the injuries I have sustained from them shall be first punished by
them, who agreed in nothing so much as in opposing me.
Their impatience to bear the loud cry of my bloud, shall make them
think no way better to expiate it, then by shedding theirs, who with
them most thirsted after mine.
The sad confusions following my destruction, are already presaged and
confirmed to me by those I have lived to see since my troubles; in
which God alone (who only could) hath many ways pleaded my cause; not
suffering them to go unpunished, whose confederacy in sin was their
only security; who have cause to fear that God will both further
divide and by mutuall vengeance, afterward destroy them.
My greatest conquest of death is from the power and love of Christ,
who hath swallow'd up death in the Victory of his Resurection, and the
Glory of his Ascention.
My next comfort is, that he gives me not only the honour to imitate
his example in suffering for righteousness sake (though obscur'd by
the foulest charges of Tyranny and Injustice,) but also, that charity,
which is the noblest revenge upon, and victory over my Destroyers: By
which, I thank God, I can both forgive them and pray for them, that
God would not impute my blood to them, further then to convince them,
what need they have of Christs bloud to wash their souls from the
guilt of shedding mine.
At present, the will of mine Enemies seems to be their only rule,
their power the measure, and their Successe the Exactor, of what they
please to call Justice, while they flatter themselves with the fancy
of their own safety by my danger, and the security of their lives
designs by My Death: forgetting, That as the greatest temptations to
sin are wrapped up in seeming prosperities, so the severest vengeances
of God are then most accomplished, when men are suffered to compleat
their wicked purposes.
I bless God, I Pray not so much, that this bitter Cup of violent Death
may pass from Me, as that of his wrath may pass from al those, whose
hands by deserting Me, are sprinkled, or by Acting and Consenting to
My Death are embrued with My Bloud.
The will of God hath confined, and concluded Mine; I shall have the
pleasure of Dying, without any pleasure of desired vengeance.
This I think becomes a Christian toward his Enemies, and a King toward
His Subjects.
They cannot deprive Me of more then I am content to lose, when God
sees fit by their hands to take it from Me; whose mercy I beleive,
will more then infinitely recompence what ever by mans injustice, he
is pleased to deprive Me of.
The glory attending My Death, will far surpass all I could enjoy, or
conceive in life.
I shall not want the heavy and envyed Crowns of this world, when My
God hath mercifully Crowned and Consummated his graces with Glory,
and exchanged the shadows of My earthly Kingdoms among men, for the
substance of that Heavenlie Kingdom with himself.
For the censures of the world; I know the sharp and necessarie
tyrannie of My Destroyers will sufficiently confute the calumnies of
tyrannie against Me; I am perswaded I am happie in the judicious love
of the ablest and best of My Subjects, who do not only Pitie and Pray
for Me, but would be content even to die with Me, or for Me.
These know how to excuse My failings, as a man, and yet to retain
and pay their dutie to Me, as their King; there being no religious
necessitie binding any Subjects by pretending to punish, infinitely to
exceed the faults and errors of their Princes, especially there, where
more then sufficient satisfaction hath been made to the Publick; the
enjoyment of which, private ambitions have hitherto frustrated.
Others, I beleeve, of softer tempers, and less advantaged by My
ruine, do alreadie feel sharp convictions, and some remorse in their
Consciences: where they cannot but see the proportions of their evil
dealings against Me in the measure of Gods retaliations upon them,
who cannot hope long to enjoy their own thumbs and toes, having under
pretence of paring others nails bin so cruel as to cut off their
cheifest strength.
The punishment of the more insolent and obstinate, may be like that
of _Korah_ and his complices (at once mutining against both Prince and
Priest) in such a method of divine justice, as is not ordinary,
the earth of the lowest and meanest people opening upon them, and
swallowing them up in a just disdain of their ill-gotten, and worse
used Authority: upon whose support and strength they chiefly depended
for their building and establishing their designes against Me, the
Church and State.
My chiefest comfort in death consists in my peace, which I trust,
is made with GOD; before whose exact Tribunall I shall not fear to
appear, as to the Cause so long disputed by the Sword, between me and
my causelese Enemies, where I doubt not but his righteous Judgment
will confute their fallacy, who from worldly success (rather like
Sophisters, then sound Christians) draw those popular conclusions for
Gods approbation of their actions; whose wise providence (we know) oft
permits many events which his revealed word (the only clear, safe, and
fixed rule of good actions and good consciences) in no sort approves.
