sake the temple and the truth of God, to fol- | low the bleating of Jeroboam's calf, in Dan and in Bethel. And as for this people, they are at this day miserably misled, (God of his mercy open their eyes that they may see the right way) for at this day the blind lead the blind, and if they go on, both will certainly fall into the ditch. For myself, I am, and I acknowledge it in all humility, a most grievous sinner many ways, by thought, word, and deed, and I cannot doubt, but that God hath mercy in store for me, a poor penitent, as well as for other sinners; I have now upon this sad occasion, ransacked every corner of my heart, and yet, I thank God, I have not found, among the many, any one sin which deserves death by any known law of this kingdom; And yet hereby I charge nothing upon my judges; for if they proceed upon proof, by valuable witnesses, I, or any other innocent, may be justly condemned; And I thank God, though the weight of the sentence lie heavy upon me, I am as quiet within, as ever I was in my life. And though I am not only the first archbishop, but the first man that ever died by an ordinance of parliament, yet some of my predecessors have gone this way, though not by this means; for Elphegus was hurried away and lost his head by the Danes; and Simon Sudbury in the fury of Wat Tyler and his fellows; before these, St. John the Baptist had his head danced off" | by a lewd woma and St. Cyprian, archbishop of Carthage, submitted his head to a persecuting sword. Many examples, great and good, and they teach ine patience; for I hope my cause in heaven will look of another die, than the colour that is put upon it here. And some comfort it is to me, not only that I go the way of these great men in their several generations, but also that my charge, as foul as it is made, looks like that of the Jews against St. Paul (Acts xxv. 3.) For he was accused for the law and the temple, i. e. religion; And like that of St. Stephen (Acts vi. 14.) for breaking the ordinances which Moses gave, i. e. law and religion, the holy place and the temple (verse 13.) But you will say, do I then compare myself with the integrity of St. Paul, and St. Stephen? No, far be that from me; I only raise a comfort to myself, that these great Saints and servants of God were laid at in their times, as I am now. And it is memorable, that St. Paul, who helped on this accusation against St. Stephen did after fall under the very same himself. Yea, but here is a great clamour, that I would have brought in Popery; I shall answer that more fully by and by; In the mean time you know what the Pharisees said against Christ himself, "If we let him alone, all men will believe in him, et venient Romani, and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and the nation." Here was a causeless cry against Christ that the Romans will come; And see how just the judgment of God was? they crucified Christ for fear lest the Romans should come, and his death was it which brought in the Romans upon them, God punishing them with that which they most feared: and I pray God this clamour of venient Romani, of which I have given no cause, help not to bring them in; for the Pope never had such a harvest in England since the reformation, as he hath now upon the sects and divisions that are amongst us. In the mean time, by honour and dishonour, by good report and evil report, as a deceiver and yet true, am I passing through this world, 2 Cor. vi. 8.-Some particulars also I think it not amiss to speak of. And first this I shall be bold to speak of, the king our gracious sovereign; He hath been much traduced also for bringing in of Popery; but on my conscience, of which I shall give God a very present accompt, I know him to be as free from this charge as any man living: and I hold him to be as sound a Protestant, according to the religion by law established, as any man in this kingdom: and that he will venture his life as far, and as ficely for it: and I think I do, or should know, both his affection to religion, and his grounds for it, as fully as any man in England. The second particular is concerning this great and populous city, (which God bless.) Iere hath been of late, a fashion taken up to gather hands, and then go to the great court of this kingdom, (the parliament) and clamour for justice, as if that great and wise court, before whom the causes come, which are unknown to the many, could not, or would not do justice, but at their appointment. A way, which may endanger many an innocent man, and pluck bis blood upon their own heads, and perhaps upon the city's also: And this hath been lately prac tised against myself: [the magistrates standing still, and suffering them openly to proceed from parish to parish without check ;]* God forgive the setters of this, with all my heart I beg it, but many well meaning people are caught by it. In St. Stephen's case, when nothing else would serve, they stirred up the people against him: and Herod went the same way, when he had killed St. James, yet he would not venture upon St. Peter, till he found how the other pleased the people. But take heed of having your hands full of blood, for there is a time, best known to himself, when God, above all other sins, makes inquisition for blood, and when that inquisition is on foot, the Psalmist tells us, That God remembers, but that is not all, he remembers and forgets not the complaint of the poor, that is, whose blood is shed by oppression, vers. 9. take heed of this, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the