Δετμα Βασιλικε: A SERMON Preached at the King's Prison the Fleet, On the 30 th'. of JANUARY, 1681. Being the ANNIVERSARY of the MARTYRDOM OF King Charles I. Of Ever Blessed Memory.  Judges 19.30. 
And it was so, that all that saw it said there was no such Deed done, nor seen, from the day that the Children of Israel came up out of the Land of Egypt.  
LONDON: Printed for Walter Davies. 1682.   

To the Right Noble HENRY, Lord Marquess, and Earl of Worcester, etc.  
My LORD,  
THey that say they make Dedications to show their Gratitude to their Patrons: do, in my opinion, at the same time secretly insinuate the worth and value of their own Works. Not to acknowledge my Obligations to your Lordship, were great want of Breeding; But, to say I present you this Sermon out of Gratitude, were a greater want of modesty; And I hope I know myself better, than to have any such presumption.  
I profess ingeniously, that the chief reason that induced me to prefix your Lordship's Name to this Discourse, was (according to the old use of Dedication) to do the thing all the credit it was capable of; and if, at the same time, though contrary to my intentions, I have displeased Your Lordship, in desiring, or rather violently arrogating your Protection; yet I have this inward consolation, that my good meaning, (especially with so good a man) may, in some measure, apologise for my Error.  
Again, my Lord, every body knows, what both yourself and your Noble Family have suffered for his late Majesty of happy Memory; so that, what you can possibly suffer in a discourse of him, will be so inconsiderable, that it will scarce deserve the mentioning.  
God Almighty make us truly sensible, and ever mindful of what is past, and keep us from ever seeing the like again, is the hearty Prayer of,  
My Lord, Your Lordship's most Humble and Obedient Servant, T. S.   

A SERMON Preached at the King's Prison, THE FLEET.  PSAL. 149 8. 
To bind their Kings in Chains, and their Nobles with Fetters of Iron.  
THere was once a wicked Harangue (for Sermon I dare not call it) delivered from the Pulpit upon these words, whereby both the Holy Text, and that sacred Stool, were desecrated and profaned.  
A scriptum est, a holy Text, and a damnable Doctrine, hath been one of the Devils Practices, ever since he carried our Saviour into the Wilderness to tempt him.  
Nor are these days of ours the first, wherein the Precepts of the God of Love, and the Gospel of Peace, have been made use of for a Trumpet of Tumult and Rebellion.  
I shall not need to tell you how properly, or with what success, the Holderforth brought the Text, and his occasion of it together. I wish with all my heart, it were in the power of this discourse in some measure to expiate his fault, and raise as much hatred and detestation in the minds of my Hearers, as he did encouragement in those of his towards that never to be mentioned fact, (were it not to deter Posterity from the like) which gave the sad occasion of this days solemnity.  
Wherein we commemorate the unnatural Murder and Martyrdom of our late lawful Sovereign, and the Lords Anointed, Charles the First, of ever blessed memory.  
And indeed, besides, that I shall right and vindicate this Text, which has been so much abused, when I consider how little there is between the Prison and the Grave, the Confinement and the Death of Kings; and how sensible his Sacred Majesty was of those wounds, which he received through the sides of his Loyal Nobility, I know none I could have chosen, that might more fully, and fitly, put us in mind of his suffering, s and the Duty of this day.  
Which is to humble and afflict our Souls under the sense of those manifold crying Sins and Iniquities, for which God Almighty suffered Rebellion thus to exalt herself, and justify her Villainies and Murders by the success, neither sparing Innocent, nor Royal Blood; but, To bind our Kings in Chains, and our Nobles in Fetters of Iron.  
I will not be over-careful (nor do I think it necessary) to reconcile my Text to the present occasion, any further than it may serve for a sad Remembrancer of this black and fatal day: I will only (in passing) mind you of the disproportion.  
Whereas the Kings spoken of here by the Psalmist, were Heathens that knew not God; The King, whose hard fate we remember this day, was a Christian, and so truly the Defender of the Faith, that, even in the literal sense, he resisted unto Blood.  
And whereas, the binder's in the Text, were Saints, and Men of Honour; ours were execrable Villains, and the dregs of the People; Though I cannot but observe by the way, that there was a kind of fatality in their calling themselves Saints, and the People of the Lord.  
The main Thesis then, or Pillar of my discourse at this time will be, the Sufferings of our Royal Martyr: But because it is impossible to mention them, without some reflections on His Virtue, and His Enemy's Malice, these two will make our Topics, or Common-places, three; to wit,  
His Majesty's Sufferings,  
His Virtues, and  
His Enemies malicious wickedness.  
His Sufferings were passing great, and (for aught I know, or have ever read, if you will except our Saviour's) unparallelled.  
His Patience and Virtue, as I shall show you anon, were such too; And lest any proportion should be wanting in the story, such also was the implacable Malice and Wickedness of his Enemies  
A Malice, which, I had almost said, was immortal, and notwithstanding any Act of Grace and Indemnity, seems to have outlived both Pardon and Punishments, and the very Actors themselves.  
And, according to the notion of the Philosopher, to have transmigrated and removed itself into new Bodies.  
I do very well know, that this part of my discourse (and it may be some other besides) will not please every body; but I am confident I am guiltless, and they have themselves to thank for it, who, in this late conjuncture, have endeavoured (as far as in them lay) to involve us in the same miseries and calamities again.  
So that, to speak freely and boldly at this time, (whatever they would make us believe,) is so far from doing any violence to that his present Majesties most Gracious Act of Oblivion, that I do verily believe it were a sin to be silent; and I hope the seasonable liberty of all the Pulpits in the Kingdom at this present, may be one means to keep us from being twice Shipwrackt upon the same Rocks; from being undone again, and perishing a second time by the same unhappy method of binding our Kings in Chains, and our Nobles in Fetters of Iron.  
I cannot promise you that in this ensuing discourse, I shall so strictly as it may be you may expect, and so distinctly and severally speak to each of those three Heads or Arguments I have proposed.  
For, besides that grief (especially such as this) is not easily confined in Rules and Methods; the nature of my Subject, and the circumstances of the Story, will oblige me to speak of them mixedly and confusedly, and as they shall present and show themselves upon several occasions and emergencies.  
