most privacy and no opposition, but the backe gate at which he thought to issue out was no sooner opened, but a strong guard from under a hedge present themselves, and one of them discharg'd his musket as a Warning-piece to the Towne, where the Alarme is presently taken, the Drum strooke up and the whole Towne raysed, The Voluntiers (of which there were 400 or 500 then in Towne gathered to serve under the Earle of Essex and Lord Say) brought up the Beacon, by direction of Dan. Cole Alderman, fired, & [...]orsemen into all parts sent forth to call in the Coun­try against the Cavaliers in Sir Iohn Lucas house.

The house is presently beset with at least 2000 people, and two pieces of Ordnance are brought to make a Bat­tery; at last they rushed into the house, and the first man they seize upon is M. Newcomin, Parson of S. Trinitie Pa­rish in Colchester; they teare his clothes off his back, beat him with their Cudgels and Halberts, and with infinite ex­clamations, carry him in triumph through the chief streets of the Towne; by the way entring into a wild but very se­rious consideration, not whether he should dye (for that they had resolved at first) but to what death to put him; one votes drowning, another stoning, another bids beat out his braines. At length having consulted with Alder­man Cole, they carry him to the common Gaole, comman­ding the Gaoler to put him in the strong hold, (a place provided for the most desperate Malefactors) affirming they would soone returne to take further order with him. There he remained till one a clock, being then removed to another chamber. They now return to their fellows who were searching Sir Iohn Lucas's house, some twentie of them rusht into the Ladies Chamber, laid hands upon her, set a sword to her breast, requiring her to tell where the Armes and Cavaliers were. The Horse and Arms are soon found [Page 3] and seized on by the Major, who sends the Armes to the Towne-hall, the Horse to an lane to be there kept on Sir Iohn Lucas's cost, till they could be sent to the Parlia­ment. The people lay hands on Sir Iohn Lucas his Lady and Sister, & carry them attended with Swords, Guns, & Halberts to the common Gaole. Last of all, they bring forth his Mother with the like or greater insolency, who being saint and breathlesse, hardly obtained leave to rest her selfe in a Shop by the way; yet this leave was no soo­ner obtained, but the rest of that rude rabble threatened to pull down the house, unlesse they thrust her out, being by this meanes forced to depart from thence. A Countryman (whom the Alarme had summoned to this worke) espyes her, and pres [...]ing with his Horse through the crowd, struck at her head with his Sword so heartily, that if an Halbert had not crossed the blow, both her sorrowes & her journey had there found an end. Two Gentlewomen(one of which had long been sick) by flight escaped their fury, but their most wel-wishing neighbours dared not to be knowne to receive them into their house, the people threatning to burne that house that gave them entertainment. Having secured the Master, they now begin to Plunder the house, all is prize that comes to hand, [...]oney, Plate, Jewels, Lin­nen, Woollen, Brasse, Pewter, &c. A few houres dis-robe the house of that rich furniture that had adorned it many years. The Major & Aldermen standing by all this while, but either not able or not willing to conjure downe the devil which themselves had raised up. All the servants they could meet with they bring to prison, they laid hands on I. Brown(one who had bin a servant to the family from the time of Sir Iohn Lucas's Grandfather) they bind him to a tree, set a Musket to his breast, & a sword to his throat, and tye lighted matches between his fingers, and Io. Furley (a yong pragmaticall boy) examins him concerning his Ma­sters Intentions, Horses, Money, &c, but especially concer­ning M. Newcomin, whether he had not given an Oath of secrecy: [Page 4] Whether he were not to ride a great Horse? whe­ther he were not habited in a Buffe jerkin & velvet coat? &c. Feare easily prompts the old man to answer what he thought would give content. Out of his Examination the Major frams an Information against Sir John & M New­comin, not forgetting to relate the good service he had done, the Horse and Armes he had taken, but withall im­plying, how miserably the house was plundered by the zealous people, adding in his Letters (& that very true­ly) That he could doe no more then a child among them, with these Letters he presently dispatcheth a Post to the House of Commons.

About one a clocke a new Alarm is raised, that 200 ar­med Horsemen are discovered in a vault at Sir J. Lucas's, That they had killed nine men already, and were issuing forth to destroy the Towne. The shops are shut up in an instant, and the multitude throng downe thither to take or kill these Cavaliers. And because they find none there, they now spend their rage upon the house, they batter down the doores & wals, beat down the windows, teare his Evidences, deface his Walks and Gardens, doe any thing that may doe mischiefe. From thence they go to his Park, pull down his Pales, kill his Deere, drive away his Cat­tell. And to shew that their rage will know no bounds, & that nothing is so sacred or venerable which they dare not to violate, they breake into Saint Giles his Church, o­pen the Vault where his Ancestours were buried, and with Pistols, Swords, and Halberts, transfixe the Coffins of the dead.

And now the Majors care begins to shew it selfe, he sets a Guard upon the house that no hurt should be done un­to it, yet that Guard suffered 100 l. worth of corn, (which at first was neglected as contemptible luggage) to be car­ried out, and the most of it to their owne houses. Another guard he sets upon the Prison, left the Prisoners should be assaulted by the people who were so much incensed against them, [Page 5] though it had bin sit to set some honest men to guard them from those guardians, who were as forward as the people to drinke their blood.

On Thursday comes down Sir Thomas Barrington and M. Grimston, as a Committee from the House, who com­ming into the market place before the Prison-doore (the Town-Hall not able to receive the least part of the mul­titude) there published two Orders from the House, one wherein Sir John Lucas and his adherents were proclaim­ed guilty of high Treason for intending to assist the King. Another, wherein thankes were given the people for the good service they had done, yet they were told withall, that their act of Plundering was against the sense of the House. Some of the agents in that work, produced a Prin­ted Order of Parliament (not heard of before among ho­nest men) by which they justified what they had done; Sir Thomas Barrington replyed that it was a false and faigned Order, contrived by the malignant party to render the House odious, and very lovingly besought the people to do so no more. And indeed the next weeks Diurnall tels us, that upon occasion of the outragious plundering in Essex, It was Ordered that thence forward none should Plun­der but those that were authorized by the House to doe it.

Friday was designed for the carrying up of the Traytors (Sir. Iohn Lucas and Newcomin) for whom there was one Messenger come from the Black-Rodde, and ano­ther from the Serjeant at Armes, (for the Ladies were declared no prisoners after they had lyen in the common Gaole foure dayes.) When the time of their departure was come, many thousands of people were gathered toge­ther (both of Towne and Countrey) a Drumme being struck up to give them warning. The Coaches are come, and the Prisoners called forth; onely M. Newcomin they dared not carry forth as yet, because the people threatened to teare him in pieces; as assuredly they had done, had not [Page 6] M. Grimston's care beene very great, who placing a Court of Guard on each side of Sir Thomas Barringtons Coach from the prison doore, brought him forth unexpe­ctedly and put him into the Coach, the people then not daring to strike or stone him, least mischiefe intended him should light on Sir Thomas Barrington.

The Coach being guarded thus a mile out of Towne, they passed on, suffering no other strokes but those of the tongue (bitter Curses and revilings) and those they met withall abundantly, at Chelmesford, Ronford, and in all the Townes whither the newes of their Treason had gone before them, Sir Iohn Lucas's captive Horses being car­ryed in triumph with the Coach all the way; at London Sir Thomas Barrington sent the Horses to the Red Lyon, the Prisoners to the Serjeant at Armes, where they remained all Sunday, not permitted to goe to Church with their Keeper: on Monday they were sent for to the House, and committed Sir Iohn Lucas to the Gate-house, M. Newco­min to the Fleet. Immediately issued out a Declaration of both Houses to the whole Kingdome, but especially to the Countie of Essex, ordered to be read in all Churches and Chappels; wherein for the better encouragement of good people (so runne the words) it is told them that Sir Iohn Lucas's Horse and Armes are imployed for the service of His Excellency, that Sir Iohn, and M. Newcomin are com­mitted to severall Prisons, and shall speedily be brought to their tryall, to receive condigne punishment according to their demerits.

Sir Iohn Lucas was afterward enlarged, giving 40000 l. bayle to appear upon summons, and not to depart London and the Suburbs without leave. M Newcomin remained in the Fleet from Aug. 29. to Sept. 24. being never called for, and at length discharged.

Sir William Boteler of Kent, returning about the begin­ning of April 16 [...]2, from his attendance, (being then Gon| [Page 7] Genleman Pentioner) on the King at York, then celebra­ting Saint Georges feast, was by the earnest solicitation of the Gentry of Kent, ingaged to joyne with them in pre­senting the most honest and famous Petition of theirs to the House of Commons, delivered by Captaine Richard Lovelace, for which service, the Captaine was committed Prisoner to the Gate-house, and Sir William Boteler to the Fleet, from whence after seven weeks close imprison­ment, no Impeachment in all that time brought in against him, many Petitions being delivered and read in the House for his inlargement, he was at last upon bayle of 20000 l. remitted to his House in London, to attend de die in diem, the pleasure of the House. And having thus dan­ced attendance six weekes more, at last he obtained leave for his healths sake to go to his own house in Kent, called Barrhams Place in Teston, and from thence, for recovery of his health much impaired by long Imprisonment, he visited the Wells neare Tunbridge, leaving with his ser­vants both in London & in the Country a strict charge as of his house, so to give him speedy information, if Serjeant Hunt should summon him to make his appearance: while Sir William Boteler remained thus a Prisoner to the House, resolving to yeeld obedience according to the condition of his bond, 500 Horse & Dragoones under the command of Colonel Edwine Sandes, Sir Iohn Seaton, and Dow­glas, accompanied by severall Gentlemen his Neigh­bours; as Sir William Brookes, Sir Michael Lucy. M. Ri­chard Lea Burgesse for Rochester, M. Blunt, and others, on the 24. of August, between eight and nine of the clock at night, beset his house: The servants were within and the doores shut, onely William Nelson, Sir William's Groom comming from the Stables pressed through the middest of them to the Hall doore, where Sandes and Seaton stood: They demand of him whether he belonged to Sir William? who answering that he did, Thou Rogue, sayes Sandes, open the doore; the poore Groome tryed, but could not, but [Page 8] assured them that there should bee no resistance made: and withall told them, that his Master was at the Wells, but had lest order to give them the best wel­come the house could afford, and upon notice given would be ready (if they had such Order) to render him­selfe up to the House of Commons, whose Prisoner hee acknowledged himselfe to be: and withall offered that if they would have patience but while hee went to the back doore, the House should open unto them. This so reasonable an answer could not satisfie unreasonable men, who it seemes were resolved to force the doore, rather then have it opened, to give a peaceable admittance: There­fore they revile the Groome, call him Rogue, and threaten to kill him, not because he would not, but be­cause he could not give them entrance. And to make good their threats, Sandes and Seaton commanded some of their Rout to hold him up against his Masters Hall doore, and bade some twelve or more Dragooners to give fire on him, which was done accordingly: on the word given, they that held him withdrew, not trusting to the undistinguishing bullet, and presently the Groome fell downe, by which meanes hee escaped the fury of the shot, which tooke effect onely on the doore, and beat it downe. The entrance that was offered, thus forced, the house is instantly filled by the Commanders, the Gen­tlemen, their abettors, and the Souldiers. The first man they meet with is Ben. wiand, Sir Williams Steward, who being demanded by Sandes where his Master was, re­turned answer, the same in effect which before they re­ceived from the Groome: Sandes was as courteous to the Steward as the Groome, calls him Rogue, and tells him that he would have his Master alive or dead, commands him to bring him to the Chamber where Sir William did lodge, their drawne Sword and Mus­quets bent upon him extort obedience. Being brought into the Bed-chamber, Sandes demands whether there were [Page 9] no private Out-let or Closet? to lay all naked be­fore him, the Steward solds backe the Hangings, by which meanes the Colonel discovers a close-stole, which at worst could not be so loathsome, as hee was before hee dyed: This sight inraged him, not onely to revile the Steward, calling him Rogue, but cruelly to beat him with his Pole-axe; and having thus prepared him, he com­mands him upon no lesse paine then the losse of his life, to reveale his Masters Plate and Money; and to inforce the discovery from him, with drawne Swords they prick him, and force him from one roome to another. At last being come to the Dining Chamber, Colonel Sandes cau­ses a dozen of Candles to be lighted, and so to be held to and under the Stewards hands, and lighted Match to be applyed betweene his fingers, for the space of a quarter of an houre, Sandes himselfe all the while looking on, com­manded both Candle and Match to be renewed, as often as either went out, or burnt dull. In this Torment they continued the poore soule, untill both his hands were shamefully burnt, not being able to relieve himselfe by that discovery for which they tortured him. Nor was their barbarous cruelty thus practised on the Steward on­ly, from him they descend to the rest of the servants, whom they prick with their swords, beat with their Pole­axes to the indangering their lives, and all this to extort a Confession where their Masters Money and Plate were: but when this inhumanitie produced not the effect they looked for, they broke up every doore, plundred every Trunk and Chest, and examined every darke place from the Closet and Cabinet to the Powdring-Tub and Oven. Nay, the Cellar escaped not their fury; What they could not drinke, either Wine or Beere, they let out and poured upon the ground. In this search they found and carryed away five hundred pounds in money, and some store of Armes. And because the great adventures of vali­ant Knights must not bee forgotten, To the Eternall same [Page 10] of Sir Will. Brookes we are to tell you, that when the Ladies Closet was broken open, besides the charitable provision of Medicinall [...]yrupes and Salves for the poore and the needy neighbours, all which were trampled under foot and spoiled. There were some hospitable provisions for Entertainments, as divers sorts of Preserves and other sweet-meats, and in these this doughty Knight had his fin­ger as deep as any, except a common souldier, who seeing him feed greedily on a Gally-pot, and presuming his judgement to be good in the choice, (for the Proverbe is true which end soever you put foremost, A liquo [...]ish layle hath a liquorish tooth) rudely thust his whole fist all be­grimed and besmeared in bloud and powder, into the pot with him: which as it turned his Worships stomack for the time, so it may serve as a sure Prognosticke, That it these distractions goe on, where the Gentleman hath his finger, the Clown will be sure to have his fist. But to leave him to his sweet-meats, which perchance may have a sowre sawce, and returne to the Colonell and his plundring Regiment. Being Masters of the House, they plundered and pillaged not onely Sir William Boteler, but all his servants, men and maids, not only their chests, but their very pockets. Newes of this being brought to Sir William Boteler the next morning early by three of the clock, and finding by their threats, that his life was in danger, he resolved to flye for protection to the King at Nottingham: In his way thither at Pinkeny M [...]wlton in Northampton-shire, he was seized on by the Countrey people, and by about 150 Horse conveyed first to Northampton, and from thence to London. About the beginning of September he was brought before the House of Commons, and there in a full House was ex­amined twice; to whom he gave a full and cleare satisfacti­on in every particular. And being unimpeached, the whole House being utterly unable to accuse him of any the least kind of offence or Delinquencie, Sir William Boteler did th [...]n and there in the publique House make his complaint of [Page 11] this intollerable oppression and injustice, charging by name before the House, Colonel Edwine Sandes, Sir Iohn Staton, Sir Michael Livysey, M. Richard Lea, who then was present fitting in the house, and Sir William Brookes with Felony and Burglary, for breaking up his house in the night, and stealing and carrying away his Money and Goods: and implored the justice of the House against them. And now behold their great zeale of Justice, their care of the Subjects Propertie, and the freedome of their persons from illegall imprisonment, in stead of hark­ning to his just complaint, and relieving him in his losses, to keepe Magna Charta inviolable, they Remand Sir William Boteler againe Prisoner to the Gate-house, where he remained for six months longer: at last being certainly informed, that it was really intended if not ordered by the House to send him to I [...]switch, he indeavoured and effected an escape from the Gate-house, and got safe to Oxford, where he attested all these particulars.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. II.

Sir Hen. Audley's house plundered: Varietie of insolencies committed by the Rabble of Essex, upon M. Laud, M. Ho­nifold, M. Stevens, and M. Simmons, Ministers. The Countesse of Rivers is plundered to the value of 100000 pounds, &c.

THe last weekes Mercurius told you of the Plundring of Sir Iobn Lucas his house in Essex, and the barba­rous insolencies practiced on him and his. The Tu­mult thus raysed, and made confident by successe, they go on in [...]riumph, and like a violent Torrent swelling above [Page 12] its Channell, carry all before them, and fearing no oppo­sition, they divide themselves into several companies, eve­ry place where they come [...]asts of their fury & madnesse: Some goe to Sir Henry Audlyes at Beere-Church, whose house they Plundered of its furniture, and his Grounds and Pastures of his Cattle.

Others goe to M Erasmus Land a poore Minister of Little Try, whose very name with these men was a Crime and reason enough to expose him to their rage: guilty he was of nothing but a good & honest name, yet they spoyle him of his goods, drive away his Cattle, robbe him of 20 li. in Monies, his owne and his Wives Clothes, all except those upon their backs: M. Land knowing diverse of them, and knowing them to be Colchester men, repaired thither to the Major for Justice, and by chance found him wel circumstanced for an action of that nature, both in re­spect of place and company, for he found him at the Moote-hall, and the Aldermen his Brethren with him: Being come thither, he was so farre from finding what he sought for, Justice, that he was not permitted to make his complaint, M. Cole one of the Aldermen, telling him open­ly, that they knew him and his Cause, he was the Minister of Try that was Plundred the day before, but they had o­ther businesse in hand and he must be gone, for they could not heare him.

Others of them went to M. Honifold a Batchelor in Di­vinit [...]e, and near 70 yeares of age dwelling in Colchester, there they rifle his house of all its furniture, take away his Bonds, Bills, and Evidences, leave not a shelfe behind them, nor a pin to hang a hat on. The good old man, thinking that spoyle and Robbery had been as punishable now as when he was a young man, & not knowing that the pretending defenders of the Law had banished all Law out of the Kingdom, went to crave the Majors assistance, to restore his goods and punish the offenders. Alderman Cole the Fulk of Colchester being present, told him, That [Page 13] he wondred he would offer to come abroad being a man so much hated, and so rated him away. In his returne, a multitude of boyes & rude people throng about him, and prosecute him throngh the streets with exclamations and out-cryes: nor do they stay here, their hands second their tongues, throwing stones and dirt at him. So little did either the hoary head and venerable old age, or the Pri­viledge of his sacred function afford him protection from the inraged multitude: Many see him, some pitty him, but none dare owne him or take him into protection, least they should divert this swelling tide of popular fury from the good old man, and draw it on themselves; at last bow­els of compassion yearn on him, a kinsman of his embold­ned, what by the urgency of Nature, and the constraint of Charitie, opens his doores to afford him shelter from this storm, but all in vain; like so many Beares robbed of their Whelps, they double their rage, the multitude threa­ten to pull down the house unlesse the prey be delivered up unto them: the good old man seeing the inexorablenes of his prosecutors, to make a full return of the kindnesse which he found, resolves rather to expose his owne person as the subject of his fury, then his kinsmans house: and so he did, for out he goes unto them; and now having retrived the game, they pursue him with a high advan­ced dinne and confused clamour: At last, when all other meanes to escape their fury failed, he made a voluntary captivitie his safetie, and took the Common Gaole for his Sanctuary.

Having thus throwne Master Honifold into prison, not so much the ignominy of the place where they had lodged him, or sacietie of contempt of Gods Minister which they had cast upon him, as the want of more day light, sets an end to this dayes frenzie. They part for the present, but resolve to meet next morning; and so they doe, a day or two are too scantie to act their boundlesse malice. Being met, their next plundering expedition is to the Countesle [Page 14] of Rivers house at S. Osyth, a rich prize: there they en­ter the house, and being entred, they pull downe, cut in peeces, & carry away her costly Hangings, Beds, Couches, Chaires, and the whole furniture of her house, rob her of her Plate and Monies: They teare downe her Wainscote, Leads, and Windowes, they leave not a doore, nor so much as a barre of a window behind them, The Countesse with her family, forewarned of their intentions to come thither, made an escape, and retired to her house at Melford in Suf­folke: thither within a day or two they pursue her, Essex is too narrow to bound the madnesse of the Essex Schisma­ticks; in Suffolke they meet with some that are as mad as themselves: Few Counties (the more is the pitty) but can y [...]eld companions in such outrages. From thence she hard­ly escapes with her life, she abandons her house, and leaves it to the mercy of these new Ministers of new justice, who not onely rifle the house, but make strict search for her person. And that you may ghesle what spirituall men they were, and likewise in what danger this honourable Person was in, they expresse themselves in this rude unchristian language, That if They found her they would try what flesh she had. From whence she fled to S. Edmunds Bury, where the Gates were shut against her an hour at least at length she was suffered to lodge there that night, and next day with a strong guard she was conveyed out of Town, and so keeping her selfe as private as she could, made an escape to London. Her losses at both her houses were valued at an hundred thousand pounds at least, though some that knew the rich furniture that adorned both, affirme it to be no lesse then an hundred & fifty thousand pounds, besides her Parks in both places were utterly spoiled. One of these Plunderers whose name was Bawyer, was apprehended in London selling some of these goods in the very act, and for this committed to Newgate as a Felon, two of the Coun­tesse's servants entring into Recognizance to give in evi­dence against him for the King, but upon his Petition to [Page 15] the House of Commons it was ordered he should be dis­charged without paying any fees, which was done accord­ingly; and 'twas but an oversight that his prosecutors had not been laid in his place, and publique thanks decreed him for his zeale to the Cause.

M. Stevens Parson of South-Hamfield in Essex, hearing that the Plunderers of that County were comming on him, tooke horse and fled, and so saved both himselfe and his horse, for he knew that both were sought after. The father being fled, the children left to their owne providence, be­think how to secure those little peeces of Plate which each had received from the bounty of their Godfathers and Godmothers; neither time nor acquaintance could give them latitude of much choice where to hide it; and think­ing any place safer then their owne house, they run to a poote woman their neighbour, and there with her they de­posite their whole Treasure. When the Plunderers came and sound that the birds were flowne, having intelligence, or as some say, but suspecting that the poor womans house might hide M. Stevens his goods, they go to her house and demand them: The woman denyes that she hath any of M. Stevens his goods: hereupon one of the Plunderers strikes her on the head with a Club with such violence, that her brains came out at her nostrils. The poore woman being thus murthered, the bloudy Murtherers insult over her, and say, that the just hand of God was upon her, for lying against her knowledge, and denying those parcels of M. Stevens his goods that were in her possession:so usu­all a thing it is with these men to blaspheme God, and in­title him to all those wickednesses which they commit on others.

M. Edward Symmons Parson of Rayne in Essex, in the Months of June and July 1642. Preached against the sin of Rebellion and Disobedience, and against traducing the King, slandering the footsteps of Gods Anoyn [...]ed, and refu­sed to promote the Civill Warre (then begun) by stirring [Page 16] up the people to contribute Money, Plate, and Horses, the maintenance of so unnaturall, so destructive a divisi­on as most of the Ministers of those parts did. This as it was more remarkable in him, so it was more hainously ta­ken from him, in regard of his former intimate acquain­tance with M. Stephen Marshall Parson of Pinching field in Essex, the great incendiary of this unhappy war, and had given him the right hand of Fellowship: Hereupon he was sent for to the House of Commons by a Pursevant, and was told, That he being an honest man (but of a different judgement from the Sence and Vote of the House) did more prejudice to the good Cause in hand, then a hundred Knaves, and therefore would suffer accordingly: which saying since that time, hath beene plentifully made good, and verified in many particular oppressions & sufferings, unjustly inflicted on him and his whole family.

First, he was imprisoned and most illegally deprived of his libertie, for no other cause, but because he would not, contrary to the dictate of Religion, and his owne consci­ence, countenance and promote an accursed Rebellion a­gainst his gracious Soveraigne.

Secondly, he was referi'd after to the Committee for scandalous Ministers, thereby to blast his Credit and Re­putation in his Ministery: a most diabolicall and divelish Course, and a work of him who is the accuser of the Bre­thr [...]n, to defame honest Orthodox Ministers with the odi­ous name of Scandalous and Malignants, though made so neither by error in doctrine, wickednesse of life, or de­bauchnes of conversation, but by the malignity of a Vote, knowing, that by this means, such Ministers doctrines and Testimonies will be of little or no credit afterward with the vulgar: for had it been Scandal in a true and proper sense, which they indeavoured to take away out of the Church, they would never have brought over his head, so scandalous, so infamous a man to be Lecturer in his Cure as they did: for to the wounding of M. Simmons his soule, [Page 17] and the indangering the soules of his Parishioners, one Le­muel Tuke is appointed Lecturer in Master Simmons his Church, a man by education a Weaver, and that had not so much as saluted either University, yet while men slept he intruded into a Cure of Soules in Nottinghamshire, from which ever since the Parliament began he hath been a Non­resident: for not long after the sitting of this Parliament, his Parishioners framed a Bill against him to the Lower House, Articling against him, not onely as negligent, but insufficient in his calling: Nay they accuse him of no lesse then Barrettry and Battery, Drunkennesse and whoredome, and some such other sinnes, which in the judgement of all honest men, make a man truly and properly scandalous: yet this man thus Articled against to the House of Com­mons as Scandalous, is thought worthy to be substituted as a Coadjutor in M. Simmons his Cure, who onely was voted Scandalous because not Rebellious: so that all the world may judge what it is to be Scandalous in this new sense, To honour the King, and to live in obedience to the establish­ed orders of the Church.

Thirdly, having preached that it was unlawfull to take up Armes against the King, and contrary to the doctrine of the Scriptures to contribute to a Warre against Him, in opposition to Lemuel Tuke, who laboured to payson his People with Sedition and Rebellion, affirming openly, that in some Cases it was lawfull not onely to Resist, but (which I tremble to relate) to kill the king; instancing in the example of Athaliah, 2 King. II. yet the said Tuke is countenanced and encouraged, whereas Master Simmons for asserting the Truth, was summoned before the Com­mittee, there to answer as a Delinquent: who was so f [...]rre from a Retractation, that he justified the doctrine: which he did so fully, that one of the Committee was convicted of it, yet as he himselfe did, so he would have Master Simmons to withhold that Truth in unrighteousnesse; for Sir Thomas Barrington (who was the man) confessed [Page 18] that it was a Truth and a Divine Truth, yet not fit to be preached at all times, no not by those that were intrusted with it by God himselfe, no though it might be in some danger of Impeachment. At last being charged to preach no more such doctrine, and putting in bayle, by the Com­mittee he is permitted to returne to his charge. But behold what it is to be voted a delinquent, or a Scandalous Mini­ster by the Committee; it is to be put out of the prote­ction of the Law, and exposed to the fury of the people: for on his returne Oath is made before a Justice of Peace, that at Halstead in Essex it was concluded that an hun­dred men from Cogshall and Colchester side (some of that Crew that plundered Sir John Lucas his house) should suddenly surprize M. Simmons in his house, Plunder his goods, and cut off his person as one not fit to live, because he was (as they said) against the Parliament: But by the good providence of God this conspiracy was discovered and prevented.

Fourthly, they oppressed him in his State, for after his Returne home, seeing the necessity of opposing that in­undation of wickednesse which was overflowing his Charge, and pressed earnestly in conscience according to his duty and place, to labour to undermine tha [...] throne of Sa­tan which by the Luxation of the nerves and sinews of Government was like to be set up both there and in all parts of the Kingdome, he bent himselfe in his Sermon chiefly against the prevailing sinnes of the time, as Lying and Slandering, Rebellion and Treason, Pride and Op­prestion, Malice and Cruelty: yet these Sermons by his malicious enemies were interpreted little better then Libells against the Parliament: and upon Information given he was sent for up, three or foure times, to the Lower House, to his very great charge and trouble, though when he came to London he was never called to answer to the Accusation. And because he refused to contri­bute voluntarily to the maintenance of the Rebellion, his [Page 19] malicious Neighbours resolved to extort it from him in a seeming legall way: for in the rates made for the Royall Subsidy, they raised him farre beyond his just proportion, and therefore in the first rate, they seized him twice as much, and in the second almost thrice as much as themselves; and contrived their businesse so cunningly, that they caused him to be font for up to the Parliment while these things were in doing, and returned rates in to the Exchequer in his absence, that so he might not have the opportunity, by complaint of a just greivance, to releive himselfe.

Lastly, having by most unjust v [...]xations exhausted his Estate and drayned his purse: without hearing his defence indeed without further summoning him to appeare, they sequester his Parsonage and Glebe, and Tyt [...]e, and put one Robert Atkins a stranger into Cure; and as they put his Livelyhood into a strangers hands, so they put his life into the power of his enemies, who are authorized to apprehend him, and carry him Prisoner to Cambridge: but upon In­timation given, he withdrew himselfe, and leaving all to the mercy of his Enemies, was forced by flight to socur [...] his Person.

And here by the way give me leave to observe one thing to the Courteous Reader, and it is the Reason which was alleadged in the sequestration of M. Simmons his Parson­age, and indeed is generally used in all these sequestrations, and it is, For the better supply of an able and godly man in the said Church: I would they go [...]ll tell us where we should find these two Epithites Able and Godly to meete in any one of those which they have Substituted in the Re­venues and Imployments of those Orthodox Divines, which they have banished from their Cures and families: doe but survey the new Plantations which they have made, and you will think that Ieroboams Priests were risen againe from the dead, the lowest and basest of the people: for while honest, learned, and conscientious men could not suffer themselves to be made the base instruments to corrupt [Page 20] and seduce the Ignorant multitudes to comply with the treasonable practices of the heads of this Rebellion, it was necessary to seeke out and invite such of the Clergy into their Party whom either want of merite, or want of honesty, had left destitute of meanes, and wh [...]n Orthodox men are displaced or driven away, and such Trencher Chaplaines put in their places, we may easily guesse what worke is in hand, even the alteration of the Government; for while they are so earnest both to Preach and Print that other formes of Government are Gods ordinance as well as Mo­narchy, they will in time goe on to undervalue Monarchy in comparison of the rest: but to leave my diversion and to returne to M. Simmons.

His living sequestrated, and his person exposed to the licence of his veryest enemies, but he withdrawing himselfe from this storme, and being out of their reach, they wreck their malice on his poor Wife and Children, and his aged Father: They threaten to beat downe the house about their cares, unlesse they would yeeld possession to M. Atkins: his father for cutting downe three trees on the Glebe for necessary uses, and an honest Parishioner for loving M. Simmons and plowing his Land, were most ma­liciously handled, and sent for up before the Committee in the Exchequer Chamber: and when after all these threats and oppressions they still keep possession of the Parsonage house, having no place else wherein to put their heads, at last May the 15. Watt Tyler, I mean Watt Long, whom some call Colonell Long, came with some Troopes of Horse, and cast his whole family out of doores, his aged Father, his Wife and three Children, the eldest but seven years old, and his servants: and so gave possession of the house to M. Atkins.

He that desires to be better satisfied concerning this faithfull Minister of God, and what raised this persecution against him, let him have recourse to that Learned and Orthodox Book of his lately published, called, A Loyall [Page 21] Subjects Beliefe, worthy every mans reading, wherein he shall see a solid and satisfactory Answer to all those Argu­ments divulged by way of a Letter by Stephen Ma [...]shall the great Patri [...]rch of Rebellion, whereby he indeavours to maintaine the Lawfulnesse of this present Warre against the King: In which Letter you may see the true character of a Cauterized Schismatique, for as if he were afraid the World should not think him sealed up to a reprobate sense, and past all grace of Repentance, he tells us that as soon as he hath recovered his health (much impaired by a hot eager prosequution of this Rebellion) he intends to re­turne (with the Dogge to his vomit) to sacrifice his strength to the service of the Cause and his Excellency, in all which, while he labours to free himself from the imputation of Madnesse, and apologizeth against a pre­vailing report, that the horrour of his guilt had distracted him, he proves himselfe to be madder then ever the World took him.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. III.

The great increase of Brownists and Anabaptists at Chelms­ford of late yeeres. Their abuse of the Church, and Doctor Michelson Parson there. Their Te [...]ets in matters of Religion. Master Cornelius a Minister plundered, &c.

ESSEX is a deep Country, and though we have travelled almost two weeks in it, yet wee cannot get out: we are now at Chelmesford, which is the Shire-towne, and hath in it two thousand Communi­cans; all these are Parishioners of one and the same Church, [Page 22] for there is but one Church in this great Towne, whereof at this time Doctor Michelson is Parson, an able and godly man. Before this P [...]rliament was called, of this numerous Congregation there was not one to be named Man or Woman, that boggl [...]d at the Common-prayers, or refused to receive the Sacrament kneeling, the posture which the Church of England (walking in the foot-steps of venerable Antiquity) hath by Act of Parliam [...]nt injoy­ned all those which account it their happinesse to be called her children. But since this magnified Reformation was set on foot, this Towne (as indeed most Corporations, as we finde by experience, are Nurceries of Faction and Re­bellion) is so filled with Sectaries, especially Brownists and Anabaptists, that a third part of the people refuse to communicate in the Church-Lyturgie, and halfe refuse to receive the blessed Sacrament, unlesse they may receive it in what posture they please to take it. They have a­mongst them two sorts of Anabaptists; the one they call the Old men or Aspersi, because they were but sprink­led: the other they call the New men, or the Immersi, because they were overwhelmed in their Rebaptiza­tion.

In August 1641. there was an Order published by the House of Commons (indeed by some leaders in a Com­mittee) for the taking away all Scandalous Pictures out of Churches, in which there was more intended by the Authors then at first their instruments understood, untill instructed by private information how farre the People were to inlarge the meaning. When this Order came forth, there was standing in the Chancell a goodly faire Window at the East end, untouched from the first foun­dation of the Church, in which was painted the History of Christ from his Conception to his Ascension: and to perpetuate the memory of the Benefactors, in the vac [...]nt places there were the Eschochions and Armes of the anci­ent Nobility and Gentry, who had contributed to the building [Page 23] building and beautifying that faire structure. In obedi­ence to the Order the Church-wardens tooke downe the pictures of the blessed Virgin, and of Christ on the Crosse, and supplyed the places with white glasse. But the Sectaries who understood the sense of that Order better then the Church-wardens, did rest very ill satis­fyed with this partiall imperfect Reformation: That therefore they might, according to the phrase of the times, make a Thorough Reformation, on the Fist of November in the Evening, all the Sectaries as­semble together, and in a Riotous manner with long Poles and stones beat downe and deface the whole Win­dow.

This excrcise of an usurped power in the People with­out the Lawfull Magistrate, like that which Andreas Co­rolostadius put in practice in the Reformation under Lu­ther, and was sharply condemned by him: and ind [...]ed gave the unhappy occasion to that Schism [...] which is hard­ly made up at this day: st [...]rred the spirit of the Doctor to inveigh, the next Lords day, against Popular tumul­tuous Reformations, though to the [...]etter: as being viti­ated, First, by the defect of lawfull Authority, which cannot reside in the people: Secondly, in the intempe­ [...]ancy of the prosecution, who commonly cast out one De­vill by another: abolishing Superstition with S.dition. This so incensed the Sectaries thus to be opposed in their furious zeale, that they threatned the Doctor to ruine him if he preached any more on that subject: and to let him see how welcome such doctrine was unto them, there was a Carbine discharged at a window of that roome where the Doctors usuall abode was, the Bullet passed through the place, and in all probability had slain him, had not the good Providence of God (without which a Sparrow falls not to the ground) diverted him unexpe­ctedly from a businesse before knowne to be appointed for that place and houre. This designe frustrated, about a [Page 24] fortnight after one of these new Proselytes a young Clothier with others poss [...]ssed with the same frenzy came into the Church immediatly after divine Service was end­ed, layd violent hands upon the Doctor, took him by the Throat, and would have torne his Surplesse off his back, and were so inraged, that had not some of his ho­nest peaceable Parishioners come to his rescue, they had in all probability indangered his life: but whom they could not wound with their hands, they cut with their tongues, as with a sharpe razor: they revile him and call hin Baals Priest, and Popish Priest for wearing the Rags of Rome, my they cry out against him as a Perjured Person that had violated his faith ingaged in the Protesta­tion, to abolish Popery, of which (in their opinion) wearing the Surplesse was a part. Many attempts they made upon the Doctor and his Curate, affronting them, both in officiating Divine service, and administration of the Sacraments; but they being countenanced by a con­siderable part in the Towne, the Sectaries could not effect what they desired, untill at last in the Months of Iune, July, and August, 1642. they were animated by the com­ming of the Forces raised in Essex, Suffolke and Norflok: for as they raised each Company it was sent to Chelmesford the common Rendevouz, and there stayed untill they were made up three hundred or foure hundred, and so sent to London. In all the time of their stay there, the Doctor lay at the mercy of the Souldiers, who egg'd on by the Brow­nists and Anabaptists of the Towne, used his house as their Quarter, consumed his provisions for his Family, and com­manded there as Lords: Amongst many Outrages committed by the Souldiers, Three are most remark­able.

First, upon a Fast day they send a Command to the Doctor that he should not pray for the Bishops, nor so much as make mention of t [...]em in his lipps: nor use the Book of Common Prayer, if he did they [Page 25] threaten to pull him out of the Pulpit, and teare him in pieces: the Doctor not intimidated by their Threat, gives order to his Curate to read the Prayers appoynted: which accordingly he did. The Souldiers right bred being Volunteeres of Colchester and Ipswich; and rightly designed too, for my Lord Sayes own Regi­ment, fit Souldiers for such a Leader, irreverently fit with their Hans en, make a noyse to drowne the Curates voyce, nay they call to him to come out of his Calves Coope, meaning the Reading-deske, and make an end of his Pottage: the Curate remembring that advice of our Savi­our not to cast pearles before Swine, nor holy things to doggs, gives over [...]eading, unwilling to expose the holy worship of God to so soule contempt and scorne. Having thus silenced the Curate, their commanders looking on, they violently take the Sacred Bible to teare it, but being reproved for it by Sergeant Major Bamfeild then present, they exchange the Bible for the Booke of Common Pray­er: having it in their power in Solemne triumph they car­ry it into the streets, and that which holy Ma [...]tyrs inspi­red by the holy Ghost composed, and sealed the truth and sanctitie of it with their dearest blood, these Savage Mis­creants rent in peeces: some of the leaves they tread un­der feet, some they cast into the kennell, some they p [...]ssed upon, and some they fixed on the end of their Clubbs and Cudgels, and in a Triumphant manner marched with them up and down the Towne.

Secondly, about a week after when the Doctor was in the Chancell there to interre the Corpes of a Gentleman lately deceased, these Souldiers rushed into the place with an intent to bury the quick with the dead, to put the Doctor into the same grave, which they had done (for no other reason but because he used the forme prescribed by the Church at buri­all of the dead) had he not been powerfully rescued by his Parishioners. Lastly,

[Page 26] when the glad Tydings were brought to Chelmes­ford, that Episcopaty was voted down by the house of Com­mons, all usuall expressions of an exulting joy were used, amongst the rest Boonefires were kindled in every street, but most of the fuell was violently taken from the Doctors wood-yard. And now the pile raised and the fire kindled, they want nothing but a Sacrifice, this they resolve shall be the Doctor himself: to this purpose the Separatists of the Towne assisted by two companies of Souldiers, in the Evening assault him in his house, seize upon his person, and are ready to carry him to the fire, there to throw him headlong into the middest of it: but some of his friends having information of the design, go and acquaint the Com­mand [...]rs with the bloody intentions of their Souldiers, who presently take a guard and rescue the Doctor out of their power as soone as ever they had seized on him.

Since that oppressed and worryed every day by these ravenous wolves, he was forced to forsake his Charge (as many other godly Ministers are) and to fly for his life: leaving his wife and eight children to the m [...]cy of the Re­bels, who have deprived his family of all their livelyhood, and exposed them to extreame want: Nay, they have severall times broken violently into his house under pre­tence to search for him, and have held Pistolls cocked, and Swords drawn, at the breasts of his Children and Servants, charging them upon their lives to reveale where the Doctor was.

It was lately certified from thence by a chiefe Member of that Towne and no friend of the Doctors, that he finds the case there to be farre worse then he expected, for while they hoped that the power being (Trayterously) wrested out of the Kings hand, they should have shared it amongst themselves, they find that either the power is fallen into their hands that are fa [...]re beneath them, or else hath rais­ed these men up far above them, for as he writes, the Town is governed by a Tinke [...], two Coblers, two Taylors, two Pedlers, &c. And

[Page 27] that the World may see what a Systeme of Divini­ty these Coblers and Taylors are like in time to sti [...]ch to­gether, and what Principles they intend to Rule by, I shal here set down certain preparatory prelusory Propositions which they usually Preach (for Preach they doe) to their infatuated Disciples, and by them are received as the di­vine Oracles of God: and you shall have them in their own [...] Termes: viz.

• First, That Kings are the burdens and plagues of those people or Nations over which they gove [...]ne.
• Secondly, That the relation of Master and Servant hath no ground or warrant in the New Testament, but rather the contray: for there we read, In Christ Jesus there is neither bond nor free, and, we are all one in Christ.
• Thirdly, That the Honours and Titles of Dukes, Mar­ques [...]es, Earls, Viscounts, Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen are but Ethnicall and Heathenish distinctions amongst Christians.
• Fourthly, That one man should have a Thousand pounds a yeare, and another not one pound, perhaps not so much, but must live by the sweat of his browes, and must labour before he eate, hath no ground, neither in Nature or in Scripture.
• Fiftly, That the common people heretofore kept under blindnesse and ignorance, have a long time yeelded them­selves servants, nay slaves to the Nobility and Gentry: but God hath now opened their eyes, aud discovered unto them their Christian liberty: and that therefore it is now fit that the Nobility and Gentry should serve their servants, or at least work for their owne maintenance; and if they will not work, they ought not to eate.
• Sixtly, That Learning hath alwayes been an enemy to the Gospel, and that it were a happy thing if there were no Universities, and all Books burnt except the Bible.
• Seventhly, That any man whom God hath (as they call it) Gisted, may be chos [...]n by the Congregation for their Pastor: and [Page 28] that imposition of hands by the Bishop and Presbyterie are mee [...]e Papish Innovations.

What more additions to these monstrous Opinions, the wildnesse of such mens braines, a [...]ist d by the cunning of the Devill, and incouraged by th [...] [...]surped [...]ower of these times may pro [...]uce, we must l [...]ave to the discovery of time. In the interim (good Re [...]der) stand amazed, and wonder at this excellent pattern [...] of the inten [...]ed bl [...]ssed Reforma­tion. Had not God, to prepare us for destruction, depri­ved us of knowledge, had he not closed our eyes that we should not see, an [...] hardned our hearts that we should not understand, were we not a people as the Proph [...]t speaks, forsaken and meted out for destruction, it could not be, but that Mankind would rise up against this Generation of Vi­pers and their Protecto [...]s, and sw [...]ep them away, to use the Metaphor of the holy Ghost, with the beesome of destru­ction, who if a while connived at, will prove moths fret­ting to the destruction both of Church and State: for in this Modell you may see the Babel which is now in build­ing, and the budding forth of those Brambles, out of which (if not timely quenched) will come forth a fire (as it is in Jothams Parable) which will devoure the Cedars of Lebanon.

The same godly Reformers which plundered Master Laud before mentioned, came afterwards to Master Corne­lius Parson of Peldon in the same County of Essex, whom they rob of all his goods within doores and without: they spared not his Library, nor his Wives Child-bed Linnen, though the was great with Child, and in danger by the fright she took at their comming, to have occasion to make use of them before her due time, they plunder him to the value of foure hundred pounds, a very great summe in a poore Clergie-mans purse, especially as these times goe. For reliefe of his losse he sends his servant to the Ma­jor of Colchester (a famous Justiciary as you may remem­ber the last W [...]eke in the relation of Master Laud and Master [Page 29] Honifields cases) having made his Complaint, and accused the Plunderers by name, the Major knew that some body deserved Commitment, but had the ill luck to be mistaken in the person, and therefore instead of the Plunderers he commits Master Cornelius his man to the Gaole, where he is lodged for a Malignant, untill his Ma­ster (plundered of his man too) came and put in Bayle that his servant should be forthcomming to answer to all obje­ctions the next Sessions. Master Cornelius knowing that he should in vaine expect Justice where he found Oppres­sion, from the Major goes to Master Gardner a Justice of Peace not farre off, who grants his Warrant for appre­hension of the parties: who being apprehended (though for Felonie) put in Bayle to answer the next Sessions. When the time came, Master Cornelius indicts these Plun­derers, the Bill was found by the Grand Jury upon the evidence of three or foure witnesses who were Spectators, and saw them carry away the goods: nay the Prisoners at the Barre not onely confessed the fact in their examination before the Justice, when they were first apprehended, but in the face of the Court, and presence of the Jurors: yet the Petty-Jury, contrary to reason and their owne consci­ences, found the Indictment against the King. The Court wondring at so wilfull blindnesse, cause the Statute to be read, lay open the evidence, and remand them back, not doubting but comparing the fact with the Law, the Result would be a verdict for the King: they persist in their ob­stinacy and returne Ignoramus: Being asked by the Bench how they could goe against so cleare evidence? They answered in generall, Because they did not thinke PLUNDERING (a new name for an old Theft) to be Felony by the Law: but being beaten out of this starting hole, though tenne are convicted, yet two stand out, and give this reason, that they were a Malignants goods, and the Parliament had given power to plunder such: but when it was replyed that no such Order was pro­duced, [Page 30] nor was it pleaded by the Prisoners at the Barre, they then professed openly, that these men arraigned at the Barre were honest men, that they had an In [...]ent to doe them favour and they would doe it: Hereupon the Bench justly incensed against so willfull p [...]rjury binds over the Iurors to answer it the next Assiz [...]s: and withall, order M. Cornelius to indict these plunderers againe upon an other Felony, he obeyes their command and the Grand Iury find it to be Billa vera: but when the under­Sheriffe went out to impanell a Jury to try the Prisoners, he could find none but Separatists, who attended there that day purposely to be of the Jury, and professed openly that they stayed there to save the Prisoners. Happy men these, that may commit Murthers, robberies, and thefts, and yet seare no Condemnation, neither at the Tribunall of God or Man. It is an usuall doctrine of this Sect, That God sees no sinne in his children, (for that name they will in­grosse to themselves, though no men lesse deserve it) and it seemes they are resolved to see no sinne one in another. It was a wild saying of a gre [...]t Patriarke of theirs, That the Children of God were Heteroclites, because God did of­ten save them even contrary to his owne Rules. I know not how true they will find this assertion at the great day, when Murther shall be Murther, and Theft Theft, and God that righteous Judge, who without respect of persons, shall ren­der to every man according to his d [...]eds, yet here on earth, if these men may judge one another, they may commit what wickednesse they list, and let the raines loose to all kinds of villany, and yet be saved contrary to all the rules of Law and Justice.

M. Archer Lecturer at the same place, in his Sermon encouraged the people to take up Armes against the King, but it may be objected, sayes he, that the Gentry gainsay this Doctrine, and the Learned utterly disclaime it as erro­neous and damnable, but what though the Gentry and Learned. (as you call them) dissent, yet let it not Stagger your [Page 31] beliefe of this undouted Truth: for I tell you that in my Conscience you may do it, and in doing it you are so far from sinning, that you will do that which is accep­table to Go [...]. Be liberall ther [...]fore in contributing to this holy warre, and sending forth men to fight this Battle of the Lord. This man in his Prayers and Sermons con­stantly cals the Parliament, The Lords Annoynted, but with what Oyle it is not yet determined: I am sure by ex­perience we find that it is not Oyle of Gladnesse.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. IV.

Sir Rich: Mynshull's house in Buckinghamshire plundered by the Lord Brooks command. The Kings picture abused. A house burnt neare Hounslow by the Lord Wharto [...]s Souldiers. M Wiborow and M. Thorne, the one a Mi­nister in Essex, the other in Bedfordshire, the first ill-in­treated on the Lords day by the Lo: S. Johns Troopers, the other unjustly committed to Prison for a private re­venge.

