A Vindication of THOMAS HENSHAW Esquire, sometimes Major in the French Kings service. In justiftcation of himself against the Aspersions thrown upon him. Concerning a pretended Plot for which JOHN GERHARDE Esquire, and PETER VOWELL Gent: were murdered on the 10.th of August, 1654.  
IN the Solitariness, to which (from the noise, and vanities of a false World, and falser Nation) I was in Contemplation retired, to the caverns, and Ideas of Death; I could have passed over those several contradictory Scandals thrown upon me, and taken my satisfaction from the blessing in store for those who wrongfully are calumniated, if by the private sollitations of my Friends, and the frequent al'armes of public impertinent Pamphlets; I had not been awakened to the service of truth. And a Soldier is reduced to a sad exigency, who is forced to retreat to his Pen, principally where Truth is as dangerous to be Printed as spoken.  
I have seen several Pamphlets, which described, or framed a Plot, as false, as senseless; where I am named a chief contriver. Truly these Writers have the advantage and liberty of the Press, to dispose of any man's fame, as freely as the High Court of justice do of his body: And much at a rate: For if a business (such as hath been noised) were to be Executed; The King could not be so indigent of Friends, that an Alehousekeeper (meaner of Condition than Profession) should be picked up, as a Person fit for the Honour Mr. Wharton would give himself of Proclaiming the King in London.  
And for Parson Hudson, were he deaf, and dumb, he might be an indifferent Secretary, but being blind he is altogether an unfit correspondent for a King.  
For some of the Mercenary 
* Coll: Aldridge, etc.  hired Witnesses, that mentioned great sums of Money promised to them, I believe the men spoke according to their inclinations. But they know Pluto to be the God of Riches, and his chief Steward, and Cashkeeper in England, will surely pay them for their lies: Or he himself will reward them, when they audit their accounts. I should wonder why that subtle Sir that sways the Sceptre in this Region of falsehoods, could not dictate better to them. But truth will appear in despite of her Enemies.  
For the other witnesses, Mr. John Wiseman (my half Brother) and Mr. Charles Gerharde, Brother to the late murdered John Gerharde: I pity their youths, and wish they had not been 
* Phalleris licet imperet, & add moto ducet perjuria tauro.  frighted from Truth, nor flattered from Honour.  
And for the discourse mentioned, with the Rightful King of England, it is as false as the hearts of the Inventors of all these lies; Not but that according to my duty, I shall ever faithfully serve him; and be proud if the loss of my blood may advance his interest: With tears of joy I saw him in health; yet certainly my Brother cannot swear, I had the Honour to Kiss his hands, or made any address to his Majesty. Indeed those that understand how deservedly His Highness' Prince RUPERT is esteemed at the Court of France, will not blame me (who have received some hard measure there) if I made Suit to so worthy a Patron, by his means and favour to get remedy.  
For the business attested by Mr. Charles Gerharde, I must confess (from a long Experience of his worth, and my knowledge of his affection to his injured King and Country) together with Colonel Charles Finch, I had some discourse with his Brother of the possibility the enslaved Gentry of this Nation, had of Righting the best of Princes, and freeing themselves from so insupportable a yoke: But that ever any such thing was agreed on, much less concluded to be put in Execution, as (with so spacious a form of Time and Place) is pretended, is as untrue, as if any man should affirm, that the Idol of this Nation is not an enemy to God, whose houses he hath laid waste, a Traitor to his King, whose Lands he possesses, and an Imposter to his Poor young men. I believe they might be terrified with his threats, as dismayed by the Examples of his cruelty upon others, whose known Innocence was no safeguard against the uttermost extremities of a most loathsome Dungeon.  
O the barbarousness! O the impudence of an imperious tyrant? With what arrogance? With what foul language did he insult over Gentlemen, better than himself? But let this be the comfort of the afflicted, that the Lord hath looked down from Heaven, that he might hear the groan of the fettered, and lose the Children of them that are slain.  
Now they that know the cunning of their Examiner, know also that he uses artifice (with allurements, aswell as threats) enough to stagger the resolutions of Elder years: And they are not the first of many thousands that have believed him, and consequently been deceived by him. What shall be added to a deceitful Tongue? The sharp arrows of the Almighty, with coals of desolation.  
For my being lately at Paris, I am not obliged to give any man account, though some notorious Liars, instruments (and some of the 
* Mr. Clapole.  brood) of Cromwell have reported, that I had Money from him for my journey: Others further suggest, that Mr. 