However, that I may observe as much of form and order, as the nature of the thing will bear, I will part the following Tragedy, according to the custom of those bloody entertainments, into these five Sections.  
The first will contain His Majesty's Sufferings and Troubles before, and to the very time of, the late open Rebellion.  
The second will show us His Misfortunes and ill success, during the time of that Civil War, till he was delivered up by the Scotch Army, and confined. The third will consist of the story of His Confinement itself.  
The fourth, of His Sufferings in the Persons of His Loyal Nobility, and such good Subjects as followed His Fortunes in that general calamity.  
And the fifth and last Act, which is the Catastrophe, or winding up of the Tragedy, will tell us the sad story of His Death and Martyrdom.  
For which this polluted Land, which drank His Royal Blood, mourns to this day under the Judgements of a righteous Avenger; and for which, and for our sins, which were the remote cause of it, every good man cannot choose but have his eyes full of tears, and his mouth full of such lamentations.  
How are the Mighty fallen? The Crown is fallen from our Head, and woe unto us that we have sinned, woe unto us that we have sinned, and done so wickedly, as to bind our Kings in Chains, and our Nobles in links of Iron.  
Before I enter upon this ungrateful Province, instead of a Preface, I will first of all show you His late Majesty, of blessed memory, in all his, (sometime,) Pomp and Greatness, encircled with all those blessings that may make a Monarch happy, and the care of Governing tolerable.  
That so, from those mighty heights and advantages, you may have the fairer light, and take a better view of the humble valley of His Tears and Misery.  
It is but too well known, that men in adversity, measure their misfortunes and present evils, by all the steps and degrees of Honour or Riches, that ever they were possessed of.  — Fuimus Troes. 
Is but a miserable comfort, to have been happy, to have been rich or honourable, is one of the bitterest circumstances and aggravations, that Affliction is capable of.  
Celsae graviore casu decidunt turres.  
High Buildings fall heavy.  
And for this reason, says the Son of Sirach, O Death! how bitter is thy remembrance to a man, that lives at ease in his possessions.  
Now I must put you in mind, that His Majesty (who furnishes us the Subject of this discourse) was once, it may be, one of the happiest Princes of the World.  
He was Royally Born and Related: There was scarce a Crown in Europe, of any great consideration, but he had some alliance to it.  
His Person and Presence were pleasing and Majestic, and every way becoming His Birth and Quality.  
And then for His Soul, it was fair and Princely too, like the Mansion it dwelled in.  
He was a Person of a most undaunted Resolution and Constancy, of a present and ready Wit, a profound and discerning Judgement, and, in a word, a most universal Knowledge and Learning, witness those excellent, those incomparable Writings of His, the best Legacy (except His great and holy Example) which he could have left to Posterity.  
Writings, that are throughly informed, not only with the Majesty of a King, but als● the Reverence of a Divine. Alas, that so much Worth, and Learning, and Goodness, should be murdered in one man.  
To complete his happiness, he married a Wife Great and Virtuous like himself, by whom God gave him a numerous Issue, in some of whom we are (and may we be long so) blessed and happy to this very day.  
In short; a time there was (and pity it was so good a time had wings) when this mighty Monarch wanted nothing, that 〈…〉 or Industry could think ●●f, to 〈…〉 Crow●●●● 〈◊〉; nothing that might render him considerable, and esteemed abroad, or honoured and obeyed at home.  
Yea Rebellion herself, like the sin of Witchcraft, sought the shadow of the Night, and dwelled in the dark.  
She crouched and crept into corners. She was both afraid and ashamed of the Light, and as yet durst work no worse effects in the Kingdom, than what she could do with thinking and Imagination.  
Till at length, when the number of our sins were fulfilled, and when their Cry had justly provoked God Almighty to anger, he suffered his own, and his anointed●s Enemies, like Jesurun, to wax fat, and kick; and from thinking and wishing evil, to fall to murmuring, and running into privare Cabals and Treasonable Meetings: From murmuring and private Meetings, to advance as far as undutiful and disloyal discourses upon the Streets, and running together into insolent and unwarrantable Tumults, from Tumults to open Rebellion and Slaughter; thence to the Confinement and Imprisonment of his Majesty's Sacred Person; so to the Plundering, Sequestration, and Murdering of His True, and Loyal Subjects; and last of all, to that bloody Murder and Martyrdom of the best of Kings, under the notion of a Traitor and Malefactor, by a pretended course of Law and Justice.  
By the imperfect touches I have given you of his former prosperity, and comparing them with the subsequent story of his afflictions, you may take some kind of measures, and give some sort of guess at his sufferings and sorrows.  
And when we have traced him through all the Tumults, Wars, Imprisonments, and Sufferings that befell him in his Life, and added to them the horrid manner and circumstances of his Death, you will believe with me, that next our Saviour, He may pretend the second best Title to the words of the Holy Ghost, Behold now, and see all ye that pass by, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow! Behold, and see a King (once indeed a mighty King) bound in Chains, and his Nobles in Links of Iron  
But to begin with his story, according to the order I have proposed.  
When His late Majesty, of Blessed Memory, first received the Crown, the too happy Kingdom had so long enjoyed an uninterrupted Peace, that it was even grown sick of its own Prosperity, and lost and swallowed up in its own happiness.  
We had surfeited of our own plenty, and (like those that had eaten too much Honey) could not relish our own enjoyments.  
And, as this is ordinarily the time that men grow wanton and wicked, and forget God; so is it very often a forerunner of Rebellion against his Anointed. And hence is that common observation, both in History and Policy, that the best and most indulgent Princes, that have the most carefully consulted the Peace and Happiness of their Subjects, have for the most part been worst obeyed  
Such was the hard fate of this Good King, whose Fatherly Piety and Tenderness towards his People, made them (as is common in ill Natures) to forget their duty and Allegiance towards him.  
The first appearance of this Storm was in that fatal unquiet Quarter, the North.  
The Cloud arose in Scotland, and was, at first, no bigger than a man's hand, but at last it grew so great, that it covered three Kingdoms, and drenched almost every corner of them with showers of blood.  