ON Munday the 15. of August, 1642. Sir Richard Mynshull of Bourton in the County of Buckingham Knight, furnished with tenne Horse and Armes, began his journey into the North to wait upon the King, as in the duty of a servant and subject he was bound. This being discovered (for they have spyes in every corner) to the Lord Brooke, Sir Peter Temple, Sir Rich: Ingoldesby, Master Goodwine, and others then at Aylesbury, leaders of an Army raised against His Majesty. It fell under conside­ration to make Sir Richard Mynshul a precedent to deter others from serving the King, since it was not to be done [Page 32] but by exposing their persons to Imprisonment and their estates to plundering, for the Result of that deliberation was, that since they could not secure his person, they would seise on his estate, Nor doe they stay long before they put the sentence in execution: for on Thursday the 18. of August, the Lord Brooke commanding a great part of the Army, came to Sir Richards house, and in case he should find Resistance, they bring diverse peece of Ordnance to batter the House: but being come they find no opposition. The first company that enters the house were under the command of one Cap: Iones, who either de­testing the oppression, or yet not fleshed in the sin, which but then found footing in this Kingdom, (for this was the first of this kind committed in Buckinghamshire, and the second in England) moderated the eagernesse of the Souldiers sharpe set on the prey, so that they gleaned but a little here and there; this moderation renders Captaine Iones suspected for a Papist both to the Lord Brooke and the rest of the Commanders: nay he is not onely voiced for a Papist, but a Rumor is raised that he was bribed into this Moderation, and had taken a reward to spare Sir Richards goods: the Captain blasted with these reports, the jealousie of him grew so high that they threaten to kill him: to avoyd the sury of the Souldiers he is faine to withdraw himselfe, nor d [...]rst he appear before a Servant of Sir Richards had made oath that he was Innocent of any such Contract. And now the Lord Brooke and his Company being masters of the House, the first thing on which they expresse their rage is the Kings picture, which with their swords they most traiterously pierce through in divers places: and not content to wound him in that repre­sentation, (whose person God miraculously hath, and we hope will preserve from them) They whet their tongues a­gainst their Soveraigne, using Traiterous and scornfull language against Him: by all which it is more then mani­fest to all the world, what they would doe to the Substance, [Page 33] if they had Him in their power, that expresse such malice on his shadow: having at first entrance violated their loyaltie to their King (according to His Majesties fre­quent predictions) their fellow Subjects cannot expect Justice at their hands: now all is lawfull prize that comes to hand, Money, Plate, Jewels, many fuits of Rich Hangings, Linnen, Bedding, they Plunder from the Cabinet to the Larder, and make cleane worke as they goe, leaving no booty for a second Plunder. And though that house were but one, yet in that one they Plundered three, Sir Richard having dis-robed two houses, one in Essex, the other in London, thinking to secure all in this third: while these things were in doing, the Lord Brook; with other Commanders, commands the Wine-seller to be broke up: but in a saucy imitation of greatnesse, they will not drinke without a Taster, yet not being confident enough, professedly to owne Regall observances, for pre­vention of danger, a pretence was made, that the Wine was Poysoned, and one of Sir Rich. servants is compelled (a Pistol set to his breast) to begin and lead the way, that if there were any danger the experiment might be made in him: he having gain'd a Cup of Wine by their dissembled State, they follow freely, and drinke very libe­rally to the good successe of their designes: without ever scrupling whether drinking so, did not come within the nature of a health. And indeed it was an oversight that Casui [...]t Prin was not consulted in the Case, the Cup often goes round, at last some inspired with the spirit of Wine, Prophesie, that Sir Richards Treasure was buryed in the Seller, presently they fall to digging, and instead of Treasure find a Mine of Bottles: they drinke up the Wine, and in indignation break the bottles: from hence to coole the Wine they goe to the Beere Seller, and in both what they could not drinke, they break the vessells, and let runne on the ground: after this they breake open his Library, and the place where he kept his [Page 34] Evidences: they seize on all the Bills, Bonds, Deeds, Evidences, Writings and Bookes which they find, whe­ther Sir Richards, or his friends: some of these they take away with them, some they teare in pieces, some they binde in bundles and make them serve instead of fuell both to heat Ovens and to rost meat for their supper: and would by no means suffer any of them to be redeemed, though large summes of mony were offe­red for them: the house it self escapes not their fury: want­ing Ladders to come at the Lead, they supply this defect with the Rackes broken downe from the Stables: they rip up the Lead and carry it away, they teare downe the wals of the houses with Spades and Mattocks, they dig up the lower roomes, hoping there to find more Treasure: they breake the Windowes Doores, Wainscot, Seelings, Glasse, they take away all Iron Barres, Casements, Locks, Keyes and Hinges: They break open his Wooll-house and Barns and empty and all: they enter the Dove-house, and like vermine destroy the Pigeons: onely one of these ver­mine falling from the holes brake his back and dyed there­of: and because they could not carry away his house co­vertly they indeavour to fire it, to this purpose they leave matches burning in the mats but were discovered. From his house they issue our into his ground; there they lay all common, they break up his rales and fences: of his Sheep, what they did not eate, they sold, Sheep worth 20 [...]. for twelve pence, Lambs worth 10 [...]. for six pence: and the reasons why the rates of their market were so low, were, first they were a Malignant and Traytors goods (so they styled Sir Richard.) Secondly, they were sold to their Brethren, and therefore must afford good Penni­worths. The rest of the Stocke they runne their swords or Pikes into most of them and spoyled them. Nor was Plunder the only thing they looked after, blood is in their thoughts. First, they send a Troop of horse to pursue Sir Richard, and threaten to cut him as small as hearbes to the [Page 35] Pot: they clap a strong guard on Sir Richards Lady, deny her a bed to lye on, though the neighbours earnestly intreated. Some there were among them, who (poore Soules) affrighted with these barbarous Insolencies fled into the field, and hid themselves in growing Hempe, and there lay on the ground almost 20 houres without meat or any sustenance, so that what with fright and dampnesse of the earth, some of them contracted dangerous sicknesses, and hardly escaped with life. The Torrour which fell up­on the Country there about was so great, that the neigh­bouring Justice of Peace durst not grant his Warrant to search after any of Sir Richards goods, though earnestly intreated to it: and the neighbours were so ill used and threatned to extort confession from them where Sir Ri­chard was, or where any of his goods were conveyed, that some sounded for fear, some fell mad, and some dyed. Cer­taine it is their carria [...]e was so barbarous, that it inforced M. Jo. Crew one of the Company to professe his dislike, and to tell the Lord Brookes and the rest, That they being Law-makers should not be Law-breakers, nor make such precedents as would discover their intentions and render them odious unto the Country: since that knowing Sir Richard to have put himselfe for preservation of his Life under his Majesties Protection, they have caused his Pond heads to be digged downe, and have destroyed all his Fish, they have cut downe his woods and seized on all his Lands, or made them utterly unprofitable unto him, for they will not suffer any Bayliffe or servant of his to take any care of his estate, but have often sent parties of horse to seize on them or kill them.

At a place called Kings-harbour neare Hounslow-he [...]th, three Souldiers, under the Command of the Lord [...]ha [...] ­ton, came into a house to drinke, going away, they of the house demand money for their drinke: so unexpected an affront did so incense the Souldiers, that one of them told his Companions he would show them how they see [Page 36] houses on fire in Ireland, and so put his Carbine into the Thatch and discharged it, let the house on fire and departed. The Generall ESSEX returning from London, came by as the house was on fire, complaint is made unto him that the owner of the house was undone, but all in vaine, his excellency was not at leasure to doe Justice.

The Countesse of Rivers (who as you heard in the se­cond Weekes Relation was Plundered to the value of an hundred thousand, or an hundred and fiftie thousand pound) finding her aboad here unsafe, having lost her goods, and her person in danger, to secure her selfe resol­ved for a time to abandon her Country, and rather expose her selfe to the hazard of Travell, then commit her selfe to that protection which the contemned Laws now affords. To this purpose she obtained a Passe to goe beyond Seas: While she was in preparing for her voyage, Master Mar­tin Plunder-master Generall, he that so familiarly speaks Treason, and steales the Kings Horses, or doth any thing, Plunders the Countesse of her Coach horses, notwithstan­ding a Warrant from the Lords House to secure them: And when this Warrant was produced to stave off this Parliament Horse-taker, he replyed, That if the War­rant had been from both Houses he would obey it, as com­ming from the highest Authority in England, (sure this man was borne with Treason in his month) but since it came But from the Lords, he did not value it. When this Warrant could not prevaile, the Countesse obtaines a Warrant from the Earl of Essex to have the Horses resto­red unto her againe, but Master Martin, to over-bear all, procures an Order from the House of Commons to keepe them. This honourable Ladies goods were seized on, though licensed to passe by the Lords, and searched and allowed by the Custome-house;

At Pebmarsh in the same County of Essex, on the Lords day, divers of the Parliament Voluntiers came into the [Page 37] Church, while the Parson Master Wiborow was in his pray­er before Sermon, and placed themselves neere the Pul­put, and when he was in his Prayer, one of them struck divers times with his staffe against the Pulpit to interrupt him, and while he was in his Sermon in contempt of the place where they were, and the sacred action in doing, they were almost as loud as the Preacher, to the great distur­bance of the Congregation. No sooner was the Sermon ended, and the Parson come out of the Pulpit as far as the Reading desk, but they lay violent hands upon him, rent his clothes, and threaten to pull him in pieces in the Church. With much intreatie they spare him there, and permit him to goe into the Church-yard: he is no sooner come thither, but they assault him more violently then be­fore: Master Wiborow seeing the Constable (who all this while stood a spectator of his hard usage) calls unto him, and charges him in the Kings name to keepe the Kings Peace: at his request they did a little forbeare him: but before he could get halfe wayes home, they assault him againe, and demand his Booke of Common Prayer which he used in the Church, (That which was found by the Parish, being torne in pieces before) which he re­fusing to deliver up unto them, they wreck their fu­ry on him: They tugge and [...]ale him, and vow to kill him, unlesse he deliver up the Booke of Com­mon Prayer to their pleasure: he stoutly refuseth: Hereupon they fall upon him, strike up his heeles, and take it from him by force, and so carry it away in triumph.

M. Blaker by (a silenced Minister heretofore) preaching at Halstead in the same County, told them that to bow at the Name of Jesus, was to thrust a spear into Christs side, and such Ministers as signed children with the signe of the Crosse, did as much as in them lay to send such children unto the Devill.

When the Earl of Essex and the rest, went from Reading [Page 38] to London, after the unhappy (to say no more) surrender to that Towne, they left there a Committee consisting of none but City Captains & Tradesmen, these according to the authority comitted unto them, summon al the able men of the Parishes thereabout, to appear before them at Rea­ding, and assessed them at their pleasure. In Marlow they assessed one Master Drue at 1000 l.. they fell to 500 l. he refusing to pay was imprisoned, but the Prison being, most nastic and loathsome, denyed the Accommodation of Bed­ding, was forced to pay 300 l. Master Hor [...]epoole, they feased at 200 l. Master Chase (a man Plundered before) at 40 l. twentie pound was offered, but nothing will be a­bated of thirtie Eliot a Butcher at an hundred pound and imprisoned. Cocke a Baker at 20 l. Master Furnace the Vicar (not suffered to speak for himselfe because a Malig­nant) at 10 l. and paid seven. John Langley 10 l. Thomas Langley 20 l. William Langley 5 l. and Wilmot his servant 5.l. John More 80 l. Haskins a Shoomaker 5 l. Cane an Inne-keeper 7 l. Rates so illegall, or had they bin legall, so unequally proportioned to these mens Estates, that had Ship-money been still on foot, it would not have drawne so much money out of their purses in fortie or fiftie years, as this blew Apron Committee at Reading, removed some seven or eight degrees from the Close Committee at West­minster, extorted from them at one clap. O that wee were but so wise as to compare our Conditions! certainly then we could not but acknowledge the just wrath of God up­on us for our ingratitude, murmuring so much when wee had so little cause, and blesse God for the returne of our former Peace, though with all its grievances, and those maliciously aggravated.

Master Gues Thorne, Bachelor in Divinitie, and Parson of S. C [...]berts in Bedford, was upon Sunday in the begi [...] ­ning of August last 1642. apprehended in his Parish Church immediately after he came out of the Pulpit (ha­ [...]ing preached three Sermons in the Towne that day) by [Page 39] the Lord Saint-Johns Troopes, who lay then in Bedford, and in a very boysterous manner carryed away to an Inne in the Towne, not permitted to go home to his house to vi­site his family, nor any of his friends suffered to come to him: the next day he was carryed away to London, where when he had ly [...]n more then three weekes under the Mes­sengers hands, he was brought to his I ryall at the Barre in the Lords House: Accusations are framed against him out of Sermons preached nine years before, Witnesses are produced to prove the Articles, who so well remembred what they were to say, that they were faine to read their depositions out of Papers which they brought in their hands. Master Thorne gives so full an answer to all the objections, that the Lords pronounce themselves satisfied and him innocent, onely the Lord Say disputes with him, and the Earl of Bullingbrooke grumbles at him. At length it is pretended, that there is another witnesse in the Coun­try that can say somewhat, especially if it be written down in a Paper, as it was to his fellow deponents: hereupon he is committed to the Fleet, there to remaine till that Wit­nesse can be prevailed with to find leisure to come up. About three weekes after the Witnesse appeares, and is sworne, and contrary to the Rules of that Court is sent to be examined by a Clerke. Master Thorne with much adoe obtaines a Copy of his depositions: which upon a view con­taine no new matter but what he had before answered un­to & cleared: hereupon he Petitions again for a sentence: he is ordered to attend the House: after a chargeable at­tendance of many dayes with his Keeper, he is called, the cause reviewed, upon the review, the Earles of Pembroke, Holland, Clare, and divers others, affirme that in their con­sciences they had acquitted him at the first hearing, and now upon the review, found nothing to alter their opini­on, and therefore thought it fit he should be discharged. But well f [...]re a good neighbour at a dead list: the Earl of Bullingbrook objects, that he is a man of a malignant spirit, [Page 40] that he hath great interest in the affections of the people amongst whom he lives, and therefore if inlarged and re­mitted home may doe much prejudice to the good Cause in hand, upon these just and weightie Considerations, M. Thorne is remanded to the Fleet: [...]nce that time he hath used the assistance of many friends, drawn many Petitions, humbly desiring that he might be heard: or if the great affaires of State would not afford their Lordships so much leasure, that he might have leave upon bayle to goe down to attend his Cure, untill their Lordships should please to call for him: but was so farre from obtaining his desire, that he could never get so farre towards it as have his Petition read. His Parishioners sensible of his oppression and their own injury, being bereaved of the comfort and labours of their owne Pastor, sent up a Petition subscribed with three hundred hands to the same effect, that Justice might have a free uninterrupted course either to condemn or absolve him, but all in vain: so that for ought we yet understand he is still a Prisoner, and for any thing we are yet informed to the contrary, he is without hopes for en­largement, though his Judges have pronounced him inno­cent. And now would you know the true cause of all this oppression? Know then that it is possible for the high Court of England to be made the instrument of private revenge: for Sir Samuel Luke divers yeares since suing M. Thorne in the Star-Chamber, it was M. Thornes unhap­pines to get the day of him, an injury which Sir Samuel could never forget, and did now revenge it by the help of the Earle of Bullingbrooke, the Lord Saint Johns sonne, and his own interest in the house. This story hath beene attested by some that were both care and eye witnesses of these particulars, and let me be substituted Prisoner in M. Thornes place if he (for ought I know) know any thing that I know this, or intended to make it knowne to the World.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. V.

Warder Castle gallantly defended by the Lady Arundel, a­gasinst Sir Edward Hungerford and his power: his per­fidiousnesse in breaking the Articles of Surrender: his barbarous usage of the Lady, her children, and goods. Master John Bykar, a Vicars sonne, murthered at Co­ventry. Master Abraham Haynes robbed, abused, and unjustly committed, &c.

ON Tuesday the second of May, 1643. Sir Edward Hungerford, a chiefe Commander of the Rebells in Wil [...]shire, came with his Forces before Warder Castle in the same Countie, being the Mansion house of the Lord Ar [...]ndel of Warder: But finding the Castle strong, and those that were in it resolute, not to yeeld it up unlesse by force, called Colonel St [...]ode to his helpe: Both these joyned in one, made a Body of 1300 or thereabout. Being come before it, by a Trumpete [...] they summon the Castle to surrender: The reason pretended was, because the Ca­stle being a Receptacle of Cavaliers and Malignants, both Houses of Parliament had ordered it to be searched for Men and Armes, and withall by the same Trumpeter de­clared, that if they found either Money or Plate, they would seize on it for the use of the Parliament. The La­dy Arundel (her husband being then at Oxford, and since that dead there) refused to deliver up the Castle, and bravely replyed, that she had a command from her Lord to keepe it, and she would obey his command. Be­ing denyed entrance, the next day being Wednesday the third of May, they bring up the Cannon within Musket shot [Page 42] and begin the Battery, and continue it from the Wednesday to the Monday following, never giving any intermission to the besieged, who were but 25 fighting men to make good the place against an Army of 1300. In this time they sprung two Mines, the first in a vault through which Beer and Wood and other necessaries were brought into the Castle: this did not much hurt, it being without the foundation of the Castle. The second was conveyed in­to the small Vaults, which by reason of the intercourse betweene the severall passages to every office, and almost every roome in the Castle, did much shake and indanger the whole fabrick. The Rebels had often rendred some unreasonable conditions to the besieged to surrender, as to give the Ladies, both the Mother & the Daughter in Law, and the women and children quarter, but not the men, the Ladies both infinitely scorning to sacrifice the lives of their Friends and Servants to redeem their own from the crueltie of the Rebells, who had no other crime of which they could count them guilty, but their fidelity and earnest endeavours to preserve them from violence and robbery, choose bravely (according to the Noblenesse of those Ho­nourable Families from which they are both extracted) ra­ther to dye together then live on so dishonourable terms. But now the Castle brought to this distresse, the defen­dants few, oppressed with number, tired out with continu­all watching and labour from Tuesday to Monday, so di­stracted between hunger and want of rest, that when the hand endeavored to administer food, surprized with sleep, it forgat its imployment, the morsells falling from their hands while they were about to eate, deluding their appe­ties now when it might have beene a doubt which they would first have laded their musquets withall, either Pow­der before Bullet, or Bullet before Powder, had not the Maid servants (valiant beyond their Sex) assisted them, and done that service for them. Lastly, now when the Rebels had brought Petars, and applyed them to the Gar­den [Page 43] doore (which if forced, opened a free passage into the Castle) and balls of wild-fire to throw in at their broken windowes, and all hope of keeping the Castle was taken away, now and not till now did the besieged found a Par­ley. And though in their Diurnals at London, they have told the world that they offered threescore thousand pounds to redeem themselves & the Castle, and that it was refused, yet few men take themselves to be bound anything the more to beleeve it, because they report it. I would Ma­ster Case would leave preaching Treason, and instruct his Disciples to put away lying, and speake every man truth with his neigbbour: certainly the world would not be so a­bused with untruths as now they are: amongst which num­ber this report was one, for if they in the Castle offered so liberally, how came the Rebels to agree upon Articles of Surrender so far beneath that overture? for the Articles of Surrender were these:

• First, that the Ladies and all others in the Castle should have Quarter.
• Secondly, that the Ladies and servants should carry away all t [...]eir wearing [...]pparell, and that six of the S [...]rving men, whom the Ladies should nominate, should attend upon their persons whereso [...]ver the Rebels should dispose of the [...].
• Thirdly, that all the furniture and goods in the house should be safe from Plunder, and to this purpose one of the six nominated to attend the Ladies was to stay in the Castle, and take an Inventory of all in the house, of which the Commanders were to have one Copy, and the Ladies another.

But being on these termes Masters of the Castle and all within it, 'tis true, they observe the first Article, and spare the lives of all the besieged, though they had slain in the defence at least 60 of the rebels: but for the other two they observe them not in any part: as soone as they enter the Castle, they first seize upon the severall Trunks and Packs which they of the Castle were making up, and left neither [Page 44] the Ladies or servants any other wearing cloathes but what was on their backs. There was in the Castle a­mongst many rich ones one extraordinary Chimny piece, valued at two thousand pounds, this they utterly deface, and beat downe all the carved workes thereof with their Pole-axes. There were likewise rare Pictures, the worke of the most curious pencills that were knowne to these latter times of the World, and such that if Apelles him­selfe (had he been now alive) needed not to blush to own for his. These in a wild fury they break and teare in pie­ces, a losse that neither Cost nor Art can repaire. Having thus given them a taste what performance of Articles they were to expect from them, they barbarously lead the La­dies, and the young Ladies children, two sonnes and a daughter, Prisoners to Shaftsbury, some four or five miles from Warder. While they are there Prisoners, to mitigate their sorrowes, in triumph they bring five cart loads of their richest Hangings & other furniture through Shafts­bury towards Do [...]chester, and since that, contrary to their promise and faith, given both by Sir Edward Hungerford and Strode, they have Plun [...]ered the whole Castle: so little use was there of the Inventory wee told you of, un­lesse to let the world know, what my Lord Arundel lost, and what these Rebells gained. This havock they made within the Castle. Without they burne all the Out-hou­ses, they pull up the pales of two Parkes, one of Red­Deere, the other of Fallow: what they did not kill, they let loose to the world for the next taker. In the Parks they burne three Tenements and two Lodges, they cut downe all the Trees about the House and Grounds, Oakes and Elmes, such as few places could boast of the like, whose goodly bushy advanced heads drew the eyes of Travellers on the Plaines to gaze on them, these they sold for foure pence, six pence, or twelve pence a piece, that were worth Three, Foure, or Five pound a Tree: The Fruit Trees they pluck up by the roots, extending their malice to com­mit [Page 45] spoile on that, that God by a speciall Law protected from destruction, even in the Land of his curse, the Land of Canaan: for so we read, When thou shalt besiege a City, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof, by forcing an axe against them, for thou maist ca [...]e of them, and thou shalt not cut them downe to imploy them in the siege: onely the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat thou shalt de [...]oy, Deut. 20. 19, 20. Nay, that which escaped destruction in the deluge, cannot escape the hands of these children of the Apollyon the destroyer. They dig up the heads of twelve great Ponds, some of five or six Acres apiece, and destroy all the Fish: They sell Carpes of two foot long for two pence and three pence apiece: They send out the Fish by Cart loads, so that the Country could not spend them: nay, as if the present generation were too narrow an object for their rage, they Plunder posterity, and destroy the Nurseries to the greater Ponds: they drive away and fell their Horses, Kine, and other Cattle: and having left nothing either in the Aire or Water, they dig under the earth, the Castle was served with water brought two miles by a Cunduit of Lead: and intending rather mischiefe to the Kings friends then profit to themselves, they cut up the Pipe and sold it (as these mens wives in North Wil [...]shire doe bone-Lance) at six pence a yard: making that waste for a poore inconsiderable sum, which two thousand pounds will not make good They that have the unhappy occasion to sum up these losses, value them at no lesse then an hundred thousand pound. And though this losse were very great, not to be paralleld by any, ex­cept that of the Countesse of Rivers, yet there was some­thing in these sufferings which did aggravate them beyond all example of Barbaritie, which this unnaturall Warre till now did produce, and that was Rachels Teares: La­mentation and Weeping and great Mourning, a mother weeping for her Children, & would not be comforted be­cause they were taken from her, for the Rebells, as you heare, [Page 46] having carried the two Ladies Prisoners to Shafts­bury, thinking them not safe enough there intend to re­move them to Bath, a place then much infected both with the Plague and the small pox: The old Lady was sick, un­der a double consinement, that of the Rebels and her own in-disposition, all were unwilling to be exposed to the dan­ger of the infection, especially the young Lady, having three children with her, they were too dear, too rich a trea­sure to be snatched away to such probable losse without reluctancy: Therefore they resolve not to yeeld themselves Prisoners for that place, unlesse they will take the old La­dy out of her bed, and the rest by violence, and so carry them away But the Rebels fearing left so great inhuma­nitie might incense the people against them, and render them odious to the Country, decline this, & since they dare not carry all to Bath, they resolve to carry some to Dor­chester, a place no lesse dangerous for the infection of Schisine and Rebellion then B th for the Plague and the Pox. To this purpose they take the young Ladies two sons (the eldest but nine, the younger but seven years of age) and carry them captives to Dorchester.

In vaine doth the Mother, with teares intreat that these pretty pledges of her Lords affections may not be snat­ched from her: in vaine doe the Children, imbrace and hang about the neck of their Mother, and implore helpe from her that neither knows how to keep them, nor yet how to part with them: but the Rebels having lost all bowels of Compassion, remaine inexorable. The Complaints of the Mother, pittifull cry of the Children prevail not with them, like ravenous Wolves they seize on the prey: and though they doe not Crop, yet they transplant those Olive branches that stood about their Parents Table: A barbarous fact, and such as must look out of Christendom for a president, and hardly find it though amongst the Heathen except amongst the unwashed Turkes, who take Christian Children from their Mothers breasts either to make [Page 47] a Seminary for their guards of Janizaries, or by desalation to make them Eunuches unsuspected guardians of their Concubines, or if in Christen­dome, amongst none but the Jesuites their brethren, a generation whom they would be thought most to hate, yet are knowne most to imitate. Exod. 21. To steale a Man was death by the Law of Moses, nay the Romans that saw by no other Light, but that dimme Sparke of Nature discerned the equitie of this Law, as is apparent in their Lex Fabia de Plagiarii [...]: and though these men blanch the Inhumanitie pretending that they rob the Mother to inrich the Church, to bring them up in the true Religion, it were worth the while to aske (if they would vouchsafe an answer) what they mean by the true Religion, if they mean the Protestant, or to speake more properly the Religion of the Church of England, 'tis ap­parent they persecute that, but suppose (which wee doe not grant) that they did bereave Parents of their Chil­dren to that purpose to bring them up in the true Religi­on, yet cannot a good Intention warrant an unlawfull act, not ought they to doe evill that good may come of it: nor doe wee find either that the Church was ever pleased with such accessions, or that God did give a blessing to such unwarrantable zeal. When Sesibutus King of Aragon in the yeare 600 prevailed against the Sarazins, and in a better zeal then this, but not according to knowledge, compelled his Captives to be baptized, he quickly found his errour by the want of Gods blessing upon his indea­vours, nay Gods dislike was so visible in the successe, that the Church of God observing it, determined, That the children of Infidells not having the use and exercise of right Reason, should not be baptized Invitis Parentibus, contrary to the consent of the Parents. And the fourth Councell of T [...]ledo, Cap. 56, dis-allowing the inconside­rate zeale of Sesibutus forbad to compell any man to the faith under the sensure of Anathema, & determined withal, that [Page 48] to baptize children without the consent of the parents, is all one as to compel men of full age to be baptized. The same determination is cited and approved by the Canonist. Dist. 45. Cap. De Judaeis, and were it but consistent with the nature of this worke, it were easy to decry this Jesuiticall Turkish practice by most impregnable arguments, both in the Schoolemen and Casuists: but I must leave this to men of the sacred Function, and onely beg leave to in­ferre, that if it be not lawfull to baptize the Children of Jewes, Infidels, or Hereticks without consent of their Parents, though without Baptisine when it may be had there is no entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, certain­ly it must be farre more unlawfull being baptized to take them from their parents to season their tender yeares with dangerous principles leading to Profanesse, Brownisme, Anabaptisme and Rebellion. A just indignation against so barbarous practice hath transported me in this argument farther then I intended, though not so farre as the hayn­ousnesse of the Fact deserves, therefore if any man desires to be more fully satisfyed of the power and interest which Parents have over and in their Children, being an Inheri­tance given them of the Lord, as the Prophet David, and the possession of their Parents, as Aristotle in his Poli­ticks, and the great violation of Justice in relation of the Lawes of God, nature and men, in dispoyling their Pa­rents of them, let him have recourse to that learned and Elegant discourse of Petrus AErod [...]us, Chiefe Justice or President of Aniou, in his Booke de Patris Potestate, who being robbed of his Sonne stolne from him by the Jesuits, to plant him as a hopefull Impe in their Societie, and not able to rescue him out their power, though he implored, and had the King of Spain's assistance (for thither he was carried) pursues his Sonne with Argu­ments, and Labours to recall him to his Obedience by laying before him his dutie Artificially Collected and strongly applyed from the Lawes, Divine, Naturall, and Morall, [Page 49] and therefore to him I remit him and turne my discourse into its proper chanell.

On Friday the 12 of May 1643. M. John Bykar (sonne to the Vicar of Dun-Church) was with his Father in Law, one of the High Constables of Warwick shire, at the mar­ket at Coventry. Being in a house in the City, he rece [...]ved some rude affronts from a Souldier of th [...]t Garri [...]o [...]: He being a very civill man, of good moder [...]tion, and it seems well instructed not to answer a fool [...] [...]n his [...]olly, or be­ing reviled to answer againe, withdrew himselfe from the place, to decline the insolent madnesse of the Souldiers, and free himself from his provocations: being come into the streets, secure, as he thought, from all violence, he was suddenly run through the body, and falling downe, dyed instantly. His offence was (for as yet wee can heare of no others) that he was a Parsons sonne; so inveterate malice to that function and all depending on it, doe these Rebels beare. And therefore if in this Relation you meet with fre­quent mention of Affronts, Oppressions, Plundering and [...]urthers of the Ministers of the Gospel, doe not attribute it to any partiality, as if the Relator were more querulous for them then others, but to a serious desire to proportion his labors in a just measure to the merit of each mans case.

Master Abraham Haynes of London, in September last, travelling into Shrop-shire to visit his daughter and some other friends, being benighted, was forced to take up his lodging in a little Village some eight miles short of his daughters house: After supper, his Host in a seem­ing way of curtesie comes to visit his guest, and brings with him two or three of his Neighbours, whereof the Constable was one, to beare him company. Af­ter a little discourse, they will needs perswade him that he is a Malignant, a hard word in those parts before this Parliament began, but however it served the Constables turne well enough to lay hold on him: having seized on him, they search him, under pretence that he [Page 50] carryed Letters of dangerous consequence, but search­ing, they find what they sought for, his Mony. 14 l. he had about him, this as good b [...]otie they take from him, and for [...]eare he should run away from his Mony, that night they set a strong watch upon him. Next morning very early they carry him before a Parliament man, residing about two miles distant from that place, who most Committee-man like, out of the abundance of his Justice, though no crime were objected, nor any thing found about him to render him lyable to restraint, but only the sin of [...]aving 14 l. or because he was guilty of the Constables affirming him to be a Malignant, he commits him to his former guardians, by them to be conveyed to London. M. Haynes unwilling to come so near his journeys end, & yet not arrive there, ten­ders bayle, Gentlemen of the best rank and quality in the Country: but it will not be accepted: he desires to have leave but to send a Messenger to his daughter where he was that day expected, but it will not be granted: Away they carry him, they mount him and his man upon two poor Jades, while my Host and M.Constable ride on their G [...]ldings. The first night they will allow him no supper, unlesse he will pay for it, though they knew he had no mo­n [...]y, having themselves seized on all he had. Afterward, upon much opportunity & earnest int [...]ea [...]y, they are plea­sed out of his owne Moneys to allow him a poore thin al­lowance of food by the way. Being arrived at London, they bring their Prisoner before the Committee, who upon an implicite faith send him unheard, unaccused, unexamined Prisoner to the Fleet, where after he had laine six weeks, having made use of many friends, & presented many hum­ble Petitions, [...]nd (t [...]s thought some Moneys too) he is re­stored to his libertie upon this ground, that there were no Articles nor any accusation found in the Comittee against him: but for his Mony that (in the great justice and equity of the Committee) was bestowed upon his Accusers as a just reward of their zeale [...]o the Parliament.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. VI.

Welling borow in Northamptonshire miserably I lundered. Master Flint a cu [...]ate murthered by a Rebell there. The Rebels breach of faith at the surrender of Sudley Castle, and their abuse of the Church and Monuments there. Col. Purefoy's desacing S. Maries Church, and the Chap­pell, with other Monuments in Warwick, &c.

THat the Kingdome might not be undone but at their owne charges, sundry wayes and arts, both by force and intreatie, have beene used to extort monies from the Kings good Subjects to maintaine the pre­sent Rebellion. Amongst others Master Gray of Wel­lingborow, Clerke of the Peace for the Countie of North-hampton, was assaulted by perswasion, and very earnestly solicited by Sir Rowland S. John, to contribute liberally to this unnaturall Warre: but his refusall to partake in so crying a sinne, did produce a double effect, indignation in the Rebels, that hate all men that runne not into the same excesse of Treason & Rebellion with them, because others backwardnesse doth upbraid their forwardnesse that rush into Rebellion like the horse into the battell: but brought forth imitation in others, not onely in Wellingborow, but in some Villages bordering on that Towne: who seeing so good a president of Loyalty, refuse with him to hearken to so [...]raiterous proposalls: and now thinking themselves indangered by their refusall, and exposed to the mercy of Rebell-Plunderers, they enter into a consultation how to secure themselves from violence, and resolve to come to each others assistance, it the Dragooners from North-hampton [Page 52] or anyelse should assault them, upon notice given by jangling their bels: and that the world might not think their fears to be groundlesse, on the 26 of December 1642. at 12 of the clock at night, Captaine Fran [...]is Sawyer (and as is supposed a brother of Sir Gilbert Pickerings) attend­ed by 100. Dragooners beset M. Grayes house: and the signall of jangling the bells being discovered by some of the Towne that were of their Faction, to prevent the Alarme to the Country, they tye up the bell-ropes, and place a guard of twelve Musketeers in the Church yard to secure the passage to the belfrey: having thus beset the house, and as they thought frustrated the device of calling the confederate Villages to their helpe, Captain Sawyer demands entrance, M. Gray out of his Window tells him, that he and his family were in bed, and withall desired to know what their intentions were, thus in the dead of the night to disturbe their rest, and what Warrant they had to command entrance [...] they return him answer, that they had a Warrant to apprehend his person, and seize on his Plate and Armes for the use of the Parliament: halfe an houre was spent in this Parley, M. Gray protracting the time, that perhaps his neighbours hearing of his danger might come to his rescue: which accordingly fell out, for some of the Towne hearing that the Rebels had beset M. Grayes house, hasten towards the Church, that by the sound of the bels (the signall agreed on) they might sum­m [...] the Country: when they come thither, they find the way intercepted, a guard of Musketeers denying them en­trance: but inraged to find opposition where they did not expect it, they fell foule on the guard, beat them off, took five of their Muskets, forced their entrance, & so rang the bel [...]. Hereupon the Rebels, fearing that their entrance was delayed thereby to gain time till the Town and Country might come in to his Rescue, brake open a Window, and put in one or two of their company who presently open the doores to them and give them free entrance; [Page 53] having thus possessed themselves of the house, their first worke is to seize upon M Grayes person, to this purpose they make directly to his Chamber, whom they found in his shirt, and would hardly give him leave to put on his cloaths; and that their seizing of his person might not be without all shew antho [...]itie, they produce a Warrant signed by the Earle of Essex, in which M. Grayes name was, this they shew onely, but will not permit him to read it. All the monies and Pl [...]e which they found in the house they take away, and as for M. Gray himselfe having taken him prisoner, they compell him to goe on foot from Wel­lingborow to Welby: while they are on their way towards Welby, some 40 or 50 men from Wellingborow, armed only with Swords and Staves come to rescue M. Gray from the Rebels: after a short skirmish (wherein one or two of the Pursuers were hurt only, not slain) finding that they were unequall for the Rebells both in number and Armes, leaving the prey in the hands of the Oppressors, they re­treat to Wellingborow: being returned thither, they find five hundred of the Countrey come in to their assistance: The common people (who seldome love or hate mode­rately) inraged that Master Gray should thus be taken from them, especially some of his poore neighbours, who in him were robbed of the reliefe which they recei­ved from his Charitie, resolve to make some of the Rebels Faction in that Towne sensible of their displea­sure: and therefore since they cannot wreck their anger on the Rebels that did the Fact, they fall foule on those that did approve it, if they were not abettors and under­hand contrivers of it: they breake their windowes, break into some of their houses, and spoyle their goods. A­mongst the number of those that suffered under the fury of the people, a Chandler and a Cooper under-went the greatest losse, yet it could not be much, since upon a strict survey the whole spoyle done in the Town did not amount [...]o 30 l.

[Page 54] Many of this assembly, utterly disliking such disorders, did not onely reprove the chiefe actors in this out-rage, but to dis-countenance their proceeding withdrew them­selves: They of the Towne to their houses, they of the Countrey to their severall habitations: so that by the breake of day the Tumult was appeased and the Towne cleared. While these things were in doing, the Cooper and one or two with him post away to M. Perne the Par­son of Welby, a Turbulent and Seditious man, and make their complaint to him, and to inflame him that was too apt to kindle without their holpe, they doe not onely ag­gravate their own losses at Wellingborow, but tell him that they threatned to come and do the like at Welby: M. Perne, (changing his black Coat for a gray) instantly goes to North hampton, and there represents the injury done to their Faction at Wellingborow, and the pretended danger of Welby so effectually, that by noone that Tuesday Colo­nel Norwich commanding in chief, Serjeant Major Mol [...], Captain John Sawyer, Captaine Francis Sawyer, Captain Pe [...]t [...]ow, Captain Redman, Captaine Farmar, Captaine Harrold, with 500 but others say, 1000. Horses and Dra­gooners, came to Wellingborow: being come thither, they divide themselves into severall Troopes to make good se­verall passages into the Towne, thereby to keepe out the Countrey that were comming to their ayde, Captain John Sawyer with 80 or a 100 Dragooners enters the Towne at that side which leads to Welby: and riding in the Front of his men, marched directly towards M. Neile of Wollaston, and some few with him who stood to oppose him: Sawyer discharges at M. Ne [...]le, and whom he missed with his Bul­let h [...] would be sure to hit with his tongue, shooting out arrowes, even bitter words, calling him Pop [...]sh Rascall: but what reward shal be given unto thee O thou false Tongue [...] he stayed not long without it, for the words were no soon­er spoken, and ( [...]o second his words) a charge given to his Souldiers to give fire, but he received what he would [Page 55] have given, his deaths wound by a shot in the head and necke by Goose-shot, which made him fall on his Horse neck, which shot was seconded by a Countryman, who with a Club beat him off his Horse into the dirt; being thus beaten down, the women to revenge their husbands Quar­rell fasten on him: but M. Oliver Gray (Nephew to M. Gray before mentioned) & M Woollaston rescued him out of their hands, who otherwise had immediatly died the death of Sisera by the hands of women: reprived thus for some few houres, they carry him to one Gray's house an Ale­house-keeper, whose wife was Capt. Sawyers Aunt, where they administred what they could, but in vaine, for after two and twentie houres Languishment he dyed: as soone as Captaine Sawyer was fallen, his Souldiers instantly ran away, only his son, unwilling to leave his Father, fol­lowed him to the hazard of his life by many wounds which he received. In other Parts of the Towne, the Townes-men quit themselves like valiant Souldiers & loyall Subjects, and with very little helpe of the Country Kept the Rebels out: M. Gray's man and another, with each man his Mus­ket, kept out above a 100 at the lower end of the Towne, and repelled them twice or thrice: and had not Captaine Sawyer comming to himselfe a little before his death, per­swaded them that it was in vain to stand out, there being three Pieces on the way from Northampton to batter the Town (which proved true) and withall perswading them to write a Letter to the Commanders, promising that upon their submission the Towne should be secured, they had held it out to the last man: but the dying Captain prevai­led with them, they write a Letter according to his advice, which as they say, was signed by his own hand, the appre­hensio of his desperate condition having put newthoughts in him. But this resolution not being so fully made known to the Towne as a businesse of that concernment ought to have beene, some of the Towne, being ignorant of any [Page 56] Treatie, made some shot, and the Rebells willing to take advantage, rush into the Towne, put both those of the Towne and Country to flight. Captaine Francis Sawyer much inraged for his Brother, and comming neare the place where his Brother was wounded, seeing Master Flint the Curate of Harrowden stand there, not any way inga­ged in the resistance, having not given any provocation, he barbarously struck him with his Pole-axe, and cleft his head downe to the eyes, of which wound he dyed in­stantly: the earth drinking up that innocent blood, shed by the hand of an accursed Doeg, which like the blood of Abel, calls loud in the eares of God for vengeance upon them who authorize and countenance such horrid Mur­thers; Cursed be his anger for it was fierce, and his wrath for it was cruell.

Being Masters of the Towne at three of the Clock in the afternoone, they begin to Plunder, and continue the spoyle untill the next day light failed them, untill Wednesday night. In this time they carry away the Wealth of the Towne to Northampton and other pla­ces, sparing none but those whose tongues were fram­ed to Shiboleth, men of their owne Faction, whether they were active against them or stood Neuters: by which Essay those Luke-warm men (who stand pendulous equal­ly poysed between Rebellion and Loyaltie, and know not which side to leane unto) may guesse what measure they are like to receive from the Rebels hands, if ever they come to have them in their power.

In the Towne, two men especially suffer under these Free-booters, Master Gray and Master Fisher; from the first being Clerke of the Peace, they take away the Com­missions of Peace, the Sessions Rolls, together with his owne Evidences and Leases, all his houshold-stuffe, even to his very bed-cords, leaving but one sheet for his wife and five children: his Wheat and other Corne they [Page 57] give to their Horse; what they did not care, they threw into the streets, and trampled it in the dirt. From the o­ther they took goods, and other things, amounting to a very great summe: and to compleat their wickednesse, to their oppression they adde scorne; for having taken away all that they could, in derision they affix Protections in writing under Colonel Norwich his hand, at his and some others doores, forbidding any man to Plunder. Generally what they could not carry away, they spoyle, so that the losse sustained by the Towne is valued at six thousand pounds.

They took Master Neile Prisoner, and some forty more, amongst them they took the Vicar, Master Jones, a grave and learned man, but lame and very sickly, and having Plundered him of all he had, they mount him on a poore Jade, with a Halter instead of a Bridle; the rest they tye two and two together, and drive them before them to Northampton. Master Gray as I told you, was the day be­fore led Prisoner to Wilby, from thence to Northampton, where his Prison cannot afford him protection from the fury and rage of the Souldiers; to make way to his death, they threaten to pull downe the house where he was confi­ned: and the Commissioners finding that he could not remaine there with any safetie, were constrained to send him away Prisoner to London. Being come thither, Arti­cles are framed and exhibited against him, which being examined at a Committee, and no proofe at all made, he was voted to be discharged his Imprisonment: yet to de­lude Justice and the Petition of Right, the Chaire-man could never find a time to make his report to the House; so that he remained a Prisoner for a long time.

On the 28 of January, 1642, the Castle of Sudley up­on composition was delivered up to the Rebels; there were Articles agreed on and sworne to, but as he spake truely, Children were deceived with Apples, and Men with Oaths; the Rebells as they sweare to Articles for their advantage, [Page 58] so they break them as easily for their advantage, and make Perjury an easie uninterrupted passage to Theft & rob­bery, for these Rebells brake as many Articles as they swore unto: they Plunder not only the Castel, the Seat and house of the Lord Chandoi [...], and Winchcombe a neighbou­ring Village, to the utter undoing the poore Inhabitants, but in defence of the Protestant Religion and vindication of the honour of God they prophane his House. There is in the Castle a goodly faire Church, here they dig up the graves, and disturbe the ashes of the dead: they breake down the ancient Monuments of the Chandoses, and in­stead thereof, leave a prodigious monument of their sacri­legious prophanenesse: for each part of the Church they find a peculiar way to prophane it: the lower part of it they make their Stable, the Chancell their Slaughter­house. Unto the Pulpit (which of all other places in pro­bability might have escaped their impiety) they fasten pegs to hang the Carcasles of the slaughtered Sheep: the Com­munion-Table, according to their owne language, they make their Dresser or Chopping-board to cut out their meat; into the Vault, wherein lay the bodies of the Chando­se [...], an Ancient and honourable Family, they cast the guts and garbage: mingling the loathsome Intralls of beasts with those bones and ashes which did there rest in hope of a joyfull Resurrection. The Nave or body of the Church was all covered with the dung & blood of beasts: & which was (if it be possible) a degree beyond these prophanations, in contempt of God and his holy Temple, they defile each part and corner both of Church and Chancell with their owne excrements, and going away left nothing behind them in the Church (besides walls and Seats) but a stink­ing memory that part of the Parliament Army raysed for the defence of Religion had been there. Let that rayling R [...]bsh [...]kah or jeering Sanballat, I meane the Author of the ridiculous Pamphlet, intituled, One Argument more against the Cavaliers, read this Story, and then tell me [Page 59] which are most guiltie of prophanation of Churches, the Cavaliers or the Roundheads; which were most prophaned, either Saint Mary Maudlins in Oxford, or the Church at Sudley Castle: and yet this dog sticks not with Shimei to ba [...]ke at his Soveraigne and blaspheme his Pietie, as if the Rebels brought from Cy [...]encester had beene Quartered in this Church by his approbation, who to expiate that guilt gave an hundred and fiftie pounds to adorn and beautifie that Church. The truth is, there was a fault in the Com­manders for lodging them in Churches, who if they had had their due, had been hanged for Rebellion, their Car­casses exposed to the F [...]wles of the aire, and the Beasts of the Field, that the Ravens of the valleys might have had their due portion, and never suffered them to come so neere the Church, as to have the priviledge of Christi­an buriall in the Church-yard. So, even so, let all the Kings Enemies perish, O Lord, and let all the people say, Amen.

In Saint Maries Church in Warwick, and the Chappel, (commonly called the Earles Chappel [...]) adjoyning to the Quire of that Church, are divers faire Monuments of the Beuchamps, anciently Earles of that place, which Family long flourishing there, had bin great Benefactors & beau­tifiers of that Church, whereof Thomas Beuchamp (Earle of Warwick, and Earl Marshall of England, and one of the Founders of the most noble Order of the Garter, in the Raigne of King Edward the third) built the Quire now standing, in the midst whereof is his Monument, & ado [...] ­ned the windowes with the Pictures of himselfe, his wife and children, which were many, upon the Sur-coats of the men were their Armes skilfully depicted, the women ha­ving the like, and Man [...]les, over which were the Armes of their Matches, their Husbands being the prime Nobili­ty of those times: the like portraitures in glasse, but much more rich and costly, were in that stately Chappell before mentioned: In this stood the Monument of Earle Richard [Page 60] being Brasse gilt; and in the opinion of judicious obser­vant Travellers esteemed the rarest Piece erected for any Subject in the Christian World: but such is the barba­rousnesse of the pretenders to Reformation, that upon Wednesday the 14. of this instant June, the Souldiers by the appointment and encouragement of one whom (in these degenerous times wherin the dregs of the people are made Commanders for the advancement of Rebellion) men call Colonel Puresey (a man of a meane desperate fortune, but by the meanes of the late Lord Brooke chosen Burgesse of Parliament for Warwick, & who had the grea­test influence in seducing that unhappy Lord to this despe­rate Rebellion, in which he miserably perished:) did beat down and deface those Monuments of Antiquitie, and not content with this, by the same Command they breake downe the Crosse in the market place, not leaving one Stone upon another, Purefey all the while standing by, animating and incouraging them, untill they had finished their so barbarous work: In which the World may observe that these men are the sworne Enemies, not onely of pre­tended Superstition, but of the Ensignes of Nobilitie and Gentry, that if their Diana, I mean their Parity may take effect, posterity may forget and not read the distinction of Noble from ignoble in these venerable monuments of an­cient Nobility: there being in these windowes something [...]deed to instruct a Herald, nothing to oftend the weak­est Christian.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. VII.

Doctor Cox barbarously used by the Earle of Stamford at Exeter, contrary to the Law of Armes. The unheard of cruelties committed by the Lord Grey of Groby and his Souldiers, on the person, house, goods and servants of Master Nowel in Rutland-shire. Doctor Bargrave ill intreated by Col. Sands in Kent, &c.