I am confident, the justice of my Cause, and clearness of my
Conscience before God, and toward my people, wil carry me as much
above them in Gods decision, as their Successes have lifted them above
me in the Vulgar opinion: who consider not, that many times those
undertakings of men are lifted up to heaven in the prosperity
and applause of the world, whose rise is from hell, as to the
injuriousness and oppression of the design. The prosperous winds
which oft fil the sails of Pirats, doth not justifie their piracy and
rapine.
I look upon it with infinite more content and quiet of Soul, to have
been worsted in my enforced contestation for, and vindication of the
Laws of the Land, the Freedom and Honour of Parliaments, the Rights
of my Crown, the just Liberty of my Subjects, and the true Christian
Religion in its Doctrine, Government, and due Encouragements, then if
I had, with the greatest advantages of success over-born them all;
as some men have now evidently done, whatever designes they at first
pretended.
The prayers and patience of my Friends and loving Subjects will
contribute much to the sweetning of this bitter cup, which I doubt not
but I shall more cheerfully take and drink, as from Gods hand (if it
must be so) then they can give it to me, whose hands are unjustly and
barbarously lifted up against Me.
And as to the last event, I may seem to owe more to my Enemies then
my Friends; while those will put a period to the sins and sorrows
attending this miserable life, wherewith these desire, I might still
contend.
I shall be more then Conquerour through, Christ enabling me: for whom
_I_ have hitherto suffered, as he is the Author of Truth, Order, and
Peace; for all which _I_ have been forced to contend against Errour,
Faction, and confusion.
If _I_ must suffer a violent death with my Saviour; it is but
mortality crowned with martyrdom: where the debt of death, which I
owe for sin to nature, shall be raised as a gift of faith and patience
offered to God.
Which _I_ humbly beseech him mercifully to accept; and although death
be the wages of my own sinne, as from God, and the effect of others
sinnes, as men, both against God and me; yet as _I_ hope my own sinnes
are so remitted, that they shall be no ingredients to imbitter the
cup of my death, so _I_ desire God to pardon their sins, who are most
guilty of my destruction.
The Trophees of my charitie will be more glorious and durable over
them, then their ill managed victories over me.
Though their sin be prosperous, yet they had need to be penitent, that
they may be pardoned: Both which, _I_ pray God they may obtain: that
my temporal Death unjustly inflicted by them, may not be revenged by
Gods just inflicting eternal death upon them: for _I_ look upon the
temporall destruction of the greatest King, as far lesse deprecable
then the eternall damnation of the meanest Subject.
Nor do I wish other then the safe bringing of the ship to shore, when
they have cast me overboard; though it be very strange, that Mariners
can finde no other means to appease the storms themselves have raised,
but by drowning their Pilot.
I thank God, my Enemies cruelty cannot prevent my preparation;
whose malice in this I shall defeat, that they shall not have
the satisfaction to have destroyed my Soul with my Body; of whose
salvation, while some of them have themselves seemed, and taught
others to despair, they have onely discovered this, that they do not
much desire it.