The pretence indeed of this disorder was Religion, but it appeared by the sad consequences, that the thing designed and intended (at least by the Ringleaders and first movers of it) was Violence, and Rapine, and Sacrilege.  
Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum?  
Who would think Religion should make men so wicked?  
They begin first of all with Paper Arms, mutinous and Treasonable Pamphlets, and insolent and senseless Petitions.  
Then the evil Spirit grew so unruly and disorderly, that it assaulted the Bishops upon the Streets, nay the very Churches and Pulpits could not secure them from violence.  
And at length this heat and insolence broke forth into an open flame of Hostility and Rebellion.  
But that which made every good man's apprehensions of this mischief the stronger, was, that the Rebels were connived at, if not favoured, and encouraged under hand by a party of their Brethren in England.  
For at the same time there were many Seditious Pamphlets scattered about here likewise, which did most impiously reflect both upon the Church and Government, yea which was yet infinitely more intolerable, several of the Authors, who had been taken into custody and confined for them, were afterwards by the House of Commons delivered, and vindicated, and commenced the date of their Fame and Popularity (as Herostratu● from the burning of Diana's Temple) from those a bominable beginnings, and upon those dangerous Foundations erected the structure of their rising Fortunes.  
This I say to put you in mind, that sometimes men arrive at strange degrees of honour and esteem, only by the merit of their Crimes: And I am of opinion, we have seen but too many examples of the like kind very lately, who to please the people and make a fortune, neither cared what they said, or swore, or did.  
But let me tell you by the way, that such attempts and practices as these, are for the most part very unfortunate in the end, and when the People's eyes are opened, they that before cried Hail Master, will then cry Crucify him, Crucify him; and they that to day cry Hosanna, will to morrow cry Away with him to Golgotha.  
But I came not here to Prophesy.  
The Malcontents in England, after the example of their rebellious Neighbours, begin to cry out aloud for Liberty, and Religion, and a thorough Reformation.  
Hereupon his Majesty, thinking it the most proper remedy for these Agonies and Convulsions of State, calls a Parliament.  
And this, as it happened afterwards, proved a remedy worse than the Disease itself: For instead of healing and composing differences and grievances, they made it their business to aggravate, and make them worse.  
They themselves immediately begin to complain of Bishops and the whole Hierarchy of Ecclesiastical Officers in the Church; and of evil Counsellors in the State, and about his Majesty's Person.  
Nay they begin to descend to particulars. His Grace the Lord Archbishop is Impeached, and afterwards Executed for high-Treason; nor can the Reverence of his Office, nor the Integrity of his Manners, secure him. About the same time, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, of whose Innocence his Majesty, and all the World (not excepting his very Enemies, who took care that his case should be no precedent for Posterity) were very well satisfied, was also Committed to the Tower, Condemned, and Executed upon the like accusation.  
All this while his Majesty was but a helpless looker on, for the Common People upon his occasion, ran together in such Multitudes and clamorous Tumults, as endangered not only the Servant, but the Master.  
A hard case and a pitiful, that a King whose the Laws are, could not deliver an innocent Person from being Condemned, and suffering Death contrary to Law, and a sad presage of his own misfortunes.  
In the mean time, the Parliament is plied with Petitions from all sorts of men and women too (except the good) and Grievances, and Fears, and Jealousies of I know not how many kinds.  
But the main common places were Religion and Liberty.  
Alas! what Religion do they dream of, that strike at the very roots and foundations of it? Or what Liberty can the Subjects expect, when the King himself is not free.  
However they and the Parliament mutually encourage one another, and strengthen one another's hands in wickedness. The clamours of the People make the Parliament bold, and the boldness of the Parliament makes the People clamorous.  
All this while his Majesty, to show how much he tendered the peace and quiet of his Subjects, and to satisfy them all, if it were possible, at their importunity, recedes in some things from his Right and Prerogative.  
He passes a Bill for the Triennial Parliaments, and afterwards settled this during the pleasure of the two Houses.  
A wonderful condescension and goodness in a King, the like of which we have never met with in all our English Chronicles.  
And now let us see how they requite him.  
About this time, his Majesty charged some of the Members of the House of Commons, and not without just cause, with High-Treason, and demanded them in the House himself in Person.  
But this they exclaim of as a high breach of Privilege, and the accused Members, who were for the present fain to abscond, were in a little time afterward brought again to sit in the House, and vindicated without Trial.  
Thus finding the ground they had got of his Majesty, their demands grow every day louder and more unreasonable: They do not blush to demand the power of the Militia, the Command of the Navy, the Government of all the Strengths and Garrisons in the Kingdom.  
So that Royalty was now to be strips of all her Ornaments, and Sovereignty to be 
— Vox & praeterea nihil.  
An empty Name, and nothing else.   
And now what is become of our old English Loyalty and Honesty, when our King shall, by his own Parliament, be divested of all the Ensigns of his Honour and Majesty, and the Father of his Country become a Slave to his Subjects?  
About this time did the Natives of the Kingdom of Ireland, encouraged by the example of the Scots, and the attempts of this Parliament upon the Crown, cast off the Yoke of their Allegiance, and run into open Rebellion, and made such a Massacre of his Majesty's Protestant Subjects, as never was heard of before in the three Kingdoms.  
And here notwithstanding his Majesty's continual soliciting and importuning the Parliament, for the reducing and settling that Kingdom; it is very observable, that they still declined it: And some men were so barbarously scandalous and so unreasonably malicious, as to object the cause of that Rebellion to his Majesty himself, and intimate to the World that it was secretly begun and favoured by his Authority and Commission.  
Thus did the three Kingdoms, as if they had made a secret League and Agreement among themselves, almost at one time fall into Rebellion against their Natural Prince: A Prince who was so ready to grant them any reasonable request, that we may say of him as it was once said of the good Roman Emperor, Neminem unquam a se tristem demisit. He never let any man depart out of his presence sorrowful or dejected, if his Petition could be granted with honour.  
But the Parliaments Addresses are not such, they spend whole Reams in Petitions, Remonstrances, Declarations, and a great many such like Paper fireworks, all very strange and unreasonable.  