liv ing God, but then especially, when he is mak ing inquisition for blood; And, with my prayers to avert it, I do heartily desire this city to remember the prophesy that is expressed, to other neighbouring churches, when storms; have driven upon them. But, alas, now it is in a storm itself, and God only knows whether, or how it shall get out; and, which is worse than a storm from without, it is become like an oak cleft in shivers with wedges made out of its own body, and at every cleft prophaneness and irreligion is entering in, while as Prosper speaks, in his second book De vitæ contemptu. cap. 4. Men that introduce prophaneness are cloaked orer with the name Religionis Imaginaria, of imaginary religion; for we have lost the substance and dwell too much in opinion, and that church which all the Jesuits machina tions could not ruin, is fallen into danger by her own. The last particular, for I am not willing to be too long, is myself; I was born and baptized in the bosom of the church of England established by law; in that profession I have ever since lived, and in that I come now to die; This is no time to dissemble with God, least of all in matter of religion; and therefore I desire it may be remembered, I have always lived in the Protestant religion, established in England, and in that I come now to die. What clamours and slanders I have endured for labouring to keep a uniformity in the external service of God, according to the doctrine and discipline of this church, all men know, and I have abundantly felt. Now at last I am accused of high treas parliament: : a crime which my soul ever abhored; this treason was charged to consist of these two parts, An endeavour to subvert the laws of the land, and a like endeavour to overthrow the true Protestant religion established by law. Besides my answers to the several charges, I protested my innocency in both houses. It was said prisoners protestations at the bar must not be taken. I can bring no witness of my heart and the intentions thereof, therefore I must come to my protestation not at the bar, but my protestation at this hour and instant of my death; in which I hope all men will be such charitable Christians, as not to think I would die and dissemble, being instantly to give God an account for the truth of it: I do therefore here in the presence of God, and his holy angels, take it upon my death, That I never endeavoured the subversion either of law or religion; and I desire you all to remember this protest of mine for my innocency, in these, and from all treasons whatsoever. I have been accused likewise as enemy to parliaments; No, I understand them and the benefit that comes by them too well to be so; But I did mislike the misgovernments of some parliaments many ways, and I had good reason for it; For "corruptio optimi est pessima," there is no corruption in the world so bad, as that which is of the best thing in itself: for the better the thing is in nature, the worse it is corrupted. And that being the highest court, over which no other have jurisdiction, when it is misinformed or misgoverned, the subject is left without all remedy. But I have done, I forgive all an the world, all and every of those bitter enemies which have persecuted me, and humbly desire to be forgiven of God first, and then of every man, whether I have offended him or not, if he do but conceive that I have, Lord do thou forgive me, and I beg forgiveness of him. And so I heartily desire you to join in prayer with me. The Archbishop's PRAYER upon the Scaffold. O Eternal God and merciful Father, look down upon me in mercy, in the riches and fullness of all thy mercies look upon me; but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the cross of blood of Christ, not till I have hid myself in the Christ, not till thou hast bathed me in the wounds of Christ: that so the punishment due unto my sins may pass over me. And since thou art pleased to try me to the uttermost, I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant, full patience, proportionable comfort, and a heart ready to die for thy honour, the king's happiness, and this church's preservation. And my zeal to these, far from arrogancy be it spoken, is all the sin, human frailty excepted and all incidents thereto, which is yet known to me in this particular, for which I now come to suffer: I say in this particular of treason; but otherwise my sing are many and great; Lord pardon them all, and those especially, whatever they are, which have drawn down this present judgment upon me; and when thou hast given me strength to bear it, do with me as seems best in thine own eyes; and carry ine through death that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me, Amcn. And that there may be a stop of this issue of blood, in this more than miserable kingdom. I shail desire that I may pray for the people too, as well as for myself, O Lord, I beseech thee; give grace of repentance to all blood-thirsty people; but if they will not repent, O Lord confound all their de vices, defeat and frustrate all their designs and endeavours upon them, which are or shall be contrary to the glory of thy great name, the truth and sincerity of religion, the establishment of the king and his posterity after him in their just rights and privileges, the honour and conservation of parliaments in their just power, the preservation of this poor church in her truth, peace, and patrimony, and the settlement of this distracted and distressed people under their antient laws, and in their native