AFter the great and happy defeat given by the vi­ctorious Sir Ralph Hopton to the Devon-shire for­ces at Starton, it pleased the Commanders of His Majesties Forces to entertaine thoughts of Clemency to­wards the remainder of the Rebels. To testify to the world therefore that there was nothing more in their desires then a Thrift of Christian blood, and withall to heap Coales of fire upon their heads, to conquer them by kindnesse whom they had often conquered by the Sword: by their Letters they signifie their readinesse to close up those wide [...]ents betweene them, by a Treaty. And that a Message of Peace might be well suited with a Messenger, they sent the Letters by Doctor Cox Doctor of Divinitie, who attended by a Trumpeter, came to Exeter that Sunday in the after­noone. The Trumpeter as the manner is gave the Towne warning as soon as he came within sight of the first guard, and presently an Officer came to receive him, who blind-folding him with a handkerchiefe pinn'd over his eyes, conducted him through the Citie unto the Earle of Stamfords house: having admittance there, the Doctor takes off his handkerchiefe, but accidentally did not dispose [Page 62] of the pinne that fastned it, but still kept it in his hand: the Earle he had no sooner set his eyes upon the Doctor, but presently he reviles him, and calls him all the reproachfull names he could imagine, and swore that he would hang him instantly: but first to extort a confession from him, he offers a Knife or Dagger to his breast, deman­ding an Answer to some Interrogatories: the Doctor not affrighted with such rough usage, replyes very discreetly, that he had received commands to deliver certain Letters from the commanders of the Cornish to those of the De­vonshire Army, but that he had no Commission to satisfie any different and by-demands, this denyall to answer, together with after dinner, inflamed the Earle, and put him into a new sit of rayling: and for variety sake he did intermix the opprobrious names with many menaces and others of stabbing him: In the end, seeing that this harsh welcome could effect nothing, nor awe the Doctor to make any discovery, he demands the Letters: the Doctor, that he might cleare his hands, and so dive into his pockets suddenly, put the pin which he held in his hands between his lips: hereupon one Baxter, a Serjeant Major of the City, observing the motion of his hand, but not perceiving what it conveyed to his mouth, cryed out, What doth the Rogue eate there? He [...]wallowes papers of Intelligence: With this, the Earle forgetting the gravitie and serious deportment of a Peer of the Kingdome of England, began in an antique maner to leap, and skip, and frisk, crying out, Treason. Treason, he comes to betray the Citie, Courage my brave blades; and so turning to the Doctor, he set his dagger againe to his breast, & demanded what it was that he had put into his mouth? The Doctor mildly and soft­ly putting his hands to his lips, tooke the pin thence, and shewing it to his Lordship, said, It is a pin my Lord. The Serjeant Major thinking to intercept the supposed Intelli­gence going downe the Doctors throat, instantly flyes to him, took him by the throat, and griped him so hard that he [Page 63] had almost strangled him. The Earl himselfe (most un­worthily) crying out, Cut the villains throat, cut it: nor did he command another what he would not doe himselfe, for with his owne hands he offered his knife thrice at the Doctors throat to cut it, but the Doctor stil put it by, God who is a present helpe in trouble, restrained the Earle, and delivered the Doctor out of his hands. Nor was it his hap to suffer from honourable hands only, the standers by are not idle, but follow so leading an example: as if he had been sent for from Cornwall to Exeter on no other errand then to be made the Citie scorne, and the subject whereon their wanton insolency should vent itselfe: every one in the roome had a fling at him: some with their fists beat him about the head, others scratch his face, one with his fingers boares his eares, to his extreame torment another with his fingers rakes in his mouth, hoping there to find some papers of Intelligence: one teares his haire, another forces his hand downe his throat, and the thing for which they make this strict search is Intelligence, some scrole of Intelligence: Sure there is much want of Intelligence in their owne heads, that made such strict inquisition for it in another mans. Well, they continue this pursuit of In­telligence so long and so eagerly, that the Doctor fainting under so barbarous usage, was ready to give up the ghost, and for feare he should dye under their hands, they leave him a sad Embleme of that entertainment which the Mes­sengers of Peace find from the men of this Generation. Let that rebellious City remember and tremble at that condolement of our Saviour over the like sinne, O Jerusa­lem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Proph [...]ts, and [...]o [...]est them that are sent unto thee, I am unwilling to goe on and read her destiny, and therefore shall return to the story.

Having in this unchristian manner insulted long enough upon the Doctor, they divert their rage, and spend the re­sidue of their fury on the Trumpeter, and having either before, in part breathed out their madnesse, or not thinking the [Page 64] poore Trumpeter so Malignant as the Doctor, though they used him bad enough, yet they expresse not so keen a malice against him as against the Doctor Having satiated themselves by cumulating injury upon injury upon them, they are both commanded to an outward Roome, here they are assaulted by fresh furies, for they had not stayd long there, but two Alderman renew the same insolen­cies and act the injuries all over againe, and the very dregs of the people animated by their example bear them Company. After this the Earle Commits them to Prison, and being brought into the Roome where they were to lodge, they were stript naked, and their cloathes narrow­ly searched: and though after all this scrutiny nothing could be found, yet Intelligence is the thing the Earle looks after, and Intelligence he will have if it be to be had. And though the world never took his Lordship for a Phy­sitian, yet he prescribes two vomits, where his honour had his Simples I know not, but the composition was of a green colour, divided into two draughts, put into two bowles, these the Earl commands to be administred to the Doctor and the Trumpeter, that so they may vomit up those sup­posed Papers of Intelligence which Serjeant Major Baxter thought they had swallowed: the Doctor the chiefe Patient begins first, whom instantly they ply with Posset-drinke, having likewise some infusion in it to provoke and helpe on the Potion taken: all night long did they keepe the Doctor at this exercise, though they saw that what came from him came with great difficultie and Torment, yet they gave not off, till at last it drew blood from him: all the returne that was made into the bason was very exactly strained, to see if there were any ragge of Intelligence: but there was none: but in case it should work both wayes, (though his Lordship had many about him wondrous fit for such imployment) yet whom he placed Sentinell for the posterne if any Intelligence should chance, to escape that way, my intelligence failes me. This inhumane usage brought [Page 65] the Doctor so low, that in three dayes he was not able to receive any sustenance. In this his extremity and weaknesse, he had many visits from the people of the Towne, who like Jobs comforters [...]vile him instead of pittying him: and the third night as he lay very sick and weake in his bed, there came into his Chamber a man very likely to prove the messenger of death unto him, his name was Doune, Lieutenant to Captaine White, who presently asking for the Jesuite, and calling him Rogue, and as ma­ny base names as himselfe deserved, offered to lay violent hands upon him: but one of the Souldiers abhorring so barbarous crueltie, in meere mercy to a dying man, as he had reason to judge him, interposing, restrained him from acting those murtherous thoughts which he brought with him. After the Doctor had remained Prisoner five or six dayes, and having recovered so much strength as to hold out another worrying, he was, (with an ill intention in some) brought before the Councel of Warre, where up­on the Doctors complaint of the hard usage he had under­gone, some of the prime Gentry being ashamed of the cruelties acted on him, being a Messenger, and in that regard by the Law at Arms ought to be priviledged from all affronts, much more from such violent out-rages, Sir John Northcoote indeavoured to palliate the businesse, and to take off from the odiousnesse of it, by alleagding the Contents of the Letters, which indeed being for some preparatories and overtures of Peace, might inrage these men that were Enemies unto it: To which the Doctor re­plyed, that under favour, that could be no ground nor yet excuse for their savage usage of him; because they had beaten him, and almost murthered him in the Earle of Stamfords presence, before they knew the Contents of the Letters, or read so much as one syllable of them, or in­deed received them, the violent Serjeant Major seizing on him before he could deliver them: This so unan­swerable a returne, put the Knight to his Italian shrug, and [Page 66] rejoyned no more, but I know not That. After a week (and more) imprisonment, the Earl commands the Doctor to be carryed aboard the Hope of Toptham, where the stench and noysome smell of the Ship had almost poyson'd him. The Doctors wife hearing of her husbands imprisonment came to Exeter to see him, but before she came her husband being shi [...]t for London, on much intreaty she obtained leave to goe on Ship-board to see him, but on her returne she was imprisoned till her husband being under sayl, she had libertie to goe away. After ten dayes being at Sea, the Doctor arrived at London, where he was long detained Prisoner at the Lord Peters his house in Alders [...]gate-street.

The Lord Gray, with other some Rebels under his Con­duct, came to Master Nowels house, Brother to the Lord Nowel that now is, demanding his person Prisoner, and his Armes for the use of the Parliament. Master Nowel modestly replyed, that he knew not wherein he had offen­ded, that he should forfeit his libertie or goods to the ju­stice of the Parliament: his house was his Castle, his Armes were his Defence, and his libertie was precious un­to him; so that he could not satisfie their demands in any thing. Hereupon they plant a Cannon very neere the house, so neere that the fire of it took hold of an out-house that was thatched, this house though burnt down was not of any great consequence. Therefore they discharge again, and beat downe a beame of his dwelling house, but hurt no man within it; and making a third shot, they beat downe a Chimney, and the fall of it bruised the foot of one of his servants. At last, finding that Master Nowel was resol­ved to make good his house against them, notwithstanding their Cannon Battery, and would not deliver up his per­son to Captivitie, nor his house to their Plunder, they fire six of his Neghbours houses, in one of which there was a woman in Labour, by which meanes the neighbours were compelled to expose her to a probable, by snatching her [Page 67] from certaine destruction, for in the midst of her Throwes and pangs of Child-birth, they were faine to car­ry her in a Chaire out into the streets: having a while sported and warmed themselves at those flames, at which the poore Inhabitants wept and wrung their hands, they threaten, that unlesse Master Nowel will yeeld himselfe Prisoner, and deliver up his house to their pleasure, they will not onely fire his house, but will not leave a house unburnt in the whole Parish. This so affrighted the poor Inhabitants and Neighbours, that men, women and chil­dren, come with teares, and earnestly beseech him to sur­render himselfe, rather than suffer them to be ruined, and utterly spoyled before his face. Overcome at last, not by the Rebels Ordnance, but by that which spake louder in his eares, The pittifull complaints and out cryes of his Neighbours, he founds a Parley, the result of which was,

• First, That the Rebels should see the fire quenched.
• Secondly, That all in his house should have libertie to depart whither they pleased.
• Thirdly, That none should enter the house but Comman­ders.

But this generation of Truce-breakers (that keep faith neither with God nor man, and break Oathes faster then ever Sampson did his Cords, whom nothing can tye fast but a Halter, the strongest Obligation for a Traytor) were no sooner entred the house, but presently they seize on Master Nowel and Master Skipwith as their Prisoners: and whereas by the Article of agreement none were to enter the house but Commanders, and since if the Article had been kept unviolated, there were like to be as many Theeves within as without doores; Therefore Comman­ders and common Souldiers, common Souldiers & Com­manders, all Theeves, enter the house, and rifle it. They take away his goods, cut the Ticks of his beds, burne the Feathers, teare in pieces his Accounts, Writings, and Evi­dences, [Page 68] and That which we have not read in the black Catalogue of the out-rages of the Rebellious Irish, was atten pted by these, for in the examinations upon Oath of those that report the miserable sufferings of the poor Pro­testants in Ireland, & the barbarousnesse of the Irish, pub­lished by Order of Parliament, we doe not find that God gave them up to so reprobate a sense, as to commit or at­tempt any Rapes; give the Devill his due, this sinne wee find not layd to their charge: But these blessed Refor­mers, whom they have not blushed blasphemously to call The Houst of God, and Christs Armies, and Champions of Religion, added this to the rest of their innumerable wic­kednesses, that they attempted to ravish two of his maid­servants, one was dumbe but fourteene yeers of age, ano­ther had her knee put out of joynt, striving to resist a villain in so beastly an attempt. In a word, their practi­ces were generally so wicked, so impious, that one that stood Spectator of all passages, & observed strictly what was done, affirmes, that Master Griffith (whom some call Prince Griff [...]) was the onely civilized man amongst them. Having committed these inhumane acts among the Living, they goe into the Church among the Dead, and there deface a goodly Monument which this Noble Gentleman Master Nowel had erected for his deceased Wife: deeply wounding the living Husband, by spoyling that Memoriall which he had consecrated to the dear Me­mory of his dead Wife. Having ransacked all from the living to the dead, they carry away M Nowel and M. [...]kip­with Prisoners to London, and commit them to safe custo­dy in the Lord Peters his house (before mentioned) in Alders-gate-street, where they remained Prisoners for a long time.

Colonel Sandyes in his perambulation of Kent, bestowed a visit upon Doctor Bargraves house then Deane of Can­terbury, the Deane himself then being from home. Sandyes came late in the night, and the whole family were in bed: [Page 69] they soone rayse the house, and where they did not find they make an entrance, forcing Mistresse Bargrave, a vertuous good Gentlewoman (whom their hasty summons had permitted to cast onely her Night gowue about her) to wait upon them from roome to roome, not suffering her to turne aside (though she for modesty sake requested that favour at their hands) to draw on her Stockings, unlesse they might stand by and see it done. They rudely rush in­to Mistresse Boys her Chamber, the Widow of Doctor Boys Deane of Canterbury, a Gentlewoman about foure score yeares old, there they seize upon a Cabinet of hers, and breake it open, (though the good old woman would very saine have had it spared, and offered them the key to open it) they find in it fortie five pounds in old Gold, which she had layd by to bestow as Legacies upon her friends: this they hug and call their owne. She intreats them to forbeare it, and directs them to her Will, which was laid up with the Gold, and in that they might see how she had bequeathed it. Upon perusall of the Will, they find that she had made Deane Bargrave her owne Bro­ther her Executor, this they pronounce a Crime of so high a nature, that nothing could expiate the guilt, but the for­feiture of the Gold, and the Cancelling of the Will; but by the earnest mediation of Master King, one of their company, at length they are perswaded to restore the Gold, and spare the Will. From hence they goe to the Chamber where young Master Bargrave the Deanes Son did lodge; Sandyes valiantly breakes his Sword (which hung at his beds head) before his face, and calling him out of his bed, sends him Prisoner to Dover Castle. Soone after, the Deane hastning home to comfort his distressed Family, Sandyes heares where he was lodged at an Inne at G [...]avis-end, and as he was undressed and ready to go in­to bed, Sandyes and 13 of his Souldiers, presse into his Chamber with their Swords drawn, and command him to yeeld himself a Prisoner, which the Deane (having neither power [Page 70] nor will to resist) did accordingly; having (with out any reason given) brought him a Captive to London, they commit him Prisoner to the Fleet, where after he had laine three weekes, he was at last released, without ever being examined, or so much as called to the House. After this, Sandyes writes (I blush to mention so degene­rous a Pamphlet) a book, and was not ashamed to call it, His Travailes into Kent, unworthy his Predecessors, to staine the Name of Sandyes with such Travailes: In this worthlesse commentary, the Register of his perpetuall In­famy, amongst Others things he fastens the Note of a debauched drunken young fellow, upon young M. Bar­grave, a Gentleman of so ingenuous a Countenance, so modest and sweet a Temper, that he deserves a farre better Character. The old Deane, a grave and Learned Gentleman, heart-broken with these Injuries, soone after dyes; the World in the mean time Condemning Sandyes, not so much for his Barbaritie as ingratitude in dealing thus with him, who had not many yeares before, beene a speciall meanes to save him from the Gallowes, when he was indicted for a Rape at the generall Assizes at Maid­stone. But you know the old Proverbe, Save a The [...]fe from the Gallowes, and he will cut your Throat.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. VIII.

Master Swift Parson of Goodwich in Hereford-shire, his wife and ten children most inhumanely dealt with by Captaine Kirle a stony hear [...]ed Rebell. The Duke of Ven­dosme Plundered at Uxbridge, with other frauds and abuses committed by the Rebells, &c.

WHen the Earle of Stamford was in Hereford­shire in October 1642. and Pillaged all that kept faith and Allegeance to the King, information was given to Mistresse Swift, wife of Master Thomas Swift Parson of Goodwich, that her house was designed to be Plundred: To prevent so great a danger, she instant­ly repaired to Hereford where the Earle then was, some ten miles from her owne home to Petition him, that no violence might be offered by his Souldiers to her house or goods: He most nobly, & according to the goodnesse of his disposition, [...]threw the Petition away, and swore no small Oathes that she should be Plundered to morrow. The good Gentlwoman being out of hope to prevaile, and seeing there was no good to be done by Petitioning him, speeds home as fast as she could, and that night remo­ved as much of her goods as the shortnesse of the time would permit: next morning to made good the Earle of Stanfords word, Captaine Kirle his Troope, consist­ing of 70 Horse and 30 Foot which were hangers on, (birds of prey) came to Master Swifts house; there they tooke away all his provision of Victualls, Corne, Houshold-stuffe, which was not conveyed away: they emp­tie his Beds, and fill the Ticks with Malt; they rob him of [Page 72] his Cart and six Horses, and make this part of their theft the meanes to convey away the rest: Mistresse Swift much affrighted to see such a sight as this, thought it best to save her selfe though she lost her goods, therefore ta­king up a young Child in her armes, began to secure her selfe by flight: which one of the Troopers perceiving, he commanded her to stay, or (holding his Pistoll at her breast) threatned to shoot her dead: the (good Woman) fearing death w [...]ether she went on or returned, at last shunning that death which was next unto her, she retires back to her house, where she saw her selfe undone, and yet du [...]st not oppose or aske why they did so [...] Having thus rifled the house and gone, next morning earely she goes againe to Hereford, and there againe Petitions the Earle to shew some compassion on her, and her tenne Children, and that he would be pleased to cause her Horses and some part of her goods to be restored unto her: the good Parle was so farre from granting her Pe­tition, that he would not vouchsafe so much as to read it: when she could not prevaile her selfe, she makes use of the mediation of friends: these have the repluse too, his Lordship remaining inexorable without any inclinati­on t [...] mercy: at last hoping that all mens hearts were not Adamant, relentlesse, she leaves the Earle and makes her addresse to [...]apraine Kirle, who upon her earnest in­treatie grants her a Protection for what was left, but for restitution there was no hope of that, this Protection cost her no lesse then 30s. It seems Paper and Inke are deare in those parts: And now thinking her selfe secured by this Protection, she returns home, in hope that what was left she might injoy in peace and quietnesse: She had not beene long time at home, but Captaine Kirle sends her word, that if it pleased her, she might buy foure of her owne six horses againe, assuring her by his Fathers Servant and Tenant, that she should not fear being Plun­dred of them any more by the Earle of Stamfords forces [Page 73] while they were in those parts. Encouraged by these pro­mises, she was content to buy her own, and deposited eight pound ten shill, for foure of her horses: and now concei­ving the storme to be blown over, and all danger past, and placing much confidence in her purchas'd Protection, she cauleth all her goods secured in her neighbours houses to be brought home; and since it could not be better, rejoyced that she had not lost all. She had not enjoyed these thoughts long, but Captaine Kirle sent unto her for some vessels of Cyder, whereof having tasted, but not liking it, since he could not have drinke for himselfe, he would have Provender for his Horse, and therefore instead of Cyder he demands ten busnels of Oates. Mistresse Swift fea­ring that the denyall might give some ground of a Quar­rell, sent him word that her Husband had not two bu­shels of Oates in a yeare for [...]ythe, nor did they s [...]w any on their Gleabe: both which were most true: yet to show how willing she was (to her p [...]wer) to comply with him, that the Messenger might not returne emptie, she sent him sortie shillings to buy Oates. Suddenly after the Captaine of Goo [...]r [...]ge-Castle, sends to Master Swifts house for Victuall and Corne, Mistresse Swift instantly repaires to him, and shewes him her Protection: He to answer shew with shew, shewes her his Warrant, and so without any regard to her Protection, seizeth upon that provision which was in the house, together with the Cyder which Captaine Kirle refused. Hereupon Mistresse Swift writes to Captaine Kirle complaining of this injury, and the affront done to him in sleighting his Protection: But before the Messenger could return with an Answer to her Letter, some from the Castle come a second time to Plun­der the house, and they did what they came for: Presently after comes a Letter from Captaine Kirle in Answer to Mistresse Swifts, telling her, that the Earl of Stamford did by no means approve of the injuries done unto her, and withall by word of mouth sends to her for more Oates: She [Page 74] perceiving that as long as she gave, they would never leave asking, resolved to be drill'd no more: the returne not answering expectation, on the third of December two houres before day, Captaine kir [...]es Lieutenant, attended by a considerable number of Horse and Dragoones, comes to M. Swifts house and demands entrance, but the doores being kept shut against them, and not able to force them, they broke down two Iron Barres in a Stone window, and so with Swords drawne and Pistols cocked, they enter the house. Being entred, they take all Master Swift and his wives apparell, his Bookes and his Childrens clothes, they being in bed, and those poore children that hung by their clothes, unwilling to part with them, they swung them about untill (their hold- [...]ast failing) they dashed them against the wals. They took away all his Servants clothes, and made so cleane work with one, that they left him not a Shirt to cover his nakednesse. There was one of the Children, an Infant lying in the Cradle, they rob'd that, and left not the little poore soule a rag to defend it from the cold. They took away all the Iron, Pewter and Brasse, and a very fair Cupboard of Glasses which they could not carry away, they broke to pieces: and the foure Horses lately redeemed are with them lawfull prize againe, and left nothing of all the goods but a few stooles for his wife, children and servants to sit downe and bemoane their di­stressed condition. Having taken away all, and being gone, Mistresse Swift in compassion to her poore Infant in the Cradle, took it up almost starved with cold, and wrapped it in a Petti-coat which she tooke off from her selfe: and now hoped, that having nothing to lose, would be a better protection for their persons, then that which she purchased of Captaine kirle for 30 shill. But as if Jobs Messengers would never make an end, her three Maid-servants whom they of the Castle had compelled to carry the Poultry to the Castle, return and tell their Mistresse that they in the Castle said, that they had a Warrant to seize upon Mi­stresse [Page 75] Swift and bring her into the Castle, and that they would make her three [...]aid-servants wait on her there, threatning to Plunder all under the petti-coat, and other uncivill immodest words, not fit for them to speak, or me to write. Hereupon Mistresse Swift fled to the place where her Husband for [...]eare of the Rebells had withdrawn him­selfe; she had not beene gone two houres, but they come from the Castle, and bring with him three Teemes to car­ry away what was before designed for Plunder, but wanted meanes of conveyance. When they came, amongst other things, there was a batch of bread hot in the Oven, this they seize on, ten Children on their knees intreat but for one loafe, and at last with much importunitie obtained it: but before the Children had eaten it, they took even that one loafe away, and left them destitute of a morsell of bread amongst ten Children. Ransacking every corner of the house, that nothing might be left behind, they find a small Pewter dish in which the dry Nurse had put Pap to feed the poore Infant, the mother which gave it suck being fled to save her life, this they seize on too The Nurse intreats, for Gods sake, that they would spare that, pleading that in the Mothers absence, it was all the sustenance which was or could be provided to sustaine the life of the Child, & on her knees intreated to shew mercy unto the Child, that knew not the right hand from the left, a motive which prevailed with God himselfe, though just­ly incensed against Nineveh. But to shew what bowels of compassion and mercy are to be expected in Sectaries, and how far they are from being Disciples to him who sayes, Be ye mercifull, as your Father which is in heaven is mer­cifull, They transgresse that precept of our Saviour in the Letter, and take away the Childrens meat and give it un­to dogs for throwing the Pap to the dogs, they put up the dish as lawfull prize.

Master Swifts eldest sonne, a youth, seeing this barba­rous crueltie, demanded of them a reason of this so hard [Page 76] usage; They replyed, that his Father was a Traytour to the King and Parliament, and added that they would keepe them so short, that they should eate the very fle [...]h from their armes; and to make good their word, they threaten the [...]iller, that if he ground any Corne for these Children, they would grind him in his [...]wne Mill; and not contented with this, they goe to Master Swifts next neighbour (whose daughter was his Ser­vant) and take him Prisoner, they examine him upon oath what goods of M. Swifts he had in his custody, he professing that he had none, they charge him to take his daughter away from M. Swifts service, or else they threaten to Plunder him, and to make sure worke, they make him give them securitie to obey all their commands: terrified with this, the neighbours stand a [...] farre off and pi [...]ie the distressed Condition of these per­secuted Children, but dare not come or send to their reliese: by this meanes the Children and Servants had no sustenance, hardly any thing to cover them, from Fry­day six a clocke at night, untill Saturday twelve at night, untill at last the neighbours moved with the lamentable cryes and complaints of the Children and Servants, one of the neighbours over-looking all difficulties, and shewing that he durst be Charitable in despite of these Monsters, ventured in and brought them some provision. And if the World would know what it was that so exaspe­rated these Rebels against this Gentleman, the E. of Stam­ford, a man that is not bound to give an account of all his actions, gave two reasons for it, first, because he had bought armes and conveyed them into Munmouth-shire, which under his Lordships good favour was not so; and secondly, because not long before, he Preached a Sermon in Rosse upon that Text, Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, in which his Lordship said, he had spoken Trea­son in endeavouring to give Caesar more then his due: these two Crimes cost Master Swift no lesse then 300 l.

[Page 77]About Feb. 1642. the Duke of Vendosme being to return home into France, but resolving first to take his leave of the King at Oxford, obtained a Passe from the close Com­mittee, that he might be free from any [...]et or molestation in his journey, but notwithstanding this Passe, in his Re­turne from Oxford he was searched and Plundered at Ʋxbridge, by that worthy Knight Sir Samuel Luke, who was sent by his Excellency from Windsor, with a Troope of Horse for that purpose, That France by experience might know, that Theeves Rob as confidently in the Townes of England, as in the woods of Ardenna, or any Forrest in France.

About December 1642. the Colonels, Waller, Browne, and others, marching from Aylesbury to Windsor, & thence by Newbury to Winchester, their Souldiers in their March Plundered every Minister within five miles of the Road, without distinction, whether of their owne party or of the other, whether they subscribed for Episcopacy, Presbytery, or Independency, whether they wore a Surplice, or refu­sed it; onely if they did not, they afforded them the lesse bootie. Those that were Considers, whose Irregularitie, and Non-Conformitie, armed them with confidence to ap­peare, Petitioned the House of Commons for Reliefe and satisfaction: it being taken into Consideration, that this was not according to their new Phrase to weaken the wick­ed, but the Religious and such who stood wel-affected to the Parliament: hereupon slandering the Cavaliers, with the fact which their owne Souldiers had done, and to make the foolish Citizens bleed free, there was an Order drawne up and published, That in regard the Peti­tioners were wel-affected men, and Plundered by the Cavaliers, that there should be a generall Collecti­on made for them the next Fast day, and that the Prea­chers should exhort the People, and Pray to God to enlarge the Peoples hearts, bountifully to relieve the Pe­titioners.

[Page 78]But winchester being surprized, and the Lord Grandi­son taken Prisoner, Colonel Browne in a Letter to famous Isaack Pennington, magnifies the Victory, and inlarged the glory of it very much by that Circumstance of taking that Noble Lord Prisoner, but which did much eclipse the honour obtained that day, in the Letter he addes, that by the treachery of Colonel Ʋr [...]ey, he was escaped: little Isaack had hardly so much patience, as to read out the Letter, but he Summons his M [...]rmidons, and gives an A arme to his Red-contes, the Messengers of his fury, and sends them instantly to Plunder Mistresse Ʋrri [...]s lodging: It was no sooner said then done, they being as swift to act misch [...]efe as Isaack was ready to command it; what they had in charge they performe faithfully, and Plunder her of no more but all. Mistresse Ʋrrey presently gives notice to her Husband what measure she found in the Ci­tie, while he was in their Service in the Country: the Colo­nel upon the Information hastens to London, to expostu­late for this Injury, and for redresse, complaines to the House against the Ring-leader Browne, and Rout-Master little Isaack: upon hearing both parties, the House quits Colonel Ʋrrey from any conspiracy with my Lord Gran­dison or connivance at his escape: and for reparation of his losses, they order him 400 l. to be paid him out of the Monies collected the last Fast day for the Plundered Ministers, who by this meanes were Plundered twice: and so one order begetting another, they order that a new collection shall be made for the Petitioners the next Fast day: nor was this the first debt by many that have beene paid by the abused Charitie of London, the great Tax-bearing Mule as one justly calls it.

There is one Bea [...]e dwelling at Hasely (as I take it) in Oxfordshire: a man much devoted to the proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament, yet it was his chance to fall into their hands who weaken the wicked: some of the Rebells under the command of the Earle of Essex [Page 79] Plundered him of two Horses: upon complaint made un­to the Earl, he gives Beal command to attend him at Tame, and there he should have them again: according to the directions given him by the Earle, (accompanied by his Brother) he comes to Tame, hoping to have his Horses re­stored, being come thither, Bcale is apprehended and com­mitted to Prison, and his Horse, together with that which his Brother rode on, are both seized for the Earles use, nor can either Man or Horse be released, unlesse he will pay down 20 l. in ready mony: having continued in Pri­son foure daies, at last his Mother (for fear if she had rode she might have been Prisoner for her Horses sake, as her Sonne was) comes to Tame on foot and brings 20 l. with her to redeeme her Son out of Prison, upon receipt of the Money, being a debt so justly due and so truely paid, his Excellency released him out or his Imprisonment, and re­stored him the two worst Horses of the foure, and wisely kept the two best for himselfe, which with a very little helpe, may serve to explaine the mystery of his Motto, CAVE ADSUM: i.e. where I come looke well to your Money and Horses.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. IX.

Master Jones Vicar of Wellingborow, starved to death in Pri [...]on at Northampton. A Barber and a Maid-ser­vant murthered by the Rebells at Wellingborow. Captain Ven [...], ab [...]se of Windsor castle, and his barbarous u­sag [...] of Pris [...]ners there, &c.

VVHen I first entred on this Worke, it was a pro­ [...]ise solemnly made, not to abuse the World with salthoods or uncertainties, but to use all Candour and Integritie: and if any thing should chance to passe, which upon better information should appeare false, I should not blush to make a free and an ingenuous ac­knowledgement. In these severall Relations what to re­tract or recall of the Rebels cruelties, I yet know nothing, but what to adde unto them I doe.

The sixt weeks Mercury told you of the Plundering of Willingbo [...]ow in Northampton-shire by the Rebels, and the taking of Master Iones, Vicar of that Towne Prisoner, and in tha [...] account which I there gave of him, I left him in Captivitie at North [...]mpton: since that Mercury went abroad, some good body finding that Relat [...]on to come far short of th [...]t barbarous usage which Master Iones found from the Rebels, moved either with detestation of such in­humane cruelt [...]e not to be bu [...]yed in oblivion, or out of af­fection to his person murthered by these savage Monsters, hath supplyed the former defect, and enabled me to bring this Story to its sad conclusion.

Master Iones was a man very aged, being arrived at that Terme which Moses made the usuall boundary of mans life [Page 81] in his life, Threescore and ten, and had not these blood­thi [...]stie men shortned his dayes by an untimely death, he might have been so strong as to come to fourescore yeares; and though age it self be a disease (which yet few men that have it are willing to be cur'd of) it pleased God to adde a casuall infirmitie to his naturall, for some two yeares since by a fall he unhappily broke his leg, of which he continued lame to his death. When the Rebells, those Locusts that devoure all the good things of the Land, came to Wellingborow, having ransacked the Towne, they took many Prisoners, and amongst the rest Master Jones: all that knew him must beare him record, that he was a man of a most unblameable life and conversation, an able Scholler, and extraordinarily gifted for Preaching, of which he gave ample proofe by his Labours diligently be­stowed among his Parishioners by the space of forty years: having h [...]m in their power whom they knew to be a great meanes by his Orthodox Preaching to keepe that Towne and some parts thereabouts in Obedience, when the rest of the Countrey were in Rebellion against their Sove­raigne: they neither reverence his Calling, nor honour his age, nor pittie his infirmitie, but abuse him by scosse [...], and jeeres, and compell him to goe on foot a great part of the way (lame and weak as he was) betweene Welling­borow and Northampton: and that he might keepe pace with the rest, they compell him to make more speed then his infirmitie could brooke. At Wellingborow the Rebells murthered a Barber and stole away his Beare, and when they could not force this reverend old man to mend his pace, Lieutenant Grimes (a desperate Brownist, the ma­ster of this mis-rule, and the chiefe agent in inflicting all this scor [...]e and tyranny on Master Jones, but since a pr [...] ­soner in Banbury Castle) to see if feare would adde to his strength, forceth the Beare upon him, which running be­tweene his legs took him upon her back, and laying ande the intractablenesse of its Nature, grew patient of her burden; [Page 82] and to the astonishment of the beholders carried him quietly, so that what was intended as a violence, be­came his ease. The Rebels overcome by so unusual an ex­ample of kindnesse, the savage Bea [...]e reproving the mad­nesse of their fury, they remove Master Io [...]es from off the Beare to a Horse, but such a Horse as did but vary, not better the condition of his transportation. One of the rout observed to be extreamely active in all these insolencies, and to have a hand in murthering the Barber, seeing the tamenesse of the Bear, as quiet under Master Iones, as if she had bin accustomed to the Saddle, prefumes that it was no more but up and ride, and presently bestrides the Beare, who as if she had been of that race that did revenge the Prophet Elis [...]as quarrell, dismounts the bold Rider, and as if she had bin rob'd of her whelps, did so mangle, rend, and tear him with her teeth, and pawes, that the pre­sumptuous wretch dyed of these hurts suddenly after.

Stay, Reader, suspend thy opinion, be not too hastie, I professe ingenuously the relation seemes at first blush to partake something of the Romanse, or at best to be but an imitation of some Popish Legend, as if we meant to im­plo [...]e the help of seyned miracles to gain credit to a par­tie: but against all this prejudice I must oppose, first the Integritic and qualitie of the Relator, being beyond all exception, and affirms it on his credit. Secondly, why may not God stop and open the mouth of the Bear now as well as the Lyons heretofore [...] to revenge the indignities offe­red to a Minister under the Gospel, by the same creature, as those offered to a Prophet under the Law? Or lastly, why may not the blood of him that owned this Beast, be required by this Beast of him that had his hand in shedding it? This was not the first time that God gave commission to the Brute to execute his vengeance. But I forget my selfe; my businesse is to relate things done, not to encoun­ter Objections against their probability of doing. To goe on therefore.

[Page 83]Having brought Master Iones to N [...]thampton, his en­tertainment there was as bad as his usage in the way thi­ther: though it were in the depth of Winter, when old age needed good fortifications of Lodging and Dyet against the incursions of Cold and Wet, yet they afford him no­thing but a hard mat, with a little straw under him, and to cover him and to keep him warme nothing but one Blan­ket and his own wearing clothes: As for his food, they give him the bread of afflict on, d [...]ying his owne friends leave to supply him with competent dyet, to sustaine nature, and his growing infirmities: yet to shew that Man lives not by bread onely, but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God, it pleased his good providence to pre­serve him like the young children in Daniel, fed only with Pulse so that he was in good plight and seemed to want nothing, though he continued in this distressed condition from Christmas to almost Easter: about which time, not re­morse of conscience for so much cruelty practiced on a de­crepid old man, (but an Orthodox Reverend Divine) but importunitie of friends, prevailed with the Rebells to re­lease him of his imprisonment in Northampton, and to re­mit him to a neighbour Ministers of his one M. Walters, Bachelor in Divinitie, Vicar of Doddington neer Welling­borow, a very learned and industrious Preacher, and per­mitted him to Officiate in his owne Cure at Easter, there being but one Parish Church in the Towne, but no lesse then two thousand Communicants. Having licence to visit his Charge, not awed by that Tyrannous usage which he had undergone, Conscience of his duty doth presse him to a punctuall observance of the Orders and Canons of the Church: he Celebrates Divine Service according to the Book of Common Prayer; preacheth Obedience as bold­ly as if there had been no Rebells in Northampton-shire, administreth the Sacraments with the same Reverence, Decency and Devotion, as if there had been no Puritans in Wellingborow. Nor doth the undaunted old man remit any [Page 84] thing enjoyned by Canon or Rubrick. This constancy of his so incen [...]ed the Schismaticall Puritanicall partie of the Towne, that complaint is made at Northampton, that M. Jones is the same man he was, as much a true Son and Minister of the Church of England as ever. Upon this in­formation, he is apprehended in Easter week, and carryed Prisoner to Northampton a second time, where they use him with more inhumanity (if it be possible) then before; they will not permit his wife to visit him, and kept him so short in h [...]s dyet, not suffering his wife or friends to re­lieve him, that most barbarously they starved him to death, for about Whitsontide his spirits exhausted, and his body pined by famine, the good old Martyr resigned his soule to God.

There is in Northam [...]ton one John Gifford, for his ex­traction the Hogge-herds sonne of Little-Hougton, for his education a Knitter, [...]fterward a Hose-buyer, now Major of Northampton, and Colonel of the Towne Regiment. This man to his power Civill and Martiall, assumes an Eccle­siasticall Superintendency too, and orders what formes shall be used in Baptis [...]e, the Lords Supper, Buryall of the Dead, and the like: When therefore they came to in­terre the skin and bo [...]s of this starved Martyr, for flesh he had none, the forme enjoyned by this Gifford was the same which one Brookes, a London Lecturer, used at the buriall of Jo [...]n Gough of S. Iames Dukes place within Algate in London, viz.

The World may in this see what devout Liturgies we are like to have, when a Major of a Towne shall sup­presse the An [...]ient Pious Formes, and introduce rime dog­gerels, fitter for a painted Cloth in an Ale-house, then the Church of Christ.

Before I leave this particular Relation, I must not for­get to tell you one act of these Religious Reformers: be­ing [Page 85] at Wellingborow at the Signe of the Swan, two Maid­servants making a bed. some of these Rebels did sollicite them to Incontinency, but the Maids refusing to hearken to their beastly sollicitations, they began to offer violence, and to inforce what they could not perswade, they still making resistance, they shot one of them dead in the place, and shot the other through the wrist: such Monu­ments of Religion and Puritie do these blessed Reformers leave at all places where they come

Master Frederick Gibb Parson of Hartist in Suffolke, in Morning Prayer before Sermon, desired his Parishio­ners to give attention to one of His Majesties Declarati­ons newly set forth, with an expresse Command to have it Published in all Parish Churches, thereby to rectifie the people, and to wipe off those false Impressions which the Incendiaries of the Kingdome had made in them con­cerning the Kings Actions & Intentions: whereupon one Master Coleman a Parishioner being present, impudently replyed unto him, openly in the Church, that he might be ashamed to abuse the people by Reading His Majesties Declarations unto them, and therefore he would fetch him some Parliament Declarations which were a great deale better to be Published unto them, while this rayling Rab­shekeh reviled his Soveraign, Master Gibb, as it he had re­ceived the Command in that case given, answers him not, made no reply at all, but as not heeding this snarler, calls on the Congregation a second time to give attention, Coleman interrupts him againe, and in a scoffing manner, sayes, well then Sir, you meane to be an obedient Servant to his Majestie. Master Gibb then thinking it not onely seasonable, but necessary to professe his Loyalty, replyed, yes, Sir, I am, and hope to continue a faithfull Servant un­to Him as long as I live: and so proceeds to read the De­claration; the People notwithstanding all this Incourage­ment from Coleman to contradict with them, standing very attentive to heare it: The main drift of the Kings Decla­ration, [Page 86] was to assure all His loving Subje [...]ts, That as He expected that they should make the Laws the rule of their obedience, so He would make the Laws the guide of His government: Master Gibb having published the Declara­tion, Coleman stands up, and most Traiterously replyed to his Parson, well, Sir, the King neither is, nor shall be Iudge of the Law what ever such prating fello [...]e [...] as you would have him: after this, being inraged (as the rest of that Faction are) that the peoples eyes should be opened, or that they should, being truely informed, conceive of the King as he is, a most just and pious Prince, but still to look on him and all his actions through those false Per­spectives of slander and falsehood which they hold before their eyes; Coleman speeds to London, and complaines (to that Conventicle which call themselves a Parliament) against Master Gibb for so foule an Affront put upon them by publishing the Kings Declaration: presently (be­ing servilely Observ [...]nt to every base informer) they dis­patch severall Pursevants to apprehend Master Gibb, he seeing the storme comming (as wise men doe) hides him­selfe, after sometime of retirement (advised unto it by his friend) he goes to London, where by the great mediation of friends, and paying fees to the summe of 30 l. he was dismissed, upon engagement to be forth-comming, when­soever they should call for him.

There is none so insolent and intolerable as a base meane man started up into Command or Authoritie, we cannot give you a greater Instance, then in That begger­ly Captain Ven, Citizen of London, made Colonel & Com­mander in chief of Windsor Castle, who doth not onely assume to himselfe the propriety of his Soveraignes house, dating his Letters to Iezabel his wife, From our Castle at Windsor, and building some additions to the Deanes Lodg­ings, as if he meant to set up his rest there, and make that his habitation: when no place in that Royall Castle is fit for such a Couple but the Cole-house, and even that too [Page 87] good for them; but as if there would never come a time to call him to an account, he doth use the Gentlemen and Souldiers taken by the Rebells, and sent Prisoners thither, with that crueltie and inhumanitie, as if they were Turkes, not Christians, for the Gentlemen that are Pri­soners there are not onely kept from Church, nor permit­ted to receive the Sacrament neither from their owne Preachers, nor from any friend whom they could procure to doe that office for them, nay, they were not permitted to joyne together in devotions in their private lodgings, but each man a part, and if this pettie Tyrant could have hindered that intercourse which every particular devout Soule injoyes with his God, this Ath [...]st would have hin­dered that too. And because the sedentary Solitary Lives which they led there were prejudiciall to their healthes, they earnestly entreated Ven that they might: recreate themselves in the Tennis Court near the Keep, and offer­red to be at the charges of a Guard, if those high walls, and the many guards about them were not thought suffi­cient to secure them, but yet were denyed. Nay, when the Sheriffe of Sussex was brought Prisoner from London to Windsor very lame, though his Chirurgion offered Co­lonel Ven to be deposed, that on the least neglect his Leg was like to Gangreene, yet after he came to Windsor, he was forced to lye with the rest of the Knights and Gentle­men on the ground many nights; at last, shewing his Leg to Ven, he confessed, that he never saw a more dan­gerous lamenesse, and promised to acquaint the Earle of Essex with it: and the Sheriffe himselfe being acquainted with the Earle, presuming on some interest in him, wrote unto him to acquaint him with his Condition, and earnest­ly intreating him that he might be sent to London and disposed of, though in a Dungeon, for a weeke, that he might have the assistance of his owne Physitian and Chi­rurgion, offering to give anysecurity, & be at any charges to assure him of his safe Returne, to render himselfe true Pri­soner; [Page 88] but neither the sense of his misery, nor his ear­nest sollicitations could prevaile with his Excellency. And if the Knights and Gentlemen, who had money to bribe that compassion which they could not intreat, found no better measure at their hands, what then, thinke you, were those heavy pressures under which the poore common Souldiers groaned? there were in the Castle eight poore Souldiers to whom the Sheriffe of Sussex allowed eight shillings a week: yet not withstanding, because they refu­sed to take the wages of Iniquitie, and serve under the Rebells Colours, and fight against their Soveraigne, they starved them, insomuch that being released, (that they might not dye in the Castle) comming into the aire, three of them fell down dead in the streets: three more recove­red as farre as Eaton, where a good woman for five shillings a Weeke given for their reliefe by the She­riffe of Sussex, gave them entertainment, and when the Sheriffe made his happy escape, he left them a­live.

There was a poore man living neere Moore Parke, whom (when Prince Rupert was in those parts) commanded to shew him where the Pipes lay which conveyed water to the Castle, for this crime they apprehend him, and commit him prisoner to the Castle, where they fed him with so slender dyet, that they even starved him: and when upon his wives teares and lamentable cryes that she and her children were like to starve at home, while her husband starved at Windsor, they having no subsistance but what he got by the sweat of his browes, he was released, he was not able to stand on his legs, and whether dead since we have no Information.

There was at the same time in the Castle, one Lieute­nant Atkinson prisoner, who suffering under the same want of necessary food, sent to his Father, humbly petiti­oning for reliese; his Father, though a man of good e­state, returned answer, that unlesse he would take profered Enter­tainment [Page 89] from the Parli ment, he should ly [...] there, rot [...] and starve, and be damned, for him: He finding no p [...]t [...]ie from his Father, where Natu [...]e and Religion bade him expect it, petition [...]d the Gentlemen in the Keep for bread, as many others dayly did, and on his Petition had monies sent him, but dyed starved two dayes after, and left this just ground to the world to make this Observati­on, That whe [...]e Pur tanisme prevailes, it can [...]els all Obl [...] ­gations both of Religi [...]n and Natu [...]e, and never fa [...]l [...]s to make men guilty of that [...]in which is in the n [...]mber of those wh [...]ch the Scri [...]tu [...]s tell us, shall heare wrath on the end of the World, the want of N [...]turall affection

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. X.

Master Chaldwell and his wife barbar [...]usly used by the Re­b [...]ll [...] at Lincolne, and his servan [...] murthered. Master Le [...]e, Parson of Wedon-Pinkny in Northamptonshire, hi [...]selfe and his Church infini [...]ely abused on the Lords day by some Rebell-Troopers of Northampton, &c.

WIlliam Chaldmell of Thorgon [...]y, in the County of Linco [...]ne Esquire, and Justice of Peace, being an aged Gentleman, yet his Loyalty and desi [...]e to se [...]ve the King in [...]is just Warres, made him over-looke his infirmities, so that he resolved in person to come to His assistance: To this purpose he provided foure horses compleatly furnished, of which the Rebells having intelligence, they surprize him and seize on his horses. In Februa [...]y 1643. some Rebell-Troopers came to M. Chaldw [...]lls house and demanded entrance, which he denying unlesse they could shew some [Page 90] Commission from the King, they presently broke up his hall windows, and forcing his entrance, apprehend his person: yet his person is not all they come for, they be­gin to plunder his goods, and the first thing which they lay hold on, was some Linnen lying, on the Hall Table. A servant of Master Chaldwels standing by, unwilling to lose any thing, if it might be saved, takes hold on the Lin­nen too, and intreats the Troopers to spare it: Presently same cry out shoot him, which was no sooner said then done, for one discharging a Pistoll at him , shot a Bullet into his heart, and the top of his seouring-stick into his bo­dy neere it. The poore man instantly fell downe dead, hardly by any motion expressing the farewell of life: While most stood amazed at so barbarous an act, some make towards him, thinking to help him, but were forbid by the bloody Villaines to come neere him, who were so farre from remorse for what they had done, that to mur­ther they added theft, diving into the Pockets of him whom they had thus murthered, and [...]obbing him of his moneys: Nay, his wife whom they had murthered, hearing of this sad accident, being great with child, came to see her dead Husband, but was not permitted to come neare him, being threatned by these Troopers, that if she came neare him, they should doe unto her as they had done unto her Husband, shoot her dead.

Having done their pleasure in Master Chaldwels houese, they carry him away Prisoner to Lincoln; Being come thither, they commit him to the Towne Gaole, and lodged him there in the common Keep amongst Murtherers and Felons: The day after the Lincolne-shire Rebels received the defeat before Newarke, by a verball command from the Earle of Lincolne [...], he was removed from the Towne-Prison to the Castle in Lincolne, where he was put into a [...]as [...]ie stinking place called the Witch Hole, and without any regard to his qualitie, being a Gentleman of prime [...]ote in his Country, or to his age being an old man, they permit [Page 91] him to stay there all night, having no other bed but the Ground, and no other Pillow but the hard stones. The next day they vouchsafe him the favour to let him purchase a little and but a very little better accommoda­tion by buying out some poore Prisoners out of their lod­ging: remaining there in this disconsolate condition, his wife an aged Gentlewoman came to visit him, being very willing to share with him in his Misery, as before she had done in his Prosperitie.

Having spent some time in mutuall consolation, and exhorting one another patiently to beare this unjust op­pression, hoping that they might enjoy one anothers socie­tie, in so meane a condition, without the envy of their op­pressors: but even this contented misery did not last long, for the next day after the Rebells lost Grantham by the Kings recovering that Towne, out of their possession, the Governour of Lincolne ( Welden by name) inraged, and not knowing where to wreck his malice, safer then on this poore old Gentleman, comes up to the Castle, and most imperiously commands that Chaldwell should come before him: the Messenger that was sent to command his appea­rance, returned with this answer, That Master Chaldwell laboured under some indisposition, that he was in bed, and his Wife with him: the Governour not satisfied with so reasonable an answer, snatched a cudgell out of a Souldi­ers hand, and sweares that he would make the old rascall rise: in this fury away he goes to Master Chaldwells cham­ber, and rushing in, in a menacing way shakes his cudgell at him, and holding it upon his head, threatned to basti­nado him if he did not rise presently, the good old Gen­tlewoman his wife, prognosticating by the rough message sent her Husband, that there was a storme comming, for­sook her bed, and stood by it in her night-Gown, but bare-legged, there to interpose and plead for her Husband if occasion served: and now finding more inhumanitie then her feare at first suggested, in an humble manner she be­seeched [Page 92] the Governour to use her Husband like a Gentle­man, not like a dog, to be awed by a cudgell. The Gover­nour impatient of any mediation, though from a wife, and though b [...]cked with never so much reason, c [...]mmands his Souldiers to take her away, which they did in so rude and boysterous a manner, that they dragged her downe the staires, pulled her dressing off her head, and at last thrust her out of the Castle. Being thus violently snatched from her deare Husband, and [...]ea [...]ing he might suffer as much violence within, as she did in being thurst out of the Ca­stle; she sits downe on a stone at the Castle gate, where the winter blasts sand her gray haire, a sad spectacle to all that passed by, and knew who she was. Many there were that pittied her distresse, and would willingly have recei­ved her into their houses, but durst not; 'tis a crime to shew mercy where the Rebels intend crueltie. At last ha­ving sate there long, full of teares and sorrow, bassled with cold winds and weather, a sister of Master St ts the Apotheca [...]y (and the God o [...] mercy restore it an hundred fold into her bosome) [...]ends her a Petti-coat (for they thrust her out with no clothes on but her night-Gowne) to fence her against the extremitie of the cold. But to let this cha­ritable Gentlewoman know, that the rewards of mercy are to be expected in another world, and that here to doe good, and for that to suffer evill, is the recompence of this world, that very after-noone her Brothers house was plun­dered, and all their goods seized on, so that they needed a returne of that compassion in the evening which they shewed to others in the morning. Welden the Governour, having compelled the good old Gentleman to rise out of his bed, notwithstanding his present infirmitie, sends him from his poore lodging which he had lately pur­chased, to the common Dungeon, where he had neither light nor aire but what the Grate afforded. The place was of such condition, that there being three Prisoners with him in the same roome, but one of foure must lye downe [Page 93] at once, the rest must stand: and yet in this little case (as was testified by a Letter under his owne hand) he remained eleven or twelve nights without Bed, Chaire, or Stoole: and in that time, for foure or five nights, he was not permitted to goe forth to doe the offices of nature, a command being given, that if he offered to stirre forth they should beat out his braines. Thus much, and diverse other particulars were signfied to the Commissioners at Newarke, when the Ammunition came from thence: At which time information was gi­ven, that Master Chaldwell was then in a condition not much better then what you have heard here rela­ted: and whether their barbarous cruelties and inhuma­nitie have not set an end to his sufferings by death, is un­certaine.