And still the more his Majesty grants, the more they still demand; for they are resolved that nothing shall satisfy them but all.  
They will have the very Fundamentals of Government altered, both in Church and State, and because his Majesty cannot agree to this, the Rabble associate themselves in tumults and dangerous uproars, insomuch that he is forced to send away his Queen into Holland, for fear of violence from his own Subjects, in the head City of his Kingdom, and in his own Palace.  
Nay at last he was fain himself to retreat from his own House, and take an unwilling leave of the City, for fear his People, in their mutinies and tumults, (than which there can be no greater omens or presages of approaching misery to a State) should have stretched forth their hands to destroy the Lords Anointed.  
And because he is now out of their reach, the Parliament do actually seize upon the Militia, the Tower, and all other Garrisons of the Kingdom, they put the command of the Navy into hands of their own choosing, and their own Creatures into all Offices of Trust in the Kingdom.  
In short, having made all the preparations that the time would admit, they put themselves into a posture of War, and to let the world see that they were in good earnest; his Majesty is absolutely denied entrance into one of his own Towns, and the Parliament avow the Deed.  
And this, I think; was one of the first acts of open Hostility and Defiance.  
I am sorry I have been forced to be so particular in this first part of his late Majesty's Sufferings, but I have done it not only to put you in mind of those steps and advances, whereby the late Civil Wa●●●gan, but also to let you see how near we were, in this late conjuncture of affairs, to tread the ●●me paths, and make ourselves miserable once more by the same means.  
And here I desire that no body may take that for Reproach and Affront, which I intent only for Reproof and Instruction  
We began now just ●●we did then; after a long Fit of Ease, and Plenty, to be weary of our Rest, and sick of our Happiness.  
And, to secure the Success, the Design is begun with the very 〈◊〉 method, whereby 〈◊〉 had once prevailed.  
Secret Murmur, Private Cabals, Treasonable Pamphlets, Lewd Petitions, Complaints against the Church, and Her Discipline, Indignities to Her Bishops, Crying out against Evil Counsellors, lessening His Majesty in the esteem of His People, and filling their Heads with frantic Fears, and Jealousies where no Fear was.  
This I 〈…〉, though I could wish it were not. And, had 〈◊〉 His Majesty, and His Council, seen the 〈◊〉 Consequences of these things once before, ●nd all probability we had been mined, and un●one by Whe●●ow, and the whole Nation 〈…〉 in a Bloody Civil War  
Brother might been fight against Brother, the Father against the Son, and the Son against the Father; and a Man's Enemies might have been those of his own House.  
And this puts me in mind of the second Section in my method; wherein I promised to speak of His Majesty's Sufferings and Misfortunes, during the time of the late Civil War, till he was deliver d up by the Scots into the hands of His Enemies, and Imprisoned.  
And now, you may imagine the War already begun; Englishmen marching, and fight against Englishmen; the Air filled with the noise of Drums and Trumpets, and darkened with the smoke of Cannons and Muskets; the Fields covered with the Carcases of the Dead; and the Rivers coloured with the Blood of the Slain.  
In the midst of this Confusion, and clattering of Arms, the Laws are utterly silent, and each man's Possession is his only Title.  
With what eyes, and with what heart, do you think so good a King could behold the various Successes and Events of the War● wherein, whoever were the conquerors, He was still sure to lose His Subjects, and always to bear a sorrowful part, both in Doing and Suffering.  
How contrary this War was to His Majesty's Intentions, (that I may use his own words, in his incomparable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) will appear in his total unpreparedness for it. His sooner Concessions show how willingly he would have prevented it; and his frequent Messages for Peace sufficiently testify that he delighted not in War.  
Whereas, all the Overtures of Peace that his Enemies ever made, were still accompanied with such Articles and Clauses, as they knew beforehand could never be condescended to; either by a King, or a Good Man.  
Witness the Nineteen Propositions with the Addition; The Treaty at Uxbridge; and all other their Mediations, wherein it is evident, even to ordinary Capacities, that they designed nothing but War, well understanding, and wisely considering, that a●●om of Machiav●●●, He that draws his Sword against his Prince must throw away the Scabb●rd.  
This indeed they kept to themselves.  
But there were other 〈◊〉 of their own Policy, I could tell you of, which they ob●●led upon the People, to the eternal shame of o●● English Nation be it spoken.  
As, the distinction between His Majesty's Private and 〈…〉 against Himself, by H●● Authority; Killing his Subjects, to Defend 〈…〉 ●●belling our 〈…〉  
I know 〈…〉 they worthy upon 〈◊〉 they imposed these notions but I am certain the Impartial 〈◊〉 Swords and Bullets could never be taught 〈…〉  
〈…〉 in 〈…〉 Confusion and Calamity, it should go well with the Church, when it was so ill with her Sons.  
The Reverend Bishops are some of 〈…〉 from their Se●●.  
An Ordinance is made against the Book Common Prayer; 〈◊〉 the very Creed and Lord's prayer 〈…〉 and some of the 〈…〉 form 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 ha●● 〈…〉  
〈…〉  
Th●● Pulpits 〈…〉 Stools of Sedition, and Treason; and because there were not enough of them, the Shop-bulks, Tables, Chairs, Tubs, Trees, and almost every co●●er of the Streets, are pressed to supply the defect.  
The Learned and Orthodox Divines are slighted, and persecuted; and the bold, and ignorant, Guifted-men, (as they called them) are favoured and advanced.  
No wonder then if all manner of Sects, Errors, and Heresies (like Leprous and Infectious Diseases) spread themselves almost into all places of the Kingdom.  
And now the Scots are called in, as Auxiliaries, to their Brethren; but they are men not to be hired upon any easy, or ordinary terms.  
They bring a Solemn League and Covenant along with them; and unless their Brethren in England will take it, they are resolved not to strike a stroke in their Quarrel. How this Covenant obtained amongst us, and how it was received in this Kingdom, I shall not need to tell you.  
Let me only say this, (and the truth of it) That it was only made use of here as a trick of State, for the R●●ner of the Church, and the Extirpation of her Discipline.  