liberties. And when thou hast done all this in mere mercy for them, O Lord fill their hearts with thankfulness, and with religious dutiful obedience to thee and thy commandinents all their days: So Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen, and receive my soul into thy bosom, Amen. Our Father which art, &c. XII. The Speech and Prayers being ended, he gave the Paper which he read unto Dr. Stern, desiring him to shew it to his other chaplains, that they might know how he departed out of this world, and so prayed God to shew his mercies and blessings on them. And way rightly. Which when it would not satisfy the Lord, I am coming as fast as I can. I know I must pass through the shadow of death, hefore I can come to see thee. But it is but umbra mortis, a mere shadow of death, a little darkness upon nature; but thou by thy merits and passion, hast broke through the jaws of death. So, Lord receive my soul, and have mercy upon me, and bless this kingdom with peace and plenty, and with brotherly love and charity, that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them, for Jesus Christ's sake, if it be thy will. Then laying his noting how one Hinde had employed himself in taking a copy of his Speech as it came from his mouth; he desired him not to do him wrong in publishing a false or imperfect copy. Which as Hinde promised him to be careful of, calling for punishment from above if he should do otherwise; so hath he reasonably well performed his promise: the alterations or additions which occur therein, being perhaps the work of those who perused his papers, and were to authorise them to the public view, to fit it more unto the palate of the city faction, and make it more consistent with the credit of those guilty men; who had voted to his condemnation. This done, he next applied himself to the fatal block, as to the baven of his rest. But finding the full of people, who had placed themselves upon the theatre to behold the tragedy, he desired he might have room to die, beseeching them to let him have an end of his miseries, which he had endured very long. All which he did with so serene and calm a mind, as if he had been rather taking order for another inan's funeral, than making way unto his own. Being come near the block, he put off his doublet, and used some words to this effect: God's will be done, I am willing to go out of this world, no man can be more willing to send me out of it. And seeing through the chinks of the boards, that some people were got under the scaffold, about the very place where the block was seated, he called on the officers for some dust to stop them, or to remove the people thence, saying it was no part of his desires, that his blood should fall upon the heads of the peo-head upon the block, and praying silently to ple. Never did man put off mortality with a braver courage, nor look upon his bloody and malicious enemies with more Christian charity. And thus far he was gone in his way towards Paradise with such a primitive magnanimity, as equalled, if not exceeded the example of antient Martyrs, when he was somewhat interrupted in his quiet passage by one sir John Clotworthy, a firebrand brought from Ireland by the earl of Warwick to increase the combustions in this kingdom. Who finding that the mockings and revilings of malicious people had no power to move him, or sharpen him into any discontent or shew of passion; would needs put in, and try why he could do with his spunge and vinegar, and stepping to him near the block, asked him, (with such a purpose as the Scribes and Pharisees used to propose questions to our Lord and Saviour) not to learn by him but to tempt him, or to expose him to some disadvantage with the standers-by, what was the comfortablest saying which a dying man could have in his mouth. To which he meekly made this answer, "Cupio dissolvi et esse cum Christo;" i. e. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Being asked again what was the fittest speech a man could use, to express his confidence and assurance; he answered with the same spirit of meekness that such assurance was to be found within, and that no words were able to express it himself, he said aloud, Lord receive my soul, which was the signal given to the executioner, who very dexterously did his office, and took it off at a blow: his soul ascending on the wings of angels into Abraham's bosom, and leaving his body on the scaffold, to the care of men. A spectacle so unpleasing unto most of those who had desired his death with much heat and passion, that many who came with greedy eyes to see him suffer, went back with weeping eyes when they saw him dead; their consciences perhaps bearing witness to them, as you know whose did, that they had sinned in being guilty of such innocent blood. Of those, whom only curiosity, and desire of novelty brought thither to behold that unusual sight, many had not the patience to attend the issue, but went away as soon as the speech was ended; others returned much altered in the opinion which before they had of him, and bettered in their resolutions towards the king and the church, whose honour and religious purposes they saw so clearly vindicated by this glorious martyr. And for the rest, the most considerable, though perhaps the smallest part of that great assembly, as they came thither with no other intention, than to assist him with their prayers, to imbalm his body with their tears, and to lay up his dying speeches in their hearts and memories: so whe they had performed those othees of Christian