to the several charges, I protested my innocency in both houses: It was said, prisoners protestations at the bar must not be taken de ipso. I can bring no witness of my heart, and the intentions thereof; therefore I must come to my protestation, not at the bar, but to my protestation at this hour and instant of my death, in which (as I said before) I hope all men will be such charitable christians, as not to think I would die and dissemble my religion: I do therefore here protest, with that caution that I delivered before, without all prejudice in the world to my judges, that are to proceed secundum allegata et probata, and so to be understood, I die in the presence of Almighty God, and all his holy and blessed angels, and I take it now on my death, That I never endeavoured the subversion of the laws of the realm, nor never any change of the protes tant religion into popish superstition: And I desire you all to remember this protest of mine, for my innocency in these, and from all manner of treasons whatsoever.

I have been accused likewise as an enemy to parliaments: No, God forbid, I understood them, and the benefits that come by them, a great deal too well to be so; but I did, indeed, dislike some misgovernments (as I conceived) of some few one or two parliaments; and I did conceive humbly that I might have 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 this being the highest and greatest court, over which no other can have any jurisdiction in the kingdom, if by any way a misgovernment, which God forbid, should any ways fall upon it, the subjects of this kingdom are left without all manner of remedy; and therefore God preserve them, and bless them; and direct them, that there may be no misconceit, much less misgovernment, amongst them. I will not enlarge myself any further, I have done, I forgive all the world, all and every of those bitter enemies, or others, whatsoever they have been, which have any ways prosecuted me in this kind; and I humbly desire to be forgiven first of God, and then of every man, whether I have offended him or no, if he do but conceive that I have: Lord, do thou forgive me, and I beg forgiveness of him, and so I heartly desire you to join with me in prayer.

The Bishop of Canterbury's first prayer on the scaffold.

O ETERNAL God, and merciful Father, look down upon me in mercy, in the riches and fulness of all thy mercies, look upon me, but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the cross of Christ; look upon me, but, not till thou hast bathed me in the blood of Christ, not till I have hid myself in the wounds of Christ, that so the punishment, that is duc to my sins, may pass away, and go 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, a heart ready to die for thine honour, and the King's happiness, and this church's preservation; and my zcal to these, far from arrogancy be it

spoken, is all the sin, human frailty excepted, and all incidents thereunto, which is yet known of me in this particular, for which I now come to suffer; I say, in this particular of treason; but, otherwise, my sins are many and great, Lord, pardon them all, and those especially, whatsoever they be, which have drawn down this present judgment upon me, and, when thou hast given me strength to bear it, then do with me as seems best in thy own eyes, and carry me through death, that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me, and that there may be a stop of this issue of blood in this more than miserable kingdom. I shall 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 people that have a thirst for blood, but, if they will not repent, then scatter their devices so, and such as 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 ancient and 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 ancient 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 commandments, all their days: So, Amen, Lord Jesus, and I beseech thee receive my soul to mercy. Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: But deliver us from evil, Amen.

When he had finished his prayer, he gave his paper to Dr. Sterne, saying, Doctor, I give you this, that you may shew it to your fellow chaplains, that they may see how I am gone out of the world, and God's blessing and his mercy be upon them.

Then, turning to Master Hinde, he said, friend, I beseech you hear me, I cannot say I have spoken every word, as it is in my paper; but I have gone very near it, to help my memory as well as I could; but, I beseech you, let me have no wrong done me.

Hinde. Sir, you shall not: If I do any wrong, let it fall on my own head. I pray, God have mercy on your soul.

Cant. I thank you, I did not speak with any jealousy, as if you would do so; but I spoke it only as a poor man, going out of the world, it is not possible for me to keep to the words in my paper, and a phrase may do me wrong.

'I did think here would have been an empty scaffold, that I might have had room to die; I beseech you, let me have an end of this misery, for I have endured it long.

When room was made, he spoke thus: I will pull off my doublet, and God's will be done, I am willing to go out of the world; no man can be more willing to send me out, than I am willing to be gone.

Sir John Clothworthy. What special text of scripture now is comfortable to a man in his departure?

Cant. Cupio dissolvi & esse cum Christo.

Sir John Clothworthy. That is a good desire, but there must be a foundation for that desire, as assurance.

Cant. No man can express it, it is to be found within.

Sir John Clothworthy. It is founded upon a word though, and that word would be known.

Cant. That word is the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and that alone. And, turning to the executioner, he gave him money, saying, Here honest friend, God forgive thee, and do thy office upon me in mercy. The executioner desiring him to give some sign, when he should strike: He answered, yes, I will, but let me fit myself first. Then, kneeling down on his knees, he prayed thus:

The Bishop of Canterbury's last Prayer on the Scaffold.

LORD, I am coming as fast as I can, I know I must pass through the shadow of death, before 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 with 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.