I had like to have added, the Damning of men's Souls; for it was directly contrary to the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance; so that he that took both Them, and the Covenant, must of necessity be Perjured; and whereas they called it, A Solemn League and Covenant with God: I dare boldly say, in the Prophet's Phrase, Isa. 28.15. It was a Covenant with Death, and an agreement with Hell.  
But to return to the War.  
This War was managed on His Majesty's side with the greatest disadvantages imaginable; for the Parliament had seized upon His own Revenues, sequestered His Friends, and to keep His Subjects from serving him out of Love, and Loyalty, they maliciously spread abroad false and scandalous Reports of His Person.  
Thus, by the permission of God Almighty, (who sometimes in Judgement lets the Wicked prosper) His Majesty's Army, by several considerable Losses, being extremely reduced and weakened; and Money (which is the strength and sinews of War) being wanting to recruit them, He resolves to give over the War, and betake Himself to the Scotch Army, which lay then before Newark, and did so, having this only comfort in the world, (besides that of a good Conscience) that the Event never states the Justice of a Cause.  
With what killing thoughts, and terrible apprehension●● do we think His Majesty threw Himself into the power of these perfidious Men, of whom he himself said, after they had sold him, That they were just in this, that they had not deceived him?  
How lamentable was his condition, when, upon mature deliberation, he thought it his greatest safety to trust those, in whom he knew there was no Trust?  
Immediately after his arrival there, he issues out his Warrants to all the Governors of Towns, and other Officers in his Army, to capitulate with his Enemies, make such Conditions as their circumstances would admit, and surrender.  
And certainly, it could not choose but be a very great affliction to so large and noble a Soul as that of his, to think that at last so many Brave and Loyal men must leave his Service, without any Reward, but that of Heaven, and be exposed to the Fury of those wicked men, whose very tender Mercies, he knew, were Cruel.  
The News of His Majesty's putting himself into the protection of the Scots (you may think) quickly arrived at the Parliament, who immediately agree with them about his Price, (I must not say Ransom) and so he is bought and sold, and delivered into the hands of his Implacable enemy's, conducted to Holm●y, and confined.  
And this brings to the third Section of His Majesty's Sufferings; to wit, During His Imprisonment; which part of his affliction comes nearest the literal sense of the Text, To bind your Kings in Chains.  
I shall need to say little (especially in this Audience) of the pressures and difficulties of a Prison to the very meanest, and most vulgar of men. But, that a King should be bound in Chains; the Assert or of the People's Liberties confined; a Sovereign Prince, so Great, so Good, so Just, Imprisoned by his own Subjects, in his own Kingdom, may challenge the wonder and amazement of this age, and perhaps exceed the belief of some of those that are to come.  
The boldness and malice of his Enemies was a wonder; so also was His Majesty's Virtue and Patience: And certainly, had not his Spirit been buoyed up, and wonderfully confirmed, by the sweet and comfortable Influences of God Almighty's, his restraint would have deluded their last Revenge, and put an end to his miserable Life before the day.  
Immediately after, his Enemies, that their malice and bitterness might want no aggravation, command his Guardians to retrench both the Expenses of his entertainment, and his Retinue; The Countrypeople that flocked thither to be cured of that Disease which we commonly call the King's Evil, are not admitted to his Presence, but repelled with Scorn and Reproaches. But that which was the most Prodigious and Inhuman of all their Cruelties, and hard usage, was, that (as if, like the Devil, they had envied the welfare of his Soul) notwithstanding all his Solicitations in this Extremity, they refus d him the attendance of his Chaplains; a greater Rigour and Barbarity than is ever used amongst Christians to the meanest Prisoners, and greatest Malefactors.  
By the first, they might think to lessen the Quality of his Person; By the second, to diminish his Credit and Esteem among the People; But, by the last, I know not what they could intent; unless it were to hedge up his way to Heaven, and, if it were possible, murder his Immortal Soul.  
I will not adventure to tell you how his Majesty resented this passage, I refer you to his own Book.  
A while afterwards, some misunderstanding arising between the Parliament and the Army, the General sends a Party of Horse, seizes his Majesty's Person, and carries him from one place to another, till at last he is committed Prisoner to the Isle of Wight.  
And here the Parliament send their Commissioners to Treat with him again; where they find his Concessions such, that they tell him they doubt not but that the Peace will suddenly be concluded, and all differences between Him and his People adjusted and determined.  
Upon their return to London, the Army (wherein, it is probable, there were many cain's and Judass', who thought their sins too great for Pardon) puts for●h a Remonstrance, wherein they demand, That Justice may be done upon all the Actors and Contrivers of the late Civil War; and particularly upon his Majesty, as the Author and Beginner of that Calamity.  
Hereupon his Majesty is committed close Prisoner, his Servants dismissed, and he himself a while after brought to Windsor, and so to London, with a strong Guard; where the usual Respect, and ceremony of the Knee, is quite waved, and omitted by most of those that are about his Person; nay there were some that would scarce vouchsafe him the Hat.  
And now, to add the last compliment to their Iniquity, which is, to Establish it by Law: the House of Commons declare, That, by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm, it is Treason in the King of England, to levy War against the Parliament, and Kingdom. That the Legislative Power is in the People. That the Commons assembled in Parliament are the Supreme Authority of the Nation That all the People of the Nation are included in the Parliament, although the King and House of Peers do not consent thereunto. That the King himself took Arms against the Parliament, and therefore is Guilty of all the Bloodshed in the late Civil War; and that he ought to expiate the Crime with his own Blood.  
Notwithstanding this, the Ordinance for his Majesty's Trial is refused by the Lords; whereupon the House of Commons pass it alone, and by themselves cause a Charge of High Treason to be drawn up against him, in order to his Trial, in the Name of the Commons of England, and immediately make Proclamation, That they that could Accuse the King, should present themselves before the Commissioners appointed for his Trial, and they should be heard.  
I will not trouble you with remarks upon these several passages; the bare Relation does manifestly show us both the Rebels Malice, his Majesty's Sufferings, and admirable Patience and Resignation; whereof himself hath given us the best draught, in his own incomparable Book.  