duty, they comforted themselves with this, that as his life was honourable, so his death was own patronage and jurisdiction, according to glorious, the pains whereof were short and mo- the rites and ceremonies of the church of Engmentary to himself, the benefit like to be per- land. In which it may be noted, as a thing repetual, unto them and others, who were re-markable, that being whilst he lived the greatsolved to live and die in the communion of the est champion of the common-prayer-book, here church of England. by law established, he had the honour being XIV. But to proceed, for I have some few dead, to be buried in the form therein prescribthings to note, it was observed, that whereased, after it had been long disused, and repro bated in most churches of London. Nor need posterity take care to provide his monument. He built one for himself whilst he was alive: it other men, when they come to the block, use to look pale and wan, and ghastly, and are even dead before the blow, he on the contrary being well observed by sir Edward Dering, [In seemed more fresh and chearful, than he had his book of speeches] one of his most malicious done any part of the day before: a clear and gallant spirit being like the sun, which shews enemies, and he who threw the first stone at greatest always at the setting. And as them, in the beginning of this parliament, that scripture telleth us of St. Stephen the Proto-St. Paul's church will be his perpetual monuMartyr, that whilst he spake his last oration be-ment, and his own book, against the jesuit, his lasting epitaph. fore the chief priests and elders of the Jews, they of the council looking stedfastly upon him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel: so was it generally observed, not without astonishincut, that all the while our Martyr prayed upon the block, the sun which had not shown itself all the day till then, did shine directly on his face, which made him look most comfortably, that I say not gloriously, but presently as soon as the blow was given, withdrew behind a cloud again and appeared no more, as we are credibly advertised by good hands from London, though it be otherwise reported in their weekly pamphlets. And if the bodies of us men be capable of any happiness in the grave, he had as great a share therein, as he could desire, or any of his friends expect; his body being accompanied to the earth with great multitudes of people, whom love, or curiosity, or remorse of conscience had drawn together, purposely to perform that office, and decently interred in the church of All-hallows Barking, a church of his | 6. 7. XV. Thus died this most reverend, renowned, and religious prelate when he had lived 71 years, 13 weeks, 4 days; if at the least he may be properly said to die, the great example of whose virtue shall continue always, not only in the minds of men, but in the annals of succeeding ages, with renown and fame. But how he lived, what excellent parts he was composed of, and how industriously he employed those parts, for the advancement of God's honour, his sovereign's power and safety, and the church's peace, will be a work becoming a more able pen; unto whose care and diligence I commend the same. And so I leave him to that comfort which the Psalmist gives him, and it is the greatest comfort that can befal those men, who have been tortured on the rack of malicious tongues; viz. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance, and shall not be afraid of any evil report. P's. cxii. v. | 172. Proceedings against Mr. TOMPKINS, Mr. WALLER, Mr. CHALLONER, and Others, before a Council of War, for a Plot against the Parliament: 19 CHARLES I. A. D. 1643. [5 Rushw. Coll. 322. 2 Clarendon's Hist. 247. 3 Cobb. Parl. Hist. 140.] AT this time [Tuesday the 30th of May 1643.] | same should be read in all churches and chahappened the discovery of a notable Design, pels in London and Westminster, and the subcarried on by Mr. Tompkins, Mr. Waller, Mr. urbs thereof, as follows. Challoner, and Others; The first notice whereof was given by one Mr. Roe, servant to Mr. Tompkins, who having over-heard some of their consultations, imparted the same to a member of the house of commons; whereupon a committee was appointed to inquire into the same; viz. Mr. Pym, sir Henry Vane, jun., Mr. Solicitor St. Johns, and Mr. Glyn, (not long before chosen Recorder of London) who having seve- II. The chief actors were Mr. Waller, a ral days and nights traced the same, and divers member of the house of commons, who pretendof the persons concerned being secured, the ed, and gave out to the rest, that many others house of commons desired a Conference with of that house, and of the lords, were privy to the lords, where Mr.Pym communicated to them and concerned therein: Mr. Tompkins, a genthe substance of the Design, and soon after settleman living in Holborn, brother-in-law to the same forth in print, with an Order that the the said Mr. Waller, and a servant to the VOL. IV. I. That the Conspiracy was formed of a mixture and conjunction of persons of several qualities, some whereof were of both Houses of Parliament, others of the City, and others be longing to the court, who in their respective places and employments, were to form and per fect the work, raised out of the ashes of the late Petition of London for peace. 