And when he said, Lord, receive my soul, which was his sign, the executioner did his office.

THE IRISH CABINET:

OR,

HIS MAJESTY'S SECRET PAPERS,

For Establishing the Papal Clergy in Ireland, with other Matters of high concernment, taken in the Carriages of the Archbishop of Tuam, who was slain at the late fight at Sleigo in that Kingdom. Together with two exact and full Relations of the several Victories obtained by the Parliament's Forces, through God's Blessing, in the same Kingdom. Ordered by the Commons assembled in parliament, That his Majesty's Papers, taken at Sleigo, be forthwith printed and published.

H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.

London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons, and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Golden Dragon in Fleetstreet, near the Inner-Temple, January 20, 1645. Containing twentyeight Pages in Quarto.

WHEREAS much time hath been spent in meetings and debates

betwixt his Excellency James, Lord Marquis of Ormond, lord lieutenant and general governor of his Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland, commissioner to his most excellent Majesty, Charles, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, &c. for the treating and concluding of a peace in the said kingdom with his Majesty's humble and loyal subjects, the confederate and Roman Catholicks of the said kingdom of Ireland of the one part, and the Right Honourable Donnogh, Lord Viscount Muskerry, and others, commissioners deputed and authorised by the said confederate Roman Catholick Subjects of the other part; and thereupon many difficulties did arise, by occasion whereof sundry matters of great weight and consequence necessarily requisite to be condescended unto by his Majesty's said commissioners, for the safety of the said confederate Roman Catholicks, were not hitherto agreed upon, which retarded, and do as yet retard the conclusion of a firm peace and settlement in the said kingdom. And whereas the Right Honourable Edward, Earl of Glamorgan, is intrusted and authorised by his Most Excellent Majesty, to grant and assure to the said confederate catholick subjects further grace and favours, which the said lord lieutenant did not as yet, in that latitude as they expected, grant unto them; and the said earl haviug seriously considered of all matters and due circumstances of the great affairs now in agitation, which is the peace and quiet of the said kingdom, and the

VOL. Y.

importance thercof, in order to his Majesty's service, and in relation to a peace and settlement in his other kingdoms; and hereupon the place having seen the ardent desire of the said catholicks to assist his Majesty against all that do or shall oppress his royal right or monarchick government; and having discerned the alacrity and chearfulness of the said catholicks to embrace honourable conditions of peace, which may preserve their religion and other just interests. In pursu ance therefore of his Majesty's authority under his Highness's signature royal and signet, bearing date at Oxon the twelfth day of March, in the twentieth year of his reign, granted unto the said Earl of Glamorgan, the tenor whereof is as follows, viz. Charles Rex. Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. To our trusty and right well beloved cousin, Edward, Earl of Glamorgan, greeting. We, reposing great and especial trust and confidence in your approved wisdom and fidelity, do by these, (as firmly as under our great seal, to all intents and purposes) authorise and give you power to treat and conclude with the confederate Roman catholicks in our kingdom of Ireland, if, upon necessity, any thing be to be condescendeded unto, wherein our lieutenant cannot so well be seen in, as not fit for us at the present publickly to own: Therefore we charge you to proceed according to this our warrant, with all possible secrecy, and for whatsoever you shall engage yourself upon such valuable considerations, as you in your judgment shall deem fit: We promise on the word of a king, and a christian, to ratify and perform the same that shall be granted by you, and under your hand and seal; the said confederate catholicks having by their supplies testified their zeal to our service: And this shall be in each particular to you a sufficient warrant. Given at our court at Oxford, under our signet and Royal signature, the twelfth day of March, in the twentieth year of our reign, 1644. To our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin, Edward Earl of Glamorgan. It is therefore granted, accorded, and agreed by and between the said earl of Glamorgan, for and on the behalf of his most excellent Majesty, his heirs and successors, on the one part, and the Right Honourable Richard Lord Viscount Mountgarret, lord president of the supreme council of the said confederate catholicks, the said Donnogh, Lord Viscount Muskerry, Alexander M'Donnel, and Nicholas Plunket, Esq. Sir Talbot Barronet, Dermot O Brien, John Dillon, Patrick Darcy, and Jeffery Brown, Esq. commissioners in that behalf, appointed by the said confederate Roman Catholick subjects of Ireland, for and in the behalf of the said confe derate Roman Catholick subjects, of the other part, in manner and form following; that is to say,

1. Imprimis, It is granted, accorded, and agreed, by the said earl, for and in the behalf of his most excellent Majesty, his heirs and successors, that all and every the professors of the Roman Catholick religion in the kingdom of Ireland, of whatever estate, degree, or quality he or they be, or shall be, shall for evermore hereafter have and enjoy, within the said kingdom, the free and publick use and exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion, and of he respective functions therein..