We will therefore leave him a while to his Devout Prayers, and Holy Meditations; and before we bring him to act his last Part upon this Bloody Stage, according to the order of our method, speak a word upon His Sufferings in the Persons of his Loyal Nobility, and such good Subjects as stood and fell with his Majesty, in that Good Cause.  
We commonly say, The King is the Fountain of Honour; and when the Fountain is troubled, you know the Rivulets, and little Streams, must needs run muddy.  
The King is like the great Luminary of the world, the Sun; from which (as some Natural Philosophers conceive) both the Moon, and many of the lesser Lights of Heaven, borrow their shine and splendour.  
Now, when the Sun itself is Eclipsed, the Moon, and all those other Planets, must needs fade, and lose their brightness.  
When the King 〈…〉 we th●●● 〈…〉 Loyal ●●bles should enjoy their reflected Honours and Liberties.  
Thi● was the state of 〈…〉 time.  
〈…〉, was D●●●●●'● 〈…〉 the measures of his Suffering this Fai●● 〈…〉 were likewise Plundered, 〈…〉, and many of 〈…〉  
So exactly were those 〈…〉 applicable to this sad occasion, The Servant is not greater than his Masters, And 〈…〉 things in the Green Tree, what will they do to the D●●?  
I will not pretend to give you a just Bill of the Mortality of those da●s; But since I am so far engaged, I will 〈◊〉 to say something, and be sure to keep 〈…〉 bounds of truth and modesty.  
There were on his Majesty's part above Twenty Earls and Lords slain and 〈…〉 a pretended Court of Just●●●; 〈…〉 and Knights; above an Hundred 〈…〉 Lieutenant 〈…〉, and Sergeant 〈…〉 Four hundred 〈◊〉, and other inferior Commission Officers; and then, for the meaner Subjects, and 〈…〉 you to guests; I will say nothing of 〈…〉 ●●●hers, but pray to God, th●● their Blood 〈…〉 ever ●tise up in Judgement against 〈…〉  
〈…〉, or Ten●●●●●, overture would 〈…〉 Oak, and goodly ●●●ars, but destroy d●●●● crushed the very Sh●● 〈…〉  
There was fear scarce 〈…〉 were only thought, 〈◊〉 to be so) though his Qu●l joy were never so mean, but felt the Insolence and Violences of th●●● 〈◊〉 ●●ful conquerors.  
Yea, some●●●● 〈…〉 a Crime only to live in a Loyal Neighbourhood, and to relieve or show mercy to such as were persecuted for 〈◊〉 Loyalty, was the ●●ady way to follow the●● 〈◊〉, and share in the 〈…〉  
Nay more, their malice often times 〈…〉 ●scended all bounds, that they did mischief where they were not 〈…〉 to themselves; only 〈…〉 they took in doing it: Burning 〈…〉 Goods, destroying Books; E●●●●●●s, and Public Records, to the prejudice of Posterity, the disturbance of Possessions, the obstruction of Justice, the impairing of Learning, only to make themselves sport.  
Nay, I believe there is scarce a Cathedral in the Kingdom, which does not bea● the Livery of their madness, and some marks of their rage, unto this very day.  
Nor do I wonder, that the Houses of God were profaned and defaced, when I consider that the Priests themselves, who served at his Altar, were either sacrificed to the fury of his Enemies, or at least deprived of their Benefices, and exposed to the wide world; which was one of their tender Mercies.  
But what do I speak of their persecuting of the living, who envied the very rest and quiet of the dead; breaking in pieces their Monuments, and violating the Ashes of those Bodies, whose Souls are in ●eaven, out of their reach, long ago?  
How monstrous and disproportionable is it in these men, to pretend themselves. Servants of the Living God, who in their practices 〈◊〉 ●●ich a mortal ha●●ed to the places where his 〈◊〉 dwells? Or how can we think that they have any Religion, who have even divested themselves of all Humanity.  
I will pass from this unpleasant Argument, with praying for those of them that are yet alive, in the words wherewith St. Stephen (the blessed Proto Martyr prayed for those that stoned him, Lord lay not this S●● to the● Charge.  
I will only put you in mind, that when you have added the Sufferings of the Nobility, to those of his late Majesty, you have the complete figure, and substance of the Text; A King in Chai●e●, and his Nobles in Feetly of Iron.  
But there is yet no end of this sorrowful story.  
What I have hitherto said, are all but flourishes and preliminaries; The great slaughter of the fifth Act, the last and bloodiest section of my method, is yet to come; and that is, the Murder and Martyrdom of the best of Kings, by the hands of his own Rebellious Subjects.  
An action, that (all circumstances considered) can find no parallel in time past, and God forbidden it should in time to come; to which Posterity shall for everbay an annual Tribute of Tears, and the solemnity 〈◊〉 Penitential Commemoration.  
An action, that surpasses all the savage and inhuman Barbarities of those countries', whose Cruelty is gone into a Proverb, and which, among other Nations, has branded, and stigmatised this of ours, with an eternal Infamy.  
The Rebels bring their Lawful Sovereign to a formal Trial, in a Court of their own erecting: In vindication of whose Authority, when questioned by his Majesty, as they had nothing to answer, so could they not produce the least colour of Law, or pretence of Reason for trying him, who was unaccountable to ●●●y. 〈◊〉 upon Earth, and according to that ancient ma● 〈…〉 the Law, can do no wrong.  
But their Po●●● ●●●st pass for Justice, and their Wills are a Law: And he might as well demand an account of their Proceed, as an Innocent Traveller might of violence offered him by a desperate knot of Banditti, or Highwaymen.  
All this while (as the Jews did at the Trial of our Saviour) the insolent Soldiers, according to their Instructions, (not to mention their more than Barbarous and Inhuman affronts and uncivilities) cry out aloud for Justice against the Prisoner at the Bar.  
The Precedent of that High Court of Justice (as they called it) in the mean while, with a torrent of imperious and insolent words, urges him to plead, while he only persists (as well be might) to deny the Authority of the Court.  
