8 Records of the Rising in the West, A D. 1655. 
If I would have beene so unworthy as others have bene I suppose I might by 
a lye have saved my life which J scorne to purchase at such a rate, I defie such 
temptations and them that gave them me. [This sentence is not inthe pamphlet. ] 
I have no more to say now but to tell you I am in charity with all men and 
that I thanke God I can [and do] forgive my greatest psecutors [and all that 
ever had any hand in my death. I have offered the Protector as good security 
for my future demeanour as I suppose he would have expected ; if he had thought 
fit to have given me my life, I should not have been so ungrateful as to have 
employed it against him]. I do humbly submitt to God’s pleasure knowing 
that y® issues of life and death are in his hands. My blood is but a small 
sacrifice if it had beene saved I am so much a gent as to have given thankes to 
him that pserved it and so much a Christian as to forgive them which take it 
away.* These unhappy times have:[indeed] beene very ffatall to my family 
two of my brothers are already slaine in the most just defence of the king’s 
cause and myselfe going to the slaughter.t 
It is God’s will I humbly submitt to that Providence. I must remember to 
[render an acknowledgement] acknowledge y* great civility that I have rec’. 
from this Citie of Exon and some psons of quality. | I shall close with praiers 

* The pamphlet : ‘‘ But seeing God by his providence hath called me to lay it down, I willingly sub- 
mit to it, though terrible to nature; but blessed be my Saviour who hath taken out the sting ; so 
that I look upon it without terror. Death is a debt, and a due debt; and*it hath pleased God to 
make me so good a husband, that I am come to pay it before itisdue. Iam not ashamed of the 
cause for which I die, but rather rejoyce that I am thought worthy, to suffer in the defence and cause 
of God’s true church, my Lawfull King, the Liberty of the subject, and priviledge of Parliaments. 
Therefore I hope none of my alliance and friends will be ashamed of it; it is so far from pulling 
down my Family that Ilook uponit, as the raising it one story higher, Neither was] of so prodigall 
of nature as to throw away my life, but have used (though none but honourable and honest) means 
to preserve it.” 
+1 have already mentioned the death of his brother Henry. Who the other brother was that he 
alludes to here I have not been able to discover. 
+ Pamphlet : “* And for theis plentifull provision made for the prisoners. I thank Mr. Sheriff for 
his favour towards us, in particular to myself; and I desire him to present my due respects to the 
Protector, and though he had no mercy for myself, yet that he would have respect for my family. 
I am now stripping off my cloaths to fight a duell with death (I conceave no other duell lawful) 
but my Saviour hath pulled out the sting of this mine enemy by making himselfe a sacrifice for me ; 
and truly I do not think that man deserving one drop of his blood, that will not spend all for him in 
so good a cause. . 
The truth is gentlemen, in this age Treason is ar ‘individuam vagum,’ like the wind in the gos- 
pel, it bloweth where it listeth ; so now Treason is what they please, and lighteth upon whom they 
will. Indeed no man except he will be a Traitour, can avoid this censure of Treason. I know not 
to what end it may come, but I pray God my own, and my Brothers’ bloud that is now to die with 
me, may be the last upon this score. 
Now gentlemen you may see what a condition you are in without a King; you have no law to pro- 
tect you, no rule to walk by; when you perform your duty to God, your king and country, you 
displease the Arbitrary powers now set up: (I cannot call it Government) I shall leave you to peruse 
my triall, and there you shall see, what a condition this poor Nation is brought into; and (no ques- 
tion will be utterly destroyed, if not restored (by Loyall subjects) to its old and glorious Government. 
J pray God he lay not his judgements upon England for their sluggishnesse in doing their duty, and 
readinesse to put their hands in their bosomes, or rather taking part with the enemy of truth, The 
Lord open their eyes that they may be no longer lead, or drawn into such snares; else the child un- 
born will curse the day of their Parents’ birth. 
God Almighty Preserve my lawfull King Charles the Second, from the hands of his Enemies, and 
break down that wall of pride and rebellion, which so long hath kept him from his just rights, God 
Preserve his Royall Mother, and all his Majestie’s Royall Brethren, and incline their hearts to seek 
after him, Ged incline the hearts of all true English men to stand up as one man to bring in the 
King; and redeem themselves and this poor Kingdome, out of its more then Egyptian Slavery. 
— i eee: 