* A dead man cannot contradict them  Henry Elsing carried me to him to receive money for betraying Gentlemen in this pretended Plot, with other the like inventions; which had they been true, Cromwell needed not have tempted so many, with so large sums to betray my life, as by many Gentlemen of Honour in London will be attested.  
And truly men of worth should be more tender of reporting things upon trust to the prejudice of a Gentleman's repute, who cannot appear to contradict them. In a Country, whom he hath cheated out of all her Liberties.  
For the little printed Libel (as they call it) wherein is mentioned his cruelty, avarice, and ambition, as unsatisfied as the Sea, or grave, etc. if that were it is meant, I confess I writ it, but deny it to be a Libel: And Cromwell is more civil than in his actions to give the lie, to one not more Complemental with him. And yet I subscribe myself altogether unable to speak his deserts.  
And now I appeal to all impartial people, if these amazed terrified witnesses (who from their own mouths stood convicted) were more sufficient than the judges, of whom so many are so notoriously perjured, that I blame not Mr. Vowel, for not admitting them to be his Peers. And I believe when the great leveller Death shall have reduced them to what by their Sentence he is already brought, they will not so confidently stand before him in judgement.  
What he died for, I understand not; Further than himself in his last intended Speech (now in Print) delivered; where he speaks as if the Sacrifices of humane blood begun to Baal, and Beelzebub must be continued, And since the Noblest for birth, and most eminent for Virtue, hath (with such greediness) been already quaffed off; the still growing thirst, must be allayed with such as is remaining.  
Our Saviour observed of the great binder's of Burdens, that for a pretence They made long Prayers, whilst they devoured Widows houses: But our Pharisee was at prayers (or seeking the Lord) whilst he gave order for the Murdering his Sovereign, 
Tantum religio poterat suadere malorum!  and Widowing three whole Nations; And having thus bereft them of their Crown, and glorious Head; he hath made them a false vizard (like his own hands and heart) forged out of rusty Iron. And what is yet more grievous, their Children are constrained to bow down before this monster Idol; as the Indians worship the Devil for fear of harm.  
Now notwithstanding his persecuting my Friends, his dealing with base People, and consulting with Wizards for the finding me out, and his offers of sums of money, larger than the Fee-simple of his own rightful Inheritance. (How highly he thirsts for blood! And how dearly his draughts cost the Nation!) Alexander, jam: who lived in the Mews, received 100 l. and hath a yearly Pension promised him for (inventing) then discovering this pretended Plot.  
Yet by Divine providence my Soul is escaped, as a Bird from the snare of the fouler; But not from his unjust lips, and deceitful tongue; for when he could not reach my Person to gratify his most inveterate malice with my blood, he struck at my reputation, and by his Practices he made Mr. Gerhard my friend (whose memory I shall ever Honour) die in a belief, that I was in his custody, and persuaded him (as he hath almost the whole world) to credit that I was the Author of all his own invented lies; To which, to give a better gloss, he hath varnished them with (his usual tincture) Blood: For which colour he was wilfully bend the innocent Gentleman should find such justice, as his mercy commonly distributes.  
And he hath so exquisite an art of Brewing, then spreading the black issue of his brain, with Circumstances. and appearances of Truth; that many of my intimate Friends, have been induced to doubt my Loyalty. Insomuch, that I should have appeared in defence of my honour, and justification of myself, if we might have had legal trial: But it had been madness to indulge the luxurious malice of my Enemies, with that blood, which I am obliged to preserve for the service of my King and Country.  
When the measure of his Iniquities is full, vengeance will overtake him, In the mean time as God set a mark on Cain the first, so he hath set a guard on Cromwell the greatest Murderer.  
I cannot but pity the common Soldiers, who share largely in his guilt, but yet continue poor, and in slavery to him, as Witches, to the Devil.  
At the great day of reckoning, when inquisition shall be made for Blood, it will not excuse them, to say, they were Commanded; for their hands support the Murderers, and all their mischiefs: And though now they are ingenious to delude themselves, they will then know, that there is no drop of blood spilt, from which the Souls of those fare remote, aswell as of those present receives not a stain.  
I pray God their eyes may at length be opened, that they may not longer hazard their precious Souls in the service of Sin, and Satan; for the wages is death, and that death Eternal.  
Fear not those that can Kill the body but not hurt the soul, but fear him that can bring both Body and Soul to destruction. And they that truly serve, and fear him, will not for the vain hopes of the frail world be disloyal to the best King in it: For whom I shall ever pray, that God will guide, and Protect him, and give me one day a possibility, of testifying to the world; that I am as much as any man living, his true and faithful Subject; of which, God Almighty raise him sufficient numbers.  
FINIS.   

Printed at the SPA. MDCLIV.