There are several days spent in the same manner; after which, as Judges use to treat Malefactors, that have not the fear of God before their Eyes, the Precedent gins a grave Harrangne, (nor will he be interrupted by a King) wherein he asserts the Authority of Parliaments, aggrevates his Majesty's contumacy, and the horror of his Crimes wilfully mistaking light for darkness, and darkness for 〈◊〉; Innocence for Gild, and Gild for Innocenc● 〈◊〉 so proceeds to Sentence of Death, by severing his Head from his Body.  
This (says he, after the Sentence read) is the Act, Sentence, Judgement and Resolution of the whole Court; whereupon they that sat as Judges (being in number Seventy eight persons) stood up, and shown their assent, by holding up their hands; never considering, with what heavy hearts, and dejected eyes, they should one day bold up their hands again for the same. Fact, before the dreadful Tribunal of the Righteous Judge of all the world.  
The Execution was not long respited. There were but two days between that of his Sentence, and that of his Death; which he spent in such Devout and Pious Exercises, as become a dying Christian.  
He received the Holy Sacrament, Blessed and Instructed those his Children that were with him; prayed for the Peace of the Nation, for the Happiness of his Friends, and the Repentance of his Enemies.  
The black and dismal day of his Execution being come, he is brought to the Place, which (as if it were designed to add to his affliction, if possible) was, a Scaffold erected just before his own Palace.  
The spectators were amazed to see him enter upon that Bloody Stage with so much meekness and levity, so much serenity and cheerfulness in his looks.  
Nothing daunted, or surprised with the sad spectacle of the Instruments, and Circumstances of his Death; In a short Speech, he first declares his Innocence; laments the public Calamity of the Kingdom; hearty pardons, and prays for his Enemies; Then, making an open Profession, that He died in the Christian Faith, according to the Profession of the Church of England, and kneeling down, his last breath dissolves in a meek, and holy Prayer.  
And, in assurance of God Almighty's Mercy, and his own Innocence, I go (says he) from a Corruptible, to an Incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance can be, but Peace, and Joy for evermore.  
Then, lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven, mildly praying to himself, he stooped down to the Block, and humbly bowed down his Royal Head to God, to be cut off by the Vizarded Executioner, which was suddenly done, and one blow.  
Thus fell that Mighty Monarch, and Miracle of Goodness, CHARLES I. of ever blessed memory, a Martyr for his God, and a Sacrifice for his Subjects; the Grief, and Glory of the English Nation; lamented not only by his Friends, but even by those very men (though too late) that had assisted in bringing him to the Block.  
Thus fell the Beauty of our Israel, in the High-places. How are the Mighty fallen?  
Tell it not in Gath; publish it not in Askalon; lest the Daughters of the Philistines rejoice; lest the Daughters of the Uncircumcised triumph.  
Tell it not among our Neighbours abroad, publish it not in Foreign Kingdoms, lest our Enemies rejoice, lest we become a reproach to our Neighbours, a scorn and decision to them that are round about us.  
Ye Mountains of Gilboah, let there be no Dew, neither let there be Rain upon you, nor Fields of Offerings; for there the Shield of the Mighty is vilely cast away, the Shield of Saul, as though he had not be anointed with Oil.  
Let the fatal Time and Circumstances never be forgotten, wherein the Shield of our Defence was vilely cast away, wherein the Sceptre fell from his Hand, and the Crown from his Head, as if he had not been anointed with Oil.  
Ye Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in Scarlet, with other Delights; who put on Ornaments of Gold upon your Apparel.  
Weep, O ye Loyal Subjects, over your Murdered Prince, under whose shadow ye once enjoyed all the Blessings of a happy Peace.  
How are the Mighty fallen, and the Weapons of War perished?  
Nor did the malice of his Enemies expire with his Life; they pursue and follow the Royal Martyr into the very shades of Death, like the Philistines that fastened the dead body of Saul to the Walls of Bethshan.  
They raise false and scandalous Reports of his Religion; they erect him a Statue, with that contumelious Inscription, Exit Tyrannus; and, in despite of his Name and Posterity, pass an Act for the utter abolishing of Monarchy itself. And thus I have given you a brief account of his late Majesty's grievous Sufferings, both in his Life, and Death.  
I come now, for Conclusion, to tell you what Use or Improvement we ought to make of the story.  
And that will either respect the time past, or time to come.  
As to the time past, we should with sorrow, and bitterness of Spirit, remember, and repent of those crying Sins, and Offences, which provoked God Almighty to suffer his Anointed, our late Sovereign, (of happy memory) to drink so deep of the Cup of his Wrath, and humbly deprecate those Judgements, which we have reason to fear that Innocent Blood may yet bring upon us. And this is the duty of this day.  
As to the time to come, we must use our utmost care and diligence to prevent the like, by yielding all due Homage and Fealty to our Kings, and Respect and Obedience to all that are in Authority under them, both in Church and State. And this is the duty of our whole lives.  
And, that we may herein acquit ourselves, like good Christians, and Loyal Subjects, we must first of all most industriously avoid those things which have the very lest tendency to Disloyalty, and the very first steps that lead to Rebellion.  
Of this sort are, Murmuring, and repining against the Government; and so are Tumults, and Unlawful Conventions; and therefore equally to be shunned and avoided.  
I say, we must beware of Murmuring, and repining against the Government.  
This is become so common, and ordinary at this day, that I dare say there are many men scarce believe it to be a Sin.  
Unhandsome Reflections upon His Majesty, the Church, the State, the Court, the Council, and the Laws too, are the ordinary entertainments of some men's Conversation.  
Every Mechanic now adays pretends to give you an exact account of all the distempers and mistakes in the Government, and their proper helps, and remedies besides; so that to hear him talk, you would think he had served his Time to a Privy-counselor.  
Nor is this a practice but of yesterday; it hath been so in all ages, and amongst all people.  
Omni populo inest aliquod malignum & querulum in Imperantes, says Plutarch, in one of his Tracts.  
Men are generally malignant and querulous against their Governors.  
And though a Prince do nothing that may deserve it, yet he is sure to have the hatred of some. The most exalted Piety and Goodness, could never yet boast of every man's Love; nor the most unspotted Innocence, secure itself against the poison of Tongues.  
