CHAP. LXXXV.

BARWICK, THE KING'S SPY.-PRESBYTERIANS IN DESPAIR.— -VENNER'S INSURRECTION.-THE INDEPENDENTS' " RENUNCIATION."-CON

CLUSION.

We have seen, in the above tract the very inside as it were of the writer; and we have seen in foregoing pages how tyrants have been beatified, and their opponents doomed to ignominious rewards. On whom the real ignominy rests here, let truth elicited as above from the testimony of Peters' own pen, and from testimony related of Dr. John Barwick, who had acted as a secret spy on behalf of the deceased king, and,—ınark it, reader !—“also being very studious of christian simplicity," was "always furnished with a true as well as a convenient answer, if he should be questioned by the rebels, What business he had in London?that he performed the office of chaplain to that most reverend prelate!" Thus proceeds the narrator-"The chief of those who had conspired against the sacred life of the royal martyr were brought to their trial, and deservedly condemned to the gallows. By the command of the king and of the bishops, Dr. Barwick and Dr. Dolben.. were sent to these condemned wretches to try to persuade them to testify unfeigned repentance before God both of that horrid crime and of their other impious deeds. And that they might employ their pious endeavours to better purpose with the others, their first care was to solicit Hugh Peters, the principal and ringleader of all the rest. The wild prophecies uttered by his impure mouth were still received by the people with the same veneration as if they had been oracles; though he was known to be infamous for more than one kind of wickedness: a fact which Milton himself, a very good advocate of a very bad cause, did not dare deny when he wrote his Apology for this very end, to defend even by name, as far as was possible, the very blackest of the conspirators, and Hugh Peters among the chief of them who were by naine accused of manifest impieties by their adversaries... When Dr. Barwick came to him first, commiserating his sad condition, though what he had very justly deserved; he thought it most proper to address himself to him in terms neither menacing nor any way severe: he therefore condescended to entreat him, to make no difficulty of admitting him and Dr. Dolben-both ministers of the Gospel, and no less solicitous for his salvation than for their own-to a friendly conversation with him. But to all that was said to him though with the utmost candour, he answered with so much surliness, negligence, and stupidity, and so little to the purpose, that Dr. Dolben perceiving how little that gentle method availed, was of opinion, and that justly, that he ought to be treated with more sharpness, to rouse him if it were possible from this lethargic unconcernedness for his better part. He therefore advised him to remember that he had but a few hours left to discharge himself before God, who is always present and merciful to the penitent, of that immense load of

"The Life of the Rev. Dr. John Barwick; etc.; by his Brother, Dr. Peter Barwick. 1721." 12mo. p. 16-18.

wickedness wherewith he had burdened his conscience, drowsy and hardened as it was; that those precious minutes were not by any means to be wasted in shuffling and saying what was nothing to the purpose; and, that he ought to think it a matter of no little moment in what manner he intended next day to transmit his soul into an unfathomable abyss of eternity. But he was deaf to all that either of them [!] could say; and had so stopped his ears against the admonitions, not only of these two excellent persons, but of those also who were his accomplices in the same crime and were to suffer with him; and had so perfectly shook off all sense of piety and religion, if ever he had any [] that they earnestly requested these divines to intercede with his Majesty that a person so deaf to all advice, and so impenetrable to their sacred ministrations, might not be hurried into another world till he were brought if possible to a better sense of his condition. The chief of these was John Cook, who yet had made no scruple that very day to vindicate and defend this wretch, in reality the scandal and reproach of the pulpit, against that incomparable divine Dr. Gunning when he was admonishing him friendly of the heinousness of the crimes he had committed; and to extol him [Peters], as the brightest example of true holiness, by whom more souls had been gained to Christ than by any other person in this age.' But Dr. Dolben and Dr. Barwick did not dare to promise that they should be able to obtain of his Majesty any further respite of his execution; lest that being flattered with the false hope of protracting his life he should grow more obdurate to their sacred admonitions: nor, say they, 'does the grace of the Holy Spirit stand in need of such slow methods as not readily to offer itself every hour to such as desire to repent in earnest.' Accordingly next day, together with Cook, he was drawn upon a sledge to execution, still showing the utmost aversion to all good counsel, and even to the advice of Cook himself, seeming to believe very little in that God whom he had so often invoked to patronize his impious rebellion; having this however, alas! how little this-of a good man, that he no longer Endeavoured with a false pretence of sanctity to set a grace upon the worst Cause in the world."b

Such is the representation of those who would fain persuade the world that they are the only "example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity!" What reproach soever Cook and Peters had brought upon themselves for intemperance of expressions towards an opponent in adversity; it was not, evidently, in these priestly confessors and their admirers, that "purity d of spirit was the ruling principle which should induce them to extract from "these condemned wretches" a testification of "unfeigned repentance." The "wretches" knew that men of such "christian simplicity," had sinister ends in view; and would not therefore be drawn into confessions which might be perversely construed, and so made to damage for ever that “Cause" which it had been the best labour of their lives to promote, and for which they were shortly to render an account in the immediate presence of the righteous JUDGE of all the earth.