On Sunday the second of Iuly 1643. in the afternoon, ten or twelve Troopers under the command of Cap­taine Samuel, came from Northampton to We [...]on Pinkney in the same Countie, and comming thither in Prayer time, they came into the Church, one of them being Horse-keeper (as it was reported) to Sir Richard Samuel, father to the Captaine, came up to the Reading Pew, where Master Losse, Parson of that Parish was officiating Divine Service, and commanded him to leave off his Por­tage and to follow him: Master Losse in [...]eating him in that Sacred worke, but to have patience untill he had finished what he had began; Patience me no patience (replyed the Groome) my businesse is of greater importance then to ad­mit of any delay, come away therefore, or I will pull you [...]t by the cares: thereupon, not knowing whose Souldiers they were, nor of what consequence their businesse might be or it he had knowne both, yet not able to make resistance, be obeyes his command, and followed him into the Churc [...] ­yard. Being come thither, Master Losse demands what he would have with him? the Groome tells him, that he must goe along with them to Northampton, Master Losse deman [...]s [Page 94] again, by what authority, and by vertue of what Commission? The Groome replyes, that he should know that when he came to Northampton: Master Losse intreats that he may be excused, alleading that he had lost twelve or thirteen horses taken from him by the Parliament Sol­diers, and that he had never a horse able to carry him two miles out of the Towne: one of the Troopers sweares wounds and blood, that he would carry him behind him, and if that did not like him, he would drag him along with a Halter at his horse taile. Master Losse abominating so great insolency from Groomes, boldly told them that he would never be a slave to slaves; and so rushing from them tooke Sanctuary in the Church, and shut the door upon him, and perceiving the doore on the other side of the Church open, the people having unbard it for their speedier passage out, he hastens thither, and though he made what speed he could, he was like to be prevented by one of the Troopers who was come about and was ready to enter the Church on horse-back: which Master Losse ob­serving, tooke up the barre of the door, and resolutely ran at the Trooper to unhorse him: This unexpected resistance so valiantly made, put the Trooper to a retreat, whereby M. Losse gained time to barre the doore fast against him. Having shut both the Church doores upon himselfe, and the remainder of the Congregation, some being fled for feare; the Clerke at a hole gave him the Key of the Bel­frey: Master Losse not thinking himselfe secure enough in the Church, gets up into the Belfrey, and locks the doores fast after him; being come to the place where the Bells hang, he discovers over head a little hole, only big enough for a man to creep thorow, and a Ladder standing there which led up unto it, Master Losse goes up the Ladder, and through the hole gets upon the Leads, and with great dif­ficultie draws the Ladder after him, being massey and very heavy; by which means he did not only deprive his pursu­ers of the means to come at him, but with the Ladder laid over [Page 95] the hole baracadoed the passage against them: and now being here, had he had any weapon to defend him­selfe, he had been impregnable. While Master Losse was up in the Belfrey securing of himselfe, the Troopers are at the Church windowes, endeavouring to wrench out the Irons barres, but without any successe: at last, with their Pole-axes and great Tomb-stones, Impiously taken from the graves of the Dead, they breake open the Church doores; having thus forced their entrance, they r [...]de into the Church (not remembring they were in Gods house) from one end of it to another, spurring and switching their horses purposely to endanger the People. These bar­barous out-rages did much affright the People, but espe­cially Mistresse Losse; and her poore children, whom it most concerned, M. Losse being the onely man aymed at; Mistresse Losse fell into a swound in the Church, and had no shew of life in her for a long time; at which the peo­ple moved with compassion interceded with the Troopers, and desired them to desist, putting them in mind of the place where they were, a place where God met with his People, and they with their God. It seemes this Congre­gation had been better taught, then to subscribe to Doctor Twist the Prolocutor of the absurd Heterogen [...]ous Sy­nod, his Interpretation of that Text of Scripture, Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reve [...]ence my Sanctuary, In his Pre­ [...]ace to Master Meads Book of the Apo [...]acie of the latter times; as if this Text enjoyned no reverence to be used towards the places of Gods publike worship: they were much scandalized at this prophane irreverence, and made it an argument to awe them to civill demeanour at least, because of the place: and withail they objected, that they did much abuse themselves and dishonour their Cause by such our-ragious carriages: all this would reflect on the Cause they pretended to maintain. And lastly, they alled­ged, that if they had any shame in them, they might be a­shamed, in the Lords house on the Lords day to abuse a [Page 96] Minister in his owne Congregation, who besides the ho­nour and reverence due to his Calling, might challenge some respect from them being a Gentleman of good birth, and descent. In reply to so good reason, (being indeed but Pearle cast before Swine) one breakes out with a great oath, swearing wounds and blood (so that all the Blas­phemy is not on the Cavaliers side) and saying, What doe you tell me of birth and descent? a plague take him and his Gentilitie, [...] h pe within this year to see never a Gentleman in F [...]land: you remember the Proverb, Children and Fo [...]st t [...]ll truth, having thus despised all wholesome ad­monition, they goe to the Belfrey, they breake open the doore, and come to the place where the [...]els did hang, and from the top of the Frames of the Bells indeavoured through the hole (but now mentioned) to get upon the Leades, where Master Losse was, but he having stop'd that paslage with the Ladder, and making the best use he could of his hands and feet (being all the weapons ei [...]her offen­sive or defensive which he had) made good the place a­gainst them: yet notwithstanding in the Resistance he was in very great danger to lose his life, for they dischar­ged their Pistols at him at least eight or nine times, but by the good providence of God they miss'd their mark, with their swords they wounded him in three severall parts of his body, yet God be blessed the wounds were not mortall, at last having received a hurt in his hand, having a veine p [...]icked w [...]th one of their swords, his blood flowed so fast upon the Troopers underneath him, that as they brag'd there, and in other places after they were gone thence, they thought they had dispatched him, and therefore thinking him to be a dead man they left him, yet to im­balme him to his Funerall, they poure out a flood of re­proachfull names upon him, calling him Rogue, Rascall, Slave, Villaine, Dog, Devill, making no stop till their master the Divell, and their owne memories could suggest no more names of the same stamp: At last, to seale up all, for [Page 97] feare they had not murthered him, they protest with many Execrations upon themselves, that if they had not now sped him (which yet they hoped they had) they would returne another time, and have him either dead or alive.

At Bridstow in Devonshire there dwels a Husbandman (and though I cannot tell his name, yet let it not weaken the credit of the Relation) who not satisfied with the Par­liaments proceedings in taking up Armes against their lawfull undoubted Soueraigne, stood in a seeming Neu­trality: at last conceiving it time to declare himselfe, he openly adhered to the Kings party, hereupon he was very diligently sought after, and the Earle of Sta [...]ford sent a Troop of Horse to his house to apprehend him: When they came thither, they found not the good man at home, but a sonne of his, about ten or eleven yeares old, they aske him where his Father was, the childe replyed, that he was not at home, they threaten him, and use all arts to make him discover where his Father had hid himselfe the childe being ignorant where his Father was, still persisted in the same answer, that he knew not where he was: hereupon they threaten to hang him, neither doth that prevaile; at last they take the poore innocent childe and hang him up, either because he would not betray his Father, had he been able to satisfie their doubt, or for not having the spi­rit of Prophecy, not being able to reveale what by an or­dinary way of knowledge he did not know: having let him hang awhile, they cut him downe, not intending to hang him unto death, but being cut downe they could perceive nothing discovering life in him, hereupon in a barbarous way of experiment, they pricke him with their swords in the back and thighs, using the means leading to death, to find out life: at last after some long stay, some small symptomes of life did appeare, yet so weake, that there they left him nearer the confines of death then life: and whether the childe did ever recover, is more than my In­former [Page 98] former can assure me. Only courteous Reader observe from this short Narration, that these bloudy Rebels spare neither the venerablenesse of the sacred Function, the in­firmities of old Age, or the tendernesse of Youth.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XI.

The particulars of the first Siege of Corfe-Castle, gallant­ly defended by the Lady Banks, and Captaine Laurence, against the Powers, Plots, and Policies of Sir Walter Earle and his Adhereats, &c.

THere is in the [...]e of Purbecke a strong Castle called Corffe-Castle, seated on a very sleep Hill, in the fracture of a Hill in the very midst of it, being 8 miles in length, running from the East end of the Pentrsu [...]a to the West: and though it stand between the two ends of this fracture, so that it may [...] to lose much advantage of its naturall and artificiall [...] as commanded [...]o thence, being in height equall to, if not over-looking the tops of the highest Towers of the Castle yet the structure of the Castle is so strong, the ascent so s [...]p, the walls so massie and thicke, that it is one of the imp [...]gnablest Forts of the Kingdome, and of very gre [...] concernment, in respect of its command over the [...], and the [...]laces about it. This Castle is now the Possession and Inheritance of the Right Honourable Sir John Ba [...]ks, Chie [...]e Justice of the Common Pleas, and one of His Majesties most Honourable Privy-Councell, who receiving commands from the King to attend Him at York, [Page 99] Yorke, in Easter Terme 1641. had leave from the two Hou­ses to obey those commands: After the unhappy difference [...] between the King and the two Houses, or rather between the King and the Faction in both Houses, grew high, it being generally feared that the sword would decide the controversie, the Lady Ranks, a vertuous and prudent La­dy, resolved with her children and fan [...]ly to retire to this Castle, there to shelter themselves from the storme which she saw comming, which accordingly she did, there she and her Family remained in peace all the Winter, and a great part of the Spring, untill May 1643. about which time the Rebels under the command of Sir Walter Earle, Sir Tho­mas T [...]enchard, and others, had possessed themselves of Dorchester, L [...]me, Melcome, Weym [...]th, Warham, and Poole. ( Portland Castle being treacherously delivered to the Rebels) only Corffe Castle remaining in obedience to the King: but the Rebels knowing how much it concerned them to adde this Castle to their other Garrisons, to make all the Sea-coast wholly for them, and thinking it more seizable to gaine it by Treachery then open Hostility, re­solved to lay hold on an opportunity comming on, to see if they could become Masters of it.

There is an ancient usage that the Major & Barons (as they call them) of Corffe Castle, accompanied by the Gen­try of the Island, have permission from the Lord of the Castle on May-day to coarse a Stagge, which every yeare is performed with much solemnity and great concourse of People: On this day some Troopes of Horse from Dor­chester and other places came into the Island, intending to find other game then to hunt the Stagge, their businesse being suddenly to surprize the gentlemen in the hunting, and to take the Castle; the news of their comming dis­perst the Hunters, and spoiled the sport for that day, and made the Lady [...]anks to give order for the safe custody of the Castle gates, and to keep them shut against all com­mers. The Troopers having mist their prey on the Hills, [Page 100] (the Gentlemen having withdrawne themselve) some of them came to the Castle under a pretence to see it, but en­trance being denyed them, the Common Souldiers used threatning language, casting out words implying some intentions to take the Castle, but the Commanders (who better knew how to conceale their resolutions) utterly disavowed any such thought, denying that they had any such Commission; however the [...]ady Banks very wisely, and like her selfe, hence tooke occasion to call in a Guard to assist her, not knowing how soone the might have occa­sion to make use of them, it being now more then proba­ble that the Rebels had a designe upon the Castle. The taking in this guard as it secured her at home, so it rendred her suspected abroad, from thence forward there was a watchfull and vigilant eye to servey all her actions, what­soever she sends out, or sends for in, is suspected, her ordi­nary provisions for her family are by same multiplyed, & reported to be more then double what indeed they were, as if she had now an intention to Victuall and Man the castle against the Forces of the two Houses of Parliament, presently Letters are sent from the Committees of Poole, to demand the foure small peeces in the Castle, and the present was, because the Islanders conceived strange jea­lousies, that the Peeces were mounted and put on their Carriages; hereupon the Lady Banks dispatched Messen­gers to Dorchester and to Poole to intreat the Commissioners that the small Peeces might remaine in the Castle for her own defence; and to take away the ground of the Islanders jealousies, she caused the Peeces to be taken off their Car­riages againe; hereupon a promise was made, that they sould be left to her possession; but there passed not many dayes before forty Sea-men (they in the Castle not suspe­cting any such thing) came very early in the morning to demand the Peaces, the Lady in Person (early as it was) goes to the Gates and desires to see their War­ [...], they [...] the hands of some [Page 101] of the Commissioners, but in stead of delivering them, though at that time there were but five men in the Ca­stle, yet these five assisted by the Maid-servants at their Ladies Command, mount these peeces on their Carriages againe, and lading one of them they gave fire, which small Thunder so affrighted the Sea-men, that they all quitted the place and ran away. They being gone, by beat of Drum she summons help into the Castle, and upon the Alarme given, a very considerable guard of Tenants and friends came in to her assistance, there being withall some fifty Armes brought into the Castle, from severall parts of the Island: This guard was kept in the Castle about a weeke, during this time, many threatning Let­ters were sent unto the Lady; telling her, what great For­ces sould be sent to fetch them, if the would not by faire meanes be perswaded to deliver them, and to deprive her of her Auxiliaries, all or most of them being neighbours thereabouts, they threaten that if they oppose the delivery of them, they would fire their house: presently their wives come to the Castle, there they weep, & w [...]ing their hands, and with clamorous Oratory perswade their Husbands to come home, and not by saving others to expose their owne houses to spoile and ruine, nay to reduce the Castle into a distressed condition, they did not only intercept two hun­dred weight of powder provided against a siege; but they interdict them the Liberty of Common-markets, Procla­mation is made at Warham, (a Market-Towne hard by) that no Beere, Beefe, or other provision should be sold to the Lady Banks, or for her use-strict watches are kept, that no Messenger or intelligence shall passe into or out of the Castle: being thus distressed, all meanes of victualling the Castle being taken away and being but slenderly fur­nished for a siege, either with ammunition or with victual, at last they came to a Treary of Composition, of which the result was, that the Lady Banks should deliver up those 4 small Peeces, the biggest carring not above [...] 3 pound [Page 102] bullet, and that the Rebels should permit her to enjoy the Castle and Armes in it in peace and quietnesse.

And though this wise Lady knew too well to rest satis­fied or secured in these promises (their often breach of Faith having sufficiently instructed her what she might expect from them) yet she was glad of this opportunity to strengthen her selfe even by that meanes, by which many in the world thought she had done her selfe much preju­dice, for the Rebels being now possessed of their Guns, presumed the Castle to be theirs as sure as it they had a­ctually possessed it. Now it was no more but ask and have: hereupon they grow remisse in their Watches, negligent in their observations, not heeding what was brought in, not taking care, as before, to intercept supplies, which might inable them to hold out against a Siege: and the Lady making good use of their remisnes, laid hold on the present opportunity, & as much as the time would permit, furnish't the Castle with provisions of all sorts. In this Intervall there was brought in, a hundred and halfe of powder, and a quantity of match proportionable. And un­derstanding that the Kings Forces under the Conduct of Prince Maurice, and the Marquesse Hertford were advan­cing towards Blanford, she, by her Messenger made her ad­dresse to them, to signifie unto them the present condition in which they were, the great consequence of the place, desiring their assistance, and in particular that they would be pleased to take into their serious consideration to send some commanders thither to take the charge of the Castle; hereupon they send Captaine Laurence sonne of Sir Ed­ward Laurence, a Gentleman of that Island to command in ch [...]e [...], but he comming without a Commission could not command moneyes or provisions to be brought in untill it was too late. There was likewise in the Castle one Cap­taine Bond an old souldier, whom I should deprive of his due honour, not to mention him, having a share in the honour of this resistance. The first time the Rebels faced [Page 103] the Castle, they brought a body of between two and three hundred Horse and Foot, and two Peeces of Ordnance, and from the Hils playd on the Castle, fired foure houses in the Towne, and then summoned the Castle, but recei­ving a deniall for that time they left it But on the three and twentieth of June, the Sagicious Knight, Sir Walter Earle (that hath the gift of discerning Treasons and might have made up his nine and thirty Treasons forty, by reck­oning in his owne) accompanied by Captaine Sidenham, Captaine Henry Jarvis, Captaine Skut, sonne of that Arch-Traytor, Skut of Poole, with a body between five and six hundred came and possessed themselves of the Towne, taking the opportunity of a misty morning, that they might find no resistance from the Castle. They brought with them to the Siege a Demy Canon, a Culverin and two Sacres, with these and their small shot, they playd on the Castle on all quarters of it, with good observation of Advantages, making their bettery strongest where they thought the Castle weakest. And to bind the souldiers by tye of Conscience to an eager prosecution of the Siege, they administer them an Oath, and mutually binde them­selves to most unchristian resolutions; That if they found the defendants obstinate not to yeeld, they would maintaine the Siege to victory and then deny Quarter unto all, killing without m [...]rty, Men, Women, and Children. As to bring on their owne souldiers, they abused them with falshoods, telling them that the Castle stood in a Levell, yet with good advantages of approach, that there were but forty men in the Castle, whereof twenty were for them, that there was rich booty and the like; so, during the Siege they used all base, unworthy meanes, to corrupt the defen­dants, to betray the Castle into their hand, the better sort they endeavour to corrupt with bribes, to the rest they offer double Pay, and the whole Plunder of the Castle; when all these Arts tooke no effect, then they fall to Stra­ [...]agems and Engines. To make their approaches to the [Page 104] wall with more safety, they make two Engines, one they call the Sow, the other the Boare, being made with boards lined with wooll to dead the shot. The first that moved for­ward was the Sow, but not being Musket proof, she cast nine of eleven of her Farrow, for the Musquetiers fro the castle were so good marks-men at their legs, the only part of all their bodies left without defence, that 9 ran away, as well as their broken and battered legges would give them leave; and of the two which knew neither how to run away, nor well to stay, for feare, one was slaine. The Boare of the two (a man would think) the valianter creature, see­ing the ill successe of the Sow, to cast her Litter before her time, durst not advance. The most advantageous part for their Batteries was the Church, which they without fe [...]e of prophanation used, not only as their Rampart, but their rendezvouz: of the Surplesse they made two shirts for two souldiers, they broke downe the Organs, and made the Pipes serve for Cases to hold their powder and shot, and not being furnished with Musquet-bullets, they cut off the Lead of the Church, and roll'd it up, and shoot it with­out ever casting in a mould Sir Walter and the Comman­ders were earnest to presse forward the souldiers; but as prodigall as they were of the bloud of thier common soul­diers, they were sparing enough of their owne; it was a generall observation, that valiant Sir Walter nevel wil­lingly exposed himselfe to any hazard; for being by chance endangered by a Bullet, shot through his Coat, afterwards he put on a Beares skinne, and to the eternall honour of this Knights valour be it recorded, for feare of Musquet-shot, (for other they had none) he was seen to creep on all foure, on the sides of the hill, to keep himselfe out of danger. This base Cowardisme in the Assaylants, added courage and resolution to the defen­dants: therefore not compell'd by want, but rather to brave the Rebels, they sallyed out, and brought in eight [...]owes and a Bull into the Castle, without the losse of a [Page 105] man, or a man wounded. At another time five boyes setcht in foure Cowes. They that stood on the hills, called to one in a house in the valley, crying, Shoot Anthony, but Anthony thought it good to sleepe in a whole skinne, and durst not looke out, so that afterward it grew into a prove [...]biall jeere, from the Defendants to the Assaylants, Shoot Anthony. The Rebels having spent much time and Ammunition, and some men, and yet being as farre from hopes of taking the Castle, as the first day they came thi­ther, at last the Earle of Warw [...]cke sends them a supply of an hundred and fiftie Mariners, with severall Cart-loads of Petars, Granadoes, and other Warlike provision, with scaling Ladders to assault the Castle by scaladoe; They make large offers to him that should first scale the wall, 20 l. to the first, and so by descending summes a reward to the twentieth, but all this could not prevaile with these silly wretches, who were brought thither as themselves confessed, like sheep to the slaughter, some of them having but exchang'd the manner of their death, the halter for the bullet, having taken them out of Gaoles, one of them be­ing taken Prisoner, had Letters Testimoniall in his hands whence he came, the Letters I meane when he was burnt for a Felon, being very visible to the beholders, but when they found that perswasion could not prevaile, with such abject low-spirited men, the Commanders resolve on ano­ther course, which was to make them drunke, knowing that drunkennesse makes some men fight like Lyons, that being sober would runne away like Hares. To this purpose they fill them with strong waters, even to madnesse, and ready they are now for any designe, and for feare Sir Walter should be valiant against his will, like C [...]sar, he was the onely man almost that came sober to the assault: an imita­tion of the Turkish practice, (for certainly there can be no­thing of Christianitic in it, to send poore soules to Gods Judgement Seat, in the very act of two grievous sins, Re­bellion & Drunkennesse) who to stupifie their Souldiers, and [Page 106] make them insensible of their dangers, give them Opium; being now armed with drinke, they resolve to storme the Castle on all sides, and apply their scalding Ladders, it be­ing ordered by the Leaders, (if I may without a Solecism call them so, that stood behind and did not so much as fol­low) that when twentie were entred, they should give a watch-word to the rest, and that was Old Wat: a word ill cholen, by [...] Earle, and considering the businesse in hand, little better then ominous, for if I be not decei­ved, the Hunters that beat bushes for the fearfull timo­ous Hare, call him Old Wat.

Being now Pot valiant, and possessed with a borrowed courage, which was to Evaporate in sleepe, they divide their Forces into two Parties, whereof one assaults the Middle ward, defended by valiant Captain Lawrence, and the greater part of the Souldiers; the other assault the Upper ward, which the Lady Bankes (to her eternall ho­nour be it spoken) with her daughters, women, and five Souldiers, undertooke to make good against the Rebells, and did bravely performe what she undertooke; for by hea­ving over stones & hot embers they repelled the Rebells, and kept them from climbing their Ladders, thence to throw in that wild-fire, which every Rebell had ready in his hand. Being repelled, and having in this Siege and this Assault lost and hurt an hundred men, Old Sir Wat, hear­ing the Kings Forces were advanced, cryed, and ran away crying, leaving Sydenham to Command in Chief, to bring off the Ordnance, Ammunition, and the remainder of the Army, who afraid to appeare abroad kept Sanctuary in the Church till night, meaning to sup and run away by Star-light; but supper being ready, and set on the Ta­ble, an Alarme was given that the Kings Forces were comming; this newes took away Sydenhams stomack; all this provision was but messes of meat set before the Sepul­chres of the dead, he leaves his Artillery, Ammunition, and (which with these men is something) a good supper, and [Page 107] ran away to take Boat for Poole, leaving likewise at the shoare about an hundred Horse to the next Takers, which next day proved good prize to the Souldiers of the Ca­stle. Thus after six weekes strict Siege, this Castle, the desire of the Rebells, the teares of Old Sir Wat, and the Key of those parts, by the Loyaltie, and brave resolution of this honourable Lady, the valour of Captaine Lawrence and some eightie Souldiers, (by the losse only of two men) was delivered from the bloody intentions of these merci­lesse Rebels on the 4. of August 1643.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XII.

Master Thomas Jones, Batchelor in Divinitie, ill-intreated by the Rebe [...]s in Devon A Souldier hanged at Tame on th [...] signe-post of the Kings head. Master Wright, a Minister in Cheshire Plundered, and two of his Maid-servants mur [...]hered. D [...]ctor Beale, Doctor Martin, and Doctor Ste [...]ne, brought Prisoners from Cambridge by C [...]on wel, and their barba [...]ous usage, &c.

MAster Thomas Jones, Batchelor in Divinitie, and Rector of Offw [...]ll in the Countie of D [...]von, ha­ving discovered that the right of Patronage of one of the Cures of Tuisord [...]on was in the Crowne, and worth three hundred pounds per annum, did in the pursuance of this Right, spend a thousand pounds to recover it from [...]hose, who account all lawfull gaine whatsoever they can purloyne either from God or the King. The preten­ded Patrons, who had invaded this Right, were much of­fended with Master Iones for being at so great expence to redeeme the prey out of their hands, and did but watch an [Page 108] Opportunitie to make him know how sensible they were of this their losse. This Parliament being called, and these men made Members of the Lower House, they quickly perceived that this wished-for opportunity was now come, wherein they might pervert publique justice to private re­venge, quickly learning to exercise that Arbitrary unli­mited power over their fellow Subjects, which the preva­lency of a dangerous faction had put into their hands. Ac­cording to the general practice since this Parliament, they accuse Master Jones of some Anti-parliamentary passages in his Sermon, which his Judges understood as little as his Accusers: Nay perhaps it was with him (as with many of his Orthodox Brethren) the same men were both his Accu­sers and Judges. However any or no accusation we know have served these mensturnes, to bring Godly and Lear­ned Ministers to the Beare-bayting of a Committee, and to put them into the expensive custody of a Serjeant at Armes: so it was with Master Jones, they first pretended some Crimes, and on these pretences they commit him pri­soner to a Serjeant at Armes. Having deprived him of his Libertie, and put him into a consumption of his estate by the unreasonable unlimited exactions of Parliament-Gaolers, they then think him reduced to such a condition as to be willing to hearken to a Composition, on any termes. At last, vexed to an agreement, he is to enjoy his Libertie and Peace on this mutuall stipulation: They are to pardon him the error of his doctrine, to deliver up his bayle, being with two sureties Parliament men bound in a Bond of two thousand pounds, and to give him two hundred pounds towards his charges. Master Jones must resigne his lately recovered Cure at Tuisord [...]on to make way for a Clerke of their owne: which to avoid farther molestation, to his very great prejudice, he was infor­ced to condescend unto. After, in September, 1642. Master Iones riding to Taunton in Somerset-shire, ac­companyed by one of the Prince his servants, who wore [Page 109] his Masters Colours, was for that reason, together with that Gentleman, immediately after his departure from thence, apprehended, and like a [...]elon brought backe to the Castle, where he remained Prisoner three weeks, and could not be released without the earnest sollicitation of his friends, and his Wives humble and often petitioning the Earle of Bedford. In November last, suffering under continuall molestations, and out of all hope to live peace­ably at home, he resolved to put himself under the prote­ction of Sir Ralph Hoptons Army then in Cornewall. To this purpose he furnished three Horses and Arms propor­tionable, and set forward to deliver them up for His Maje­sties service: but unhappily in the way thither he was in­tercepted by the Earle of Stamfords Forces, under the command of Captaine Gould, taken Prisoner, robb'd so the value of 80.l. the Plunderers leaving him not so much as a Boot to [...]ide in. By these he is led Captive to Liskard in Cornewall, where they kept him three dayes, in which time he and another Minister with him, with his servant, had but one pint of Beere for their sustenance, be­ing kept without either fire or light, and for one night had their hands bound behind them, and had st [...]ll been kept in the like bondage, had not God in mercy rescued them by Sir Ralph Hopton, after the famous battle of Liskard: During the time of their imprisonment, they offer them Conditions on which they may purchase their libertie; viz to pay three hundred pound; to take an Oath never any more to assist the King with Horse, Armes, or Money: But being delivered on far better termes he was not long after imprisoned for giving God publique thankes for his deliverance. Afterwards, seeing that Religion if selfe was but abused, being made the Cloake of these mens Hypocrisie and Treasons, and that they did [...]ast but is strife & debate, he did not observe the Fast every [...]ast wed­nesday in the moneth, with that strict observation as was expected from him by that Faction, hereupon some of them [Page 110] put him in mind of it: Good-Friday comming on pre­sently, upon the last Wednesday in Apr [...]ll [...]e ces [...]ed his Neigh [...]ours and Parishioners to keepe that ancient Fast injoyned by the Church, in Commemoration of the bitter Death and Passion of Christ; and the better to invite them to that dayes [...]mne Humiliation, he Preached to them twice that day. Though Se [...]mons be all their Religion, yet two Sermons on Good Friday are with these men no better then Superstition: [...]or, for this contempt (as they interpreted it) of the Parliament Fast, not setting so high an estim [...]t on on it as on this Ca [...]b [...]like Fast of Good Fry­d [...]y (received and practised by all Churches in all Ages, ti [...]l o [...] late a Jewish observation of one day hath sh [...]uldred out the religious observation of all other dayes) he was convented before the Sessions, where Edmund Prideaux a Parliament man, and a pretender to this Law, prest this his obedience to the Church most violently against him; maliciously affirming, that he did it to affront the Parlia­ment, & to advance Pop [...]sh Superstition, and I [...]novation, and that therefore He (see what it is to be a Parliament man) would make him an Example to the world, and as the times then were (God, as he threatned Israel pro [...]oking us by foolish people) was like enough to have done it, had not M. Io [...]e [...] prevented him by withdrawing himselfe, and so declined the evill intended against him. Yet we may not omit one thing: though it were so heinous a C [...]ime in M Iones not to observe one of their Wednesdayes Fasts, yet M Darke Minister of Musbury in the same County, and a man of that Faction, could command his men to follow the Plough that day, and yet was never thought fit of a Reprehension, nor so much as a Brotherly Admoni­tion: and no wonder, for though heretofore Actions did Qualifie persons, and denominate them, by the Sectaries new Divinitie they make persons to Qualifie Actions; those things which are sinnes in others lose their Nature and their Name in a Child of God, and they will take it very [Page 111] ill from you not to be so reputed, though living in the most notorious scandalous sinnes that de [...]le the soule, and lay waste the Conscience of Man. But to returne to our Story.

From the beginning of this Parliament (till God, by the glorious and no lesse then miraculous Victories of Sir Ralph Hopton, restored some Peace to that miserably di­stracted Country) Master Iones was not permitted to live quietly at his owne dwelling, they threaten to hang him, and burne his house, which they Plundered no lesse then seven times: and not content with this, they threaten to carry away his aged Father Prisoner, being no lesse then 86 yeares of age; and had beene as good as their word, (for in mischiefe they seldome faile of their promises) had not the Women of the Parish (in detestation of so great barbarisme) rescued him out of their hands: After that memorable defeat of the Rebels at Sira [...]ton in the edge of Cornwall by the brave Sir Ralph Hopton, M. Iones returned to his own house, fearing no danger from the fit­ters of that broken Army: but four Troopers of the Rebels horse came to his house, searched it very narrowly for him, insomuch that he heard them sweare, how cruelly they would use that Cavaliering Priest if they could meet with him, when they were nearer him then they were aware of, (had they known it) there being but an Inch board be­tween him & them: at which time missing of the intended Prey, they wreck their malice on his houshould stuffe, what they could not carry away they spoyle; Beds, Bed­steeds, Hangings, all are torn and spoyled: They Plunder the Maid servants, and that of their Smocks, and exchange in their very presence their lowzie shirts for their cleane Linnen: Hereupon M. Iones finding by experience (that there was no safetie out of one of the Kings Armies (the only Protection which the King is able for the present to afford His good Subjects) he put himselfe under the Pro­tection of Sir Ralph Hoptons Army, where he now [...]e­maines.

[Page 112]While the Rebells Army lay at Tame sending out par­ties, by chance they lighted on some of the Kings Souldi­ers, and amongst them there was one, who touched in con­science for so grievous a sin, as listing up his hand against his lawfull Soveraign, the Lords Annoynted, forsook the Rebells Army and was entertained in his Majesties pay: and being in their power they resolve instantly to hang him: but with such Circumstances as in the murther of the Subject they evidently manifest their malicious rebel­lious hearts towards their Soveraign. Nothing will serue to hang him on, but the signe post of the Kings Head in Tame; the poore man being ready to be throwne from the Ladder, Prayed very servently, and cryed out Lord I [...]sus receive my Soule. The Rebells standing about him, instead of joyning with him in his devotions made a con­fused noyse, and laughed at him. They that had so little mercy for his Soule were not likely to draw out any bow­ells of Compassion towards his body. No, they will not only Murther him, but Murther him by a lingring Tor­ment, they will not afford him the favour of a running knot quickly to obstruct the Throat, and totally deprive him of breath, but the halter is tyed so fast, that he hanged gasping for breath, not drawing so much as to maintaine life, nor so little as suddenly to lose it: having in this Torment hanged a while, a barbarous Inhuman Vi [...]laine, stept to him, & fearing he should give up his vexed Gh [...]st too soone, he puts his hands under his feet and listed him up to give him some scope of Respiration, but even in this unchristian usage of a poore wretch he did not forget to blaspheme his Lord and King: for having lifted him up, he turned the dying mans face towards the sign it selfe of the Kings head: and jeering said, Nay, Sir, you must speake one word with the King before you goe, you are blind-fold, and be cannot see, and by and by you shall both come downe together: Let the world if it can now give us a parrallel of so undutifull, so high a có [...]empt of regal authority, or tell [Page 113] us whether any of the severall Spawns of Hell but only an Atheisticall Puritan could possibly commit such devilish Cruelties against his fellow Subject, or belch out such ve­nome against his Soveraigne [...] Amongst those many Sins which call for our publique Humiliation, and our earnest zeal to purge the Land from the guilt which hath pollu­ted it, certainly Contempt and Scorne of so good, so graci­ous a King, is none of the least.

On Monday the 29 of May 1643, a boy of five or six years of age, attended by a youth, was comming to Oxford to his father an officer in the Kings Army, passing through Buckinghamshire, he fell into the hands of some Troopers of Colonel Goodwins Regiment, who not onely Pillaged him of the cloathes which he brought with him, but tooke his doublet off his back, and would have taken away his hat and boots, if the youth that attended on him had not very earnestly interceded for them to save them. For one of the company, more tender hearted then the rest, moved with the childs cryes & affrightment, and with the youths earnest intreatie, prevailed with the rest not to rob the child of these necessary fences from the injury of wind and weather. Yet though they spare him these things, they rob him of his horse, and leave the poore child to a tedi­ous long journey on foot: This barbarisme to a poore child farre from his friends, almost distracted with feare, so prevailed with some, that they made Colonel Goodwin and Sir Robert Pye acquainted with it, hoping to find them sensible of so cruell practices on a poore child: but these great Professors and Champions of Re­ligion, onely laughed at the Relation, without giving any redress [...] to the childs injuries. This want of Justice in the Commanders, animated the Souldiers to prosecute their villanies to a greater height: for that night they came to the place where the child lay, and the poore Soule be­ing in bed fast a sleepe, his Innocent rest not distur­bed with the injuries of the day: they dived into his, [Page 114] and his attendants [...], rob'd them of all their monyes, and lest them [...]ither to borrow more, or beg for suste­nance in their journey to Oxford.

Captaine Duck [...]peld a Commander of the Rebels in Che [...]re, came to M. Wrights house, Parson of Wemslow in that County, a man of fourescore yeares of age, of a ve­ry honest li [...]e and conversation, and eminent for his hospi­tali [...]y amongst his neighbours. The Captain and his follo­wer enter the house by violence, killed two of his maid­serva [...]ts, wounded others, and in all probability had mur­thered M. W [...]gh himselfe, had not his neighbours that lo­ved him well, rescued him out of their hands. The crime objected against him, was Loyalty, and that amongst Re­bels is crime enough: for this he is forced to live an exile from his owne habitation, and hath absented himself from his house now twelve months. The same Rebels came to one Master John Leeth his house in the same County, as I take it, they enter his house by violence, they kill one of his maid-servants for endeavouring to keep the doore shut against them, and tooke away Master Leech prisoner. There was a gentlewoman in the house come thither but two dayes before, who seeing so barbarous cruelty practi­sed upon Innocents for no other fault but living in peace and obedience, was so affrighted, that for some time she remained almost distracted.

When the rebellious city of London first delivered up it s;elfe the servile instrument to execute the illegall Com­mands of the heads of the faction in Parliament; a Troop of factious Citisens under the command of Colonel Cr [...]m­ [...]e [...] came to the University of Cambridge, and there sei­zed on the persons of Doctor Beale, Doctor Martin, and Doctor St [...]rne, men of known Integrity, Exemplary lives, profound learning, and heads of several Colledges in that famous University: having them in their custody they use them with all possible scorn & contempt, especially Crom­well behaving himselfe [...] [Page 115] when one of the Doctors made it a request to Cromwell, that he might stay a little to put up s [...]me linnen, Cromwell denyed him the favour; and whether in a jeere, or simple malice told him, that it was not in his Commission: having now prepared a shew to entertain the people, in triumph they lead the captives towards London, where the people were beforehand informed what captives Colonell Crom­well was bringing. In the Villages as they passed from Cambridge to London, the People were called by some of their Agents to come and abuse, and revise them. When they came to London being to bring their prisoners to the Tower, no other way would serve th ir turne but from Shore-ditch through Bartholomew-Faire, when the Con­course was as thick as the negotiation of buyers & sellers, and the warning of the Beadles of the Faction (that use to give notice to their party) could make it; they lead these captives leisurely through the midst of the Faire: as they passe along they are entertained with exclamations, re­proaches, scornes, & curses, and considering the prejudice raised in the City of them, it was Gods great mercy that they found no worse usage from them: having brought t [...] to the Tower, the people there use them with no lesse in­civility within the wals, then the people did without, cal­ling them Papists, Arminians, and I know not what. After some time imprisonment there, they were removed to the Lord [...]ete [...]s house in Aldersgate-street and though they often petitioned to be heard and brought to Judgement, yet they could obtaine neither a Tryall, nor enlargement, unlesse to free their bodies they should ensnare their souls by loanes of money to be imployed against the King, or taking impious Oathes or Covenant [...]t last after almost a yeares imprisonment, on Friday the 11 of August, 1643. by order from the Faction that call themselves a Par­liament, they were removed from thence, and all put on Ship board, in a Ship called The prosper [...] S [...]le, or the Prospero [...]s Sayler lying before Wapping. They [...]ent by [Page 116] Coach from Alders-gate-street to Billinsgate, in the way to the Common Stair, there to take water, one was over­heard to say, these looke like honest men, and he was not a jot mistaken: however for bearing testimony to the truth he incur'd the censure of a Malignant, and was in danger to be committed: but another looking these grave learned Divines in the face, reviled them, saying, that they did not looke like Christians: and prayed that they might breake their necks as they went downe the Stairs to take water. This harsh usage they found by land, but yet they found farre worse by water: being come on ship-board they were instantly put under Hatches, where the Decks were so low that they could not stand upright, and yet were denyed stooles to sit on, or so much as a burden of straw to lye on. Into this Little Ease in a small ship they crowd no lesse then fourescore Prisoners of qualitie, and that they might stifle one another, having no more breath then what they sucked from one anothers mouths, most maliciously, and (certainly) to a murtherous intent, they stop up all the small Auger holes, & all other in lets which might relieve them with fresh aire: an act of such horrid barbarisme, that nor Age, nor Story, nor Rebellion can parallel; But, O Lord God to whom Vengeance belongeth, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, show thy selfe, O let the ven­geance of thy Servants blood, that hath beene shed in this land, be openly snewed upon these worse then Heathen Sal­vages in our sight, O let the sorrowfull sighing of thy pri­soners come before thee, according to the greatnesse of thy power preserve thou those that are appoynted to dye.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XIII.

Master Anthony Tyringham a Minister, wounded and most inhumanely used by the Rebells in Buckingham­shire. Mistresse Wiborow (the Parsons wife of Pebmarth in Essex) and her children exposed to great extremity by the Sectaries of that Countie. A lively patterne of in­gratitude acted by a Schisma [...]call Smith at Dalham in Suffolke, &c.

MAster Anthony Tyringham, Parson of Tyringham in Buckingham-shire, having businesse at Maids-mor­ton, at his returne came to Buckingham, where he met with two of his Nephewes. The Uncle and his Nephewes glad of so happy a meeting, after some stay to congratu­late the good chance, and to refresh themselves, set for­ward in their journey, and passed in peace without danger untill they came neare Stony-Stratford, where a partee of Diagooners comming from Aylesbury surprized them: and instantly (scarce asking them from whence they came) searched and disarmed them, which was no difficult a [...] ­chievement, there being but one Sword amongst all three. The Rebels take from them their Horses, their Coats and Money: superfluous things as they conceived for men de­signed to captivitie: for having spoyled them of their Horses, Money, and Garments, they send them with a strong guard Prisoners to Aylesbury: while the rest of the Partee, lurking about Stony-Stratford, stayed there to expect some fresh bootie: And that in this we doe not slander these great Champions of the Subjects Liber­ties and Properties, the issue will acquit us, for present­ly after (to shew that all was Fish which came to Net) [Page 118] they seized upon a poore Bone-lace-man & a Shoomaker, robbed them of what they had, & in the same manner sent them away prisoners to A [...]lisbury. The guard of Dragoo­ners having brought their [...] prisoners about a mile and a half on the way towards Alisbury, commanded them again to alight: The first Plunder was for the Captain or Com­manders, or else a share was set apart Anathema for the support of the Publique Cause, these men to whose trust they were committed, now intend to plunder for them­selves: And first, they command Master Tyringham to put off his Cassocke: who being not sudden in obeying the Command, nor over-hasty to untye his girdle to dis [...]oabe himselfe of the distinctive Garment of his Profession: (though now a cassock, contracted into the Compendium of a Gippo, is become the Garb of the Reformers) one of the Dragoons to quicken him, cut him through the hat in­to the head with the sword taken from one of his nephews, and with another blow cut him over the fingers: Master Tyringham wondring at so barbarous usage without any provocation, came towards him that had thus wounded him, and desired him to hold his hands, pleading that he was a Clergy-man, a prisoner, and disarmed: the cowardly villaine either fearing the approach of a disarmed man, or willing to lay hold on any advantage to expose the priso­ners to the fury of his fellows, cryed out, Shoot the rogues, for they intend to resist: the word was no sooner given, but a Musquet was instantly discharged at one of M. Tyring­hams nephews; but the Musqueteere missing his mark, ano­ther of the Rebels with his sword aymed righter, and ran him into the shoulder: a Musquet was presented to the o­ther nephew, but Gods providence restrained the murthe­rous intention of the Rebell that he did not give fire. Thus exercising their pleasure upon disarmed wounded men, they rob M. Tyringham of his Cassocke, rifle all their poc­kets, and take from them what they please; and to palliate their cruelty, they send two Dragooners back, to tell their [Page 119] Captains and their companies that the prisoners commit­ted to their custody and conduct made resistance: Upon this false alarum given, presently the Captains and their Companies make up to them, to assist a strong Guard against three disarmed, and of them two wounded men; being come where they were, they encompasse them about, and without any examination of the businesse, presuming the suggestion to be undoubted truth, one of the Rebels, Captain Pollard by name, with a full blow strikes at Ma­ster Tryingham, and with his sword cuts his Arme and Cu­b [...]-bones crosse the elbow almost asunder: M. Tyringham (almost three [...]core years of age within two) bore this bar­barous usage with undaunted courage, and hearing this bloudy villaine called Captaine Pollard, in a pleasant in­dignation expressed the sense of the injury but thus, That now he had made him a Pollard indeed: A Metaphor easily understood by Wood-men, who usually call a Tree, whose limbs or branches are lopped off, a Pollard: M. Tyringhams Arme thus miserably wounded, and hanging dangling from his shoulder, without any government from the nerves or sinews, one of his nephews having a mourning Riband, tendred it to his Uncle to bind up his Arme, but the Rebels will not permit it: though M. Tyringhem intreat the favor to have his wounds bound up, and the very spe­ctacle before their eyes, was argument enough to extort this mercy from them; yet they remaine inexorable, nor would they be perswaded untill a long time after: having now made sure worke with their prisoners, and rendred them so far unable to resist, th [...]t some were hardly able to sit the jades on which they were mounted, they againe set forward for Ailesbury. The Dragooners horses on which they were set, being tyred, made the way very tedious, especially to M. Tyringham, who lost much bloud all the way as they went.

While these Gentlemen were in this miserable conditi­on, Captaine Pollard, not troubled at all for so bloudy a [Page 120] fact, barbarously committed by himselfe on an aged Gen­tleman, and a Minster of that Gospel which they falsly pretend to maintaine, but indeed deny and blaspheme in all their actions, turned aside to whaddon Chase, and sported himself in killing some of His Majesties Deere, which he carryed along with him to Aylesbury: after al­most foure houres riding, tyred out with tyred Jades, and [...]ainting with losse of blood, the Prisoners were againe commanded to alight at a Town called Whitchurch within two miles of Aylesbury. Here they fall on Master Tyring­ham afresh, and Plunder him as eagerly as if he had bin new come into their hands, and not touched by them be­fore. They pluck off his boots, and take from him his Jerkin, his Hat, and Cap, all the fences provided for cold and weather, and the usuall fortifications against the in­juries of wind and raine: and so made a Pat [...]erne of the man wounded betweene Ierusalem and Iericho, they mount him on his Spittle againe and drive on, and af­ter an houres riding in cold and darknesse, at last they arrived at Aylesbury, that night the Chirurgions (as soon as they could be found) viewed and dressed the wound, but concluded unanimously that they must cut off his Arme the next day, or else it would Gangreene and in­fallibly kill him, which next day was done accordingly: Master Tyringham bore the losse of his Arme with incredi­ble resolution and courage, as knowing the Justice of that Cause for which he suffered, and as willing to lay downe his Life in testimony of his Loyaltie, as his Brother Ma­ster Edward Tyringham, one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber had done before him, who the last Winter being imployed in His Majesties service, & set on by a Partee of Rebells fought valiantly, but oppressed with multitudes, received so many wounds that he dyed of them. But it hath pleased God so to blesse the means used for this Gentlemans recovery, that there are great hopes he will survive these maimes, and (as himself undauntedly [Page 121] told the Rebells to their faces) Live to see them banged. Amen.