And here I might add that Tetter, or Scab of the Commonwealth, the Publishing of Scurrilous, and Seditious Pamphlets; which, in my mind, is a kind of undermining the Government; But let the Authors take heed it do not at last fall upon their heads, and oppress them; For though the heels of Justice be of Lead, yet her hands are of Iron.  
Therefore, Curse not the King, no, not in thy thought; for a Bird of the Air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.  
It is the wisest of Kings, and the best of Preachers Counsel. Eccles. 10.20.  
2dly. The second step or advance towards Rebellion, are Tumults, and Unlawful Conventions; and from these we should abstain, as we would from the Infection of a Pest-house; for there is Nothing (to use his late Majesties own words) portends more the displeasure of God towards a Nation, than when he suffers the confluence and clamours of the vulgar to pass all boundaries of Laws, and reverence to Authority.  
And that which should the more oblige us in this case to stand upon our Guard, is the fatal prevalence, and insinuation of example.  
For there is nothing more common, than for men to follow a multitude to do Evil; and like Beasts march on with the Herd, without ever enquiring whither they go.  
And besides, in such intemperate Heats, and Mutinies, men are apt to do those things all together, which singly the very worst of them would be ashamed of; for every man fancies himself sheltered in the Crowd, and a great fault divided into many pieces, they think will be but every one a little.  
To Tumults I added all other Unlawful Meetings and Conventicles whatsoever, yea, though they be under pretence of Religion itself.  
For besides that those are for the most part Schools of Sedition, and Nurseries of Schism, the very act of Meeting, and Convening itself, is a violation, and breach of the Law, and therefore by all means to be avoided.  
Of both these, to wit, Mutinying against their Prince, and Invading the Priest's Office, Korah and his Company stand a sad (but fatally pertinent) Example unto all Posterity.  
Their story is Numb. 16. In verse 3. you have their Sin. And they gathered themselves together against Moses, and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you.  
Their Punishment you have in the 31, 32, 33. And it came to pass, as Moses had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clavae asunder that was under them,  
And the Earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their Houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah; and all their Goods.  
They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the Pit; and the Earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the Congregation.  
And I know not what better Counsel I can give you, either in regard of Tumults, or Unlawful Conventions, than that which Moses gave the Children of Israel, upon that occasion of the Rebellion of Korah, in the 26. verse of the same Chapter: Depart, I pray you, from the Tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their Sins.  
And, as we must avoid those Things, so must we also avoid those Persons, which lead towards Rebellion.  
I mean, we must have a care of the Designs and Insinuations of those covetous and ambitious men, who are always making a Party against the Goverrnment; and that for no other reason, but only to gratify their own infatiable and boundless desires of Riches and Honour.  
The Tools which these State-wrights commonly work with; the Baits which cover their Hooks, are for the most part, the Preservation of Religion, and the Vindication of Liberty.  
With these two specious pretences they draw in not only the wicked and profligate Desperadoes of their own Principles; but also the simple, , well-meaning Multitude, who, ten to one, never know where they are, till there is no room left them them to retreat; Nor understand rightly what they are doing, till 'tis too late to retract.  
And this was the very case of a great part of the Kingdom, in the late Civil Wars.  
They cried so long upon Religion, that at last they conjured her up in so many shapes, and there appeared so many New Lights, that the undiscerning multitude could not tell easily which was the Old.  
They were afraid of the Re-establishing of Superstition, and Popery; and looked upon our Churches decent and useful Ceremonies, as Dangerous Innovations, and Introductions to Idolatry.  
And in the State, the fancied endeavours of an Arbitrary Government, and advancing a Boundless Prerogative, even to the despoiling the Subject, and robbing him of his Birthright, the benefit of the Laws.  
And, to free themselves of these Fears and Jealousies, they ran out into an open Rebellion; whereby, instead of settling and confirming, they ruin and overthrow the very Foundations of both Religion and Liberty.  
Alas! their Ignorance in both.  
One would think that the Excellency of our Religion, and the great Prudence and Sincerity used in the Reformation, might have satisfied any considering man, that there was no danger of our returning to the Communion of the Church of Rome; Or, if nothing else would, yet (methinks) the inconsistence of the Interest of our Kings with subjection to that See, might have persuaded any man in his wits, that they would never submit themselves again to that Yoke, which neither we, nor our Forefathers, have been able to bear.  
And again, for Liberty, it can never be for the Public Good, to assert it by Subjects taking up Arms against their Prince, because some ambitious designning men are always sure in such cases to make the abused People their own Slaves.  
This truth was well known to some at the beginning of our Troubles, though their endeavours to infuse it into the distempered people's minds, had the fate of Cassandra's Predictions, To hit the Truth, but want Belief, till a costly, and too late experience, had vouched it.  
So that, upon the upshot, it appeared, that all the fair pretences of their Leading-men, were but a miserable mask and cover of a Damnable Rebellion; and their towering, highflown Religion, nothing but downright Hypocrisy, and deep Dissimulation.  
This was but too plain to every body, upon their refusal of His Majesty's large Concessions, in the last Treaty he had with them.  
Every man's eyes were then opened, and they saw manifestly, that the great designers and managers of that Rebllion, aimed at nothing but his Crown and Dignity; and that the People had all this while been deluded with appearances, and cheated with Golden Dreams. So true is that of the Prophet, even in this sense, 1 Sam. 15.23. Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft.  
God deliver us from her Enchantments, and accept the Blood of his dear Son Jesus Christ, as a perfect atonement for that Royal Innocent Blood, wherewith our Land was, as this day, stained and polluted; Bless the King's Majesty with a long and prosperous Reign; Grant us Peace and Truth in these our days, both in Church and State; Give us all one Loyal and Obedient heart; Compose all our Unnatural Heats and Divisions; Deliver us out of the hands of all our Enemies; and grant, that those Evils which the craft and subtlety of the Devil or Man worketh against us, be brought to nought; and by the providence of his Goodness they may be dispersed, that we his Servants, being hurt by no Persecutions, may ever more give thanks unto him in his Holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord: To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost the Comforter, be all Honour and Glory, now and evermore,  
Amen.  
FINIS.