Whose uncharitable and cruell Restraints, denying me even the
assistance of any of my Chaplains, hath rather enlarged, then any way
obstructed my accesse to the Throne of Heaven,
_Where thou dwellest, O King of Kings, who fillest Heaven and Earth,
who art the fountain of eternal life, in whom is no shadow of death._
_Thou, O God, art both the just Afflicter of death upon us, and the
mercifull Saviour of us in it, and from it._
_Yea, it is better for us to be dead to our selves, and live in thee;
then by living in our selves, to be deprived of thee._
_O make the many bitter aggravations of my death as a Man, and a King,
the opportunities and advantages of thy speciall Graces and Comforts
in my Soul as a Christian._
_If thou Lord wilt be with me, I shall neither fear nor feel any
evill, though I walk thorow the valley of the shadow of death._
_To contend with death is the work of a weak and mortall man; to
overcome it, is the grace of thee alone, who art the Almighty and
immortall God._
_O my Saviour, who knowest what it is to die with me as a Man; make me
know what it is to passe through death to life with thee my God._
_Though I die, yet I know that thou my Redeemer livest for ever:
though thou slayest Me, yet thou hast encouraged me to trust in thee
for eternal life._
_O withdraw not thy favour from me, which is better then life._
_O be not far from me, for I know not now neer a violent and cruel
death is to me._
_As thy Omniscience, O God, discovers, so thy Omnipotence can defeat
the designes of those who have, or shall conspire my destruction._
_O shew me the goodnesse of thy will, through the wickednesse of
theirs._
_Thou givest me leave as a man to pray, that this cup may pass from
me; but thou hast taught Me as a Christian by the example of Christ to
add not my will, but thine be done._
_Yea Lord, let our wils be one, by wholly resolving mine into thine:
let not the desire of life in me be so great, as that of doing or
suffering thy wil in either life or death._
_As I believe thou hast forgiven all the errours of my life, so I hope
thou wilt save me from the terrors of my death._
_Make me content to leave the worlds nothing, that I may come really
to enjoy all in thee, who hast made Christ unto me in life, gain; and
in death advantage._
_Though my destroyers forget their dutie to thee and me, yet do not
thou, O Lord, forget to be mercifull to them._
_For, what profit is there in my bloud, or in their gaining my
Kingdoms, if they lose their own Souls?_
_Such as have not onely resisted my just Power, but wholly usurped and
turned it against my self, though they may deserve, yet let them not
receive to themselves damnation._
_Thou madest thy Son a Saviour to many that crucified him, while at
once he suffered violently by them, and yet willingly for them._
_O let the voice of his bloud be heard for my Murtherers, louder then
the cry of mine against them._
_Prepare them for thy mercy by due convictions of their sin, and
let them not at once deceive and damne their own souls by fallacious
pretensions of Justice in destroying me, while the conscience of their
unjust usurpation of power against me, chiefly tempts them to use all
extremities against me._
_O Lord, thou knowest I have found their mercies to me as very false,
so very cruell, who pretending to preserve me, have meditated nothing
but my ruine._
_O deal not with them as bloud thirsty and deceitfull men; but
overcome their cruelty with thy compassion and my charitie._
_And when thou makest inquisition for my blood, O sprinkle their
polluted, yet penitent Souls with the bloud of thy Son, that thy
destroying Angel may passe over them._
_Though they think my Kingdoms on earth too little to entertain at
once both them and me; yet let the capacious Kingdom of thy infinite
mercy at last receive both me and my enemies._
_When being reconciled to thee in the bloud of the same Redeemer, wee
shall live far above these ambitious desires, which beget such mortall
enmities._
_When their hands shall be heaviest and cruellest upon me, O let me
fall into the arms of thy tender and eternall mercies._
_That what is cut off of my life in this miserable moment, may be
repaied in thy ever blessed Eternity._
_Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy
salvation._
Vota dabunt, quae Bella negarunt.
_FINIS._
* * * * *
A
PERFECT COPY OF
PRAYERS,
Used by His
MAJESTIE
in the time of His
_SUFFERINGS_.
_Delivered to Dr._ Juxon _Bishop of_
London _immediately before his Death_.
And his Speeches to the Lady _Elizabeth_ and
the Duke of _Glocester_.
With
His _Reasons_ against the pretended Jurisdiction
of the High Court of Justice; intended to
be delivered, Munday 22 of _Janu_.
1648.
Also
A Copy of a LETTER from the
_PRINCE_.
[Illustration]
Printed _Anno Domini_ 1649.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
_A PRAYER in time of Captivitie._
O Powerfull and Eternall God! to whom nothing is so great, that it may
resist; or so small, that it is contemned; look upon my miserie with
thine eye of mercy, and let Thine infinite power vouchsafe to limit
out some proportion of deliverance unto me, as to Thee shall seem
most convenient; let not Injurie, O Lord, triumph over me; and let my
faults by thy hand be corrected; and make not my unjust Enemies the
ministers of thy Justice: But yet my God, if in thy Wisdom this be
the aptest chastisement for my unexcusable transgressions; if this
ingratefull bondage be fittest for my over-high deserts; if the pride
of my (not enough humble) heart be thus to be broken, O Lord, I yeeld
unto thy will, and cheerfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt have me
suffer: Onely thus much let me crave of thee, (let my craving, O
Lord, be accepted of, since it even proceeds from thee) That by
thy Goodnesse, which is thy Self, thou wilt suffer some beam of
thy Majestie so to shine in my minde, that I, who in my greatest
Afflictions acknowledge it my noblest Title to be thy Creature, may
still depend confidently on Thee. Let Calamity be the exercise, but
not the overthrow of my Vertue. O let not their prevailing power be to
my destruction. And if it be thy will that they more and more vex me
with punishment; yet O Lord, never let their wickednesse have such a
hand, but that I may still carry a pure mind, and stedfast resolution
ever to serve thee without fear or presumption; yet with that humble
Confidence which may best please thee; so that at the last I may
come to thy eternall Kingdom through the merits of thy Son our alone
Saviour, Jesus Christ. _Amen_.