In the fourth Weeke of this Mercury, you heard of the cruell usage of Master Wiborow Parson of Pebma [...]sh in the Countie of Essex, by the Rebells in those parts; how they abused him in the Church, beat him in the fields, and took from him the Book of Common-Prayer, having be­fore torne another of his in pieces. After this the Brow­nists and Anabaptists of that place (with which that Coun­try swarmes) threaten to kill him; Master Wiborow, not da [...]ing to trust himselfe amongst these cruel blood-thirsty men, to preserve his life, was compelled to leave his Cure, his Wife and Children, some seven moneths since, and to put himselfe under the Kings Protection: hoping that his absence might be a meanes to secure his Wife and Children, and prevaile with these Monsters to permit them to enjoy that which he left behinde him for their sustenance: but his absence was so farre from working this good effect in them, that they made use of it, to eject him out of the possession of the Profits of his Parsonage, and his Wife and Children out of their house, exposing them harbourlesse to the wide world: for taking advan­tage of his absence, they accuse him to the pretended Par­liament, and frame a Bill of Falshood and Lyes against him, thereby to gaine a Sequestration of his Living: A businesse not of any great difficultie, they being more rea­dy to grant such illegall oppressive ejections then the People to aske them: for upon the Accusation, John White that fornicating Brownist, sitting in the Chair, M. Wiborows Living was Sequestred, and the Profits of it given to one Burrows, though the Cure was never neglected, but suppli­ed by M. Wiborows friends, to the content and satisfaction of all moderate peaceable men: yet though they had rob'd him of his livelyhood, and given his Wives and Childrens bread to strangers, by most unjust practices, yet his hopes were that his poore Wife and Children should enjoy [Page 122] the accommodation of their dwelling in the Parsonage house: but such is the implacable crueltie and malice of these Sectaries, that on the tenth of June 1643. a Troope of the Rebels came to the Parsonage house and demanded entrance: Mistresse Wiborow and her Children being alone in the house, she bar'd up the doores against them, and for her better safetic retired to an upper roome, to which the passage was through a Trap-doore, which likewise she made as fast as she could: all this fortification could not keep these Rebells out, they breake open the doores, and make way to the [...]oome where Mistresse Wiborow and her Children thought to secure themselves: when they came thither, three of these Rebels set their Pistolls at her brest, threatning to shoot her, if she and her Children would not suddenly depart the house, and leave it to a new Master. Mistresse Wiborow replyed, That she would rather be kil­led within doores, then perish without, but withall earnest­ly intreated that she might enjoy so much of her husbands right, as his house to shelter her and her Children, who poore soules stood about their mother crying, and in their naturall oratory craving compassion towards their Mo­ther, whom at every word the Rebels threaten to Pistoll; but neither the earnest intreaty of the Mother, nor the pit­tifull out-cryes of the Children, could prevaile with them, they remain as dease men, void of all pi [...]ti [...] or bowels of compassion: [...]ay, they violently seize on her, drag her down the staires, and out of the house into the yard: the poore Children being almost distracted and at their wits end for feare what would become of their Mother, being thus violently drawne out of the house into the yard, there she found Mer ton Simpson and Cooke the Sequestrators, with other attending there to see this joyfull spectacle, a poore oppressed Gentlewoman & her small children cru­elly cast out of their own habitation by Rebels & Traytors. As soon as Mistresse Wiborow saw them, she presented them with the Kings Proclamation against the Oppression of [Page 123] the Clergie, by the intrusion of Factious and Schismati­call persons into the Cures and Revenues of Learned, Orthodox Divines, by Order of one, or both pretended Houses of Parliament, contrary to all Law and Justice: which she hoped would have found so much obedience and respect, as to restore her to her house: This was so farre from mollifying these Rebells and Schismatiques, that it provoked them to great insolencies: at last, when Mistresse Wiborow perceived that all her intreaties, and her chil­drens teares prevailed nothing, to restore her to her house, she intreated the Sequestrators, that in case she could not be permitted to dwell in her owne house, that yet she might have some other place of accommo­dation provided, to receive her and her children: Meri­ton insolently replyed, That he would provide his Tum­brill, that is, his Dung-ca [...]t, to carry her and her Children from Constable to Constable, till she came to her Husband: After many bitter scoffes and scornes in this her affliction, she desired, that if she might not obtaine so much favour to dwell in her house, yet they would not deny her ac­cesse to her house, but that she might goe in to fetch out provision for her Childrens supper that night: but these Monsters of men would not give her leave: and to com­pleat this unheard of Tyranny and Oppression, the Au­thorized Theoves, I meane the Commissioners appointed by the pretended House of Parliament to seize upon the Estates of all Delinquents, and to point out who shall be Plundered next. Order, that whatsoever Master Wiborow had left, should be seized on for the use of that Thing which they call a Parliament: thereby to support Rebel­lion with Robbery and Theft. Instantly they seize on his Corne, and those few Cattle, the remainder of former Plunderings, though they knew it was the life of the Mother and her children, and that in taking away these, they deprived them of all meanes of subsistance, and ex­posed them to extreame want, having reduced them o [Page 124] this miserable condition, to beg or starve: Now for the comfortlesse trouble sake of the needy, and because of the deepe sighing of the poore, I will up saith the Lord, and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest: The good God performe his pro­mise, Let God arise, and let these enemies of God and man be scattered.

Master Thomas Dalton Bachelor of Divinitie, and Par­son of Dalham in the County of Suffolk, being Plundered of his Horse by Colonel Russels Troop, Deputtie Lieute­nant of the Countie of Cambridge, on more then probable grounds, fearing that they would seize upon his person, and commit him to Prison, was compelled to leave his fa­mily & retire privately to some friends, where he continu­ed some moneths. In the interim, one Barnard a poore Smith, & one that formerly had lived on the Parish alms, informed the Committee at Cambridge of M. Daltons ab­sence, & making it his Crime, Petitioned for a Sequestra­tion of his Living, intending to make a gain of it himself; for whereas the Living is worth 140 l. per annum, and had beene so let for many yeares before, Vulcan, I meane Ber­nard the Smith, having got a Chaplaine of his owne, one Randal by name, indents with him to serve the Cure for 50 or 60. pounds a yeare, intending to put up the Over­plus into his own purse: nor did he faile of his pious pro­ject, so apparently tending to the publique good, and re­formation of the Church: For on the Smiths bare instance, though earnestly opposed by the Lord of the Towne, and about forty of the chiefest of the Parish, who all laboured earnestly to withstand it, the Committee for the advance­ment of the reformation, hearken to Barnard and substi­tute Randal Vulcans Priest in Master Daltons place, and revenew; This grant of the Committee was ratified by the Committee at Westminster, for'tis not impossible but Barnard might have sharers with him in both Com­mittees: For the Tyth of the Tyth was enough for [Page 125] an Almes-man: nay, this Committee did not onely rati­fie the Order of the other Committee, but added to the injustice by ordering Mistresse Dalton instantly to re­signe possession of the Parsonage house to Randal: of which Ordinance, when the Patron of the Living had in­telligence, [...]he instantly posted to London, and knowing how unjust and triviall the Accusations against M. Dal­ton were, absence being his maine Crime, (being put to this hard Option, either to stay and be committed Pri­soner, or to flye and be rob'd of the Profits of his Living, for this is the Dilemma to which all Orthodox Confor­mable Ministers are now put) resolved to intercede for him, hoping either quite to take him off, or at least to procure a mitigation of the Order; but contrary to his expectation he found the Smith Courted, Applauded, and to enjoy freedome of accesse to the Committee, and him­selfe (a Gentleman of very good rank and esteeme in his Country) to be sleighted, neglected, and made dance attendance, and after long waiting, not regarded what he spake for his Minister: At last this good Gentleman ha­ving by experience observed, that the practices of the Faction in Parliament did engage them to sleight and sup­presse the Gentry, and all that made Honour or Consci­ence the rule of their Actions, & to court and observe the dregs and scum of the people, (as the fittest instruments for their designs) returned home, and sending for Mistresse Dalton, intreats her to make use of his house as her owne, untill God should enable the King to restore her, and all his loyall Subjects to their own: Mistresse Dalton accepts of his courteous offer, but leaves her man to keep possessi­on of the Parsonage house: she had not stayed long here before her Hoast is threatned to be Plundered for his ho­spitalitie: Barnard the Smith (as bad as Alexander the Copper-Smith) being now so rich as to be able to travaile to London, and trouble his neighbours; that his Levite might have the Parsonage house to better his bargaine, [Page 126] speeds to the Committee, and prefers a Complaint against Mistresse Dalton for not giving up possession of her house according to their Order: upon complaint made, it is fur­ther ordered by the same Committee, that because she had not presently quitted the house, she should be brought up to London before the Committee, there to answer the con­tempt: to avoyd further vexation she obeyed the Order, and gave up possession, hoping that this resigning of her right, would set an end to her trouble: but according to the Rebels Method from the beginning of this Parliament, first invade the Clergy, & then the Laitie, so here they vary not from the first patterne, for having robbed Master Dal­ton of his Ecclesiasticall Revenues, presently they seize upon his Temporall, his Rents and other debts due unto him, they leave him nothing. But if you please to see the lively Character of a Malicious, Ingratefull, Cheating Schis­ma [...]ike, whole Religion it is to return evill for good, & ha­tred for good will, looke once more on this Barnard the Smith, & you will conclude it doubtfull which is hardest, his Anvill of his heart. For this wretch owing to M. Dalton twenty seven pounds, when the time of payment was come, Barnard comes to the Church-Porch, the place appointed for payment of the Debt, [...]ttended with four Rebell Troo­pers, as witnesse of the tender of the monyes. Mistresse Dalton being there to receive it, he poures it out, she ha­ving told it was putting it up into her purse; but Barnard interrupted her, saying, Sta [...], this is for better use then so, it is for the service of the Parliament: and presently (as the Plot was laid) the Troopers bent their Pistols at her brest, & force the monies from her: [...]ay, before it was law­full by Order and Ordinances to violate all the Obliga­tions of religion & gratitude, this Barnard acknowledged himselfe much bound to Master Dalton for many favours, who having many wayes indeared him, thought all things sa [...]e which were committed to Barnard, trust; in this confi­dence Master Dalton laid up diverse Coo [...]es of Wheat in [Page 127] Barnards house, to be a help in time of need: when M. Dal­ton was gone, his wife sent to Barnards house to demand some Wheat, this unthankfull wretch denied it, affirming, that M. Dalton, being a Malignant, had no right or proper­tie in those goods; and therefore forbad her man to come on his ground, threatning that he would runne his Pitch­forke in him, if he came thither to make any such demand: Ab uno disce Omnes.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XIV.

The Rebells barbarous usage of Sir Ralph Canterils man in Chancery-Lane London. Of the Minstery of London. A Character of Master Ephraim Udall, Parson of Saint Austins, with the cruelty used towards him and his wife. Sir Tho Hides covetousnesse and n [...]utral [...]y, here rewar­ded by the Rebells. Master Bowlstrodes Prayer by the Spirit, &c.

IF in the Relation of these sad Stories thou find (Cour­ [...]eous Reader) some Complaints of London, mingled with those of the Countrey, know that the earnest re­quest of Mercurius C [...]vicus must plead my Apology. The heads of this Rebell on, deale with that miserable City as unjust Step-mothers do with their poor Children, Whip them till they cry, and then whip them againe for crying: for they have not so much loosers Priviledge le [...]t them as to have Libertie to Complaine: and then let the World judge to what a narrow Scan [...]ing the Li [...]ertie of the Subject is reduced, by these pretended Assertors of the Libertie, when it is lawfull for them to Murther and Plun­der the Kings good Subjects, and yet it is not lawfull for [Page 128] the oppressed to bemoane their owne Condition. Being therefore denied the common natural mi [...]igation of great pressures, to be waile their owne miseries, and breath out the sense of them in free expressions, for fear they further provoke their Oppressors while they implore the compassion of their friends, Mercurius Civicus in his letter, dated Aug. 5.1643 and directed to me, earnestly entreated (their own Presses not da [...]ing to publish the truth of their miserable condition) that their sufferings under the Insolency, In­justice, [...]yranny and R [...]pine of this horrid Rebellion, might be made known to the World by a borrowed Pen, and int [...]woven with those of the Countrey: that therefore we may not be wanting to so just requests, nor leave po­steritie i [...]no [...]ant what transcendent cruelties are practised as well within the Wals of that wretched City as without, as o [...]t as they shall privately (by such secret wayes of intel­ligence as the present condition of the times permit) im­part their Calamities, I shall according to Mercurius Civi­cus desire, insert them with those of the Country, & so im­part them to the World; and though the Barbarous mur­thers committed on Master Tompkins & Master Chaloner, that second paire of State-Martyrs, together with the but­chery of a Peaceable Citizen slain by Captaine Harvey: and the women slaughtered by Sir William Wallers Troo­pers (that ran away at Roundway Downe to kill Women and Virgins in London, for the unpardonable crime of pe­titioning for Peace) might justly challenge precedency, yet because the memories of those two Worthies are re­served for a peculiar Martyrologue, and these are already imbalmed by the Piety of our Brother Aulicus, I shall set before you the misery, into which that Rebellious City hath plunged it selfe and us, in some other instances.

On Tuesday the 15 of Aug. 1643, a Partee of Colonel Harvies Regiment came to one Walkers house in Chancer [...] ­Lane, to seize on Sir Ralph Cante [...]l, whom they suppo­sed then to have lodged there: on their comming, find­ing [Page 129] that the Knight was either gone out of Town, or had shifted his lodging, but on diligent inquiry discovering that there was a man in the house that now was, or lately had been Sir Ralphs servant, they apprehend him, and de­mand where his Master was, and where he had hid his Mo­ney, Plate, and Jewels? The man replyed, that he had left his Masters service, and did know nothing, either where his Master was, or how he had disposed of his goods: pre­sently they lay violent hands on him, and carry him out into the back-side into the house of Office, there to exa­mine him by Torment: there they rip up the Tiles, and one of the Rebels taking a cord out of his pocket, fastned one end of it about the poore mans neck, and threw the other end over the rafters of the untiled house: Having him at this posture, they interrogate him again where this (Imaginary) Treasure was hid: he returnes the same answer, that he could give no account what Sir Ralph had done with it: for being to leave his service, he was a stran­ger to his Masters actions: Not satisfied with so reaso­nable an answer, they hoyle him up by the Neck, and let him hang a good distance from the ground, where having hanged a while, they let him downe, and examine him a­gain where Sir Ralph had bestowed his Money, Pla [...]e, and Jewels? The poore man not able to give any other answer to their Querie, pro [...]ests his ignorance, and that if the dis­covery might save his life, yet he could not redeeme it so, for he knew nothing concerning what they asked him: in­raged that the man could not Prophesie, (for without that gift he could not resolve them) they suddenly hoyse him up to the top of the house, and letting goe their hold, they let him as suddenly fall to the ground: being fallen, there he lay for dead without any expres [...]ion of life but these barbarous Rebells, hoping that there may yet remaine some life in him whereon to practice further cruelty, stand by the man, and watch him, and at last perceiving that he was not dead, but that he began to stir and breath, [Page 130] presently they put burning matches between his fingers: hoping by this way of Torment to extort a discovery from him: but in vaine, the extremitie of this Torment indeed (though half dead as he was) made him cry out and roare in a very lamentable manner, which a [...]aid-servant of the house hearing, and affrighted at the noyse, ran to her Ma­ster, and told him, that certainly the Rebells were mur­thering the man in the house of Office, hereupon Master Walker ha [...]tned out, and when he came to the place, found the conjecture of his Servant true, and amazed at so hor­rid, so inhumane a spectacle, interceded for the poor man, and earnestly desired them, not to defile his ground and habitation with innocent blood: instead of desisting, they returne the Egyptians answer to Moses, Who made thee a Ruler and a Judge? bad him be silent, and withdraw, or else they threatned to use him in like manner: M. Watker searing that those perjured perfidious Villaines, which keep their words in nothing else, might yet be punctuall in performance of mischiefe, not daring to commit himself to their mercy, left them, and went into his house, where the Quarter-master to the Rebells lay sleeping while the Troopers were acting this crueltie, him he rayseth from sleep, & tels him what the Troopers were doing without: who somthing moved at the relation, went out unto them, and took them off from farther prosecuting their Barba­rous intentions. But whether or no the man on whom all this crueltie was acted, survived this Barbarous usage, is uncertaine.

As amongst the many blessings wherewith it pleased God to advance the Citie of Lon [...]on farre above all other Cities, either of this, or other Nations of the Christian World, one was their Clergy: for a more Pious, Learned, & laborious Ministery no people ever enjoyed, even their enemies themselv [...]s being [...]udges: So amongst the many crying sinnes whereby that Proud Rebellious Citie hath provo [...]ed God, to give them up to a Reprobate sense and [Page 131] hardnesse of heart to their owne destruction, certainly, the contempt & oppression of their Clergy are none of the least: as before the last Parliament began, a main part of their Religion was to strive with their Priests, and to robbe them of their maintenance, by all possible arts of deceit, and fraud, so as soon as the Parliament was sate, and the basest of the people were set loose to worrey their Mini­sters (though never so blamelesse, never so Orthodox, if they did not conspire with them to innovate both Church and State:) the Citizens of London shewed themselves most forward in Petitioning against their Ministers: yet at first pretended to molest such onely, who had expressed greatest zeale to the order, and decency of Gods worship, professing that for the rest there was no thought to trouble them: but at last, having put to slight or imprisoned those, they go on and discover plainly, that whosoever is a friend to the Protestant Religion, as it is established in the Church of England, is their Enemy: how many have they silenced, imprisoned, or banished from their Cures, whom heretofore they did magnifie for the undaunted Champi­ons of the Protestant Religion? and stou [...] opposers of those supposed pretended innovations, which they vainly ima­gined were the eager endeavours of some men to impose upon the Church: he that knowes London, and hath fre­quented the most throng'd Congregations there, can­not be ignorant, that Master Ephraim Ʋdal, Parson of Saint Austines in the O [...]d-Change neare Saint Au­stines Gate, is a man of eminent Pictie, exemplary con­versation, profound learning, indefatigable industry prea­ching constantly every Lords Day twice, and for the Win­ter halfe yeare, if not the whole yeare, preaching a Le­cture at his owne Parish every Tuesday in the afternoon, and if I am not mistaken, every Saturday before the first Sunday in the month a Preparatory Sermon to the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper: and besides all this, he is a man of an affable, courteous, peaceable Conversation [Page 132] amongst his neighbours: in a word, he was a man of their owne Vote: and is (without prophanation be it spoken) a shining and burning light, and his people for a while much pleased themselves in their choyce, and were content to walk by his light: but when he found himselfe mistaken in the ends & intentions of the heads of this Rebellion, when he saw that the zeal of some did degenerate into madnesse and frenzie, and that the endeavours of others (under the pretence of Reformation) was to bring in Anarchy and Sacriledge, to devoure Gods portion, & the poor remain­der of the patrimony of the Church, he did strongly and powerfully bend both his tongue and pen against them: against Sacriledge be published that learned Tract, cal­led A Coale from the Altar: against Anarchy he declared himselfe for [...]piscopacie, and the established Lyturgie: and published another Booke, called Commun [...]on Comeli­nesse, in which by many impregnable arguments he proves a high Conveniency, if not a necessitie, for that most lau­dable custome of having Railes about the Lords Table: These were in the Schismatiques opinion Crimes enough to un-saint a man, nay, had Saint Paul himself been now in the [...], and preached against Sacriledge and Anarchy, there is no doubt, but there would have bin some found to Petition against him, and John White sitting in the Chair, a [...] undoubtedly he had been voted a scandalous Minister at a Committee: but because when these Books were pub­lished, Injustice and Oppression did not march so [...]uri­ously, nor were growne so frontlesse and impudent to seize on Innocency it selfe, not slur'd with slanders and calum­nies, Master Ʋdal sate something quiet, some murmurings there were, but his former Reputation in the Citie bore him up against the Obloquy of private discontent: the Faction found it no eas [...]e matter to brand M. Ʋdal with Po [...]ry, or Popishly affected, or these slanders to make any impression in that estimation which the people had of him: but at last when they came openly to defie their Soveraign, [Page 133] the Lords Annointed, and it was almost Treason but to name the 13. Chapter of the Romans, it was a fit time to Silence and remove M. Ʋdal, for neither Doctor Gouge his Church in Black Fryers, or M. Goodwins in Coleman­street, were halfe so full before this Parliament began, as M Ʋdals hath been since. First, therefore, they Plunder his house, they take away his Library and houshold-stuffe: Then they remove him from the execution of his Ministe­ry, and Sequester the profit for a Levite of their owne: Thirdly, they sought for him to commit him close Pri­soner, being aged, of very weake and infirme body, his strength exhausted with continuall labours in Preach­ing the Word of God, visiting the sick, and in execu­tion of other Ministeriall Functions, in performance of which in his owne person few of his Brethren were more Conscientious: And Lastly, they cast him out of his dwelling house: But when they came to seize on his house, they found one impediment, which unlesse they could find some art to remove, they could not take full possession of it: Mistresse Ʋdal (besides the infirmities of age) was lame, and it had been monstrous inhumanity to take her by violence and carry her our of her house, not knowing where to dispose of her, but in the open street: Therefore to gain her consent, and prevent clamor untill the [...]eat was done, they tell the good old Gentlewoman that the Parliament had a tender respect unto her yeares, and to her present Infirmities: and therefore though they had ordered to dispossesse her of that house, yet they did not meane to leave her harbourlesse, but had out of the abundance of their goodnesse provided another house to recieve her: She, good old woman, neither awed by feare, nor wonne by their perswasions and promises, was taken up by two men brought in by him that had broken open three locks, and entred the house by force, and carryed [...] of her house into the street, there they set her downe in [...] Chaire, and so leave this weak infirme Matron of a long [Page 134] time not accustomed to the open aire, nor being able to goe out of doores in three or foure yeares before, unlesse unto the Church, exposed her (a sad spectable of the Re­bells crueltie) to the mercy of wind and weather.

The Rebells in their march towards Gloucester, seized on Sir Thomas Hide a Bed [...]ord-shire man, whose fordid co­vetousnesse had made him so far forget all Dutie and Loy­altie to his Soveraigne, as that he refused to assist him ei­ther in his person or his purse: but because either his estate lay nearer to the power of the Rebels, then to the Kings Prot [...]ction, a Consideration which in these Ath [...]isticall Rebellious times is admitted as a just Apologie, either for Neutralitie or ready Compliance with the Rebels, so farre as to submit to all Taxes and Impositions laid on them, a most Trayterous and Irreligious libertie and dispensati­on of Conscience, which if all men had made use of, the Kings Crowne might long before this have been throwne downe to the ground: Or else conceiving it a very un­likely, if not an impossible thing for the King to withstand their power, who had not onely by Lyes and Slanders s [...]olne away the hearts of the people, but had seized on all his Castles, Townes, Forts, Magazines: did contribute to the Rebels ayde, and wholly complyed with them, not so much out of judgement, as [...]eare: thinking that this complyance would be the securitie of his estate, and turne to his great advantage: but his wealth was so well known, that bare complyance, and finall Contributions must not serve his turne, he must bleed more freely: They sease him the Twentieth part, and that highly set: This demand struck his heart like pangs of death; and he that was so forward in p [...]ttie assistances, now discovered the love of himselfe to be more then that of the holy Cause, and refu­sed to part with more monyes: wherefore in recompence of his former good deeds, they seize on his person, and carry him captive in their Army, and suffered his servant to walke along by him, leading a horse in his hand, [Page 135] while his Master the Knight was chained arme to arme with another Prisoner, and was compelled to beat it on the hoofe: Thus did he march for three dayes on foot, cou­pled with another Prisoner, and that Prisoner, as we are informed, is Doctor Stubbing, Doctor in Divinitie, whom likewise the Rebells gathered up in their march, and ta­king him from his Cure, added him to the number of their Captives: So soone can these Rebels forget former aides, if men doe not comply with them, and answer their ex­pectation in every thing: and indeed what measure their dearest friends are to expect from them, if they faile them in any particular, not running into the same excesse of Madnesse and Treason as they doe, and shall not shew themselves ready at a call (to their perpetuall in [...]amy, contrary to the Religion which they prosesse, the Oathes which they have taken, and the solemne Protestations which they have made) to rush into the damnable s [...]ne of Rebellion, and give the right hand of fellowship to the Rebels here, to assist them in so unnaturall a War against their own gracious native Soveraigne, we may fully learn by a Prayer (for now they have turn'd their vary Prayers into sin, being no better then very Libells and Pasquills) lately made by Master Bowlstrode, sonne to Colonel Bowl­strod a Factious Rebell of Buckingham shire, before his Sermon at Horton neare Colebrooke, which that you may see what Spirit of Prayer and Supplication it is of which they boast, and that the Nation whom it concernes may see what opinion the Factious Preachers here have of them, unlesse they will serve their vile purposes and in­gage themselves as deeply (which God forbid) in the pr [...] ­sent Rebellion as themselves, we have here inserted.

Thou hast, O Lord, of late, written bitter things against thy Children, and forsaken thine owne Inheritance, and now Lord, in our misery and distresse, we expected ayde from our Brethren of the neighbouring Nation, (the Scots I mean) [Page 136] but good Lord, then knowest that they are a false and perfi­dious Nation; and doe all they doe for their owne ends, and not for our good: if therefore, good Lord, their comming into the Land at this time be for our good, bring them in speedily, if otherwise, keep them out, for they are a false and perfidious Nation.

There was present at Church at that time, one Master Kenada a Scotchman, who being drowsy was wakened by a friend that sate by him, to hear the devotion of the Prea­cher; who hearing his whole Nation thus publiquely blas­phemed by this contemptible Zelot, spake out in the Con­gregation saying, I think the man is mad: and certainly Master Kenada was not a jot mistaken, to think him mad that should thus rashly in the face of a solemne Congrega­tion traduce a Nation, and if there be amongst the heads of the Rebellion (in whose power he is) any care of the honour of that Nation, we doubt not but we shall shortly heare of some exemplary punishment inflicted on this in­cendiary between the two Nations: and heightned accor­ding to the nature of the Crime. If any man doubt of the truth of this Relation, whether it be a fiction or a thing really done, he may consult Master Kenada or any of Hor­ton Parish, who are ready to beare Testimony to this Truth.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XV.

Master Squire of Little Saint Bartholomews London, Plundered of foure thousand pounds. Nath. Fiennes his Warrant for a Citizen of Bristol. A touch of Col. Mor­leys tyranny in Suffex, with the hard usage of M. Hin­son a Minister there. A woman most unchristianly tortu­red to death by the Rebels at Chippingnorton, &c.

UPon Friday the 18 of Aug. 1643. Master Squire of Little Saint Bartholmews London, having this pre­sent Rebellion upon severall Rates, Taxes and Loans, disbursed neere a thousand pounds, was sent unto for a new Summe towards the maintenance of the Holy Cause; but he fore-seeing, that as long as their purses were open to foment this unnaturall War, there would be no end of it till their Estates were exhausted, and the wealthiest a­mongst them reduced to beggery, and a morsell of bread, returned a denyall, yet withall professed his readinesse to have supplyed them if he had been provided: and his Wife to indeare themselves, and to shew how wel-affe­cted they were to the Cause, wished that all the Malig­nants in London were Plundered, and then there would be lesse cause to call so often on the wel-affected for so great supplyes, not imagining (good woman) that her Husband might be numbred shortly amongst the Malig­nants: or, that to be wealthy and not poure out all, as often as the heads of this Rebellion should call for it, was in their opinion, high Malign [...]tie: for next day, not­withstanding their former complyance with the Rebels in [Page 138] so great a measure, six men with Pistolls were sent to Ma­ster Squires house, under pretence to search for Armes, but indeed to find out a hoard of monies which either their owne jealousie, grounded on the generall received opini­on of his wealth, or the treachery of some, who knew the house had suggested unto them. After some small search, (though M. Squire thought that his tre [...]sure had bin close enough hid) instead of Armes they find foure thousand pounds, a rich bootie, and very greedily seized upon. At last, Mistresse Squire finding her selfe so unexpectedly in the number and condition of Malignants, robbed of so great a Summe, fell into a swound, and for fear she should be recal'd to pursue the inju [...]ie with just Clamours and Expostalations, when Strong-waters were brought to re­lieve and comfort her surprised spirits, the Rebells would not permit it to be administred unto her: but left nature to the worke of its own recovery, without the assistance of any borrowed help. Of this foure thousand pounds, eight hundred was due to a Sonne in Law of Master Squires, a Creature of the Parliaments, and a great friend to the Cause, and therefore to redeeme the rest, Master Squire freely offered to give the Parliament (as those tame people call the Faction of both Houses) the summe of three hun­dred pounds, so the rest might be restored unto him: but all in vaine, it was judged a very high Symptome of Ma­lignancy to hide foure thousand pounds, and suffer the Holy League to be endangered for want of supplyes, and therefore as a just panishment for his coldnesse, and want of zeale to the good Cause in hand, it was wholly taken from him without restitution (for ought we yet know) of a farthing: and indeed what measure the Rich either of London or any other place, cursed with the Tyrannie and Oppression of this Rebellion are to expect from their hands (when the necessities of supplyes shall presse upon them) the world may read in this Warrant, directed from Nathaniel Fienn [...]s, in the time of his raigne in Bristol, [Page 139] to Master Gunning the younger of that Citie: which for the plaine English that it speaks, and because it containes a perfect discovery of their Resolutions when occasion shall serve, we have here inserted.

On Sunday morning, being the ninth of July, 1643. in time of Divine Service, Colonel Morley, the Crooked Rebell of Sussex, came towards Hasting, one of the Cingue Ports, but in his march being discovered, presently no­tice was given to Master Hinson Curate of All Saints, who knowing that one end of the Colonels Sabbath dayes Jour­ney, was to apprehend him, was compelled to breake off Divine Service in the mid'st, and flye into a Wood neare [Page 140] at hand, there to hide himselfe: The Colonel being ente­red the Towne, scattered the body of his horse into seve­rall parts, to intercept all passages out of the Towne: and having secured the Ports, he summons the Major and Ju­rats, and demands the Armes of the Towne: to which he found ready obedience, for presently the Major & Jurats sent their servants to command all the Inhabitants to de­liver up their Armes, which was done accordingly, and one of the Jurats, Fray by name, furnished the Colonel with a Waggon, he sent them away to Battell, being a Towne in Suffex some five miles from Hasting: that night some Souldiers lay in the Church, where Master Hinson officiated, where one Wicker, a common Souldier, getting up into the Pulpit, preached unto his fellows: and to shew the Fruits of so good doctrine, going out of the Church, either the Preacher, or one of his Auditory, stole away the Surplice, Ralph Mills, the honest Parish Clerke, to recover it, complained to their Captaine Richard Cockeram of Rye, but received no other answer but this, Doe not you thinke he loves a Smock as well as you? Morley being now master of the Towne, began to exercise his power given him for the good of the Kingdome, and the preservation of the Subjects Propertie, and demanded a summe of Monyes from some of the Jurats, which they paid him, and because they came off so readily, he demanded more, which they refusing, he took them with him Prisoners to Battell: where having stayed but a night, they returne with a Warrant next day signed by Morley, which they undertook to exe­cute upon such persons as themselves had designed for Plunder and Imprisonment: whereof Master Car the Par­son of Saint Clements in Hasting, and Master Hinson, were the chiefest: M. Car that Sunday was not at home, being [...]ed to prevent surprizall: but hearing that Colonel Mor­ley was gone to Battell, and thinking the storme to be now blowne over, he resolved to return to Hasting, and being on the way thither, he met Fray the Jurat, who was one [Page 141] of the Combination to execute Morlyes Warrant, and apprehend him: as Fray was drilling M. Car along, by chance one Master Breame met them, and seeing M. Car so familiarly conversing with a Judas that was resolved to betray him, called Master Car aside to speake with him, what he said is uncertaine, but in all probabilite he discovered to Master Car the danger in which he was, for immediately he left Frayes company and rode back a­gaine: Fray thus unexpectedly rob'd of his prey, instant­ly informed Colonel Morley, that Master Breame had sray­ed away the Bird that was so neare going into the snare: Morley presently sends some Troopers to apprehend Master Breame, and at what summe he did redeeme this Crime, is uncertaine. On the Tuesday after Morlyes comming to Hasting, Master Hinson returned home: and that day, the Jurats that Morley tooke with him, being come backe, summoned the rest of their Brethren unto the Towne-Hall, where they acquainted them with the Contents of their new Warrant: who with, joynt consent, promise their best endeavours to put it in execution: To this purpose, having picked out of the Towne a sufficient number to assist them and execute their commands, and having put their names in the War­rant with their owne, they bind them by the Religion, and strict bond of an Oath, to doe what they would have them, without ever specifying any particulars, where­in they intended to exercise their obedience, untill they should give them in charge what they were to doe: N [...]y, not onely so, but having received their com­mands, they sweare them not to reveale what com­mands were layd on them to any body, no not to their owne wives, untill they had executed the commands and when some of these assistants startled at this J [...]suiti­call implicite Obedience, to know to what in particu­lar their Oath should bind them: Wenb [...]m a Facti­ous Jurat replyed, that they must sweare in generall, [Page 142] and afterwards they should know the particular. Thomas Staple, one of the Assistants, being pressed to take this Oath, rejoyned, That you may make us sweare, and the businesse we sweare to, may be to knock our Fathers in the head, or betray them: W [...]nham (most convincingly) replyed, That if they would not sweare, they had authority for their reful all, to imprison them for a year: The rest adding, That they need not be so scrupulous, though they did not know what they sw [...] unto, it was no harme. for they had taken the same Oath themselves, to d [...]e that which they were to assi [...]t them [...]: And so, partly by feare, and partly by the ind [...]cement of the Jurats example, they took an oath upon the holy Evangelists, to assist the Jurats in what they were to doe, not knowing what, and to be secret, untill it was done. Sure the Oath of Canonicall Obidience, and the so much decryed & [...]aetera, must now for ever rest in peace, and never more be m [...]liciously and ignorantly tradu­ced after this most Papistuall, Iesuiticad, Puritanicall Practice.

Having thus ingaged these men by an Oath, to doe any thing which they shall command them, they then thinke them sufficiently prepared to receive the Mysteries of the Warrant which now they reveal unto them, and tel them, that they must apprehend Master Hinson, and [...]ome others nominated in the Warrant: In obedience therefore to the command, they presently goe to Master Hinson, and seize on him in his lodging and being brought before the Ma­jor and his Brethren the Jurats, he never questioned by what authoritie he was apprehended, but only told them, that he had not done any thing that deseved this usage: presently Weaham replyed, that be had highly deserved it, because he read the Kings Declarations. After this, all the Jurats went out, one by one, and left Master Hinson lock­ed up with one Master Parker, whom they had a little be­fore committed, because he would not pay for the carri­age of some Ordnance to Rye, a most Factious Towne not [Page 143] farre off: Master Parker was that night removed from the Towne Hall, but Master Hirson was left there all night, strongly guarded by eight Bill-men, having no other bed but a bench: next day Master Parker (who had the favour to be lodged that night in a Serjeant house) desirous to see his fellow Prisoner, prevailed with his Landlord to goe along with him to visite Master Hinson: of which when Wenham had notice, he told Biddenham (for so was the Serjeants name) that he deserved for this to be laid by the heeles himselfe: which check so awed many of Master Hinsons friends, that they durst not visite him for feare of imprisonment: The Major and Wenham command the Maid-servant that attended him, not to carry any Letters from him, and being examined by them, whether she had conveyed any from him already, upon the denyall, Barlow a Factious Schismatick (who because heretofore his neigh­bours of Hasting refused to concurre with him in Petitio­ning against Episcopacy, joyned and subscribed with those of Rye) told her, that she deserved to be put into the Duck­ing-house (a Prison for women) for denying it: That night Biddenham the Serjeant was commanded to carry Master Hinson out of the Town Hall, and put him into the Com­mon Gaole, which the Serjeant refusing, that busie fellow Wenham told him, that he deserved to be committed him­self, for refusing to performe his Office: hereupon by ver­tue of this Oath, they command foure of the men whom: they had sworne to apprehend Master Hinso [...], to tell him that he must exchange his Prison, the Towne Hall for the Common Gaole, whither they presently led him, there they lock him fast up, in a loathsome place, where there was but one short bench, and no company but a Tinker, and he none of the jovialists neither, for the stubborne sullen Tinker pleading senioritie in the place, took possession of the bench, and most unsociably kept in all night, not in­terchanging with Master [...] his repose for a walk [...] ­varietie take, but left him one while to walk, and [...] [Page 144] while to sleep on that sloore, in which he was forced to doe the necessary acts of Nature: while he lay in this loathsome condition, foure of the Jurats, Jurats, I meane foure that had taken the Oath, to doe what ever was commanded them, came to die Gaole, and prosessed to Master Hinson their heartie sorrow that they ever had a hand in his At­tachment, intreated him that he would not thinke evill of them, for they were compelled to doe that for which they were now sorry: And Thomas Staple that (as before you heard) expostulated so freely, and pleaded against the ta­king the Oath before he was awed to take it, shewing the monstrous evill in which it might ingage them, openly ex­claimed against the Major and his Brethren, wishing that the plague from God might light upon them, for insna­ring their consciences with such an Oath; when not onely Religion, but right reason might have told him and the rest, That their sinne was to take an unlawfull Oath, it had beene no sinne to beak it: while Master Hinson lay thus in the Goale, one Master Besanno a Councellour at Law interceded for him, and earnestly intreated that he might be removed from the Common Goal, & comitted to sate custody in some Chamber in the Towne, but could not prevaile: at last, after three weeks imprisonment, upon Master Besanno's request, seconded by Master Brian (here­tofore a Jurat of Hasting, but now removed to Battell, as too honest for such a Fraternitie as he left behind him) Master Hinson was sent with a strong Guard to Colonel Morley, by whom he was transmitted to London to Learn­ed Miles Co [...]be [...], who committed him to the Custody of a Messenger, and having no particular Acculation but a generall charge, and finding no hopes to be brought to a hearing, but perceiving himselfe designed (as others be­fore him had been) too long attendance and vexatious de­layes, he withdrew himselfe from his Tyranny and Op­pression, and escaping to Oxford, put himselfe under the Kings Protection.

[Page 145]As the Rebels in their march towards Gloucester passed through Chipping-Norton in the Countie of Oxford, a wo­man of that Town (whose zeale to the King and the Ju­stice of his cause, could not containe it selfe though in the mid'st of his mortall Enemies) said in the hearing of some of the Rebells, God [...]lesse the Cavaliers: ( [...]o are all good and faithfull Subjects called by the Rebels) this expressi­on of the poore womans affection to the King and his loy­all Subjects in so innocent a Prayer, so highly incensed the Rebells, that to punish so hainous a Crime, presently they tyed her to the taile of one of their Carts, and strip­ping her to the middle, for two miles march whipped her in so cruell a manner with their Cart-whips, that her body in many places was cut so deep, as if she had been lanced with Knives, the torment being so great (as much as her straight bounds, would give leave) she cast her selfe on the ground, so to shelter her selfe from their stripes, but in a most barbarous manner they dragged her along, insomuch that her legs and feet were so to torne by the stony rough wayes, that her flesh was worne off in many places to the very bones, at last, having farre exceeded the number of stripes limited by God himselfe in the Law of Moses, (though given by the hand of Justice) Forty stripes be may give him and not excced, Deut. 25. 3. they left her a La­mentable spectacle of their crueltie: in this miserable con­dition lay this poore soule for some few dayes, and since dyed of those wounds which she received from them: The blood of this innocent, mingled with the rest shed by their hands, crying loud with them under the Altar, Rev. 6. 10. How long, O Lord, holy and true, doest thou not judge and a­venge our blood on them that dwell on carth?

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XVI.

Burton, Prinne, and Bastwick, three Arch-Schismatiques, unjustly freed from a just censure. The committing and removing of Master Chestlen from S. Matthews Friday-street, to make way for Burton, contrary to all Law and Equity, &c.

AFter that bold affront offered (and that without checke or controule) to publique Justice, and the knowne Lawes of the Land, in those Triumphant Re­ductions of that Triumvirat of seditious Schismatiques, Burton, Bastwick, and Prinne, from their severall Confine­ments: It was no hard matter for the world to ghesse what measure the obedient Sonnes of the Church of England might expect, when that spurious, degenerous Brood, (which most undutifully cast dirt in their mothers face, and in their scurrilous, Libellous Pamphlets proclaimed her a Harlot) became the darlings both of the heads of the Faction in Parliament and the people: And though it seemed good to the heads of the Faction, by restoring these Turbulent men, to brave that Authority by which they were justly censured, yet being restored, all were not thought to be of equall concernment : As for Bastwicke, if any man laboring under any lndisposition(besides that to the present established Government) had a mind to be a Patient, and put himselfe into the hands of a mad man, he might doe as he pleased at his owne perill: every man was left to the liberty of his owne choice: So for [...]rinne, if any man desired to retaine him of his Counsell, it was law­full for the Client to give, and him to receive his Fee ; but [Page 147] all this was but voluntary: no man was const rained to be a Patient to the one, nor a Client to the other: for the inten­ded Rebellion might well goe forward, though Bastwicke never wrote an Apothecaries Bill, or Prinne pleaded at the Barre: But for Burton (a maine Engine to promote the design in hand) it concerned them to restore him, not on­ly to a Liberty of the exercise of his Calling at large, but likewise to invest him in his former Cure in particular; from which, by the just sentence of Law he was ejected: To this purpose no arts were left unattempted, by the un­der-Agents, for the heads of this rebellion, to restore Bur­ton to his Parsonage of Saint Matthewes in Friday-street London: by unjust molestations they endeavour to weary out Master Chestlen that succeeded him (but not immedi­ately) in it, to relinquish his cure, and make way for this Trumpet of sedition; That so, what was not feazable in Law, might yet be effected by horrible in justice and op­pression: First, therefore, some of Master Chestlens Pari­shioners,(but Burtons old disciples, levened with his schis­maticall doctrine) deny to pay him his Tythes, or any o­ther accustomed duties: nor are they content with their owne denyall, but by earnest perswasions, & other means they labour to draw other men into the like obstinacy and perversenesse: nor did they stick openly to professe that they did this, that by unjust vexations they might weary out Master Chestlen, and make way for Burton: hereupon (the Ecclesiastical Court being suppressed, which otherwise have cognizance of the Causes of Tythes of London , nor can there any prohibition be justly granted as Coram non Judice, The Statute onely enabling the Lord Major to be Judge, if the person grieved thinke fit to appleale unto him, but no way disabling the Ordinary, or abolishing his power) Master Chestlen petitioned (as the Statute in that case provides) the Lord Major that then was, Sir Edmund Wright: To the hearing before the Lord Major came Little I saac Pennington, no wayes interested in the cause, [Page 148] but only to give countenance to Master Chestlens Parishi­oners: being there, he openly reviled Master Chestlen, calling him Saucie Jack, brazen fac'd fellow, and the like; nay he threatened the Judge, thinking by this to stave him off from doing Justice, who bravely scorning the threats of so contemptible a Mushrome, in a just indigna­tion replyed, What, shall I be afraid to doe Justice? and in­deed the event shewed that he was not afraid; for upon a full hearing of the Cause, the Lord Maior gave sentence for Master Chestlen, and ordered the Parishioners to pay their Tythes: Tillat a Linnen Draper, one of the Citizens that was sued, refused to obey the Lord Maiors Decree: and therfore the time limited in the Decree being expired, the Lord Maior, according to the power given him by the Statute of the 37 of H 8. committed Tillat to prison, with­out baile or mainprize, until he did submit to the sentence as the Statute gives him power: But see the Justice of the great pretenders to the maintenance of the Lawes of the Land, Tillat had not stood committed many dayes, before two of the House of Commons (as the Keeper of Newgate sayes) in the name of the House of Commons, command him to be set at liberty, which accordingly was done, though he were in upon Execution, and the debt not satis­fied: every man wondring at, but no man daring to que­stion so illegall an action. When this way tooke no effect, they joyned their purses to vex him with an Action of E­jectment, threatning to spend five hundred pounds, but they would out him of his Living: but presently deserted those intentions as not seizable. After this, they slander him for preaching Popery and Arminiasme: which unjust scand [...]ll so prevailed in the City, that he could not passe the streets without affronts and jeeres put upon him: they dislwade his Parishioners from hearing him, telling them, that they would be damned if they lived under his Mini­stery, they branded them with the name of Malignants, if they frequented their own Church, and procured them to [Page 149] be deeply taxed in all Sessements. In a word, that nothing might be wanting to their owne malice, and M. Chestlens vexation, they threw menacing Libels into his house, laid wait in the Pewes of his Church, while others provoked him to expresse himselfe in the great differences of the times, hoping to intangle him in his words: and examined his conversation in the very places where he lived, even from his Childhood to that time, hoping to find something whence to frame an Accusation against him: When all these malicious courses would not effect the thing they ai­med at, they goe from house to house for hands to a Peti­tion against him, to the House of Commons, pretending that he had preached false doctrine, and made it the sub­ject matter of their Petition: & if any man refused to sub­scribe (as many did because they could not testifie the truth of the Petition) in their spirit of meeknesse, they cal­led them Malignants, Papists, and Enemies to Religion: however it is too well knowne, that two or three men (though the very dregs of the people) petitioning against Orthodox Ministers, have in the judgement & acceptance of the Faction of the House of Commons, out-poized the rest of the Parish, though infinitely beyond them, as in number so in quality: their testimony being rejected with much acrimony and sharpnesse, when the others Libels have gained credit and reputation with them: Therefore about March, 1641. the Schismatiques of Master Chest­lens Parish, presented a Petition against him to the House of Commons, in the name of the whole Parish, though three parts of soure protested against it under their owne hands: When it was presented, Pennington and Venne car­ [...]cstly urged that it might be read, pleading in their dri­velling, railing Oratory, that he was a very dangerous man, fit to be looked after: To satisfie their Importunitie; the Witnesses (who as their manner is, were never sworne, and yet were both Witnesses and Accusers) were produ­ced and examined at the Barre, and upon examination [Page 150] the Petition was throwne out as frivilous, but like eager blood-hounds not giving off the pursuit, for being at one losse, upon Easter Eve, to shew the world that malice is part of a Puritans preparation to the Sacrament, when the House was very thin, the Protestants of the House be­ing in their Closets, close at their devotions to prepare themselves for the great Feast at hand, and when private businesses by Order of both Houses were layd aside (for as yet all opinion of the Sanctitie of the ancient Festivalls of the Primitive Church, was not lost a­mongst them) Pennington and Ven prevailed to have this soyled ejected Petition to be revived and read again in the House, and the Patrons of Justice and integrity be­ing then absent, the Petition was referr'd to the Commit­tee for Scandalous Ministers: so they are pleased to call all Orthodox, consclentious Ministers, who abhorre their Rebellion, and refuse to comply with them in their se­ditious practises: and that no time might be lost, in Easter week, the Committee sate purposely for this busi­nesse: to which there was a full confluence of Seditious Schismaticall people from all Quarters of the Citie; that so nothing might be wanting to this Triumph: while Master Chestlen was thus tyed to a tedious chargeable at­tendance, God, to whom appertain the Issues of death, [...]mote Tillat, the maine promoter of Master Chestlens troubles with the Plague, of which he dyed: with whom also for the present dyed Master Chestlens trouble and vexation: and though some (that thinke that all acts of providence are aimed point-blanke at them) ha­ving such an opportunitie as this, would interpret this to their owne Interest as a signe of personall favour to them, yet not daring to presse into the hidden will of God, nor making our selves of familiar acquaintance with his Counsells, I shall not make any inference from hence, but leave every man to abound in his owne sence , onely thus much we say, Tillat being dead, the [Page 151] hot prosecution of Master Chestlen, for a while lay dead too: when all these endeavours could not re-estate Bur­ton in the Parsonage, some of the Factious of the Parish combine to make him their Lecturer, and perhaps better approved of him as their Lecturer then their Parson: to this purpose cunningly, & on feigned pretences they get some subscriptions of the Parishioners, and annexing them to a Petition, for which they were never intended, preferred it in their own names, and the names of the rest, to the House of Commons, that Burton might be their Lecturer: which was no sooner proposed then granted, and an order presently drawn up to give Burton power to preach in M. Chestlens Pulpit, which M. Chestlen resolutely opposing, kindled such Coales against him as afterwards fired him out of the Citie: for since Master Chestlen will not give way to Burton to be partner with him in his Pul­pit, they resolve to give him possession of the whole, by removing Master Chestlen totally from his Cure: To this purpose Master Case sends to the Faction in Master Chest­lens Parish to frame some accusation against him, in obedi­ence to so ghostly Councell, Master Chestlen is presently accused to the House of Commons for Preaching a Sediti­ous Sermon on Sunday the 23 of October, that very day whereon the Battell was fought at Edge-Hill: The sub­ject of the Sermon in truth, being nothing else, but an earnest exhortation to his Parishioners to perswade them to constancy in the Protestant Religion, perseverancc in the feare of God and the King: presently a Warrant is granted for the apprehension of Master Chestlen: on the Thursday following, they riotously assault him in his house, with great Tumults, armed with drawn Swords and Pistols: and seizing on him, in great triumph they carry him to the Court of Aldermen, who now (it seems) are succeeded in the place of the High Commission, and are to be Judges of true or false doctrine: being brought before this Lay Sanedrim, whereof Pennington the pre­tended [Page 152] Lord Maior was President, and a rabble of Schis­maticks crowding in, to give countenance to the businesse, Captaine Ven their Leader, stands forth and accuseth Master Chestlen for a most dangerous seditious Preacher (though he confessed that he never heard him) and that he stood a delinquent in Parliament: others objected against him, that he discouraged the Citizens from going to Windsor, though this Sermon were preached before that treasonable designe was knowne, that the Kings Royall Castle should become Captaine Vens Royall Castle, or his Countrey-house for the recreation of his Mopsa: and that the people might have full content, M. Chesblen was there baited on every hand, every Alderman had his fling at him: at last having made him a publique scorne of the multitude, Pennington commits him into the hands of his accusers to expose him to more abuse, and to commit him to the Compter: the Rabble being now made Serjeants, they threaten to carry him in a Cart through the open streets to the Prison: to deliver him from the fury, and rage of the people, his Father (a knowne able Citizen) tendered Baile of ten thousand Pounds, but it was not ac­cepted: away they carry him to the Compter, and the next day being Friday, he is brought to the B. [...]e at the House of Commons: where the Speaker (who had bin happy in the deceived worlds opinion both of his wisedome and honestie had he never known other Barre, but that of the Exchequer) interrogated him touching his Preaching a­gainst Brownists and Anabaptists: and presently, though no witnesse appeared, though no crime were objected, though no accuser appeared against him: he was Voted by the House of Commons to be sent Prisoner to Colchester Gaole in Essex, there to remaine during the pleasure of the House: and to pay the Charges of his conveyance thither: And that Posteritie may read, and reading stand amazed to see how Tyrannical, how unlimited an Empire, these Subjects have exercised upon their fellow Subjects, [Page 153] without any legall Processe, or any cause shewne, to doome them to Banishment and Captivitie, during their high and mightie pleasure, we have here inserted a true and perfect Copy of the Warrant and Sub-warrant, by which Master Chestlen was sent from hand to hand, till he came to his Gaole at Colchester.