2 s queen, as being secretary to the commissioners | bigny, (who was now taken into custody) the for her majesty's revenue; Mr. Challoner, an said commission being found hid under ground eminent citizen; one Mr. Blinkard, Mr. Alex-in Mr. Tompkins's cellar. ander Hampden, who brought the last message from the king, Mr. Hassel one of his majesty's messengers, &c. Charles by the Grace of God, king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the Faith, &c. To our trusty and wellbeloved sir Nicholas Crispe, sir George 'Stroude, knights, sir Tho. Gardiner knight, recorder of London, sir George Binion knight, Richard Edes, and Marmaduke Roydon es'quires, Tho. Broom esq. Peter Paggon, Charles Jennings, sir Edw. Charlton, Robert Abbot, Andrew King, William White, Stephen Bolton, Robert Alden, Edmund Foster, Tho. Blinkhorn of London, gentlemen; and to all such other person and persons as according to the true intent and purport of these presents, shall be nominated and ap III. The method was for several persons in the City to dispose of themselves into a committee, to hold intelligence with both Armies, the Court, and the Parliament. To take a general survey of the affections of all the inhabitants within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, which was to be done under these 3 ranks; Right Men, (or of the king's party;) Averse Men, (or the well-affected to the Parliament ;) and Moderate Men, (or neutrals ;) To consider of Arms, Ammunition, and all Provisions of War: To appoint out of themselves select persons to treat with Mr. Waller, and Mr. Tomp-pointed to be generals, colonels, serjeantkins, in relation to the City, Court and Parliament: as also with sir Nicolas Crispe, sir George Binion, captain Roydon, and others then at Oxford. IV. Mr. Waller's part was to engage a considerable part of the Lords and Commons, and to be a means of conveying Counsels, Resolutions, and intelligence between them and the said City-Committee. Mr. Tompkins was not only an assistant to Mr. Waller therein, but an instrument to convey, by Hassel, and others, their proceedings to the court, principally to the lord Falkland, and to receive thence directions, powers, and commands. majors, or other officers, or of our council of War, greeting. Whereas in our cities of London and Westminster, and suburbs thereof, 'our borough of Southwark, and county of Middlesex, there are raised and continued great numbers of military forces, both horse and foot, who under the command of Robert earl of Essex, as their general, and under the 'conduct of divers others, pretending to derive their authority from the two houses of parlia ment, have traiterously levied war, and re'belled against us, their natural liege lord, and many of our subjects have been seduced by 'false informations, by the practice of a few, who have been the contrivers of these mis V. For preventing discovery, protestations of secresy were taken, as they were Christians,chievous plots, and have joined with them not to disclose it; and no man in the city was to endeavour the engaging above two, whereby no one man could impeach many. VI. From the court, Mr. Heron, and Mr. Alexander Hampden, and others employed upon Messages from the king to the parlia either in person, or by aiding of them with men, money, horses, or other things; and many of our good and loyal subjects, overawed by the power of the rebels, have been enforced to contribute to them for the maintainance of this unnatural war, and others re ment, were to convey directions, encourage-fusing, have been plundered and robbed of ments, and advice to those in London; and their estates, and some committed to several to the liberty of free-born men, the laws of the land, and contrary to all humanity; of which injuries and calamities falling upon our good subjects, we are very sensible, and de authority was to be given under the great seal,prisons, and others barbarously used, contrary and warrants under the king's hand for settling a council of war, naming of generals, and other officers, execution of martial law, raising of money, and providing arms; and to facilitate the whole, part of the king's forces to be insirous to give relief to our good subjects by all readiness to assist the party here, as there should be occasion. the best means we can; and to resist the vio⚫lence and insolence of the rebels and their adherents, We having no other end therein, but to preserve the true Protestant religion in the integrity and purity thereof; to maintain the laws of the land, and the liberty of the persons, and the property of the estates of our subjects, and the just privileges of parliament, VII. The particulars of the Design itself, were, To seize the king's children, To secure several Members of Parliament, particularly the lord Say, the lord Wharton, Mr. Pym, sir Philip Stapleton, colonel Hampden, and colonel Strode; As also the lord mayor, and committee of the militia, under pretence of bring-have thought fit for our better service to settle ing them to a legal trial; To seize upon the a council of war, in or about our city of Lonoutworks, forts, magazines, gates, and other don, who may take those things into their sad places of importance in the city, and the Tower, considerations, which may conduce best to and let in the king's forces; and in the mean this end, and to have such commanders and time to resist and obstruct all payments im- officers settled in the places aforesaid, which posed by authority of the two houses for sup-may both raise, and govern, and lead such port of their armies. VIII. For their authority they had the fol- 'forces as may be raised there.-Know ye therefore, That we, reposing special trust and confidence in your fidelities, industries, |