But what will not any of those assert who subtly claim for thema See back, p. 560, 567. b P. 295-299. c 1 Tim. iv. 12. d Ibid.

selves the figment of a peculiar " divine right;" with a hardihood too that exposes its own grossness because destitute of the external sign of compunction. "It was the justice of God "--so writes in the madness of disappointment, the all but indomitable Presbyterian," that brought Peters, Harrison, and others, to a shameful death; to hang up the bones of Oliver, Bradshaw, Ireton, Pride, on the gibbet at Tyburn; to disgrace the two Goodwins, blind-Milton, Owen, Sterry, Lockiers, and others of that maleficent crew!" Little, truly, did this one of the plotters suspect that having "sown the wind" at the Hague and at Breda, he and his complotters should through their own machinations so soon 66 reap the whirlwind!" Well then might it ́ grieve them "sore " that when the Parliament met, May 8th 1661, the Lord Chancellor, Clarendon, "advertised them to beware of the Presbyterian ministers as pestiferous incendiaries!" And still more, when "the Solemn League and Covenant" was burnt by the hand of the hangman, were all their hopes "turned into despair!"e

In a former page mention is made of a Meeting-house in Swanalley; here it was that Thomas Venner taking occasion of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy being enforced, and holding all swearing unlawful, preached an inflammatory sermon on Sunday January 6th, 1660-1, before an auditory of " Fifth Monarchy Men." A plan hav

a A mode of hostility quite in keeping with the party which had issued a Proclamation, in these words, "By the King.-Charles II. by the grace of God King of England, etc., to all our good and loving Subjects, peace and prosperity: Whereas it is apparent to all rational and unbiassed men throughout the world, that a certain mechanic fellow, by name Oliver Cromwell, hath by most wicked and accursed ways and means, against all laws both divine and human,—taking opportunity through the late sad and unnatural wars in our kingdoms-most tyrannically and traitorously usurped the supreme power over our said kingdoms, to the enslaving and ruining the persons and estates of the good people our free subjects therein, after he had most inhumanly and barbarously butchered our dear Father, of sacred memory, his just and lawful sovereign: These are therefore in our Name to give free leave and liberty to any man whomsoever, within any of our three kingdoms, by pistol, sword or poison, or by any other way or manner whatsoever, to destroy the life of the said Oliver Cromwell; wherein they will do an act acceptable to God and good men, by cutting so detestable a villain from the face of the earth; and whosoever, whether soldier or other, shall be instrumental in so signal a piece of service, both to God, to his King, and to his country. We do by these presents, and in the word and faith of a Christian King, promise, as a reward for his good service, to give him and his heirs for ever five hundred pounds per annum, free land, or the full sum in money for which such a proportion may be purchased of the owners, and also the honour of knighthood to him and his heirs and if he shall be a soldier of the army, We do also promise to give him a colonel's place, and such honourable employment wherein he may be capable of attaining to further preferment answerable to his merit. . . Given at Paris, the 3d of May, 1654." Thurloe's State Papers, vol. ii. p. 248.

b Baillie's Let. 199, to Spang, Jan 31st. 1661-2, p. 442. See back, p. 408. d Hos. viii. 7. e Let. 200, p. 456. f P. 511. Ile had previously been concerned in a plot for the destruction of the Protector Oliver, with gunpowder, while in the chapel at Whitehall. And in Thurloe's Collection of State Papers, vol. i. p. 349, we have discovered an "Information" that Col. Harrison, Mr. Pheake [Feake see back, p. 477], Mr. ('an [Canne], and Mr. Rogers [see back, p. 478,] meet ordinarily at Mr. Daforne's house in Bartholomew-lane, near the Royal Exchange, where they profess themselves ready for an insurrection; the time being now come, as they say, wherein the three years

ing been preconcerted, he now sallied forth with fifty or more followers, all armed, intending the subversion of the restored dynasty; and being joined by confederates in other districts, a murderous attack commenced upon all who opposed them, but such was the unpreparedness of the authorities, that it was not till Wednesday that the leaders were captured, and the peace of the city was restored. But this affair was speedily taken advantage of by those in power to act rigorously against all parties which were opposed to the revival of prelacy. "Clarendon and the ministry," Hume says, "took occasion from this insurrection, to infer the dangerous spirit of the Presbyterians and of all the sectaries: but the madness of the attempt sufficiently proved that it had been undertaken by no concert, and never could have proved dangerous... But as a pretence was wanted, besides their old demerits, for justifying the intended rigours against all of them, this reason, however slight, was greedily laid hold of." Accordingly the next day after the suppression of the disturbance, Jan. 10th, a proclamation was issued prohibiting all meetings for public worship other than in parochial Churches; or in private houses, only by the persons inhabiting them: "Although nothing can be more unwelcome to us," so honestly, this instrument opens, "than the necessity of restraining some part of that liberty which was indulged to tender consciences by our late gracious Declaration; yet since divers persons