[Page 154]Next morning being Saturday was this (righteous) sen­tence put in execution: Thus to make way to reduce Bur­ton, a Stigmatized infamous Schismatique to his former place, was Master Chestlen doomed to banishment and cap­tivitie: in a remote place from his Father, his Wife and Family, into a noysome Gaole, where he was made a com­panion to Theeves and Felons; in a Towne, where 'twas little lesse then death to be Loyal: or as themselves phrase it, to be Casars friend: A Towne in which they that sent him thither, could not but know that they exposed his life [...] the fury of an inraged fanatick people, and not long be­fore had almost murthered Sir John Lucas, his Mother, and Sister, together with Master Newcomin, one of their Owne Ministers, and for this had received publique thanks from the House of Commons for their forwardnesse and zeale to the service of the Parliament; Lastly, in a Town arrived at that high degree of madnesse, that the Indepen­dent Church is openly practiced in it, and the Major ba­nished one of the Towne for a Malignant and a Cavalier, whose name was Parsons, and gave this learned reason for this exemplary piece of Justice, Because it was an Ominous same: While Master Chestlen remained in this durance, if any man durst visit him, it was at his perill, he was in danger to be Plundered and branded with the dangerous name of a Malignant. They raysed reports of great resort of Cavaliers to him, and of Armes brought unto him, inso­much that Alderman Barrington told the Committee, that their Town was not in safetie because of M Chestlen, who [...]oore man, had no other indeavour then how to free him­selfe from the loath some nastinesle of his Prison; To this end many Petitions were delivered to the House of Com­mons, that he might be delivered from the Gaole to some private house, which boon, after much and earnest prosecu­tion by Mistresse Chestlen, and his friends, was obtained: [...] an Order to exchange his Gaole for a private [...] Master Hammon, an honest Gentleman, dwelling in [Page 155] the Towne, entertained Master Chestlen: but for his cha­ritie incurred the hatred of the common people, for where­as before he lived beloved, & in good estimation amongst his neighbours, now for harbouring Master chestlen, and for this and other actions, being under the jealousie of the crime of Loyaltie, they call him Cavalier, they threaten to call him up to the Parliament, and at last were as good as their word, for upon their Complaint, he was sent for up to the Parliament, and committed for receiving Master Chestlen into his house: though in reason he might safely conclude, that, that Order of the House which gave Master Chestlen libertie to remove to another house, did withall give that house libertie to entertaine him: Thus continued Master chestlen in this exile and Imprisonment from Octo­ber 1642. untill the February following, when the Kings expresse Warrant being sent for his release, having the op­portunitie now and then to goe abroad and take the aire, he left the Warrant for the Jaylor to make use of for his best advantage, while he came away to Oxford and put himselfe under the Kings Protection: since that, in London they have broken up his house and Plundered his goods: a common evill incident to all the Kings faithfull Sub­jects, which are within the Verge of the Rebels usurped power.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XVII.

Master Fowler, Parson of Minchin-Hampton in Glouce­ster-shire, his wife and children barbarously used, & his house Plundered by the Rebels. Master Bartlets house at Castle-morton in Worcester-shire, five times Plunderd, but especially by Captaine Seriven, an Impudent Rebell, &c.

ON Newyears day, 1643. seventeene Souldiers sent by Captaine jeremy Buck, came to Master Henry Fowlers house, Parson of Minshin-Hampton, in the Countie of Gloucester; being entred the house, they find Master Fowler fitting (as the season of the yeare required) by the fire side, presently they seize on him, and tell him, that he is their Prisoner: and though he instantly submitted unto them without any the least re­sistance, yet to wreck their owne malice, and the malice of him that sent them, upon him, one of the Rebells takes him by the throat, and holds the point of his Sword at his breast, two more (on each side one) present their Pi­stols at him, another shakes his Pole-axe over his head, others strike him with their Pole-axes; threatned he is on every side with varieties of death. All Smile him with the tongue, they ravle at him, objecting against him as heinous crimes. First, that he read the Common-Prayers at length, and that he had published the Kings Proclamations with a loud voice: and then with renewed sury they assault him againe they beat him with their Pole-axes, and call him Ma [...]e-Priest, Rogue, Rascall, and tell him, Sirrah, you can [...] the King [...] Musquer, a Carstel, and a Light­Horse, [Page 157] Horse, but thou old knave, thou canst not find any thing at all for the Parliament: And then to worke they fall againe with their Pole-axes, and beat and bruile him in most parts of his body; so that being aged, (no lesse then Threescore and two yeares old) and being not yet per­fectly recovered or a former lamenesse in one of his hippes, though he were in a probable way towards it, by this barbarous usage, being so cruelly beaten, and tug­ged, and haled by them, he is made a very Cripple, ir­recoverably lame, without all possibilitie of recovering of his Limbes: All this inhumanitie was practiced on Master Fowler in the presence of his Wife and Children, the Wife in the behalfe of her Husband, the Children in the behalfe of their Father, humbly intreating on their knees, that they would have compassion on him, and not murther a peaceable man in his owne house. While some of these Rebells were executing this Crueltie on his per­son, others goe up into his Study and Chambers, and take away all that was of good value, and portable. And having crippled the Master of the Family, and rifled his house, like the true Servants of that Master whom they serve, the Devill, they leave him, but it was but for a season.

Now, though the present sense of these sufferings could not be but very great to an aged man, and one labouring under former infirmities, especially to have his sufferings imbittered by the reproachfull raylings of the Rebells, and the mocks and mowes of Captaine Bucks friends and Kindred, who stood by jeering, and clapt their hands for joy, applauding the exact execution of Bucks com­mands, given his Souldiers concerning Master Fowler, yet the sad effects which followed were evidence enough how cruell his usage was: First, Master Fowler present­ly upon the Rebells departure, fell into an extream blee­ding, which continued, and could not be stanched in six houres and more, by which great out-let of Spirits, [Page 158] his strength was so much exhausted, that he was not able to stand. Secondly, the next day after his bleeding, what with the losse of so much blood, and what with violence offered to his whole body, the Retentive facultie was so weakned, that his Urine came from him insensibly, and in this wretched condition he continued very neare a month. Lastly, by the many contusions and knocks which he recei­ved on his head with their Pole-axes he lost his hearing, which he hath not prefectly recovered unto this day. And now after all this barbarous usage, remaines there yet any thing else to be added to his sufferings was not their ma­lice satisfied, and these out-rages (designed to be commit­ted on him) compleated yet? No, Captain Buck knew that it would not be lawfull alwayes to commit murther, and rob those that are quiet in the Land, and therefore resol­ved to make use of the present opportunity: he was not ig­norant that the wages of a faithfull servant to the Rebelli­on was full licence to doe any thing that can satisfie Lust, private Revenge or Avarice: And therefore in July last, Buck himselfe, not like a Captaine of Souldiers, but a Ring-leader to a Rout of Rogues, came to Master Fowlers house at Minchin-Hampton, and most theevishly broke open the Window of his Sonnes Study, and so entred the house: In the Study they found rich Treasure which they did not know, being indeed without a Metaphor Pearl be­fore Swines, for young M. Fowler, a Practicioner it seemes in Physick, had in his Study Extract of Pearle, Aurum Po­tabilc, Confections of Amber, a great quantity of Compound waters, a good proportion of Pearle in Boxes, a Box full of Bezoar Stone, with many other things of admirable use, for the preservation of the life of man, and of very great value, all which they took and brake in pieces, and tram­pling them under foot, made them utterly unuseful either for themselves or others. One of M. Fowlers daughters in a just indignation at so great waste of things so precious, told Buck, that he might be ashamed to spoyle things of [Page 159] that use and value, Buck (a rude untutored man as he is) called her Whore, and with his Pole-axe gave her a blow on the neck, and struck her downe, and being risen again, again he strikes her downe with his Pole-axe, nay, to pur­sue the glorious victory, he strikes her down a third time, and had she bin able to rise from the floore, questionlesse, had struck her down a fourth time. The compassionate mo­ther Mistresse Fowler standing by, and seeing her daugh­ter thus barbarously used, to redeem her from this cruelty, resolved to expose her own person to the fury of this mad Beast, and therefore interposing, asked Buck, whether he thought she could endure to see her child murthered be­fore her face? But as soon as Mistresse Fowler came with­in his reach, without regard either to her Age, or Sex, he caught her by the Throat, knocked her downe, and being downe, kicked her, and trampled on her with his feet. At last, having acted what crueltie he pleased (according to the Latitude of that Tacite Commission given every Cap­tain of the Rebellion) on Mistresse Fowler and her daugh­ter, he and his Rabble Plundered the House, and so de­parted.

If the monstrousnesse of these barbarous and inhumane cruelties, committed on this Reverend Divine, his Wife and Daughter, and reported in this Relation, shall weaken the credit of the Relation, and render the truth of it sus­pected, let the world know, that there is nothing set down in this account given unto the world, but what was testifi­ed upon Oath before the Right Honourable Sir Robert Heath Knight, Lord Chiefe Justice of his Majesties Court of Kings Bench, on the 18. day of Aug. 1643.

On the 21. of Septemb 1642. being Saing Matthew the Apostle and Evangelists day, a hundred and fiftie Souldi­ers, some from Gloucester sent from Captaine Beard being of his Company, and some others from Teuabury, (all con­spiring together, and taking advantage of the peoples ab­sence from their homes, and being at a Payre that day at [Page 160] Ledbury two miles distant from Malverne Hills) under the conduct of Captaine Scriven, sonne to Seriven the Rich Iron-monger, and late Major of Gloucester, came to castle-Morton, in the Countie of Worcester, to Plunder Master Rowland Bartlets house : a man so well beloved in his Country, for his hospitalitie, so deare to all sorts of people, especially to the poore, for his Charitie, and those helpes which he freely bestowed on them, for the recovery or the sick, the lame, and infirme, that had not these Re­bells taken the opportunitie of his Neighbours being at the Fa [...]re, this force had been too weak, to have made him the first instance of the Rebels insolency (in that County) by way of Plunder: when they came to Castle-Morton, for feare of surprizal their Horse secure the streets, and high­wayes, while the Pikes and Musqueteers beset the house : having made good all passages, that none could goe in or come out, without their leave, Scriven advanced towards the house : M. Bartlet perceiving himselfe to be inclosed with armed men, their Muskets being bent upon his house, and his Pales serving them instead of Rests, comming out of his doores, met Scriven in the Porch, and after a friend­ly salute, demanded of him the Reason of this warlike ap­proach to his house: Scriven answered, that he came in the name of the Parliament, and by their command to search for Armes: Alas! replyed Master Bartlet, you are like to loose your labour, for Justice Salloway (meaning that trayterous beggerly fellow, who in the time of the late universall madnesse, was made Knight of the Shire for the County of Worcester)hath prevented you : yet Master Bart­let bad him use his discretion, to see if he could find any gleaning, after the others full Vintage : amd so brought him through his Hall into his Parlor; being there, Master Bartlet, according to the freenesse of his disposition, and after the good old English way of bidding welcome, called for some Beere, while Scriven fare there, and with a curi­ous eye surveyed the furniture of the Roome, he espyed [Page 161] Master Bartlets Sword hanging on the Wainscot, Scriven presently taking it downe, said, Is not this Armes? yes, re­plyed Master Bartlet, but no more then is necessary for every honest man, to prevent or repell injury on the high­way; yong Master Bartlets Sword hanging by his fathers, Scriven takes down that too: and utterly to disarme them, that so they might rob them without resistance, the Rebels in the outward Roomes possesse themselves of Master Bart­lets mans Sword: young Master Bartlet comming into the Parlour, hoping to recover his Sword, Scriven perceiving a Ring (in which was set a Rubey) hanging in his Band­strings, rudely seized upon it, and after some strugling, some seconds with Pistolls and Carbines, comming to his assistance, Scriven either broke, or cut it off: having rob'd the young-man of his Ring, animated by the presence of his fellow Theeves, he dives into his Fathers Pockets, and takes thence his monies, between three and foure pounds; Master Bartlet, perceiving his hand in the returne to be full of money, put his owne hand into his pocket to see what was left, and finding but one poore three pence, to have escaped his theevish fingers, tendered him that too, desiring him all might goe together, which was no sooner offered, then taken by this poore conditioned un­worthy fellow, yet Heire to a thousand pounds a yeare, unlesse the Hang-man cut off the entaile; Master Bertlet being clad in a faire Scarlet Gippo (a shrowd temptation to a man not accustomed to weare good Clothes, especi­ally at his owne charge) so dazeled Srivens eyes, that he offered to pull it from the others back: Master Bartles intreated him not to strip him of his Clothes sincc he had taken away his monies, with which he should buy more: O Sir, replyed this doughty Captain, you have mony enough to buy more, & so the hopes of a greater prize making him forget the Gippo, he drew his Sword, and threatned to kill M. Bartlet, unlesse he would confesse where he had hid his mony & plate: but finding him resolute not to betray his own [Page 162] Treasure, Scriven seazeth upon a woman that was Master Bartlets house-keeper, an old faithfull servant, in whom Master Bartlet and his wife reposed much trust, and think­ing to worke upon the weaknesse of her Sex, and affright her into a confession, he causes some to present Pistolls at her brest, and others the points of their Swords, threat­ning her with present death, if she would not discover where her Masters Treasure was:but finding this woman not to be terrified with their threats, & fearing surprizall by some Forces which might come from worcester, or the return of the Country people from the Fayr at Ledbury, he resolved to make tryall if he could find out that which he saw would not be disclosed unto him: Therefore without further delay to worke they goe; resolving to search the house from the top to the bottome. In Master Bartlets chamber, Scriven seizeth upon Mistresse Bartlets Watch, he breakes open a Trunk, and took thence (by his owne confession) six hundred pounds in money, he takes away all Mistresse Bartlets wearing Linnen, to the value of threescore pounds, he breaks open her Cabinets, Trunks, and Boxes; and in them seized, or (to speak more properly) stole more Money, Plate, Jewels, & Bracelets, amoun­ting to a great sum: amongst other things valuable, both for Raritie and use, took a Cook Eagles Stone, for which thirtie pieces had been offered by a Physitian, but were refused: having thus scim'd the house, and risted it of the Principall things in it, a warning-Piece is shot off, to signifie to the Rascallitie, that now they might have free leave to enter: upon the signall given, leaving (instant) their Guards & Stations, in a confused Tumult they rush into the house: and as eager hounds at a losse offer here and there, and know not well where to fasten, so these hunt from the Parlour to the Kitchen, from thence, by the Chambers, to the Garrats: every Roome is full, every one fearing that his [...]llow thiese would prevent him, and seize upon the prey before himselfe; besides Master Bartlets, his [Page 163] Wives and Childrens wearing apparell, they rob their servants of their Clothes: with the but ends of their Mus­quets they breake open the hanging-Presses, Cup-boards, and Chests, no place was free from this ragged-Regiment: and if so barbarous an out rage, could possibly have ad­mitted any time, but for a serious detestation of so soul in­justice, it might have drawn a smile from the most concernd beholders, to see their thrusting and tumbling one ano­ther, the rude arts used to supplaint one another, and how one thief snatched and stole from another: after this storm was seene comming on, and to threaten this house in par­ticular, the servants fearing, that though the main brunt might light on their Master, yet some sprinkling might chance to fall on them, used all the art of cunning they could devise, to preserve those small summes of money of which their honest labour, and frugalite had made them masters. But [...]twas in vaine to hide, where desperate beg­gery, and resolv'd Rapine were to be seekers: in one place the Rebels find twentie shillings, in another fortie, three pounds here, more or lesse there:but were it more or lesse, all was fish which came to Net, they spare none : In this strict search, they met with Mistresse Bartlets sweet-meats, these they scatter on the ground, not daring to tast of them for feare of poyson : a wary consideration, and such as staved not off the hardy Knight Sir William Brooke of Kent, to meet fists with a greazy common Souldier in a Gally-pot, when the Rebels of that Countie did the like out-rage on the truely honoured Lady Butlers Closet, as you heard in the first weeks Relation of this Mercury:and as for Syrups and Salves, those charitable Provisions for the sick and maimed, these they trampled under foot, not providently fore-seeing, that some of their Brethren in this Rebellion, might stand in need of them, the Fryday next following, at the Battell of Wickesield near Worcester, where God, by the hand of the Kings Forces, under the Con­duct or Prince Rupert, gave the Rebells their first over| [Page 164] throw; The happy Omen of Edge Hill, and those many other succeeding Victories with which (no lesse to the wonder then confusion of the Rebels) it hath pleased God since to blesse his Sacred Majestie: In a word, except Bed­ding, Pewter, and Lumber, they left nothing behind them, for besides two horses laden with the best things ( Scrivens owne Plunder) there being an hundered and fiftie Re­bells, each Rebell returned with a Pack at his back. As for his Beere and Perry, what they could not devoure, they spoyle, the earth drinking what the Rebelis could not, and then triumphing in their wickednesse, and glo­rying in their villany, they vaunted, That they had made Bartlet a begger, and left him not worth a groat: yet all the Rebels were not of the same beliefe, for presently af­ter, when the Earle of Essex possessed himselfe of Worce­ster some under his Command came from Worcester to Ma­ster Bartlets house, where what was under-valued, and left by Scriven, and his Rout, was good bootie to these; They take away good store of Bacon from his Roofe, and Beefe out of the Powdering-Tubs; they steale his Pots, Pans, and Kettles, together with his Pewter to a great va­lue , they seize on all his provisions for hospitalitie and house-keeping, and then breake his Spits, as unnecessary utensills, they expose his Bedding to sale, and Presle Carts to carry away his Chaires, Stooles, Couches, and Trunks, though emptied before by Scriven; and sharp­ly threaten all such as should be knowne to harbour any of Master Bartlets goods. And though these two Plun­ders, one upon the neck of the other, left Master Bart­let a desolate naked house, yet when the Earle of Essex came lately downe towards Gloucester and hid himselfe, and his Army in Hedges, Ditches, and the inclosures a­bout Tue [...]bury, on three severall dayes, three severall Companies came to visite Master Bartlets house, presu­ming, that in almost a twelve months time the house might be new furnished, nor were they altogether deceived in [Page 165] their expectation; without, they Plunder him of eight Horses, and within what ever they found, they made clean worke, the fift Plunder not sparing his Kitching-stuffe, which being reserved in a small barrel, a Souldier putting it on his shoulder, carryed it away: comming this last time to M. Bartlets house, and understanding that he and his sons were in the Kings Army, they abused his wife in beast­ly, immodest, scurrilous Language, which I shall omit to relate as offensive to Christian eares: I shall conclude this five-fold Plunder, with the Relation of one of their Captains bypocrisie, and a common Souldiers impiety, glo­rying in his wickednesse: The Captaine being invited to eate of a stubble-Goose, which a Souldier had Plundered and brought into his Quarters, refused to tast of it, and gave this reason for his refusall, because it was stoln, which bred in Mistresse Bartlet a great opinion that he was a con­scientious man, but being to match away, he that would care no stoln Goose, made no scruple to ride away upon a stoln Mare, for Plundering Mistresse Bartlet of her owne Mare, this hypocriticall Captaine (and pittie it is I cannot tell you his name) gave sufficient restimony to the world, That the old Pharisee and the new Puritan, have consci­ences of the selfe-same temper, To straine at a Gnat, and swallow a Camell, measuring all actions, not by lawful and unlawfull, but as they are more ar lesse gainfull. But while the Captaine chose rather to be a Villaine, then openly to appeare so, the common Souldier would not onely be so in deed, but desired so to be accounted; and therefore when his companions were carrying out M. Bartlets goods, a­mongst other things, one seized on some live Partridges, and being intreated to forbear, and to spare them, because they were provided for a Great-bellied Gentlewoman, and now readyto lay down her burthen, the common Soul­dier hearing him plead thus, barbarously replyed, If we had made Venison of her great belly, the would not have long'd for Partridges, for I have killed young & old, Men, [Page 166] Women and Children: and boasting himselfe in his sin, and glorying in his Shame, without regard had to the dan­gerous longing of a pregnant woman, if not satisfied, took them away. So truely is that of the Prophet, verified in these miscreants, They declare their sinne as Sodome, they hide it not, woc unto their Soule, for they have rewarded evill to themselves, Esay 3. 9.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XVIII.

The R bels persecution of Doctor Featley, a knowne Cham­pion of the Protestant Religion: part of his Sermon a­gainst the Sectaries: his death: Together with their murthering of two of the Inhabitants of Lambeth on the Lords day, &c.

IN Novemb. 1642. some of the Rebeils Foot Souldiers being Billetted at Acton in the Countie of Middlesex, they presently enquire of their Hosts what their Doctor was, (meaning Doctor Featley, their then Rector) and what Divine Service they had; they answered according to the truth, that he was a man who precisely observed the Canons of the Church, and swerved not a tittle from the Rubrick of the Common Prayer, wearing the Sur­plice, and using all the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church established by Law. Some of the Red coats re­plyed, Doth he so [...] We will teach him another Lesson, and make him leave those Popisn Superstitions, or he shall [...]ue it. Soone after, they repaire to the Church at Acton, break open the doores by force, in the Chancell they find [...]his subscription on the wall, This Chancell was repaired and beantified such a yeare by Daniel Featley D.D. Rector, [Page 167] Which they utterly deseaced: Then laying hands on the Rayles, they dealt with them (as Ducks do with a frog) teare them limblesle, and afterwards burnt them in the street, saying, That if they had the Parson there, they would burne him with his Popith Trinkets.

Soone after, Colonel Vrrey took up his Quartors at the Parsonage house, some of whose Souldiers (whether wil­lingly or by carelesnesse being in drinke is not certified) lying in the Doctors Barn, set it on fire, which burned the whole Barn full of Corne, and two Stables downe to the ground, the losse being estimated by the Inhabitants at 211 li.

But to leave Acton, and come to Lambeth, where the Se­ctaries wrecked their spleen, not upon Pales or Rayles, or the fruits of the earth, as at Acton, but upon the bodies of Christs Servants, on his owne day, and in his owne House and Court. For Feb. 19.1642. even in the midst of Divine Service, at the reading of the Te Deum laudamus, foure or five Souldiers rushed into the Church with Pistolls and drawn Swords, affrighted the whole Congregation out, wounded one of the Inhabitants, (whereof he soone after dyed) shot another dead, as he hung by the hands on the Church-yard wall, looking over to the Palace Court, who might truely have said in the words of the Poet, though in another sense, Vt vidi, ut perii.

It was gathered by many circumstances, especially by depositions taken before thc Coroner, and by some speeches that fell from their owne mouths, that their principall aime at that time was to have murthered the Doctor, which 'tis probable they had effected, had not some honest Inha­bitants premonished the Doctor, who was at the same time on his way towards the Church, intending to have Prea­ched.

About the same time many of these Murtherers were heard expressing their rancour against the Doctor, thus: Some said, they would chop the Rogue as small as Hearbs [Page 168] to the Pot, for suffering Pottage (for by that name they usually style the Book of Common Prayer) to be read in his Church: Others said, they would squeeze the Pope out of his belly, with such like scurrilous and malicious Language.

The Sunday sennight after this out-rage, being the fifth of March, the Doctor perceiving some Separatists at Ser­mon at Lambeth, took occasion to speak as followeth:

IF ever Schismatiques and foul-mouth'd Separatists were set forth in their native colours, the Schismatiques of this age are: P [...]al. 50.16, 17, 18, 19, 20. What hast thou to doe to declare my Statutes, or that thou shouldst take my Co­venant in thy mouth? seeing thou hatest instruction, (whatsoever thou pratest of Reformation) and castest my words behind thee, (namely, Prov.14.21, Eccles.10.20. Rom. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4. Heb.13. 8, 9, 17. 1 Pet.2.13.) when thou sawest a thmese, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with Adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to lying, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou fittest and speakest against thy brother, and standerest thins owne mo­thers sonne. For is not this their chanting Language? The Prelates of England, are all Antichristian; The Mi­nisters, Baals Priests; The Publique Service, Idolatrous; The Ceremonies, Superstitious; And the Sacraments, cor­rupted with mans invention? I take them at their word; If this be true, then is the Church of England no true Church of Christ ; then they which have received all the Religion they have from her, are no better then Miscre­ants, Pagans, and Infidels, in apparent perill of drowning in everlasting perdition, because out of the Arke, without God in this world, because without his Church. For as the blessed Martyr St. Cy [...]ian soundly argueth against their forefathers the Catharists, Deum non potest habere Patrem, qui [...]t clesiam non habet Matrem: And Church they have none for their Mother, for they disclaime the true Prote­stant [Page 169] Church of England, and the Popish disclaimes them; so they are meere A per se A's, Independents, like the horli pensiles in Lactantius, and Mausolus his Sepulchre in Martial, hanging and hovering in the ayre.

The Scripture sets forth the true visible Church of Christ upon earth, under the embleme of a great field, a great fl [...]ore, a great house, a great sheet, a great draw net, a great and large foundation, &c. The Church shadowed out under these similitudes, cannot be their Congregation, or rather Conventicles: For as they brag and commend themselves, wanting good neighbours, In their Field there are no tares, in their floore there is no chasse, in their house no vessells of dishonour, in their sheet no uncleane beasts, in their net no trash, on their foundation nothing built, but gold, silver, and precious stones. They have not sate with vaine persons, nor kept company with dissem­blers; they have hated the assembly of Malignants, and have not acompanied with the ungodly; they have not, nor will not Christen in the same Font, nor sit at the holy Table, (for to kneele at the Sacrament is Idolarry) nor drink spiritually the blood of our Redeemer in the same Chalice with the wicked. Get ye packing then out of our Churches with your bags and baggages, hoyse up sayle for New England, or the Isle of Providence, or rather Sir Thomas Mores Eutopia, where Pluto's Commoner, and Os [...] ­rius his Nobleman, and Castillio his Courtier, and Vegetius his Souldier, and Tully his Orator, and Aristocles Eelix, and the Jewes Ben [...]ohab, and the Manichees Paraslet, and the Gnosticks illuminate ones, and the Montanists spiritu­all ones, and the Pellagians Perfect ones, and the Catha­cists pure ones, and their precise and holy ones are all met at Prince Arthurs Round Table, where every guest (like the Table) is totus teres alq (que) totundus.

There are three heads of Catechisme and grounds of Christianitie, The Apostles Creed, the Lords Prayer, and and Tea Commandements; these may be more truely [Page 170] then Gorran his Postills, tearmed aurea fundamenta, which they goe about to overthrow and cast down, and when they have done it, no place remaineth for the to build their Sy­nagogues or Maria Rotunda's, but the sand in the Saw pit, where there Apostle Browne first taught most profoundly. The Lords Prayer they have excluded out of their Lytur­gie, the Apostles Creed out of their Confession, and the Ten Commandements by the Antinomians their Disciples out of their rule of life. They are too good to say the Lords Prayer, better taught then to rehearse the Apostles Creed, better liv'd then to hear the Decalogue read at their Ser­vice, for God can see no sinne in them, nor man ho­nestie.

Tell me, ye bastard-brood of Martins, is it not sufficient for the conviction of your cauterized consciences, that ye wreck your spleene upon the materiall Temples of God, by breaking downe Organs, burning Rayles, and defacing the Monuments ot the dead, but will ye go about to destroy the spirituall Temple of the holy Ghost? not fearing that dreadfull sentence of the Apostle, He that destroyeth the Temple of God, kim shall God dstroy. Could they not be content to teare the Booke of Common Prayer in pieces, and scatter the leaves all about the Church, but will they also rend and dilacerate the living members of Christs mysticall body? Will they charge the Cannon with mur­thering shot to destroy and dislipate whole assemblies of Gods; Servants met together upon his own day to worship him in his own house? Do they that their bare opposi­tion to Popery will save them? If that alone would give a man a good title to heaven, not onely the Socinians, Li­berrines, Fami [...]sts, Antinomians, and other damnable H [...] ­retiques, but even the Jewes & Turkes would snatch hea­ven from them, and take it by force, for these are as vehe­ [...]ent opposers of Popery as they are: And howsoever the [...]nt opposition to Popish Superstition is all the Religi­ [...]e of them have, yet are they not at so deadly feud [Page 171] with Papists as they would beare the world in hand, for they shake hands with them in many of their Tenets and practices, both of them condemne our English Lyturgie, and professe Recusanci [...]: both of them Idolize their tea­chers, &c. Who hath bewitched them, that they should be­leeve Bedlam shall be so farre enlarged, and the spirit of Frenzie possesse Old England, that they should have the like successe here, as their cozen germans the Anabapticts had at Munster? though we envy them not their high pre­ferment in the end. After these fits of Convulsion are over, and Peace setled in the Body of the Kingdome, doe they think the wisedome of the State will ever change our holy Churches into their prophane Barnes and Stables? our Pulpits into Tubs? our Linnen Ephods into their Aprons? our Lyturgy into their extemporary Enthusiasmes? our Learned Pastors into their ignorant Hirelings? and our Apostolicall Hierarchy into their Apostaticall Anarchie? But I will restraine my selfe, and confine my discourse.

Soone after this Sermon, seven Articles were preferred against the Doctor to the Committee for Plundered Mini­sters by three Mechanicks, who had formerly been indict­ed for Brownists at the Sessions for the Countie of Surr [...]y, but after long attendance the Doct. was acquirred of the [...] yet at length these Sectaries wrought so powerfully, that the Doctor must be committed to Prison, how unjustly so­ever, 'twas enough that he was a Doctor, and maintained the Religion established in the Church of England: And accordingly on the 30 of Septemb. 1643. he is committed to Peter-house, his own house, Library and goods being frist seized on, and his estate Sequestred The Sunday after his commitment, and for divers other Lords days, he preach [...] [...] to his fellow-prisoners, but after a while he was prohibited by Isaac Pennington the pretended Major of London. And though Sir George Sands, Sir John Butter, Master Nevile, and other Prisoners of qualitie Petitioned that he might [Page 172] continue his so doing, yet it would not be granted.

See how this unjust imprisonment is relished by a For­raine Divine, in these words:

After the Doctor had beene many moneths stifled up in Prison, and having a Certificate from his Physitian, that he could not live long, if he had not some fresh aire, he Petitioned these soule-enthralling tyrants, and at last ob­tained leave to go to Chelsey Colledge for six weeks, upon good bayle, to recover his health; but it pleased God to take him out of this world, upon the 17 day or April, 1645. being the very last day of the six weekes limited for his returne.

During his sicknesse, he gave himselfe wholly to Divine Meditations, often bewayling with teares the present state of the Church of England: he made a Confession of his Faith to Doctor Leo, and the Dutch Ambassadours Chap-laines, saying, That the doctrine which he had alwayes Preached, and the Bookes which he had [...]riated against Anabaptists and other Sectaris, were agreeable to Gods Word; And that he would scale the Protestant Religion, (as it was established and confirmed by the Acts of three Pious Princes) with his blood. And being asked by some that came to visit him, what he thought of the Covenant? he said, it was a damnable and execrable Oath, made pur­posely to insnare poore soules, and full of malice and Trea­son against our gracious Soveraigne. And said he, For church-Government (a thing now much controverted) I [Page 173] dare boldly affirme, that the Hierarchie of Bishops is most a­greeable to the World of God, as being of Apostolicall insti­tution, the taking away where of is damnable, and that by consequence, both the presbyterian & independent Govern­ments are absurd and erroneous, neither of them being ever heard of in the church of God, till of late at Geneva [...] nor is there so much as any colour for them in holy writ. It is evi­dent ( said he) that as the [...] riects in the Old Testament were above the Levites, so in the Now the Apostles were above the Disciples, and that the seven Angels of the seven Churches in the Apocalypse were seven Bishops, and that Polycarpus was Bishop of Smyrna, and Timotheus of Ephesus. And for the Laitie, no pregnant proofe can be pro­duced, that they ever medled with the Priests Function, or had any power to or daine Ministers. And these things ( said he) I intended to have published to the world, if God had spared me longer life, which I might (through his goodnesse) have enjoyed, had I not been unjustly imprisoned: which he severall times reiterated to his friends.

Anon after he prayed thus: Lord strike throuth the reynes of them that rise against the church and king, and let them be as chasse before the wind, and as stubble before the fire; let them be scattered at Partridges upon the mountaines, and let the breath of the Lord consume them but upon our gracious Soveraigne and his posterit [...]e, let the Crowne flourish, This ( said he) is the heartie and earnest Prayer of a poore sick creature. With which, and other such spirituall ejaculations, he expired.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XIX.

The Murther of Master Robert Yeomans, and M. George Bowcher, Citizens of Bristol, by Nathaniel Fiennes, (second s [...]nne to the Lord Say) and the rest of his Ac­complices, &c.

THe care that God tooke to preserve the Land of his people undefiled by Innocent blood was very great, and therefore did provide not onely when the Murtherer was knowne, that he that thed mans blood, by man his blood should be shed againe, according to that command, Te shall not pollute the Land where yeare: for blood it desi­leth the Land, and the Land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed the ein but by the blood of him that shed it: Namb. 35.33. But likewise, where the Murtherer was not knowne, that the Innocent blood shed in the Land might not be charged upon them: and therefore in the 21 of Deut. God prescribes an Expiation for Murther when the Murtherer was not knowne, for if a man were found slaine in the field, The Elders of the Citie next to the slaine man were to take an Heiser and strike off his [...]ec ke in a rough valley, and shall wash their hands over the Heiser: and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, Nei­ther have our eyes seene t: Be mercifull O Lord unto thy people Israel whom thou bast redeemed, and lay not inno­cent blood unto thy people of Israels charge: and the blood shall be forgiven them: so shall thou put away the guilt of Innocent blood from among you: vers. 6 7, 8.&c. In which law it is plaine, that the guilt of Innocent blood may cleave to our hands though our hands have not shed it, and the way to wash our hands cleane from that guilt is to [Page 175] protest against the shedding it, to deny our consent to it, being done, and as much as in us lyes, to bring the pu­nishment of Innocent blood upon the heads of those that shed it: without this we contract anothers guilt and com­municate in his sinnes. The Innocent blood shall not be forgiven us. When therefore God, to whom appertaine the issues of Life, shall come and make Inquisition for blood, and the murthered shall cry out with Job, O earth cover not thou my blood: Job 16-18. That then we may lift up pure hands undefiled with our neighbours blood, though but with consent and approbation; Nay, that we may free our selves from the blood of all men by earnest prayer to God, not to lay Innocent blood though shed by others to our charge, to inflame your devotion, I have, as it were, brought forth the bodies of these two State-Mar­tyrs, Master Robert Yeomans, and Master George Bow­ther, Citizens of Bristol, and exposed them to the view of the world, that so shedding some teares over their graves, they may remaine an Everlasting Monument of our Innocency in the sight of God, of our Just indignati­on against such crueltie in the fight of men, and a sweet oyntment to imbalme these men to their funeralls, That though with their Saviour (the ignominy of whose Crosse fanctisiyd the death even of that accursed tree) in their death they were numbred amongst the transgr [...]ssors, yet (Loyaltie being their Epitaph) they may make their graves amongst the Honourable.

But because to blind the eyes of the world not to see the cruell Injustice practised on these worthy Citizens, to amaze the minds of the people, and to take off from the odiousenesse of so soule a Murther, they did not onely in their lying Pamphlets proclame it unto the world, that Master Ycomans, Master Bowether, and some other wei­assected Members of that Citie had contrived a horrid Treason, that in the barbarousnesse of it did out-doe, the Powder Treason, having conspired at once to ruine the [Page 176] Protestant Religion, and to murther all those of that Citie which did adhere to the Parliament, but also to mock God (to that height of impietie they were growne) Solemne thankes were Ordained to be given for delive­rance from so dangerous a conspiracy: It will not be a­misse to derive this [...]ragedy by way of Historicall Nar­ration from the first to the last Scene: that so the abused world may see what arts are used on that side to possesse themselves of the good opinion of men, that in the mean time they may practise cruelties unheard of, untill the bloody Anabaptists sprung up the most pernicious weeds that ever intested the Church or Christ.

When this Parliament first fate, these two Gentlemen with the rest of the Kingdome rejoyced to see that day, and stood at gaze as greedily as any, expecting what acts of bountie, what reliefe from grievances our Gracious Soveraigne through their hands would convey unto his Subjects. While their endeavours were Loyall, though roughly carryed; while bounded within the dutie of Sub­jects, though onely not exceeding it, they were as for­ward to applaud them as any : but after the publication of the Remonstrance by the House of Commons (that ap­peale to the people, and indeed the ground-worke of this present Rebellion by slandering the Kings Government) they that went one mile with them would not be compel'd to goe two, especially after the way appeared dangerous, and apparently leading to open Rebellion : Nullam esse Civitatem qua non improbes [...]ives aliquando & Imperi­tam Mult [...]udinem semp [...]r babeat: was the saying of the Rhodii in the Reman Senate recorded by Livy, lib. 45. There is no Citie but hath sometimes some ill-affected Citizens, but alwayes an Ignorant multitude, perhaps this in part might be the temper of Bristol at this time: but the Criticall time was now come, in which men must declare themselves either for the King or against him; and though many men in that Citie then were deeply Leave­ned [Page 177] with disloyall principles, yet the major part of the Ci­tie were the Kings faithfull Subjects, of this partie the most eminent men were, Master Ro [...]ers Yeomans Sheriffe of Bristol for the ye [...]re 1642. Master George Ba [...]ber, with divers others, men of good esteem, plentifull estates, knowne integ [...]itie, and true Children of the Church of England ; These men seeing the miserable Condition of those places where the Rebells bare sway, and beginning to be sensible of the same bondage under Colonel Essex, enter into a Consultation how to put the Citie of Bristol into the Kings possession and protection : To this purpose they dispatch an Agent to the Court, to informe the King that he had many good Subjects in Bristol, and withall to signifie their desire to deliver up his owne Citieto him­selfe, if he would be pleased to send some of his Forces thither, to take it.

The Reasons which prevailed with them, to make this tender unto His Majestie, were many, we may reduce them to three heads.

First, Confedence to God, not to resist the King, Knowing, that they that doe resist shall receive unto themselves damnation, and therefore resolved never to joyne themselves to the damnable Sect of the Hotbamites, those State-Heretickes, who accounted it their dutie to keepe the Kings Townes for the Kings use, by shutting the Gates against the Kings Person.

The second Inducement was the frequent affronts gi­ven to His Majestie by the Rebells, to the great regret of every good Subject : and of these they give many Instances.

First, Scandalous and disloyall Speeches on all occa­sions belched out against His Majesties Person, His Pro­testations, Declarations, Proclamations, indeed all his Actions.

Secondly, Contempt of His Majesties gracious offers, even to the very face of His Messenger ; for when in Fe­bruary [Page 178] 1642, the King sent His gracious Letters to the Citie of Bristol, requiring them not to give admittance to any of the Parliament Forces, promising that Hee Himselfe would not impose any on them, but what they themselves should desire ; together with the tender of many promises of his favour (given in charge to Sir Bayn­ham Throkmo ton (whom he sent unto them for that pur­pose) vet notwithstanding at that very instant, in con­tempt ( [...] say) of this great vouchsafement, The Major, Richard Aldworth, with Browne the Sheriffe, two Boute­fues in perverting that Citie, with some other their Asso­ciates, did send foure peeces of Ordnance to Marlbe­rough, there to be imployed against the King. And though Sir Ba [...]nham, upon information given unto him, did expostulate the affront with the Major, and in the Kings name commanded the stay of them; and though some of the wel affected Citizens having notice of it, came and threw them off their Carriages, because they knew that the intention was to imploy them against the King : yetover-borne by a greater number, who produ­ced the Major and Sheriffs Warrant for their conveyance without let or interruption; they were inforced to give way, and thither they were sent.

Thirdly, When in the beginning of March, 1642. a­mongst other Proclamations sent to Bristol, one was con­cerning the Kings Royall Navic, invaded and possessed by the Earle of Wa [...] wicks, and imployed against His Ma­jestie and His Loyall Subjefts; The King by that Pro­clamation forbidding all Sea-men, and Mariners, and all Officers of His Navie, to take imployment under the Earle, or to obey His Commands, though Colonel Fines then Governour of Bristol, could have caused that Pro­clamation to be suppressed and not published, yet as much as he could to dishonour the King in the eyes of His Subjects, He permits it to be Proclaimed, that thence he might take, occasion to blaspheme His Soveraigne: [Page 179] for being Proclaimed on Friday the third of March, the next day ( Saturday) being the chiefe Market day, when the Market was fullest, that the newes might be carryed into all parts of the Country, and every one learne from so desperate an example to contemne their Soveraignes Commands : Fines comes in his Coach to the high Crosse, attended by a Troope of Horse, and after a Declaration read, That the Proclamation published the day before was a Scandalous and Libellous Paper, and such as de­served to be burnt by the hand of a publique Hangman ; he caused the Serjeant that Ploclaimed it to burne it, holding Pistolls to his brest, and threatning to shoot him if he did not hold them high enough, fearing it seemes that so damnable, so unpardonable a Treason should want witnesses.

Lastly, As the direct end of their desire to deliver up the Citie to the Kings protection, was conscience of dutie to God and their Soveraigne, so the re­flected end was their owne securitie, and quitting themselves of those Oppressions and Grievances un­der which they suffered ; And these were many.

First, The often repeated Taxations and Loanes of Money unto the King and Parliament, as they were pleased to joyne them upon the thred-bare securi­tie of the Puplique Faith, and if any man refused to lend on that credit which they had banckrupted long before, he was threatned with Imprisonment, Plundring, or which was worse then both, sending up to the Par­liament : And to these may be added, the dayly drayn­ing their purses by illegall exactions imployed for re­payring the Castle, building of Forts, and maintaining a Garrison against the King.

Secondly, By urging upon them new and Treasonable Votes and Protestations : If not fully in words, yet in the the use and interpretation of them directly opposite to [Page 180] the Oath of Allegiance, the Oath of the Citie taken by every Citizen when he is elected into the place of a Bur­gesse, in which they sweare in the sixth Article of that Oath, not to enter into any Oath or Confederacy against the king, contrary to the Lawes of the Land: and like­wise contrary to the Protestation recommended from the Parliament to the Subjects of this Kingdome: The Oath (for the tenor of words) was this following.

IA. B. doe protest and vow, in the presence of Almightie God, that I will to the utmest of my power, and to the hazard my t se and fortunes, oppose all such Forces as shall attempt any thing against the Citie of Bristol, Without the consent of the King and Parliament so to doe.

In which Protestation, they tooke the name of the King in vaine, for when they say ( King and Parliament) they meant the two Houses without the King, for if actions bee the best interpreters of the Agents words, it is more then manifest, that by the Protestation they inten­ded to ingage that Citie in Rebellion against the King, and that under the tye of Religion. And for proofe, I offer first their seconding this Protestation with another which spake more plainly, wherein they were to protest with their lives and fortunes to resist Prince Rupert the Lord Generall the Earle of Forth, the Lord Marquesse Hertford; the Earle of Newcastle, Sir Ralph Hopton and their Forces: and secondly, because as before the tendring of this Protestation, they had received Colonel Essex to Command there for the Parliament; so within 2 few dayes after the first Protestation was tendered, they admitted Colonel Popham and Sir Edward Hungerford, with their Regiments, and afterward Colonel Fines without any op­positiog, that so now being backed with so strong a power, they might make the latter Protestation the interpreter of the former Upon the Petition of Mistresse Majoresse, the [Page 181] Lady Rogers, Mistresse Holsworth, Miresse Vicaris, with o­ther Zealous Sisters, to the number of a hundred.

Thirdly, By difarming all such as were any wayes sus­pected to beare a good and loyall affection to His Maje­stic, unlesse they would take such Protestations as should be tendered to them, and having taken away such Armes as they found. (not satisfied with this) they urge on them another Protestation, protesting in the sight of God, and calling him to witnesse, that they had no other Armes concealed in their houses, either their owne or ohers: and if any man refused to take this Protestation, he was instantly imprisomed as an enemy to the State, and a man not to be confided in.

Fourthly, The perpetuall scorn and obloquy to which they were exposed, reproached every day as they passed the streets, with names of Malignants, and Papists; nay, as if they had beene worse then Jewes, they spit at them, and threaten to take a speedy course with them.

Fifthly, The generall contempt and prophanation of Gods holy Worship and Service, rending of Surplices, tearing the Booke of Common Prayer, breaking downe Organs, exterminating the whole Liturgy out of their Congregations, and all these Out-rages, not only wink­ed at, but countenanced and incouraged by Fixes and his fellow Rebells; and that they might have Like People, Like Priest, They discountenance or drive away the Or­thodox Ministers, and substitute in their places the most infamous notorious Schismaticks that they can pick out of severall Counties, as Tumb's of Limster in All-Saints, in Master Williamssons Cure an Orthodox and godly man; Craddocke Bacon, Walter, Simonds, and one Matthew Hazard, whom though f name last, yet deserves to have the precedency of all the rest, as being a maine Incendi­a [...]y in this Rebellion, violently egged on by his Wise, whose disciple the silly man is: this gave occasion of scan­dall to all pious godly men, which honoured the Prote­stant [Page 182] Religion as it is established, and made them even to abhorre the service of the Lord.

Lastly, because upon the poynt they were confined to Bristol, not daring to goe out of the Citie, for in all pla­ces, where the Commands and Ordinances of the two Houses prevailed, they had given a List of the names of the Malignants that durst appeare for the King, to the end, that if any of them, came thither they might be apprehended and sent Prisoners to Taunton, Barkley Ca­stle, or some other Prisons; or as Delinquents sent to the Parliament.

It was no wonder therefore, that a Citie thus robb'd of its wealth and libertie, groaning under an unsupportable yoke of bondage and [...]yranny, should endeavour by re­storing the King to His Rights, to restore themselves to their former freedome; which could not be done but by breaking these bonds, and easting these cords from them: On these weightic motives therefore, they enter into a loy­all consederacy to deliver up the Citie from its captivity under the Rebels into His Majesties protection, and that without shedding of one drop of blood if it were possible, but most certaine without any resolution to Massacre the Citizens, as hath beene most falsely both Preached and Printed: for Master Yeomans and Bowcher, both on their Examinations, and after their Condemnation both af­firmed, that their was not any intention of blood-shed; and in the Examinations of Master Yeomans and others, taken before the Councell of Warre at Bristol sent up by Master Clement Walker Usher of the Exchequer, but since Advocate to that Congregation of Murtherers that adjud­ged these Innocents to death, and Ordered by the House of Commons, Die Luna, 22 Maii, 1643. to be Printed, we thus read, pag. 3. The King bad also assured us, and given charge to Prince Rupert, that no violence should be used to any, which 2 doe believe was his full intent, the [...] for that I heare there came a Proclamation to that [Page 183] effect: Where 'tis observable, that Walker (a man that had his hands stained with his owne Wives blood before he dipped them so deepe in these Martyrs,) though in that contrived Confession of Master Yeomans, he brings him in, professing his Conviction in conscience of the justnesse of the Parliaments Cause (when 'tis knowne, that if he would have recanted and contributed towards this unnaturall Warre, he and Master Bowcher, both might have saved their lives) yet he dares not so to mur­ther his fame after his person, by charging upon him so bloody a Crime, as an intention to Massacre his fellow Citizens.