* * * * *
_Another PRAYER._
Almightie and most merciful Father, look down upon me thy unworthy
servant, who here prostrate my self at the Foot-stool of thy Throne of
Grace; but look upon me, O Father, through the Mediation, and in the
Merits of Jesus Christ, in whom thou art only wel pleased: for of my
Self I am not worthy to stand before thee, or to speak with my
unclean lips to thee, most holy and eternall God; for as in sin I was
conceived and born, so likewise I have broken all thy Commandments by
my sinful motions, unclean thoughts, evill words, and wicked works;
omitting many duties I ought to do, and committing many vices thou
hast forbidden under pain of thy heavie Displeasure: as for my sins,
O Lord, they are innumerable: wherefore I stand here liable to all the
miseries in this life, and everlasting Torments in that to come, if
thou shouldst deal with me according to my deserts. I confesse,
O Lord, that it is thy Mercie (which endureth for ever) and thy
compassion (which never fails) which is the cause that I have not
been long ago consumed: but with thee there is Mercie and plenteous
Redemption; in the multitude therefore of thy mercies, and by the
Merits of Jesus Christ, I intreat thy Divine Majestie, that thou
wouldst not enter into judgment with thy servant, nor be extreme to
mark what is done amisse, but be thou mercifull unto Me, and wash away
all my sins with that precious bloud that my Saviour shed for me. And
I beseech thee, O Lord, not onely to wash away all my sins; but also
to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural
corruption: And as thou dost add days to my life, so good Lord, I
beseech thee to add repentance to my dayes, that when I have past this
mortall life, I may be partaker of thy everlasting Kingdom, through
the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, _Amen_.
* * * * *
_A_ PRAYER _and_ CONFESSION _made in and for the times of Affliction._
Almighty and most mercifull Father, as it is onely thy Goodnesse that
admits of our imperfect Prayers, and the knowledge that thy mercies
are infinite, which can give Us any hope of thy accepting or granting
them: so it is our bounden and necessary duty to confesse our sins
freely unto thee; And of all men living, I have most need, most reason
so to do; no man having been so much obliged by thee, no man more
grievously offending thee: that degree of knowledge which thou hast
given me adding likewise to the guilt of my transgressions. For, was
it through ignorance, that I suffered innocent bloud to be shed by a
false pretended way of Justice? or that I permitted a wrong way of
thy Worship to be set up in _Scotland?_ and injured the Bishops in
_England?_ O no; but with shame and grief I confesse, that I therein
followed the perswasions of worldly Wisdome, forsaking the Dictates
of a right-informed Conscience: Wherefore, O Lord, I have no excuse to
make, no hope left, but in the multitude of thy mercies; for I know
my repentance weak, and my prayers faulty: Grant therefore, mercifull
Father, so to strengthen my repentance, and amend my prayers, that
thou maist clear the way for thine own mercies; to which, O let
thy Justice at last give place, putting a speedy end to my deserved
afflictions. In the mean time, give me patience to endure, Constancy
against Temptations, and a discerning spirit, to chuse what is best
for thy Church, and People which thou hast committed to my charge.
Grant this, O most mercifull Father, for thy Son Jesus Christs sake,
our onely Saviour, _Amen._
* * * * *
_A_ PRAYER _in time of imminent Danger._
O Most merciful Father, though my sins are so many and grievous,
that I may rather expect the effects of thy anger, then so great a
deliverance, as to free me from my present great danger; yet, O Lord,
since thy mercies are over all thy works, and thou never failest to
relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned repentance come to
thee for succour, it were to multiply, not diminish my transgressions,
to despair of thy heavenly favour: Wherefore I humbly desire thy
divine Majestie, That thou wilt not onely pardon all my sins; but also
free me out of the hands, and protect me from the malice of my
cruel Enemies. But if Thy wrath against my hainous Offences will not
otherwayes be satisfied, then by suffering Me to fall under my present
afflictions, Thy will be done; yet with humble Importunity, I do and
shall never leave to implore the assistance of thy heavenly Spirit,
that my cause, as I am thy Vicegerent may not suffer through My
weakness, or want of courage, O Lord, so strengthen and enlighten all
the faculties of My mind, that with clearnesse I may shew forth Thy
Truth, and manfully endure this bloody Tryal, that so my sufferings
here may not onely glorifie Thee, but likewise be a furtherance to my
salvation hereafter. Grant this, O mercifull Father, for his sake who
suffered for me, even Jesus Christ the Righteous. _Amen._
[Illustration: Emblem]
* * * * *
A Copie of a Letter which was sent from the PRINCE to the KING; Dated
from the HAGUE _Jan_. 23. 1648.