and a half' is at an end in which the witnesses' have lain dead, and that there will be a resurrection of them. It is confidently believed, that upon this delusion they will ground an attempt which may be attended with some mischief, they professing it to be their resolution to destroy all that shall oppose them.-June 15th, 1657." An additional proof of the vigilance employed by the agents of Cromwell's government, is afforded as follows: "Mr. Portman, a prisoner in the Tower, was upon his petition, brought before the House, with the cause of his imprisonment. The warrant to the Lieutenant of the Tower for apprehending him was produced; and being only from the Usurper, in these words following- Feb. 3d, 1657-8. Sir, I desire you to seize Major-general Harrison, Mr. Carew, Portman, and such as are eminent Fifth-Monarchy Men, especially Feake and Rogers; do it speedily and you shall have a Warrant after you have done,'-the Parliament voted his imprisonment illegal and unjust, and freed him out of prison without paying either fees or charges." A True or Impartial Narrative: etc. By Slingsby Bethell, Esq. M. P. 1659. See Somers' Tracts, vol. iv. p. 527.

a As Charles I. had signed the Statute depriving the Bishops of all temporal preferments, they could only be restored to their former privileges by another Statute. " 'Yet was the spirit of fanaticism strong enough in their House to make a considerable opposition against this just [!] Act, insomuch that had not the Roman Catholic Peers then sitting in the House unanimously voted for the Bishops, they had been kept out, and, in all probability, never recovered their seats in Parliament: so that it appeared they owed their restitution to these Roman Catholic Lords! And it is here well worth observing, that a few years after, when the Test was invented for excluding those Roman Catholic Peers from sitting in the House of Lords, the Bishops carried it against them; for without their votes the Bill had not passed: so that the Roman Catholic Lords brought the Bishops into the House, and the Bishops turned them out of it!" "The History of the Downfal and Resurrection of Episcopacy, etc. 1717." 12mo. p. 180.

b Hist. of England, chap. lxiii. He says in a note, previously, " that Venner's insurrection furnished a reason or pretence for keeping up the Guards;" and in the text, he remarks, "this was the first appearance under the monarchy, of a regular standing army in this Island."

known by the name of Anabaptists, Quakers, and Fifth Monarchy Men, or some such like appellation, . . do daily meet in great numbers in secret places, etc., to the disturbance of the public peace by insurrection and murder, etc."

"On Thursday, Jan. 17th, twenty of the persons taken in arms were arraigned together at Justice-hall in the Old Bailey; the rest being dangerously wounded, were put off by the Court for a future time... First, Thomas Venner was called, who.. being asked whether he was guilty or not guilty, began an extravagant and bottomless discourse about the Fifth Monarchy, and his having had a testimony above twenty years in New England; . . and at last, submitted to a trial:.. confessed himself in the insurrection, but said he did not lead them; and when the witnesses positively swore it, he excused it and said it was not he, but 'Jesus' led them that he could not deny but that most of the things witnessed against him were true; yet pleaded that he could not commit treason, because the king was not yet crowned! But being told by the Court, that every Englishman knows the king never dies'; and, that that opinion of his was first started by Watson the Jesuit, he pressed it no further." Venner and another were hanged and quartered before the door of the meeting-house froin which they sallied; Jan. 19th. Three others suffered in different parts of the city; ten were reprieved.

6

These particulars, with all previously relating to Canne especially, constitute an episode, as it were, in the general plan pursued in these Memorials; but without them neither could a just impression of the state of the several parties have been communicated, nor would the full bearings of the following document be understood and appreciated as now they are capable of being in both respects. We have judged it right therefore, by anticipation, to weaken though we should not be able to obliterate undeserved reproach; and consequently to extend our limits a few pages that we might introduce "A Renunciation and Declaration of the Ministers of Congregational Churches, and Public Preachers of the same Judgment, living in and about the City of London: Against the late Horrid Insurrection and Rebellion acted in the said City. 1661." 4to. pp. 9.

"THERE hath been of late a Rebellion so impious and prodigiously daring, acted upon so open and great a stage as this famous and populous City, and before the sun of Gospel light shining round about us; as that the noise thereof cannot but make its own report not only throughout all Christendom, but even to the ends of the earth, and fill the most barbarous and inhuman of nations that shall hear it, with astonishment to the highest scandal of [the] Christian religion: yea, and let down the hateful memory thereof to all ages to come as that which, perhaps, cannot be paralleled except by those at Munster, of the same principle, in the former age! And this grand iniquity hav

a Kennet's Chronicle, 1744. fol. p. 352, 357.

b A Relation of the Arraignment and Trial of those who made the late Rebellious Insurrection in London. 1661." See Somers' Tracts, vol. iv. p. 520–523.— For other authorities for these particulars, consult Kennet's Chronicle, and his Complete History of England, vol. iii.; together with Thurloe.