'Tis therefore cenfessed on all hands, That Ma­ster Yeomans, Master Bowcher, and others, had an in­tention to cast out the Rebells, and to deliver Bristol into the Kings possession, resolving to secure the person of the Governour and some others of the chiefest Re­bells, but not to kill them: To this purpose, a Com­mission is obtained and sent to Master Robert Yeomans to rayse Forces, and constitute Commanders for the Kings service. Master George Bowcher contrives a Pro­testation to be taken by all that joyned themselves to this Association, fully expressing the latitude of their intentions in that undertaking: The Protestation is extant in Master Bowchers Examination taken by Wal­ker, on the 10 of March, 1642: and published in the Booke before mentioned: and is attested upder his owne hand, which I have seene, and was Written nor long before his death. The Protestation was this:

[Page 184] IDee voluntarily protest before Almightie God, upon the Faith of a christian, That I will to the ulmost of my pow­er, and with the bazard of my life and fortunes, defend my Dread Soveraigne Lord King Charles, His Rights, crown, and Dignitie, against all Force and Forces which are or shall be raysed within His Majesties Dominions without His Royall Assent, Authoritie, and Command. Which was the summe of this pretended horrid Treason.

After communication of Counsells, and many Messa­ges interchanged betweene Oxford and Bristol, drawing some of Colonel Essex his Commanders into the Combi­nation, who loathed and condemned themselves in their owne imployment, it was resolved, that upon-Monday the seventh of March, 1642. Prince Rupert, with a parte [...] of the Kings Forces, should face the Citie on Durdan Downe, distant not a full mile from the Citie, and for the Association in the Citie, their taske was to make good two Ports, Proome-gate and New-gate: who having seized on the Guards, were to open the Gares, and to signifie the accomplishment of the designe, to the Kings Forces to make their approach by the Ringing of Saint Johns and Saint Michaels Bells: Prince Rupert a vigilant and vali­ant Prince, comes that Monday night to the place appoyn­ted, expecting the next morning by five of the clocke the signall to be given, and the Ports opened unto him: but that night (whether by negligence amongst their owne, or vigilancy of the Rebels, is uncertaine) the Combina­tion was discovered, and Master Yeomans, Master Bow­cher, and divers others, were that night apprehended in their houses, having some armed men with them, and were instantly committed to safe custody; which bring signified to the Prince, he immediately withdrew his For­ces, and marched away.

And now having them in their power, they clap Irons [Page 185] on them, tye them head and feet together, commit them close Prisoners, deprive them of all comfort to be admini­stred by their Wives or Children, or Friends, and used them with that barbarousnesse and inhumanitie as cannot be imagined, could be practised by one Christian upon a­nother; and after seventie six dayes hard Imprisonment, oftest examination, barbarous insulting overthem, espe­cially by Nathaniel Fines, they were brought to their try­all, at a Councel of War; where Articles being exhibited against them by Advocate Walker, they received Sentence of death: what the Articles exhibited against M. Yeomans were, may be collected out of the Sentence it selfe, as we find it in pag. 4. of the before mentioned Booke of M. Yeo­mans his examinations, published by command of the House of Commons, which for satifaction of such as shall cast a compassionate eye on this sad story we have here inserted.

The Judgement upon Robert Yeomans.

UPon due consideration of the Articles exhibited on May 8. by Clement Walker Esquire, Advocate to this Councell of Warre, against Robert Yeomans, and others the late Conspirators in this Citie, and upon due hearing of the Answers, and defence of the said Robert to the seve­rall Articles, and also upon examination and proofes be­fore them taken upon Oath. It is unanimously adjudged by this Court, That the said Robert Yeomans is guiltie of trayterous intelligence, and correspondency with the Enemy, and of a trayterous and wicked conspiracy to be­tray this Towne into the hands, of the Enemy ; and there­upon this Court doth adjudge and paste Sentence of death upon him as a Traytor and Conspirator; and according­ly doth order, That the said Roberts Yeomans shall be re­ [...]rned to the place of his former Imprisonment, and [Page 186] from thence be brought before the maine Court of Guard, there to be hanged by the neck till he dye:

Nath.Fines, Richard Cole, Wal. White, James Ford, Joh. Clifton, Joh. Chamneys, Tho. Hippesly, Martin Husbands, Tho. Raulins, Rich. Hippesly, Tho. Eyre, Tho. Goodere, James Hean, Tho Wallis, Will. Bowel, Robert Baugh.

To this bloody Sentence I have added the names of that bloody Conspiracy of Murtherers that gave it, that their names and memory may stinke with posteritie, and be loathsome to all Generations that shall hereafter read and bemoane the condition of their predecessour that groaned under the tyranny of a prevayling Faction of Br [...]wnists and Ana [...]aptists.

Mister Robert Yeomans being thus most unjustly con­demned, May 8. on the 22 of the same Moneth, Master George Bowcher was called before Fines and the rest of that Rebellious crew which called themselves a Councell of Warre, and that you may ghesse at the whole by some; William Bowel was a Pedant, and from whipping of boyes was made an unrighteous Judge of men; James Heane a drunken Atturney; and Robert Baugh a Sheep-skinne dresser, who in the times of peace durst not come neare Master Yeomans, but uncovered at a distance as his duty was, now pluck'd off Master Yeomans his Hat, command­ing him to stand bare before him: the Articles exhibited by Walker their Advocate were seven, Recorded under Master Bowchers owne hand, whereof the maine and first they insisted on, was,

• 1. First, That he had framed a Protestation to defend the King. His Crowne and Dignitie, against, &c. The Pro­ [...] which you heard before.
• [Page 187]2. Secondly, That he had raysed Men, and provided Armes and Ammunition of all forts, Crowe [...] of [...], Pick­axes, Axes and [...]on wedges, with Torches and Linkes, to further the Designe of suppressing the court of Guard at Froome-gate.
• 3. Thirdly, That he conspired with others to let in Prince Ruperr, a forraigne Prince ( as they stiled him) who being entred the Citie, should put to death and plunder all the Inhabitants of that Citie that came not out to assist and joyne with them.
• 4. Fourthly, That be did undertake to give Prince Ru­pert a signall when he should make his approaches to the Citie, by Ringing Saint Johns and Saint Michaels Bells.
• 5. Fifthly, That he certified Prince Rupe [...]t, that the Designe of giving him entrance into the Towne was disco­vered, and advised him to retreat.
• 6. Sixtly, That he forced a open the croud doore ( being a buriall place under the Quire) under Saint John Baptist Church, with an intention to use it for a Prison, to secure such as sould make resistance, whether they were of the Guard or others, while they were in pursuance of their Designe.
• Lastly, That he had Looks and other Provisions to clean­up the passages at Saint Johns-gate, in case any of the Par­liament Horse should rush in upon them while the worke was in doing.

These Articles, though maliciously expressed and a [...] gravated, yet for the matter of them, were drawne either from his owne Confessions, or Depositions of others, and upon these, at the Lady Rogers her house, he recei­ved the like Sentence of death, as Master Yeomans had done before.

When the report of so illegall, proceedings arrived [...] Court, though at first few men did thinke that their bold insoleney would goe on to put the Sentence in execution; [Page 188] yet at last considering, that they were in the hands, not of honourable enemies, but of Rebells; and of Rebells that were Sectaries, and which was more then both, Rebelli­ous Sectaries at the devotion of Master Fints, who did command in chiefe, and had strong influence on the rest. The Earle of Forth, Lord Lieutenant of all His Majesties Forces, resolved to write unto Fines, and that by way of Threat, Pari p [...]ná exactá, at hostes à superb [...] & insolenti supplicio temperarent, as Diodorus Siculus reports of Phi­ [...]ometus in the like case; that by the menace of the like punishment on the Prisoners here, he might stave them off from their intended crueltie on the Kings good Subjects there: for thus he writes,

Having received this Letter by a Drum, and knowing the the great advantage they had by the meannesse and basenesse of the Prisoners in the Kings hands, put in the ballance with those of the Kings in their hands, while Earles, Barons, and the flower of the Nobilitie and Gen­try were exposed to blew Aprons and Broome-men, Fines knowing this advantage, returnes this insolent Answer.

[Page 191]When this tooke no effect, the King, gracious as he is, and full of goodnesse, His bowels yearning over the de­struction of His worst Subjects, takes the condition of these that suffer for him into his pious consideration; and since Fines swaying the rest remained obstinare; the King by a Trumpeter sends His Letter to the Major, Al­dermen, and Sheriffs of Bristol, commanding them to rayse the power of the Citie, and imploy it to the resecue of these men designed for slaughter: Thus He writes.

[Page 193]This Letter arrived at Bristol that very day that these Gentlemen by laying downe their lives did beare a good testimony to the truth, but came too late; yet had it come sooner, Fines having intelligence that a Letter was com­ming from the King, kept the Gates shut to keepe out the Messenger, untill their intended Murthers were fully finished: But at last, when he had admittance, contrary to the Law of Arms and Nations, Fines committed him to prison, where he remained long.

All these indeavours of a pious Prince to rescue His faithfull Subjects, being frustrated by the obstinate ma­lice of these bloody Rebells, and having no force to com­pell what he could not perswade, they goe on to act their cruell intentions. After Sentence of death passed on them, they pursue them with threats, and use no langu­age to them but death and hanging, often menacing what they could but once inflict: So that each night they thought to dye next morning: Having some dayes lan­guished under the insulting Crueltie of these bloody Butchers, and being frequently robbed of their necessa­ry food by the Centinells, (that stood at their Prisons, not so much that they might not withdraw themselves from the intended death, as to intercept all comforts that were brought unto them) had they not hastned the exe­cution, famine would have saved them that labour: for Master Yeomans (whom of the two they most hated) la­den with chaines, stifled with the nastinesse of a Dunge­on, macerated with want of food, but filled with the scornfull reproofe of the proud, reproached every day with the name of bloody villaine, and the like, was like to have prevented their malice by dying that morning that he dy­ed: he was a man of a magnanimous spirit, a large Soule fit for great imployments, and therefore more sensible of indignities, for great spirits or pressed like Tapers held downeward, are extinguished by the same matter which gives them life; so that sitting by his deare Wife that mor­ning [Page 194] that he dyed, and leaning on her brest, he fell into a sound, and in probabilitie had then departed, had not the shrickes and out-eryes of his Wife recalled him to a more glorious death, that so posteritie might read his [...]name [...], together with Master Bowchers, not in the Cata­log [...]e [...] of Confessours, but inrolled in the Noble Army of Mayers.

When the time of their Martyrdome drew neare, Colo­nel Fines, for feare the Citie should oppose his bloody in­tentions, concealed the time resolved on to put them in execution: But when the fatall day was come, Fiennes drew his Force into the Marsh, the common place where they made their Masters: he caused the Gates suddenly to be shut, the Citie not knowing his intention, and pre­sently drew Partees of Horse and [...]oot into every street, to awe the Citizens, and to suppresse insurrections, if haply they should recover so much of the ancient courage of true Englishmen, not to suffer so great a breach to be made on their lives and liberties, as to see their fellow Citizens led to the slaughter, and they in the mean time stand dumb like sheep and not oppose it: nor was it with­out good raeson that Fiennes should suspect some oppositi­on from the Citie, for (besides that, they now saw the ba­sest of the Citie made of the Councell of Warre, and the power of life and death over the Magistrates delivered in their hands, that before this Rebellion were never thought fit to beare the office of a Scavenger) Master Temans and Master Bowcher, were men of Emi [...]ency in the Ci­tie, generally beloved, and then Crime knowne to be no­thing but Loyaltie, That they could not likewise but con­sider, that an isisue of blood was that day opened that might in time prove satall to them, & involve them in the same condition, for it Fiennes and his blood-hounds shall for any other virtue passe the like Sentence on any of them, as they did on these for their Loyaltie, not conspi­ring with them to murther their Soveraigne, what power [Page 195] shall protect them from such oppression, who having to their owne ruine refused the Kings protection, are grown so tame, as not with the hazard of their lives to protect themselves?

Having thus made all secure, they bring the Prisoners from the Castle to the maine Court of Guard, in the way as they went, the people greedy to see, and salute these unhappy assertors of their libertie, presse to the hazard of many blowes to take their farewell of them, they in a curteous deportment, returning heartic thankes for those dangerous expressions of their affections, for it was rea­son enough to be committed as a Malignant to own them, or so much as to pay for them.

To prepare themselves for their death, they made it an humble request, that they might have the assistance of Master Twog [...]od and Master Standsast, two Orthodox and Learned and Pious Ministers of the Citie, to help to sweeten that bitter Cup of which they were to drinke, and by spirituall comfort to take off from the sharpnesse of those dregs which they were to suck up: but as if they meant to murther their Soules as well as their bodies, to vex their righreous Soules instead of comforting them a­gainst the approach of death, they refuse to condescend to so reasonable a request, and impose on them Cradock and Fowler, two Eunssaries sent to that Citie, to poyson it with Schisine and Rebellion, that so they might fill up the measure of their sinnes and ripen them for destru­ction.

Standing at the foot of the Tree, that by and by was to beare fruit unto eternall iife, it was observed by some of these Murtherers (well skil'd it seems in the art & Method of hanging) that the Halters were too long, or too short, or else not [...]yed fast enough, some fault there was which the deaths man had directions to correct, he obeying the dire­ctions of the chief Hang-man, goes up & takes off the hal­ter [...]; the people, who came thither spectators of this bloody [Page 196] Tragedy, standing at distance, and not privy to the in­tention, fondly conceited, that certainly Colonel Fiennes had sent a Reprive, and instantly expressed the greatnesse of their joy by the loudnesse of their Acclamations, Ne­ver considering Fines his Extraction, being borne and bred in a family. Sworne Enemies to Monarchy and all that love it: At last, seeing the Guards stand fix'd, and that this stay was but to make surer worke, the Executio­ner fastning his instruments of death, according to the di­rections given him by them, whose journey-man he was, The people, as if strooke with thunder, or blasted with lightnings stood amazed, untill at last, astonishment gi­ving way to Compassion, they sent out teares instead of Acclamations, and exchanged their joy for lamentati­ons.

All things thus made ready to offer up these Innocents, sacrifices to the implacable rage of Fines and his fellow Rebells, Master Rober [...] Yeomans is first commanded to ascend the Ladder, thence to reach his Crowne of Mar­tyrdome. But remembring whose pictie it was, in the middest of his sufferings to recommend his mother to the care of a Guardian (being hiselfe to leave this world) he first makes his addresse to his Father-in-law Master Yeomans, and tels him, that he had left him a Legacy, viz. his Wife then great with-child, and eigth small children, the eldest not able to put on its owne cloathes: and so with many imbracements left him, and set forward in his way to Heaven

And now being seated in that place of shame and Ig­nominy (so it is in its own Nature where the goodnesse of the Cause doth not change the accursed Tree into a Thea­ter of honour) and finding himselfe made a spectacle to that Citie wherein he had lived in plentic and honour, being Sheriffe but the yeare before, in discharge of which office he was interiour to none of his Predecessors in bountie and magnificence, which Colonel Popham and [Page 197] his friends by frequent experince know very well: And from that sad prospect, taking a view of many friends that could hardly looke through their owne teares to see him again: And from thence too, seeing some of a sarre different affection that rejoyeed in his sufferings, and a­mongst them Robert Baugh the Sheeps-skin-dresser ( Fines his associate in the Councell of Warre) in a devilish cru­eltie (And let God that righteous judge require it at his hands) stand jeering and mocking at him to his face, here flesh and blood interposed, which transported him to an expostulation bordering betweene Indignation and Submission, saying, Good God, what have I done to be here? But instantly sorry that humane fraileie should ex­tort any thing from him, [...]ubeseeming the justice of his cause, or the bravenesse of Christian resolution, silencing suggestions of such ill Councellours, he composed him­selfe to speake something to the people.

His strength exhausted by long and many sufferings, disabled him to speake much or loud, yet willing to cleare hiselfe from that prejudice under which he lay, of an intention to Massacre all that should adhere to the Two Houses (which some mis-call a Parliament) laying his hand upon his brest, and fixing his eyes on Heaven, the habitation of the God of Truth, he made a solemne Pro­testation of his innocency from any such thought: he professed his firme perswasion of the justice of that cause for the defence of which he suffered, affirming, that if he had more lives he would sacrifice them all to the service of His Soveraigne in the same way: and therefore wee may justly wonder at the frontlesse impudence of that Clement Walker, that should tell the world in Print, That Master Yeomans did confesse, that he was convicted in conscience of the justnesse of the Parliaments Cause: But they that know the man, and that poore stock, either of Religion or Honestie which he hath, need not wonder, that he that before this Parliament made it his frequent [Page 198] Theame to declaime against Puritans, should now (judg­ing them to be the prevailing Faction) to indeare him­selfe unto them: first embrew his hands in this Gentle­mans blood; and then report him falsely to posteritie, as if he had recanted that Loyaltie, for which, and in which, he professed he dyed.

While he was thus speaking to the people, Serjeant Major Langridge and Cliston, call upon the Executioner to hasten the worke: Nay, they did not stick to interrupt Master Yeomans in his discourse, and to goad him on the sides and thighs with their Halberts, bidding him to con­tract and make an end: hereupon he desired the witnesses of his suffering, to sing with him the 130 Psalme, which he sung with great elevation of spirit and servency of de­votion, knowing that presently he should be translated from this Bochim the valley of teares, where we doe not so much as sing or sigh out our Hymnes into that triumphant Quire, where with Angells, and Archangells, and all the powers of Heaven, he should sing Halclujahs & Anthems of Joy for evermore. Having finished the Psalme and some other Prayers, and amongst the rest, instanly beseeching God, not to charge his death upon that Citie, nor require his Innocent blood at their hands: prayed for his Persecu­tors, and adjured his friends not to harbour a thought of revenge, he began againe to make some addresse to the people, challenging the world there to testifie against him, if he had wronged any man, and beginning to apo­logize for his Innocency, even in the very cause of his death, Langridge and Cliston, the chiefe Hang-man un­der Fines their Master, knowing how much his words might prevaile with the people, and that one Martyr falling quickly springs up into many Converts. caused him instantly to be throwne off , hardly giving him so time as in some short ejaculations to recommend his Soule to God: and now, there he is under the Altar, and [...]oynes in that shrill cry that calls loud in the cares of [Page 199] God, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Rev. 6 10. Being thrown off, and his body swinging with the fall, his Brother in-law Master John Haggat, an ho­nest Gentleman, and of good qualitie in the Citie, put out his hand to stay it, which (that inhumane villaine) Cliston seeing, strook him with his Cane, with that violence, that he had almost stroken him to the ground: good God! which shall we most wonder at, either the barbarous inhu­manitie of this Murtherer, or the degenerous Ignoble pa­tience of the Citizens of Bristol, that could stand by and see all this, and not choose either to live freely, or dye couragiously together?

Having had sufficient experience of the Tamenesse of the citizens, and that there was no danger of opposition to be feared from them, the Rebels wade on in blood. And having murthered Master Yeomans, they command Ma­ster Bowcher so ascend the Ladder: It seemes by what he left written by his own hand, and written to that purpose to communicate it to the world, that he intended to be large, Exhorting those (to use his own words) who had set their hands to the Plow (meaning the maintenance of the Kings cause) not to be too hastie ( as terisied with their sufferings) to take them off : nor to regard those beggarly and Schismaticall rudiments which craftie and malicious men had inverted and introduced into the Church of God in these last and worst times of the world, denying the Truth, & bringing in damnable positions of their own devising, &c. And likewise, giving an exact Character of the Schisma­ticks that domineere at this time in the draught, borrow­ing the pencil of the Holy Ghost, I mean describing them in the Phrase of the Scriptures, a man very well able to doe it, bing versed in the Scriptures, a frequent hearer of Sermons, and by the testimony of his very enemies, confessed, to be a Religious man; Proud (sayes he) They are Boasters, Heady, Unstable, who censure as unjust the actions of others, before they receive [Page 200] resolution from God, or rightly understand his will touch­ing their owne , having hearts fraught with malice, in­cessantly labouring to bring to passe their d [...]vilish designes by pestilent Plots, daw [...]ing and painting them over with false glosses against the light of their ow [...]e conscience, and against that knowledge which they have in the Lawes, both of God and Man; justifying the wicked , and con­demning the innocent, &c. This was too much truth to be spoken to them whom it did so much concerne, and therefore was not permitted to speake so largely to the Assembly: at last, presled on to hasten his death, by those that are swift to shed blood, he desired to sing Psal. 16. which being ended, he began to recommend his Soule to God in most pious patheticall Prayers and ejaculations ; but they are not content that he should speake either to the People or to his God ; For Rosewell, a Levi [...]e of their owne , and a cract-braind Separatist, interrupts him in the midst of his Devotions, reviles him, and cals him Hypo­crite and Apostate, That after so strict a conversation, so much time spent in the profession of Religion, he should ren­der all suspected for hypocrisie , by so obstinate perseverance in his Rebellion against the Parliament, he meant for dy­ing for his Loyaltie to his Soveraigne: all this moved not the constancy of this resolved Martyr, but according to the advise of Saint Bernard, he held up s [...]utum consci­exti [...] con [...]a Gladium Lingue, the buckler of a good conscience to ward the blowes of a malicious Tongue, Serm. 4 [...]. De mode bene vivendi. Knowing that as the flattering Tongue is no c [...]re for a bad, so the rayling Tongue is no wound to the good conseience, possessing his Soule therefore in patience, he lets this snarling Dogge bark on, resolving with holy Job, Ecce in c [...]lo Test is me [...], Behold my witnesse [...] is in Heaven, and my Record is on high: Job 16.19. And so sustaining his Soule under the bur­den of that reproach , with that comfortable promise of our Saviour, Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and [Page 201] persecute you, and shall say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake, Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven : Mat. 5. 11, 12. He yeelded himselfe to the will and desire of his Murtherers, This Rosewel, in his very fall from the Lader, persuing him with the odious names of Hypocrite and Apostate, thereby (if it had-beene possible) to disturbe the peace of his Soule, and indanger his Charitie in that very instant when he was going out or the World, and ready to be presented at the dreadfull [...]ribunall of that most Righteous Judge, who putteth no [...] in his Saints, yea the Heavens are not c [...]eare in his sight, Job 15. 15. a practice so voyd of Chri­stanitie, nay so perfectly devilish to extend malice even to the endeavours of a second death, That had a black Angell beene dispatched from Hell, (an agent for that kingdome of darknesse) he could not have done more to advance damnation, or approve himselfe a malicious emis [...]ary of that bottomelesse pit, then this Schisnatique did.

These two now glorious Martyrs, having thus through their ignominious death's rendered their Soules to God, the spectators smite their breasts and returne : Never was there so generall a face of sorrow, such bitter la­mentation heard in that Citie, as on this day : Their bodies taken downe, were both carried to Master Ye [...] ­mans his house, Father in-law to Master Yeomans: In the evening Master Bowchers body was conveyed to his owne house, a sad spectacle to his poore Widdow and seven Orphans, and that night they were both interr'd, Master Yeomans at Christ Church , and Master Bowcher at Saint Warburgh's ; their Funeralls being attended by those Orthodox Ministers that the persecution had left, and by most of the honest well-affected Citizens ; though they knew that they could not expresse this piety to the dead, but to the hazard of losing their liberties, and plundering their estates.

[Page 202] Thus have you seene the Martyrdome of these Loyall Citizens, suffering for their Religion , by Sectaries and Atheists ; for their Loyaltie, by Traytors and Rebells ; and for their Lawes and Liberties, by Libertines and sonnes of Belial ; a Fact so horrid, and in which so many Acts of Crueltie and Injustice did meet and concentre, that as no History (not that of the Anabaptists of Ger­many) can give us a Paralell of this Rebellio [...], so this Rebellion cannot give us a Paralell of this Murther, except that of Master Tompkins and Master Chaloner at London, in the same manner.

Mercurius Rusticus, amp;c. I.

The Cathedrall Church of Canterbury horribly abused and desaced by the Rebells, under the conduct of Col. Sandys and Sir Michael Livesey: Together with the-miserable end of the said Colonel at Worcester, &c.

THe Citie of Canterbury, the ancient seat of the Kings of Rent, while the Saxon Heptarchy flourished in this Island, was by King Ethel­bert given, together with the Royalty there­of to Augustine, the first consecrated Arch­bishop of the English Nation, who there fixed his seat for himself & his successors: for whose sake Gregory the great, then Bishop of Rome, translated the Metropolitan dignity, together with the honour of the Pall, from London to Can­terbury: This City (as the rest) had its share in that spoyle and devastation, which War & the Sword in the Innovati­ons of Forraign nations & domestick broyls brought up­on it: the greatest impressions of desolation made on it, were in the Danish Warres, but the Normans succeding, through the pietie of godly religious men, residing there, and the bounty & liberality of the Bishops, it did suddenly start up, not only into its primitive beuty & lustre, but out­stripped all other places, as in the number & sumptuos­nesse of private houses, so especially in the magnificence and splendor of religious houses : amongst which, two were most famous, far exceeding all the rest, viz. Christ­Church, Et hujus pertinacissimus amulus (as Learned cambden speakes) the eager rivall of Christ-Church, Saint Augustines. This Church, by the injury of Sacrilege and [Page 204] time, (two greedy devourers) lyes almost buried in its own Ruines, presenting nothing else to the eye of the behol­ders but a sad spectacle, how spacious & ample a structure it once was, when now, a piece of it hath the honour to be stiled (though seldome imploy'd as) the Kings House. But Christ-Church, placed as it were in the Navel of the City, rayseth it self to so great a Majestie and Statelinesse, that Krasmus, a man not too much taken with magnificence in this kind, I am sure not doting on it, sayes, that this doth present it self with so Majestick State, VI procul eti­ans intuentibus religionem incutiat, that it occasions that devotion which should be used there, and strikes a sensible impression of Religion, in their hearts that behold it, though a far off, and at a distance. This Church built in old time (as Beda sayes) by the faithfull and beleeving Romans, and by King Ethelbert given to Augustine, in pro­cesse of time needed the like pietie to susport it, as at first built it, & works of that nature in those dayes did not long lye neglected for want of Benefactors: Lanfranke there­fore, the thirtie third Arch-Bishop of this Sea, (whether more famous for repairing of decayed Churches, as this of Canterbury, Rochester, and S. Albans, or his indefatigable pains, in correcting the corrupt translations of the Holy Bible, scattered every where through the Kingdom in his dayes, is uncertain.) William Corbet, or (as others will have it) Gorbois, the thirtie sixth Arch-Bishop of the same Sea, reedified the Quire, and the upper part of this Church, and the pietie of succeeding Bishops built & joyned the Nave or body to the Quire, and brought it to this magnificence and splendor in which wee now see it. But what out fore­fathers thought Religion to build up, we, their degenerous posterity, think Pietie to pull downe, so that while some leading Atheists (enemies to God and his Religion, and reprobate to every good work) are busie to Vote & cry down Episcopacy, with the Sacred Hierarchy, Root & Branch:their Emissaries incouraged and set on by them, first deface these [Page 205] Churches, and in the next place, will utterly ruine them' that so, the places where God is worshipped, being demo­lished, the revenue that maintaines the worship, may be­come a prey to these Sacrilegious Cormorants: But my God shall make them like a wheele. Now, how the Rebells behaved themselves in their first attempt, in this kind, on the Cathedrall Church of Canterbury, under the conduct of Colonel Sandys, I cannot better expresse then in the passionate elegancy of Reverend Doctor Pas [...]e, one of the Prebends, and at the time Sub-deane of that Church, to the Earle of Holland, the most ingratefull, and most un­thankfull of men.

What effect this just complaint wrought, how it pre­vailed, either with that Lord to whom it was addressed, or with the pretended Houses of Parliament, whose authority and assistance was implored to prevent further our-rage, either here or elsewhere, wee have too cleare testimony, not only in the like sacrileges and prophanations, every day acted, without any the least check, or restraint from the heads of this Rebellion, but more especially from their Votes and Ordinances, for the abolishing all remainders of Popery and Supe [...]stition, as they call it: in all which, Intelligi malunt quain Audiri,they would have their crea­tures understand, more then they speake, being certaine politique Litotes,in which, Minus dicisur, plus inselligitur, [Page 208] signifying more then the Grammaticall construction will permit, and carry in them a hidden secret sense and mea­ning, which their owne Emissaries know how to interpret and inlarge, according to the full intention of the Au­thors. But before we passe from the relation of this hor­r'd Sacrilege, committed on the Church of canterbury, I could not free my selfe from being guiltie of that great sinne of obscuring the great manifestation of Gods Justice, it I should in silence passe over that most exemplary ven­geance, which persued to death that unfortunate Gentle­man Colonel Sandys, the ring-leader to that Rebellious rout, which were Actors in that more then Barbarous out-rage.

Whether the cunning perswasions of others or his own ambition first imbarked him in this fatall undertaking is uncertaine, but as himselfe confessed on his death bed, to a friend & kinsman of his, who asked him, what he meant, being a Gentleman of so faire an estate, to ingage him­selfe in this Treason: He answered, That he was so farre drawn in before he was awar [...], that he knew not how to come [...]ff without the danger of his head: So usuall it is, for one sinne to ingage the finner for a second: having therefore once lifted up his hand against his Soveraigne, the Lords Anoynted, he thought the way to be secure from the pun shment of Rebellion,was to persevere in his Crime, and go on in Rebellion: In pursuance therefore of so black designes, being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse, in Sept. 1642. with the rest of the Rebells Army under the Con­duct of the Earle of Effex he advanced towards Worce­ster, and making some excursions with tenne Troopes of Horse from the body of their Army, at wickefield neare Worcester, accidentally were met by Prince Rupert, accom­panied by Prince Maurice and some others, Lords and Gentlemen of his Majesties Cavallry:being thus by chance met, the Prince glad of any opportunitie, to expresse the brayenes of his resolution, charged the Rebels with incom­parable [Page 209] valour: In this short but fierce Conflict, Colonel Sandys was wounded, and being dismounted his Horse, be­came prisoner to the Kings Partee. Being thus wounded, and as then was conceived, mortally, he began to reflect upon himselfe, and finding so little warrant in his now un­blass'd conscience for his undertaking, which had brought him into this condition, his perplexed soule brake out into many sad expressions of remorse: crying out, Woe, Woe, to evill Counsell, and happy are they that doe not take it. And being put in mind by a Reverend Doctor in Divinity, and Chaplaine to Prince Rupert, of the haynousnesse of the sin of Rebellion, he acknowledged himselfe to have fallen into that sinne, and that God was just in his judgements for finding him out in his iniquitie, prosessing withall his heartie sorrow and repentance for it: whereupon the Do­ctor replyed, that if he recovered, perhaps the same per­swasions from others, or inconside [...]atencsse in himselfe, might again ingage him in this Rebellion, at which words, a little lifting up his hand, he prosessed, He would rather have it cut off, then ever again life it up against the King: he freely acknowledged the justice of the Kings cause, and that he had observed the blessings of God to accomany it and when the Doctor desired leave to restihe his repen­tance to the world, he freely gave him leave, asking God and the King forgivenesse, praying for a blessing upon him, and his proceedings. In this mind he continued while Prince Rupert and the Kings Forces with him stayd in Warcester: and whether after the Earles possessing himselfe of Worcester, by the impetuous sollicitations of those Mur­therers of Soules, those Factors for hell, their Schismatical Lecturers, (who make men twosold more the children of the devill then themselves) he fell off, and turned Apostate from his newly resolved Loyalty, as repenting of his repen­tance, in uncertain; Those that were about him & saw his weaknesse, ever declining from the first houre he received his wounds, must testify to the World that he had neither [Page 210] strength of hand to write, nor so much composednesse of spirit, to be the Author of that Spurious, Supposititious Vindication, Published in his name Oct. 11. 1642. he be­ing (whatsoever that sorgery pretends) as unable to vin­dicate himself with his pen, as his sword: but if they had his heart as well as hand, subscribing to that Atheisticall reso­lution, where they thus bring him in foaming out his own thame, The App [...]chension of death never hitherto so neerly touched me, but if God shall once restore me to my former strength, I shall by his helpe, with as much alacritie and I hope courage, endeavour to defend, and maintaine with my dearest blood, this so good a cause (meaning this present Re­bellion) as ever I was at first ingaged in it, If I say they had his heart as well as his hand to that Resolution, I am afraid it was too evident a Symptome of a wicked man, given up to a Reprobate sense, which of all spirituall judg­ments questionlesse is the greatest; and might justly call for those Torments of body, which afterward, as a Gangreen devoured and eate up his flesh, and those pangs of Consci­eace, which I am afraid were but the earnest of a worse condition to insue: for as the Psalmist sayes, As for such as turne back unto their owne wickednesse, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquitie, Psal.125.5. but I remember that of Saint Paul, Judge nothing before the time, untill the Lord come, I Cor. 4.5. And therefore while on Supposition I write my feares, positively I deter­mine nothing, not knowing whether God might not give him the grace of repentance at the last, which if he did, he onely (I d [...]re say) that gave the Grace, knew of it: concerning his eternall condition therefore, I shall leave him to the judgement of that Righteous God, that judgeth Righteous judgement, and gives to every man according to his workes: and onely informe the World in what condition the Colonel lay, untill the time of his dissolution, and putting off his earthly, bat loathsome Tabernacle.

[Page 211] As the Colonel was amongst the Rebells a very consi­derable man, both for his extraction and qualitie, and likewise for his Estate (to say nothing of his valour and resolution, had they been Loyally imployed) so it was a­mong their chiefest cares to recover him of tho [...]e wounds which he received in their unchristian quarreil: while therefore the Rebells army lay in Worcester (which was a­bout three weeks) though then upon more strict searching his wounds, in the opinion of the best Chirurgions they were not mortall, yet, whatsoever the Art & invention, ei­ther of the Physitian or Chirurgion, could contribute to his recovery, was not omitted: when the Rebels army drew out to meet the King, in their march from Shrewsbury, which they did to their cost at Edge-hill, the Colonel was committed to the care of his own Chirurgion, then in pay under him, John Anthony of London: to whom, as a wit­nesse and an assistant in the cure, was joyned a Chirurgi­on of the Citie of Worcester, Edward Marshall: who, though they both used all the art & industry that possibly they could to effect the cure, yet the difficulties every day multiplied against the means, and in de [...]pight of their Bal­somes, his wounds did putrisie & the flesh rot, to the won­der of the Artists, and the Scorne of their Art: In so much that the Chirurgions, after much varietie of means used, & much strugling with these growing-evils (the cure still going backward, as if their skil had bin imployed to widen those wounds which they pretended to close up) were heard by many of the Citie of Worcester, to confesse, what Hippo­crates syes, every Physitian should first look after in eve­ry cure, that there was S [...] ri, the hand of God in it, that it was a peculiar judgment upon him, & that the cause of this putrefaction was more then natural: nor were they without good grounds for this conjecture, for besides the conclusi­ons of their own Art, directly thwarted, experience on the severall parts of the body of their patient, was a clear de­monstiation: those wounds in the upper parts of his body [Page 212] neare the vitalls, and therefore more dangerous, were cu­red long before his death, but those in his thigh, which were flesh-wounds, asthey call them, These were the Op­probria Chirargorum, here the flesh did dayly rot and pu­trise, and was cut away by degrees, even to the leaving of the bones naked, and stunk in so to loathsome a manner, that as he was a burthen to himselfe, so to his friends too, and those that were about him, being hardly able, for the noy­somenesse of the smell, either to come neare him to doe the officers of necessary attendance, or so much as to endure the roome where he lay, so intolerable was the stench, and so offensive.

Nor were the wounds of his body more insufferable to his friends, then the wounds of his conscience to himself, the gu lt of Rebellion wrought in him strong convulsions of Soule, high distempers of mind, yet that he might not sinke under the burthen of his wounded spirit, a weight that re­quires more then man to support it, he sent for Master Cot­terell, an Orthodox godly Minister, and Parson of Saint Andrews in Worcester, to Administer a word of comfort un­to him in this his afflicted condition.

When Master Cotterell came unto him, he found Oba­diah Sedgwick, that scandalous seditious Minister of Effex, in private conference with the Colonel, and Bread and Wine, ready prepared for the Lords Supper: Sedgwick having ended his discourse, went to Prayers, whereup in Master Cotterell offering to withdraw, he was intreated by one of the Colonels servants to stay, which accordingly he did: Sedgwick having concluded his extemporary prayer, took his leave and departed, refusing to stay either to ad­minister the Sacrament to the Colonel, or to communicate with him: of which refusall, when Master Cotterell after­ward desire to know the reason, all satisfaction that was given him, was, That Sedgwick was not fully assured of the fitnesse & due preparation of those that were to re­ceive the Sacrament with him. Desperate Hypocrisielwhat­soever [Page 213] he was perswaded of the preparation of the other Communicants, 'tis most certaine, he could not be igno­rant of the unfitnesse of the Colonel himselfe, whom he himselfe in all probabilitie perswaded to returne with the dogge to his vomit, and to justifie himselfe in that sinne of which but very lately he seemed to repent: 'tis more pro­bable, that, that poore remainder of Conscience in Sedg­wick, not quite yet put away, though it suffered him to betray, in private, a dying man to impenitency, under fal­ned pretences of what he in his own soule must need con­fesse to be a crying sin, and inrowled by Saint Paul himself amongst those workes of the flesh, which doe exclude from the kingdome of Heaven: yet his heart might smite him, and his conscience withstand him, as it were to the face, that he durst not seal that destructive counsell by delivery of the Sacrament: Sedgwick being gone, the Colonel willingly entertained conference with Master Cotterell, to whom he made a generall confession of his sins, and the grievousnesse of them, professing his heartie repentance and sorrow for them, But as the two pretended Houses of Parliament, in their Catalogue of sinnes, reckoned up in their Homily (if without offence I may so call it) and of­fered to this Nation as the subject matter of their solemre humiliation, quite forgot Lying and Rebellion, for some reasons best knowne to themselves: so this Champion of theirs, in his generall Confession, made no mention of the sin of Rebellion, which most nearly concern'd him, and for which in all probabilitie he was verysuddenly to render an account to God: a Confession most necessary both for him to make, and the Minister to require, before he could be thought a fit receiver of those dreadfull mysteries: but after this generall Confession, having received the Sacrament, Master Cotterell commended him to the grace of God, for that time left him; and having by one or two visits, after that, as he thought gained some interest in the Colonel, comming againe to him, and finding him in a calme tem­per, [Page 214] and judging it a fit opportunitie to inquire into his Conscience, and found him what perswasion he now had of his taking up Armes against his Soveraigne, he desired the Colonel to command his servants out of the roome, that he might speake with him in private, which being done, and all witnesses removed, but God, and their own Consciences, Master Cotterell; prefacing his discourse, with a solemne Protestation, that in what he did, he propo­sed no other end, but the salvation of his soule, demanded of him, whether he were not sorry for drawing his sword against the King: And whether he were not perswaded in his Conscience of the unlawfulnesse of it? To which the Colonel replyed, That he was persoeaded, that it was lawfull, having taken up Armes not against the King, but for the King, for his good, to being him back to his Parlia­ment, to make him more glorious then any of his Predecessors, and to redeem him from his evill Counsell rs, and those Po­pish Malignants that were about him. To which old thred­bare pretences (invented to palliate Treason, and blanch their most grosse Rebellion) when Master Cotterell oppo­sed the Lawes of God, the Lawes of the Kingdome, and seconded both, by the Kings most cleare and satisfactory Declaration, able to undeceive the abused world, and dis­pell that mist of errour and prejudice, which the heads of this Rebellion had cast before the eyes of the people of this deluded Nation: the Colonel not able to return any rea­sonable answer, or pre-instructed by edgwick, who fore­saw what encounter he was like to meet withall, suddenly called aloud to his servants to come in, whose presence set an end to the Conference: after this, [...] after Cotterell, (some say by Doctor Bruc [...] his Phisitians advice, though I doe not absolutely affirm it) was wholly neglected, & Ma­ster Halsetor was sent for, Parson indeed of Saint Nicholas in Worcester, but more acceptable to those that gave this counsell, under another capacitie, as hee was the City Lecturer.

[Page 215] But before we acquaint you with what success Halsetor undertooke, and discharged this imployment, it will not be amisse to let the world know, what reward this dying Co­lonel intended to bestow on Master Cotterell for all his paines taken with him, when the Colonels Wife came to Worcester to visite her husband, and being informed by her servants how frequently Master Cotterell had visited her husband, what paines he had taken in administring the Sacrament, and his great care in praying and conserring with him: the very nobly pressed her husband to gratifie Master Cotterell by some honorary gift, as an acknowledg­ment of his thankfulnesse, that he might reape some of his Temporalls, to whom he had so plentifully sowed spi­rituall things: to so reasonable a motion, made by the wife of his bosome, the Colonel most unworthily, and most uncharitably replyed, Sweet-heart be content, we shall find him a Delinquent: but he that shall reward a cup of cold water, shall not forget so great a work of Charitieche that endeavours to turne a sinner to righteonsnesse (though the successe answer neither his labour, not expectation) yet he shall shine at the Stars for ever and ever, nor shall his worke be in vaine in the Lord.

Master Coterell being thus most unthankfully re­jected, the Colonel is now committed wholly to the care of his new ghostly Father Master Halsetor, a man of a Schis­maticall Turbulent spirit, fitter to make a Rebell then re­clame a relapsed Traytor, and since hath followed that counsel which he gave by deserting his Cure and joyning himself to the Rebel [...]: the men of this Faction have an Art to torment perplext consciences instead of cosorting them, dispensing not so much the pro [...]is [...]s of the G [...]spel, as the terrors of the Law, as if the way to spirituall Consolation were through despaire, and no way led to Heaven so sure, as what coated by the confines of Hell: whether Master Helsetor dealt thus with the Colonel, I cannot say, perhaps he might go about as some others of his Faction have done, [Page 216] to sow pillows under their seduced champions arme-holes, and to justifie the sinner in the sinne, comparing circum­stances, questionlesse this was his way, but the lad effects of his Rebellion which the Colonel felt in his body, and those flashes of horror affrighting his guiltie soule, would not permit this dying man to be lulled asleepe in so vaine presumption: though at first therefore when Master Cot­terell was with him, to assist him in that great work, to pre­pare him to stand before the judgement Seat of Christ, and the preparitories were Consessions and Sorrow for sinnes, (though but in the generall) deprecations of judgement, and the wrath of God, and the like, some spirituall com­fort, began to dawne in his be-nighted soule, and that he might seale that obscure glimmering of hope opened unto him in this valley of Achor, and obtaine more, he desired to Communicate in the body and blood of Christ, yet after Master Halsetor came unto him, ( Woe, woe to evill Coun­sell, to use his owne exclamation) it was observed that the Colonel tell into strong distempers or mind, which sud­denly grew to so great a height, that he was utterly distra­cted, even to raving and madnesse : which amongst them that thinke the Gospel ineffectuall, unlesse the spirituall man be mad, is taken for the undoubted evidence of a Powerfull Ministery: certainly it was a sad spectacle, to see him lye in this condition, and a horrid thing to heare, that his last breath, which should have beene breathed out in prayers and deprecations, and humble Confessions of sin, should be spent in venting the wild fancies of his distra­cted brain: sometimes crying out, that his Chirurgion and servants had broken up his Trunks, and rob'd him of his gold: and by and by starting up, and crying out, that the Enemy was at the wall's of the Citie, and calling for the keys to lock up the gates: Thus he lay diverse weekes, and in these distractions dyed; dreadfull things are these, but 'tis written, The Lord shall smite thee with madnesse, and blindnesse, and astonishment of heart. His Wife and Sonne [Page 217] comming to visit him in this wretched condition (poysoned with the stench of his body) both fell sick of the small Pox, of which she dyed, and both of them lye buried in the South Ile of the body of the Cathedrall, in that Cathedrall of worcester, where his Grandfather Doctor Edwyne San­dys, afterwards Arch-bishop of York, made his first step to the Archi-Episcopall honour, being first Consecrated Bi­shop of that D [...]cesse, & therelayd the foundation of those fortunes, which descending to this man, made him for­get his own extraction, & certainly it was no final aggra­vation of his sin, that being descended from an Arch-bishop, and that estate which made him considerable in the world, being raysed out of the Revenues of the Church, and a Ca­thedrall Church (a blessing which but few Church-men have attained unto, though advanced to the same, or the like dignity to rayse a family) he should yet so far degene­rate, so far forget himselfe, & the Rock from whence he was hewen, to be a Ring-leader to so Barbarous a Rout, which beginning at Canterbury, went on to ruine and deface all Cathedrall Churches where they came, ending with that of worecester, where he had the undeserved Priviledge to be interr'd.

Thus as briefly as I could, I have given an account of the unhappy end of this miserable Gentleman. In which; I call God to witnesse, there is nothing sained, nothing suborned, there being no hing here recorded, but what is attested by men beyond all exception. And I must ap­pleale againe to the same God, that this accont is not gi­ven to that end to make his name or memory odious, ei­ther with the men of this present age, or with posteritie (I must confesse I would disgrace the sin) but my intent is, by this example, to teach those that are seduced as this man was, to know, and foresee in him, what end attends those, who forgetting all Religion and Loyaltie, shall lift up their hands against their God in Sacrilege, and against their So­veraigne in Rebellion.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. II.

The Cathedrall Church of Rochester violated: the Sacri­lege and prophanenesse of the Rebells under command of Sir William Waller and Sir Arthur Hasterig, acted on the Cathedrall Church of Chichester, &c.

As when the Spirit brought the Prophet Ezekiel into the Holy Temple, he led him from place to place, and each place, entertained him with greater Abominati­ons than the former, so that the farewell to the last Visi­on, and the invitation to the next is, Turne thee yet a­gaine and thou shalt see greater Abominations than these: So, having brought you in the cathedralls of this King­dome, Temples (in despite of Atheists, Rebells and Ana­baptists) of God too: and having shewed you the Abomi­nation of Desolation in one of them, viz. in Canterbury, the first instance of their accursed rage, and having view­ed that, I must now lead you on as the Spirit did the Pro­phet; from place to place, and the inticement may be the same, for though you have seene great prophanations in the former relation, Yet you shall see greater abominations than these.