SIR, _Having no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties
present condition, but such as I receive from the Prints, or (which is
as uncertain) Report, I have sent this Bearer_ Seamour _to wait upon
your Majestie; and to bring me an account of it: that I may withall
assure your Majestie, I doe not onely pray for your Majestie according
to my Dutie, but shall alwayes be ready to doe all which shall be
in my power, to deserve that blessing which I now humbly beg of your
Majestie upon_
(SIR)
HAGUE _Jan_. 23. 1648.
_Your_ MAJESTIES
_most humble and most
obedient Son & servant
CHARLS._
The Superscription was thus,
For the King.
* * * * *
[Illustraton]
Munday 29th January, 1648.
_A true Relation of the_ KINGS _Speech to the Lady_ ELISABETH, _and the
Duke of_ GLOCESTER, _the day before His Death._
His children being come to meet him, he first gave his blessing to the
Lady _Elisabeth_; and bad her remember to tell her Brother _James_,
when ever she should see him, That it was his Fathers last desire,
that he should no more look upon _Charles_ as his eldest Brother only,
but be obedient unto him, as his Soveraign; and that they should love
one another, and forgive their Fathers Enemies. Then said the King
to her, Sweet-heart you'l forget this: No (said she) _I_ shall never
forget it while I live: And pouring forth abundance of Tears, promised
him to write down the Paticulars.
Then the King taking the Duke of _Glocester_ upon his knee, said,
Sweet-heart, now they will cut off thy Fathers head; (upon which words
the child looked very stedfastly on him.) Mark child, what I say, they
will cut of my head, and perhaps make thee a King: But mark what I
say, you must not be a King so long as your Brother _Charles_ and
_James_ do live; For they will cut off your Brothers heads, (when they
can catch them) and cut off thy head too at the last: and therefore,
_I_ charge you, do not be made a King by them. At which the child,
sighing, said, I will be torn in pieces first. Which falling so
unexpectedly from one so young, it made the King rejoyce exceedingly.
* * * * *
_Another Relation from the Lady_ ELISABETHS _own Hand._
What the king said to me the nine and twentieth of _January_ 1648.
being the last time I had the happiness to see him; he told me, he
was glad I was come, and although he had not time to say much, yet
somewhat he had to say to me, which he had not to another, or leave in
writing, because he feared their cruelty was such, as that they would
not have permitted him to write to me, he wished me not to grieve and
torment my self for him; for that would be a glorious death that he
should dye; it being for the Laws and Liberties of this Land, and
for maintaining the true Protestant Religion. He bad me read Bishop
_Andrews_ Sermons, _Hookers Ecclesiasticall Politie_, and Bishop
_Lauds_ Book against _Fisher_, which would ground me against Popery.
He told me, he had forgiven all his Enemies, and hoped God would
forgive them also; and commanded us, and all the rest of my Brothers
and Sisters to forgive them: he bid me tell my Mother, That his
thoughts never had strayed from her, and that his love should be
the same to the last. Withall he commanded me and my Brother to
be obedient to her. And bid me send his blessing to the rest of my
Brothers and Sisters, with Commendation to all His Friends: So after
he had given me his blessing, I took my leave.
Further, he commanded us all to forgive those people, but never to
trust them; for they had been most false to him, and to those that
gave them power, and he feared also to their own souls; And desired me
not to grieve for him, for he should die a Martyr, and that he doubted
not but the Lord would settle his Throne upon his Son, and that we
should be all happier, then we could have expected to have been, if he
had lived: With many other things, which at present I cannot remember.
ELISABETH.
* * * * *
_Another Relation from the Lady_ Elisabeth.