The next instance of the Rebells prophanenesse, which I shall offer unto you, is in the Cathedrall of Roche­ster, [Page 219] recompenced for the finalnesse of its Revenue, with the honour of its Antiquitie, as boasting of Ethelbert King of Kent, a common Founder to this Church, with those of Canterbury and London. The unhappy losse of Earnulphus History, the thirtie second Bishop of this See, deprives us of that Light which discovered the va­rious condition of this Church, how long in the begin­ning it struggled with its owne povertie, and in after­ages with the injuries of Time and Warre, remaining some yeares in a kind of Widow hood, without the Go­vernment and Super-intendency of a Bishop; till at last Gundulfus the thirtieth Bishop of this See, re-edified this Church from the ground, and brought it into that mag­nificence in which we now see it: To which pious worke, hee brought so good, so vigorous affections, that as Malmesbury records of him, Praevene [...]at vivacitas Gun­dulsi omnium successorum diligeatiam, Gundulphus [...]la­crity in that work did so prevent the pietie of his successors, that he hardly left them any place in this kind wherein to exercise their bountie. Little did the over-flowing zeal of our Ancestors to the house of God, like that of the old lsraelites, pouring out their wealth and precious things to adorne the Tabernacle, in so great measure, that M [...]sas was sain to publish a Proclamation to restraine their libe­ralitie, For the stuffe they had was sufficient for the work to make it, and too much, Exod. 36.6.7. Little (I say) did they thinke, when they did this, that what they thus bounti­fully gave unto God, should ever, while this Kingdome remained Christian, become a prey to those, which as Tcr [...]llian speakes, Gentes agunt Christs nomine, have not so much as a forme, but the bare usurped name of Christi­anitie, which they fulley and pollute with those worse than heathenish crimes of Sacrilege and Prophanenesse: had the [...]acrilege lately committed at Canterbury been applauded by the people, (to gain whom, no arts though never so re­pugnant' [Page 220] pugnant either to Religion or common honesty were left un­attempted) certainly, this Church which next stood in their way, and immediatly after Canterbury tasted of their fury, had beene utterly demolished, and offered up a sacrifice to Popularitie. But Plundering being then but a stranger in England, newly arrived here from desolate Germany, especially Plundering of Churches, which heretofore were held inviolable Sanctuaries for offenders, but much more for their owne innocent ornaments; this made a generall out-cry, every manderested so soule impietie; nay, their own partie (some of them) not yet so deeply leavened with their Anabaptisticall Doctrines, nor given up to so repre­bate a sense to believe monstrous lyes for truth, did not only not approve, but sparingly condemne the Fact: and the generall vote of the people, awakened by Doctor Pask his Letter, declared it barbarous and wicked; nay, the dis­like of such proceedings grew to so great a height, that some wise men were deceived into an opinion, that the Houses would punish the offenders for the present, and publish an Order to restrain the like out-rages for the fu­ture; & indeed, though some good men, Members of both Houses, did earnestly desire it, yet by experience they quickly found how unequall they were to effect any thing, in which they had not the concurrence of the heads of the Faction which ruled in both Houses, but much lesse when they rowed against the stream, &had them for their adver­saries. The Rebels therefore comming to Rochester, brought the same affections along with them which they expressed at Canterbury, but in wisedome thought it not safe to give them the same scope, here as there; for the multitude though mad enough, yet were not so mad, nor stood yet so prepar'd to approve such heathenish practices: by this means the Monuments of the dead, which elsewhere they brake up and violated, stood untouched; Escoucheons and Armes of the Nobilitie and Gentry (upbraiding eye-sorcs to broken, mean Citizens, and vulga [...] Rebells) remained [Page 221] undefaced, the Seats & Seals of the Quire escaped break­ing downe, onely those things which were wont to stuffe up Parliament Petitions, and were branded by the Leaders of the Faction, for Pepery and Innovation, in these they took libertie to let loose their wild zeale: they brake down the Rayl about the Lords Table, or Altar, call it which you please; and not only so, but most basly reviled, a now Re­verend Prelate, who being lately. Deane of that Church, had for the more uniforme, and reverend receiving of the blessed Sacrament set it up, with the odious name of Rogue, often repeated: they seized upon the Velvet covering of the holy Table, and in contempt of those holy Mysteries which were Celebrated on the Table, removed the Table it selfe into a lower place of the Church, in this, perfect disciples of that prophane Author of the book called, Alta­re Damascenum, Who in the 718P. devoutly resolves thus: De loco ubi consistat cur solliciti, sùm quovis loco utl An­gulo extra Tempus Administrationis c [...]ll [...]cari [...]ossit; Con­cerning the place where the Lords Table shall stand, what need we to be sollicitous, when out of the time of admini­stration of the Sacrament it may be see aside, in any place, or obscure corner. And to shew what Members they are of the Church of England, they strowed the Pavemenet with the torn mangled leaves of the Book of Common-Prayer, which, with the Book of Homilies, and the 39 Articles, makes up the third Book, wherein the Doctrine of the Church of England is fully contained: under standing that the Deane that then was, was to Preach on Sunday morning, Colonel Sandys and Sir John Seatont, that false Trayterous Scoe, sent unto him to command him to for­beare the wearing of the Surplice and Hood; to which this answer, That if they would expect any Sermon from him, they must permit him to appeare in such Orna­ments, as the Church, and his degree required, and ac­cordingly did so: afterwards Sandys and Seaton, Com­ming [Page 222] ming towards the Church, and hearing the Organs, Seaton started back, and in the usuall blessing of some of his Country, cryed, A Devill these Bag-pipes: perhaps he never read so [...]arre as Davids Psalmes, where-it is writ­ten, Praise God upon the Strings and Pipe: Psal.150.4. or if he had, it is more then probable, that it had beene all one to him: however, this served them both, as a pre­ [...]ence to cloake their Irreligion, and refusall to joyne with that true Protestant Congregation. While the Rebells were pulling downe the Rayles about the Communion­Table, one of the Prebends of the Church, Master Lar­ken, interposed, and attempted to stay their madnesse by reason, and perswasion; but he quickly found, that he did not onely prophane Reason, by urging it to Saint pauls, absurd, unreasonable, wicked men, men made up of in­congruities, but that he did it to the hazard of his life; for one of the Rebells, instead of returning a reasonable an­swer, discharged a Pistoll or Carbine at him, to have murdered him at the very Altar, but by the good provi­dence of God he mist his marke. Thus, having done some spoyle, that they might render themselves not alto­gether unprofitable to their partie, and not daring for the present to doe any more, for feare of losing that party which they hoped to gaine for that season, they left the Church: but into what further outragious Impicties, their Schismaticall fury hath since transported them, or what else they have practised on this Church, to compleat their Monstrous Reformation, is not yet made knowne un­to us.

The third Instance, which I shall give of the Rebells Sacrilege and Prophanenesse, is in the Cathedrall church of Chichester; Successor in the honour of being the feat of the Bishops Residence to Sealsey [...] for wilfrd Arch-Bi­shop of Yorke, being driven into Exile by [...]gfrid King of Northumberland, retiring himselfe into Suffex, and finding the South Saxons wholely given up to Idolatry, [Page 223] his spirit like Saint Pauls at Atbens was stirred with in him, and knowing the unprofitable servants doome, that buried his Talent, he Preached unto them the Gospel of Christ: and Edelwalch King of those parts (not long be­fore converted to the Faith, by the perswasions of wolfbere King of the Mer [...]ians [...]) willing that the same saving-know­ledge, which he himself had imbraced, should be imparted to his people, seconaed the pious endeavours of wilfrid and therefore amongst other acts of bountie, he gave the Arch bishop Sea [...]ey for the place of his [...]sfidence. Not long after, Cedwilla Conquering Edilwatch, built here a Mo­nastery to the honour (as Mamesbury sayes) of S. Peter, and erected the Episcopall Chaire: where it stood fixt the succession of 22 Bishop, or as others say (reckoning wil­frid Arch-bishop of Yorke for the first) the succession of 23 Bishops; from the yeare 711. to the raigne of William the Conquerour 1070. at which time Stiganeus translated his Chaire from Sealesey to Chichester, and so became the last Bishop of Scalesey, and the first of chichester, where the Eepiscopall power did flourish ever since, untill now; in these last, and worst dayes, wherein while the heads of a Rebellious, Schismaticall Faction, Vote down the Sacred Function and Order of Bishops, their Emissaries are mad to deface, if not utterly to demolish their Churches. To this purpose, the Rebels under the Conduct of Sir willi­am waller, entring the Citie of chichester on innocents day, 1642, the next day, their first businesse was to Plunder the Cathedrall Church; the Marshall therfore and some other Officers, having entred the Church, went into the Vest­ry, there they seize upon the Vestments and Ornaments of the Church, together with the Conseerated Place, serving for the Altar & Administration of the Lords Supper; they left not so much as a Cushion for tht Pulpit, nor a Chalice for the Blessed Sacrament: the Commanders having in person executed the covetoms part of Sacriledge, they leave the destructive & spoyling part to be finished by the Com­mon [Page 224] mon Souldiers: brake downe the Organs, and dashing the Pipes with their Pole-axes, scoffingly said, Harke how the Organs goe. They breake the Rayle about the Com­munion Table, which was done with that fury, that the Table it selfe escaped not their madnesse, but tasted of the same fare with the Rayl, and was broken in pieces by them. At the East end of the Quite, did hang a very fair Table, wherein were written the [...]en Commandements, with the Pictures of Moles and Aaron on each side of the Table; possessed with a zeale, but not like that of Moses, they pull downe the Table, and breake it into small shivers. 'T was no wonder that they should break the Commandements in their representation, that had before broken them all over in their Substance and Sanction: they force open all the locks, either of doores or desks wherein the Singing-men layd up their Common-Prayer Books, their Singing-Books, their Gowns and Surplices: they sent the Books in pieces, and scatter the torne leaves all over the Church, even to the covering of the Pavement, but against the Gownes and Surplices their anger was not so hot, these were not amongst the Anathemata, but might be reserved to seculiar uses: in the South crosse lle on the one side, the History of the Churches Foundation, was very artificially pourtrayed with the Pictures of the Kings of England; on the other side over against them, are the Pictures of the Bishops, as well of Scalsey as Chichester, began by Robert Sherborn, the 37 Bishop of that See and the Series brought down by him to his own times at his own Charges, who as he made that of the Psalmist, Dil [...]xi decorum domus tui domins, Lord I have loved the beautie of thy house, his Imprease and Motto, so he made it his worke, and endea­vour. These Monuments they deface and mangle with their hands and swords, as high as they could reach: and, to shew their love and Zeale to the Protestant Religion, established in the Church of England, one of those Misere­ants picked out the eyes of King Edward the sixt's Picture [Page 225] saying, That all this mischiefe came from him when he esta­blished the Books of Common-Prayer. On the Tuesday fol­lowing they had a solemne Thanks giving, for their successe in gaining that Citie. Men of cauterized Consci­ences, and given upto a Reproba [...]tesense, thus, not onely to take the Name of God in vaine, but damnably to Blas­pheme it, as if he were the Patron of Rapine, Blood and Sa­crilege. After the Sermon was ended, as men not inspired by the holy Spirit of which they so much boast, but possessed and transported by a Batchanalian fury, they ran up and downe the Church, with their swords drawne, defacing the Monuments of the dead, hacking and hewing the Seats and Stalls, scratching and scraping the painted walls: Sir William Waller, and the rest of the Comman­ders standing by as spectators, and approvers of these Bar­barous Impieties: yet for feare left in this Schismaticall frenzy, the sword in mad mens hands might mistake, Sir William Waller, a wary man as he is and well knowne not to be too apt to expose himselfe to danger, stood all the while with his sword drawn, and being asked by one of his Troopers what he meant to stand in that Posture? He an­swered, That it was to secure himselfe. you know, 'tis writ­ten, The wicked are afraid where no fear is, for though the People made him an Idoll in London, yet being no Po­pish, but a Puritanicall Idoll, (for they have their Idolls, and their Idolatry, as much as the Church of Rome) there was no danger to his person, to be mistaken for an object of their Reformation at Chichester. The same Trooper ad­ded also, That if his Colonel in the Low-Countries were there, and commanded in thiese, he would hang up halfe a dozen of the souldiers for examples sake: it no: being the custome of the Low-Countries, (though long time hath made their enmitie inveterate, and added much to the ani­mositie of the parties) to Plunder Churches, it being amu­tuall stipulation between the Spaniard and the Hollander, that what Town soever should by conguest passe from the [Page 226] possession of one, Nation to the other, though the Conquerour hid the free Plunder of the Towne, yet churches with their Ornaments, and whatever was conveyed into them should be invialable, the church being sanctuary to what sover was under [...]is Roo se, and, if they would have any thing thence, it was to be purchased at a valuable price. These good intimations of moderations from a man of lesse com­mand, but more Religion then Sir William, prevailed no­thing with him to restrain the outraigous madnesse of his fellow Rebells. Having therefore made what spoyle they could in the Cathedrall, they rush out thence and breake open a Parish Church, standing on the North side of the Cathedrall, called the Subdeanery: there they teare the Common Prayer Bookes, both those belonging to the Church, and likewise those which were left there by de­vote persons which did usually frequent Divine Service; and because many things in the Holy Bible make strongly against them. one did contradict and condemne their im­pious practices, they marked it in divers places with a black coale; 'tis more then probable, that the 13 Chapter to the Romans did not escape their Index Expurgatorius, for certainly if that be the word of God (as undoubtedly it is) they cannot so farre with-hold the truth in unrighte­nusnesse, as not to read their doome in that word, they shall judge them at the last day: here they stole the Ministers Surplice and Hood, and all the Linnen serving for the Communion: and finding no more Plate but the cha­lice, they steale that too, which they brake in pieces, to make a just and equall divident amongst themselves; for an Engeneer of theirs, Robert Prince a French-man, with a wooden leg, afterwards shewed the foot thereof broken off; and when complaint was made of these barbarous out-ra­ges, Captain Keely replyed, That he Know not whether all this were not done by Order, or no. About five or six days af­ter, Sir Arther Haslerig demanded the Keyes of the chap­ter-house, being entred the place, and having intelligence [Page 227] by a treacherous Officer of the Church, where the remain­der of the Church Plate was, he commanded his servants to breake downe the Wainscot round about the roome, which was quickly done, they having brought Crowes of Iron for that purpose along with them; while they were knocking downe the Wainscot, Sir Arthurs tongue was not enough to expresse his joy, it was operative at his very heeles, for dancing and skipping, (pray marke what Mu­sick that is, to which, it is lawfull for a Puritan to dance) he cryed out, There Boyes, there Boyes, Hearke, Hearke, it Rattles, it Rattles: and being much importuned by some members of that Church, to leave the Church but a Cup for administration of the Blessed Sacrament, answer was returned by a Scotch-man standing by, That they should take a wooden dish: and now tell me which was farthest from a Christian, either this impure Scot, or that blasphe­mous Atheist, who seeing the masty Plate and rich Orna­ments wherewith the Christian Altars were adorned in the Primitive Church, in indignation & scorn of Christ belt­ched out Enquà preciosis vasis filim Maria ministratur? Behold with what costly vessells the Son of Mary is ser­ved: what further spoyle and indignitic they have since done to that house of God, And the habitation where his honour dwelt, is yet uncertaine.

Mercurius Rustius, &c. III.

The Rebells defying God in his owne house: their Sacri­lege, in stealing Church Plate and goods: their irreve­rence towards the King, by abusing his Statue: their heathenish barbaritie in violating the bones and ashes of dead Monarchs, Bishops, Saints and Confessors in the Cathedral Church of Winchester, &c.

THe next instance which I shall give of the Re­bells Sacrilege and Prophanenesse, is in the Cathe­drall Church of Winchester: which Citie, as it was the Royall Seat of the Kings of the West Saxons, in the time of the Heptarchy, so was it the Seat of the Bishops of that people, after Kenwalshus King of the West Saxons (not brooking the Barbarous broken expressions of Agilber­tus his Bishop) divided this large Diocesse betweene Agil­bertus and Wina, and leaving Agilbertus to reside at Dor­chester, caused Wina to be Consecrated Bishop of Winche­ster. Before we tell you by whom, and in what manner this Church was robbed and spoyled of its Ornaments and beautie, it will not be impertinent (while it may serve as an aggravation of their impietie) briefly to set downe by whom this Church was built, and so richly ador­ned, as lately we saw it. This magnificent Structure which now stands, was begun by Walkelinus the thirtie fifth Bi­shop of this See: which worke left imperfect and but be­gun by him, was but coldly prosecuted by the succeeding Bishops, untill William of Wickham (the magnificent Sole founder of two Saint Mary Colledges, the one in Oxford commonly called New Colledge, the other a Nurcery to [Page 229] this neare Winchester) came to possesse this See: He a­monst many other works of Pletie, built the whole Nave, or body of this Church, from the Quire to the West end, the Chappels on the East end beyond the Quire, had their severall Founders: The hallowed Ornaments and Uten­cills of this Church, being many, rich, and costly, were the gifts of severall Benefactors, who though their names perhaps are not recorded in earth, have found their reward in Heaven. This Church was first differenced by the name of Saint Amphibalus, who received a Crowne of Martyr­dome under the persecution of Dioclesian: Next it ex­changed this name for that of S. Peter; and againe, this, for that of Saint Swithine, the eighteenth Bishop of this See: last of all, it was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, whose blessed name is now called upon it: which Holy name, though it could not but put the Rebells in mind whose possession and house it was, did not at all afford it patronage, and protection from their accursed rage and madnesse.

The Rebells under the Conduct of Sir William Waller, fate downe before the Citie of Winchester, on Tuesday the 12 of December, 1642. about twelve of the clock, and en­tred the City that afternoon between two and three:being Masters of the City, they instantly fall upon the Close, un­der a pretence to learch for Cavaliers. They seize upon the Prebends Horses, and demand their persons with many threatning words: That night, they brake into some of the Prebends Houses, such houses as they were directed unto, by their Brethren the Seditious Schismaticks of the City, and Plundered their goods. But the Castle not yet sur­rendred into the Rebels hands, something awed their in­solency: which being the next day delivered up to their power, did not only take away the restraint which was upon them, but incouraged them, without check or controule, to rob and defie, both God and all good men. Wednesday therefore, and Wednesday night, being spent in Plundring [Page 230] the Citie and Close, on Thursday morning between nine and ten of the clock (houres set apart for better imploy­ments, and therefore purposely in probabilitie chosen by them, being resolved to prophane every thing that was C [...]nonicall) violently break open the Cathedrall Church, and being c [...]rred, to let in the Tyde, they presently open the great West doores where the Barbarous Souldiers stood ready, nay greedy to rob God and pollute his Tem­ple. The doores being open, as if they meant to invade God himselfe as well as his prossession, they enter the Church with Colours flying, their Drums beating, their Matches fired, and that all might have their part in so hor­rid an attempt, some of their Troops of Horse also accom­panied them in their march, and rode up through the bo­dy of the Church and Quire, untill they came to the Altar, there they begin their work, they rudely pluck done the Table and break the Rayle: And afterwards carrying it to an Ale-house, they set it on fire, and in that fire burnt the Books of Common Prayer, and all the Singing books be­longing to the Quire: they throw down the Organs, and breake the Stories of the Old and New Testament, curi­ously cut out in carved work, beautified with Colours, and set round about the top of the Stalls of the Quire: from hence they turne to the Monuments of the dead, some they utterly demolish, others they deface. They begin with Bishop Fox his Chappell, which they utterly deface, they break all the glasse Windows of this Chappel, not be­cause they had any Pictures in them, either of Patriarch, Prophet, Apo [...]le or Saint, but because they were of pain­ted coloured-glasse: They demolish and over-turne the Monuments of Cardinall Beaufort, sonne to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, by Katberine Swinsort, Founder of the Hospitall of Saint Crosse neare Winchester, who fate Bishop of this see fortie three years. They deface the Mo­nument of William of Wainslet, Bishop likewise of Winche­ster, Lord Chancellour of England, and the Magnificent [Page 231] Founder of Magdalen College in Oxford; which Monument in a gratefull pietie, being lately beautified, by some that have, or lately had relation to that foundation, made these Rebels more eager upon it, to deface it: but while that College, the unparalleld example of his bountie, stands, in despight of the malice of these inhumane Rebels, Willi­am of W [...]inslet cannot want a more lasting Monument, to transmit his memory to posterity: from hence they goei­to Queen Maries Chappel, so called, because in it she was married to King Philip of Spaine: here they brake the Communion Table in pieces, & the Velvet Chaire Where­on she fate when she was married. They attempted to de­face the Monument of the late Lord [...]reasurer the Earle of Portland, but being in Brasse, their violence made finall impression on it, therefore they leave that, and turne to his Fathers Monument, which being of Stone, was more obnoxious to their fury: here, mistaking a Judge for a Bi­shop, led into the error by the resemblance or counterfeit of a square Cap on the head of the Statua, they strike off, not onely the Cap, but the head too of the Statua, and so leave it. Amongst other Acts of Bountie and Pietie, done by Richard Fox the fiftie seventh Bishop of this Sc [...], he co­vered the Quire, the Presbytery, and the [...]sles adjoyning, with a goodly Vault, and new glazed all the windowes of that part of the Church, and caused the bones of such Kings Princes and Prelases, as had beene buried in this Church, and lay dispersed and sca [...]tered in severall parts of the Cathedrall, to be collected and put into severall Chests of Lead, with inscriptions on each Chest, whose bones lodged in them: These Chests (to preserve them from rude and prophane hands) he caused to be placed on the top of a wall, of exquisite workmanship built by him, to inclose the Presbytery: there, never to be removed (as a man might thinke) but by the last Tr [...]pe, did rest the bones of many Kings & Queens, as of Alfredus, Edwardus Seni [...]n, [...]adredus the brother of Athelstane, Edw [...]us, C [...] ­tus [Page 232] tus, Hardicanutus, Emma the Mother, and Edward the Confessor her Sonne, kinigliss [...]s the first founder of the Cathedrall of Winchester, Egbert who abolishing the Hep­tarchy of the Saxons, was the first English Monarch, willi­am Ruf [...]s, and diverse others: with these, in the Chests, were deposited the bones of many G [...]dly Bishops, and Con­fessors, as, of Birinus, Hedda, Swithinus, Frithestanus, Saint Elphegus the Confessor, Stigandus wina and others. Had not the barbarous inhumane impietie, of these Schis­maticks and Rebells [...]hewed the contrary, we could not have imagined, that any thing but the like Pietie that here inshrined them, or a Resurrection should ever have distur­bed the repose of these venerable, yet not Popish Reliques. But these Monsters of men to whom nothing is holy, no­thing is Sacred, did not stick to prophane and violate these Cabinets of the dead, and to scatter their bones all over the pavement of the Church: for on the North side of the Quire they threw down the Chests, wherein were deposited the bones of the Bishops, the like they did to the bones of William Rufus, of Queene Emma, of Hardicanutus, and Edward the Confessor, and were going on to practise the like impietie or the bones of all the rest of the west Saxon Kings. But the Out-cry of the people, deresting so great inhumanitie, caused some of their Commanders (more compassionate to these ancient Monuments of the dead then the rest) to come in amongst them, and to restraine their madnes. But that dive [...]sh malice which was not per­mitted to rage and over flow to the spurning & trampling on the bones of all, did [...]atiate itselfe even to a prodigi­ous kind of wantonne [...]le, on those which were already in their power: And therefore as it they meant (if it had been possible) to make these bones contract a Pesthume guile, by being now made passive Instruments, of more then heathe­nith Sacrilege, and prophanenefse, those Windowes which they could not reach with their Swords, Muskets, or Rests, they brake to pieces, by throwing at them the bones of [Page 233] Kings, Queens Bishops, Confessors and Saints: So that the spoyle done on the Windowes will not be repaired for a thousand pounds: nor did the Living find better mea­sure from them then the dead: for whereas our Dread Se­veraigne that now is (the best of Kings) was graciously pleased, as a pledge of his Princely favour to this Church, to honour it with the gift of his owne Statua, together with the Statua of his deare Father King James, of ever blessed memory, both of massy Brasse: both which statua's were erected at the front of the entrance into the Quire: These Atheisticall Rebells, as if they would not have so much of the Militia to remaine with the King, as the bare Image, and representation of a Sword by his side; They break off the Swords from the sides of both the statua's: they breake the Crosse from off the Globe, in the hand of the Statua of our gracious Soveraign now living, and with their Swords hacked and hewed the Crown on the head of it, Swearing, They would bring Him back to His Parlie­ment: A most flagitious crime, and such, as that for the like S. Cbrysustome, Hom [...] Adpopulum Antioch. with ma­ny teares complaines, he much feared, the Citie of Antioch, the Metropolis and head (as he calls it) of the East, would have been destroyed from the face of the earth: for when in a Tumult, the Seditious Citizens of Antioch had done the like affront to Theodetius the Empetour, in overturning his Statua's, how doth that holy Bishop bemoane [...] how doth he bewaile that Citie [...] which, fearing the severe effects of the abused Emperours just indignation, of a Po­pulous Citie, a Mother boasting of a Numerous Iss [...]e, was on the sudden become a widdow, left desolate, and for saken of her Inhabitants: some, out of the sense and horror of the guilt abandoning the Citie, and flying into the deslote Wildernesse, others lurking in holes, and confining them­selves to the darke corners of their own houses, thereby ho­ping to escape the vengeance due to so Disloyall, so Tray­terous a Fact; because of this foul injury offered the Empe­Tours [Page 234] Statua, He (as that Father speakes) was wronged, that was the Supreme head of all men, and had no equall on Earth. But what wonder is it, that these miscreants, should offer such scornfull indignities to the Representati­on of his Reyall Person, and the Emblems of his Sacred pow­er, when the heads of this damnable Rebellion (who set these their Agents on work) offer worse affronts to his Sa­cred Person himself, and by their Rebellious Votes, and ille­gall Ordinances, daily strike at Substones of that power, of which the Crowne, the Sword, and Scepter, are but Em­blemes and shadowes, which yet not withstanding, ought to have been venerable and awefull to these men, in respect of their Relation? After all this, as it what they had already done, were all too little, they go on in their horrible wick­ednesle, they seize upon all the Communion Plate, the Bi­bles, and Service-Books, Rich hangings, large Cushions of Velvet, all the Pulpit-Clothes, some where of were of Cloth of Silver, some of Cloth of Gold: They brake up the Mu­niment house, and take away the Common Seale of the Church, supposing it to be Silver, and a faire piece of guilt Plate, given by Bishop Cotton: They teare the Evidences of their Lands, and cancell their Charter; in [...] word, what ever they found in the Church of any value and portable, they take it with them, what was neither, they either deface, or destroy it. And now having Ransacked the Church, ha­ving desied God in his own house and the King in his own Statua, having violated the Urns of the dead, having abu­sed the bones, & scattered the ashes of deseased Monarchs, Bishops, Saints, and Confessors, they returne in Triumph, bearing their spoyles with them. The Troopers (because they were most conspicuous) ride through the streets in sur­plices, With such Hoods and Tippers as they found: and that they might boast to the world how glorious a Victo­ry they had archieved, they hold out their Trepbies to all spectators: for the Troopers thus clad in the Priests Vest­ments, rode carrying Common Prayer Books in one hand, [Page 235] and some broken Organ Pipes, together with the mangled pieces of Carved worke but now mentioned, containing some Histories of both Testaments, in the other. In all this, giving too just occasion, to all good Christians to complaine with the Psalmist. O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance. [...] by holy Temples have they defiled, The dead bodies of thy Servants have they abused, and scattered their bones as one beweth wood upon the earth [...] Help us, O God of our Salvation, for the glory of thy Name, Psal. 79.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. IV.

The Rebells Prophanation and horrible abuse of the Abby Church of Westminster: Together with their severall Out rages and Abominations committed on the Cathe­drall church of Exeter, &c.

IF in the Catalogue of Plundered Cathedralls, we in­ [...]owle the now Collegiat Church of Westminster, I hope I shall not be thought to make my discou [...]se, no more of kin to my Title, then Mountaine doth some of his [...]ssayes: For if we looke backe on the various condition of this Church (no place set apart for Religions Persons, having so often shifted its owners)we shall find that among it many changes, it had the honour of a Bishops See. On the dissolution of the Abbies, amongst the rest, Henry the Eighth suppressed this Monastery, and in the place there­of founded a Deancry, An [...],1536. And two yeares after, added a Bishoprick to the De [...]ne [...]y. The Bishop sate here but nine yeares, and againe resigned his dilapidated Re­venue into the hands of a Deanes Middlesex, which was [Page 236] the Diocesse of the Bishoprick, being devolved to London yet though this Bishoprick of westminster, as it relates to the Saxons, was but of moderne Erection, yet in the time of the Ancient B [...]itons,it was no lesse then the See of the Arch-Bishop of London: and therefore it is more then pro­bable, that, that record which tells us, that the Arch-bishop of London See was planted in Saint Peters in cornhill, was either corrupted or mistaken, for S. Peters in [...]horney: for Sic olim [...]spinis, as Learned Cambden, and other An­tiquaries affirm, from the great crop of thorns which here­tofore grew there, that which we now call westminster, was then called Thorney. This Church so famous for it's An­tiquitie, so admired for it's Elegancy of Structure, especi­ally by the addition of Henry the seventh's Chappel, a Pile of that polished magnificence, Ʋt omn [...]m Elegantiam in illo acerva [...]am dicas, as if Art and Bountie had conspired to rayse it to a wonder of the world. Lastly , a Church so venerable, as being once the seat of an Arch-Bishop, and a Bishop, and now a long time the place where the Kings of England receive their sacred Ʋnction, and Crowns at their C ronation, and where their bodies rest in honourable Se­pulture, when they have exchanged their Temporall for Eternall Crownes. This church, under the eye, and im­mediat protection of the pretended Houses of Parliament, had it's share in spoyle and prophanation, as much as those Cathedralls which were more remote from them: for in July last, 1643 some Souldiers of weshborne and cacwoods Companies(perhaps because there were no houses in west­minster) were quartered in the Abby church, where (as the rest of our Moderne Reformers)they brake down the Rayl about the Altar,& burnt it in the place where it stood: They brake downe the Organs, and pawned the Pipes at severall Ale-houses for pots of Ale : They put on some of the Singing-mens Surplices, & in contempt of that Cano­nicall Habite, ran up and down the Church, he that wore the Surplice was the Hare, the rest were the Hounds. To [Page 237] shew their Christian libertie in the use of things, and that all consecration or Hallowing of things under the Gospel, is but a Jewish or popish Superstition, and that they are no longer to be accounted holy , then that holy use to which they serve, shall by the actuall use onely, im­part a transient holinesse to them, they set Formes about the Communion Table, there they eat,& there they drink Ale and Tobacco: some of their owne Levites (if my In­telligence deceive me not) bearing them company, and countenancing so beastly Prophanation. Nor was this done once to vindicate their christian Libertie, as they call Prophanation it selfe, but the whole time of their a­bode there, they made it their common table on which they usually dined and supp'd, though Saint Paul calls it de­spising the Church of Christ, and askes his Corinth [...]ans, if they had not houses to eate and to drink in 1 Cor.11. They did the [...]fenients of nature, and layd their excrements a­bout the Altar, and in most places of the Church. An abo­mination which God did provide against bya peculiar pro­hibition in the Law of Moses; and that, in places not ren­dred so dreadfull, by so peculiar a manner of the presence of God, as in the hallowed Temples of his publique wor­ship : God would not permit the Jewes to do these offices of nature in the Camp, they must have a place without the Camp, and a Paddle to dig and cover it; you have the Law, and the reason of the Law both together, they must not doe so; For the Lord thy God walketh in the middest of the Campe, therefore shall thy Campe be holy that he see no un­clean thing in thee, and turn away from thee, Deut 23.12. If God, for these reasons would not endure it in the Camp, how much more doth his soule abhorre such beastly un­cleannesse in his House, and holy Temple? Nay, which is the height of all Impiety, they familarly kept their whores in the Church, and which I tremble to write (Prodigious Monsters as they are) lay with them on the very Altar it selfe, and did in that place commit such things as are un [...]t to be done by christians

[Page 238] There remain yet two Prosanations more of this Church, not to be passed over in silence. The hrst was committed by Sir Robert Harlow, who breaking into Henry the se­venth's Chappell, brake down the Altar-stone which stood before that goodly Monument of Henry the seventh; the stone was Touch-stone all of one piece, [...] Raritie not to be matched that we know of, in any part of the world: there it stood for many years, not for use, but only for Ornament: yet it did not escape the freazy of this mans ignorant zeal, for he brake it into shivers. The second was committed on the 13 of December, 1643. When the Careasle of John Pym (as much as the Lice left of it) was brought into this Church, and after a Scimon preached by Stephen Mar­shall, Arch-Flamine ot the Rebells, and the Church Ser­vice Officiated by Lambart Orbaston, one of the Prebends of that Church, it was interi'd under the Monumentall stone of one windsor, buried about 200 yeares fince in the voyd space, or passage as you goe to Henry the seventh's Chappell, betweene the Earle of Dovers place of buriall, and the Monument of Henry the Third, Founder of that Church: usurp'd Ensignes of honour displayed over him. Twas pittic, that he, that in his life had bin the Author of so much bloudsned, and those many calamities, under which this Kingdome yet groanes, and therefore deserved, not onely to have his death with the transgreslours and wicked, but afterward to be buried with the buriall of an Asse drawn , and cast forth beyond the G [...]tes of the city, Jer, 22. 19. should after his death make hit Sepulchre a­mongst the Honourable, and mingle his. Vulgar, Low [...] ashes, with those of Kings, Princes, and Nobles.

The sixt lnstance of the Rcbells Sacrilege and Pre­ph [...]e [...]esse, which I shall present unto the world, is in the Ca [...]d [...]all Church of Exeter: which was once a Mona­stery, Founded by Athelstane the eighth King of England, of the Soxon race, & by him conscerated to Saint Peter. Ed­ward the Confessor, removing all the Monks from hence, [Page 239] and planting them at Westminster, which he had newly foun­ded and endowed, made it the Bishops See for Devon and Cornewall: That Pile which we now see, owes it's being to many Founders. william Warlwast, the third Bishop of this See, aftcr it was translated from cridington, or as it is now usally called Kirlon, to Exeter, built the Quire which now is, but was intended by the Founder for the Nave or body of the Church: but Peter Quivill, the 13th. Bishop of this See, layd the foundation of that which is now the body of the Church: but he prevented by death, left the worke impersect: John Grandesson therefore, the seven­teenth Bishop of this See, thinking the foundation layd by his Predecessor Quivill,to be faultic in Geometricall pro­portions, the length not being answerable to the height, added two Pillars more to the length of the Nave of the Church; of a distance, proportionable tothose layd before: he closed up the end with a wall of most exquisite worke, in which, he built a Little Chappell, and in that Chappell a Monument, wherein himselfe was intombed. He built likewife, the two side Iles, and covered the whole Fabrick with an Arch of exquisite worke, and brought it to such perfection, that in splendor and magnisicence, it gives precedency to few Cathedrals of the kingdom:and which is very remarkable, though this Church was first began by King Athelstane, and made many steps before it came to arrive at its perfection, so that there arc numbred almost five handred yeares from the laying the first stone, to the covering of the Roofe; yet the wisedome and care of the severall Benefactors was so great, that the most curious Surveyor, must confesse, that the Symmetry of the parts, and the proportions of the whole, are so exact, as from the Foundation to the Koose, had been the work, not of one age onely, but of one, and the same hand: and that the Orna­ments of the Church might be answerable to the beauty of the Structure it selfe, Bishop Grandesson, bestowed up­on it Vessels of Gold, and Vessells of Silver, Bookes, and [Page 240] all other kinds of rich furniture, Copid lmmensd, Immensi pretii: in execeding great measure, of execeding great price. All which, with many other things of necessary use, and Publique Ornament, became a prey to the Schismaticall Rebells; whose sinne was so much the greater, because being neither imaged by Opposition, nor made insolent by conqucst, (Apologies that may possibly be taken up for o­ther Rebells, in other places, as chichester and winche­ster) but which was a maine aggravation of their crime, Citezens within their own wall , in coole blood, not provo­ked, spoyle , and lay wast their Mother-Church: for after this Citie (now most unworthy of those priviledges, and honorary rewards, once purchased by their Loyaltic, now forfeited by ingratitude and rebellion) had once shut up their Gates against their Kings:it was not long before they shut up the Gates 1ike wife of God's house, denying all ac­cusse to devout persons, there to make their Prayers and Supplications: so neare bordering upon Rebellon against the King, is Atheisme and Contempt of God: for having demanded the Keyes of the Cathedral, and taken them in­to their own custody, they presently interdict divine Ser­vice to be celcbrated:so that for the space of three quarters of a yeare, the Holy L turgy lay totally filenced. Nor was the restrainr upon the Reading Deske only, the Pulpit was made inacceslible to all Orthdex Loyall Minister, and was open only to Factions: Schismaticall Preachers, whose Doctrine was Rebellion, and their Exhortation Treason, that so the people might hear nothing but what might so­m [...]n [...] their disloyaltic, and confirm them in their unnatu­rall revolt, from their dutie and obedience. Having the Church in their possession, in a most Puritanicall beastly manner, they make it a common Jakes for the Exonerations of Nature, sparing no place neither the Al­tar, nor the Pulpit, though this last finds a better place in their cstimation then the former: yet prophaned it was, may, so prophaned, that it remains a doubt yet undetermi­ned, [Page 241] ned, which prophaned it most in their kinds, either the com­mon Souldiers,or their Lecturers. Over the Communion Table, in fair letters of gold was written the holy & blessed Name of Jesus: this they expunge as Superstitious and execrable. On each side of the Commandements, the Pi­ctures of Moses and Aaron were drawn in full proportion: these they deface, they teare the Books of Common-Pray­ers to pieces, and as if this had bin too finall a contempt, and despite done to that forme of Gods holy worship, they use them, as if they had been a second sacrifice of Curious Arts, and burne them at the Alter with exceeding great Exultation and exprestions of joy. They made the Church their Store-house, where they kept their Ammunition and Powder, and planted a Court of Guard to attend it, who used the Church, with the same reverence that they would an Ale-house , and defiled it with tipling and taking To­bacco: they broke and defaced all the glasse windows of the Church, which cannot be repaired for many hundred pounds: and left all those ancient Monuments, being painted glasse, and containing matter of Story only, a mi­serable spectacle of commiseration to all well-affected hearts that behold them. They strook off the heads of all the Statues on all monuments in the Church, esperally they deface the Bishops Tombs, leaving one without ahead another without a Nose, one without a hand, and another without an arme. A sad [...]mbleme of that Trunke of Bais­copacy, which the accursed Atheists of these times have fan­cied to themselves, and endeavoured: a poore deformed, mangled, mutilated thing, having neither head of Prete­tion, nor face of honour, nor arme, nor hand,nor finger of power and jurisdiction: they pluck down and deface the Statue of an ancient Queen, the wife of Edward the Con­fessor, the first Founder of this Church, mistaking, it for the Statua of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God; So she was stiled by the haly Catholique Church, many ycares before it was in danger to be voted Blasphemy in [Page 242] that Committee where learned Miles Corbet sate in the Chaire. They brake downe the Organs, and taking two or three hundred Pipes with them , in a most scornefull contemptuous manner, went up and downe the streets piping with them: and meeting with some of the Chori­sters of the Church, whose Surplices they had stolne be­fore, and imployed them to base servile offices, scostingly told them, Boyes, we have 'povled your trade, you must goe and sing hot Pudding Pies. By the absolutenesse of their power, they send forth their Warrants to take away the Lead off a Conduit and a great Cistern that stood in the middest of the Close, giving plentifull supplyes of water to many hundreds of Inhabitants; and by vertue of the same warrant, they give their agents power to take a great quantitie of Timber, which was layd up and designed for the repairing of the Church; such Timber as that it will be a very hard matter to procure the like, all Timber not being sit for that use: and with these a great stock of Lead out of the common Store-house, reserved there for the same purpose; which warrants were accordingly put in execu­tion to the full. They did enter into a Consustation about taking downe the Bells, and all the Lead that covered the Church, to convert them into warlike Ammunition, the Bells might be cast into Cannon, the Lead into Bullets, both would serve towards the effecting their Trayterous designes. They took downe the Gates of the Close, which the Deane and Chapter bad set up, and kept locked every night for their securitie: which Gares they imployed, to help forward and strengthen their Fortifications: They lay intollerable Taxes on most of the Members of the Church, and whosoever refused to submit to those most unjust illegall Impositions, were threstned to have their houses Plundered, and their persons sent on ship­board; where they must expect usage, as bad as at Ar­gier, or the Gallies. Doctor Burnell, grave Learned man, and Canon of that Church, refusing to submit to their [Page 243] Taxations, they gave command (though he were at that time sick and contiued, not only to his Chamber, but to his bed) to take him in the night, and bring him away to Pri­son, though they brought him in his bed: but upon much importunitie, some of the best [...]anke of the Citizens be­ing tendered his securitie, to render himselfe a true priso­ner, for that time they [...] him. For the like re [...]usall, they tooke Doctor Hutchenson, another Canon of the Church, a man of a weake and infirme body, but of a vigorous knowing Soule; and violently carryed him towards the Ship, there to imprison him; by the way as they carryed him along, he was (not only by the permistion but by the incouragement of those that led him Captive) blasted, and abused, and howted at by the boyes, and exposed to the affionts and revilings of the base insolent multitude: at twelve of the clock at night they seized on Master [...] in his bed, and another Canon of that Church, being, al­most fourseore and ten yeares of age, and for the like re­fusall, because he would not disburse such sums as they demanded, for the maintenance of this horrid Rebellion, they carry him first to the prison, and from thence to the Ship: In the way to the Prison, they throw dirt in his face, and beat the good old man [...]o cruelly, that his roaring and out-cryes were heard, and pittied by all his neighbours: and at last, not able to indu [...]e (byreason of his extream old age) the barbarous usage of the Rebells, he was forced to redeem his libertie at eight hundred pounds: and now ha­ving dispossessed the owners, the Rebels find new imploy­ments for the Canons houses: some of them they convert into Prisons, and in an Apish imitation, call them by the names of Newgate, Kings-Bench, Marshalsey; others they imploy, as Hospitalls for sick or maimed Souldiers: Some they use as Slaughter-houses aud Shambles: and for the Bishops Palace, they might have called it their Smith-field, for in, and about it, they kept their fat Oxen and sheepe, and all their Plundered Provision. These houses, though [Page 244] fouly abused, yet doe still stand, as to upbraid the Rebels injustice and oppression; so to give entertainment to their own Masters, or their successours, unlesse some men, pos­sessed with worse devils then ruled in these children of dis­obedience, shall to their just damnation alienate them from their Originall use: but other houses belonging to the Church, they set on fire, and burn down to the ground: for they burnt downe the Guild Hall in Saint Sidwels, belonging to the Dean and Chapter, and as many houses more of the ancient Inheritance and Revenues as were worth 100 [...] per annum, making likewise great havock and spoyle of their Woods and Timber, maliciously inten­ding to disable them from re-edifying what they had most barbarously burnt downe.

Mercurius Rustius, &c. V.

The Cathedrall Church of Peterborough robb'd, desac'd, and spoyl'd by Cromwel, and his Schismaticall Adhe­rents, &c.

COuld we sooner have produced a certain and full re­lation of the observable circumstances, about the ru­ines and desolations of the sometimes flourishing, though now demolished Cathedrall of Peterborough, the same might justly have challenged to have been inserted before this time and place, both in respect of the dignitie of the Ancient, Religious, and Royall Founders, the same of the irreligious and unworthy defacers, the admirable vicissi­sude of its owne condition, and reasons of its Fatall doom, having suffered not so much by the sury of the Danes, be­ [...]use a rich Monastery, as by the zeale of Cromwel, be­cause [Page 245] an Episcopall See: and (it his knowledge reached so high) for that it had beene so much and often honoured by the Princes of this Nation in severall ages.

When Peada the first Christian King of the Mercians, to propagate the faith of Christ, layd the foundation, but had a sudden period put to his life and pious intentions by his unnaturall and wicked mother, Wolpher his bro­ther, albeit at the first averse, yet afterwards a convert to Christianitie, (to expiate the murther of his two sonnes, whom he had cruelly put to death for imbracing the Gos­pel before him) by the help of his brother Ethelred, and his sisters K mburga, and Kinswith, having finished that worke in the yeare of our Lord, 633. consecrated it to the memory of Saint Peter (whence the place ever since hath been stiled [...]eterborough, which before was called Medes­wel-hamsted, or Medeshamsted) and it continued for the space of two hundred and fourteen yeares, in such glory, that in the judgement of our Learned Antiquary, Mone­sterium suit longè Celebratissimum, till the Dan [...]s mastacred the Monks, and destroyed that place of devotion, which was after an 108. yeares restored to its former state, by Ethelwould Bishop of Winchester, assisted by King Edgar and Adulph his Chancellour, about the yeares of our Lord, 960. in which it remainded, untill covetous Sacri­lege began to get the upper hand of well-meaning chari­tie in his reigne, who was as fitly, as truly said to have had Ingentes virtutes, [...]es minora vitia, though at the undoing of its Kindred, this had least reason to complaine, being then advanced to a Bishops See; But this third woe hath so much disfigured that Majestie, which till then this buil­ding retained in its fore-front, this Cromwel hath so farre our-vied in acts of Pietie his Precedent, that Cromwel in Henry the eighth's time, this place hath now suffered in so great a manner for its l [...]yaltic, as that we know not where to enter upon the narration of the same, except at the great West-window (where his Souldiers, made their first [Page 247] breach and entrance) which was adorned with such variety of Ecclesiasticall History, as will evidence them to be deformers of that through Reformation in our blessed Queenes time of happy memory, whom notwithstanding they so highly cryed up. From thence they presently hur­ried to the Quire, where as soone as they had broken open the doores, they, according to their trade and custome in other places, tell on tearing in pieces the Books of Divine Service, and Sacred Anthems, yea (which may seem more strange) they were so hot against Preaching or hearing Sermons, that all the se [...]ts of the Auditors were plucked up, and the Pulpit, the place of the Divine Oracle, and the Booke-seat pulled downe, with that black-mouthed cry, Downe with that throne of A [...]tichrist, downe with it even to the ground. And when their zeale had driven them to that height of impietie, that some standers by could not behold it without great reluctancy, which moved one of them to request cromwell, that he would please to stay his Souldiers from further defacing and ruining that place, all the satisfaction he could get, was but a provocati­on to further mischief, replying, That his gods were a pul­ling down, and when the other answered, That the God he served was beyond the [...] of Souldiers, Cromwel told them, That they did G [...]d good service in that action, as if even in these days were fulfilled that Prophesie of our Sa­viour, Job.16.2. The time is comming, whosoever doth the greatest Mischrese will thinke he serve [...]h God. But observe the wages that Divine Justice repayed one of them for their worke, which may restifie how he accepted of the same; When they had demolished the [...]uire, the East-end was the next they aimed at, where one espying in the roof right over the [...] Table, our Saviour pourtrayed, comming in glory with his holy Angels, and at the soure corners four Evangelists (none of which they will endure, as knowing how opposite they are unto them) he charged his Musket to shatter them down, but by the rebound of his [Page 246] own shot was struck blind; If he did his God good there­by, he did himselfe and ill turne, his wickednesse falling on his own pate; He lay a long while in a wofull condition, and never recovered his former sight: His life by Gods mercy was reprieved, that he might repent, but he was surely scourged, that he might take notice there is punish­ment for Sacrilege, and beare witnesse of that truth unto his fellowes, although he found more favour then Calist­henes, who attempting to burne the Temples, by setting fire on the Gates, was for that act himselfe burned; or Alcimus, who whil'st he was pulling the house of God downe, was struck with a Palsie, and dyed in torment. Some would have thought, that, that remarkable judge­ment overtaking him so on the sudden sustlaminated their running on, and that striking of him blind, should have opened their eyes. But let favour be shewed to the wick­ed, yet they will not learne righteousnesse in the land of uprightnesse, they will deale unjustly, and will not be­hold the Majestie of the Lord; but Lord, when thy hand is lifted up they will not see, as thou fore-toldest by thy Prophet, Esay 26. 10, 11, 13. it should come to paile, Whenother Lords besides thee have dominion over us; They were not at all deterred, neither left any wayes un-at­tempted to get downe that roofe which Ladders failed, they cut the Bell-ropes ( which if rightly applyed, might have cured their Itch) to eke out their tackling, till they reached it with their Pole-axes, and brake downe the car­ved workes, Psal. 7. 4. Afterwards, espying the rare Stru­cture of stone-workes over the Altar, admired by all tra­vellers for the excellent artifices, which was no ways guil­ty of superstitious workmanship, they made all of it rubbish, breaking up also the Rayles of which they compiled bone­fires, tumbling the Communion Table over and over, they were also, so offended with all memorialls of the dead, (knowing themselves in the number of those whose memo­ries at the best shall perish, as if they had never beene) [Page 248] that not one Monument in the Church escaped undefaced, no not of the Pious Benefactors (whose accusation was suf­ficient, they had done good to the Church) nor those two faire Tombes of Ka herine Queen Dowag [...]r of Spaine, the Repudiate of King H. 8. and Mary, albeit Quuen of Scots. It was great a crime to have beene Queenes, the marble walls, and guards of irons wherewith they were surroun­ded and incircled, could not preserve them in [...]epose from all their miseries, but they would adde this one unto the rest, to lay the Em [...]lemes of their honours in the dust, pul­ling away the Hearle of black Velvet, and carring away whatsoever was vendible: When their unhallowed toy­lings had made them out of wind, they took breath afresh on two pair of Organs, piping with the very same about the market place lascivious Jigges, whilst their Comrades daunced after them, some in the Coapes, others with the Surplices, and downe they brake the bellowes to blow the coales of their further mischiefe, and left any should ring auke for the fire they had made, they left the Bells speech­lesse, taking out their clappers, which they sold with the Brasse they flaied from the graven Stones, and the Tin and Iron from other parts of the Church and Chappells belonging thereto, which were many, and richly ador­ned, but the daughters sared no better then their Mo­ther; there was not suffered any window to remain un­shattered, or remarkable place in them unruined, their in­tent being to leave those consecrated wals as a room fitted for vermine to nestle in, or which was worse for Cap. Ash­well to exercise his Souldiers in, where while he was in Town he made his Rendezvous, and when they went a­way, set fire on some part of the wood-work, to have burnt the remainder down, if it had not timely been discovered; neither did the Cloysters attending, scape better then those they were made to wait upon, though these, both in their roof and glazing, might be compared with the chiefest Ca­thedrals, the first square being beautified with the History [Page 249] of the Old Testament, the second of the New, the third shewed the whole relation of those by whom the Church was builded, the fourth presented us with all the Effigies of our Kings since william the Conquerour: But it seemes, those unreasonable and wicked men care for Scripture, and Princes, and Pious Monuments all alike, their wide throats were as open Sepulchers, their Sacrilegious appe­tites (being yet unsatisfied with devouring) must needs swallow up the Lands appertaining to that Church; to which, that they might pretend the juster title, they broke open the Charter-house, Plundered away the great Char­ter, all the Evidences, Leases, and other Writings be­longing thereunto, manifesting their parties desires to have all Estates of others to come, and be at their Arbi­trary disposalls, and they unto whom in right they are due, to lye as these places and persons at this day, mour­ning in sack-cloth and ashes.