The History of the Life and Death of Hugh Peter that Archtraitor, from his Cradle to the Gallows. WITH A Map of his profane Jests, cruel Actions, and wicked Counsels. Published as a Warning piece to all Traitors. [At the time of our late Sacred King's trial, this was the villain's Text to animate their Roman precedent & the Jeshish Court for the speedy horrid Murder.] Bind your Kings in chains of Iron and your Nobles in fetters. Behold his Reward the hanging of Hugh Peters Jan: 3d. LONDON, Printed for Fr. Coles, at the Lamb in the Old-Baily, 1661. Jan. 3. 1660 The History of the Life and Death of Hugh Peter that Arch-traitor, with a Map of his erroneous Actions, etc. CHAP. 1. Of Hugh Peter his Birth and Education. HVgh Peter was borne in Cornwall, in a little Village named Sudbury, not fare from Launson; his Father's name was Edward Peter, by trade a Dyer of Stuffs, but counted a man of good repute and civil behaviour, and gave his Son Hugh what Education he could, as did belong to a Father; he was as the ancientry of the Country doth report, bred up six years in the free School of Launson, after which being fourd very prone and pregnant to Learning. CHAP. 2. Of Hugh Peter's going to Oxford, and Invested in Brazen-nosed College, and all his Pranks played there during his time. He was from thence transferred to Oxford, and there invested in Brazen-nosed College, during which time he was always given to Scoffs, jests and jeering; yet he took Learning in abundance, for all that he was not much respected; for the Scholars despised him, the Proctors did not care for him, none very well loved him, he carried the fairest Tongue of most men, but the dissemblingest heart of all men; he would promise as fair as any one should, and perform as little as any one alive; he was a man never given to the vice of Swearing, yet he would Lie most intolerable, he was never of no Magnanimous Spirit, he would fight with no one in open arms, but they must beware of him of a private mischief; As to instance, he once seduced a company of Scholars to go four miles out of the Town to a Park of the Kings intending to steal some Deer, and there he began first to be a Thief and a Traitor against his King and Sovereign, but mark the story and you shall hear what a notorious piece of Villainy this young judas did invent being but tender like a Cockatrice Egg, even to betray the innocent Beasts of the Park; It chanced the Moon did shine when he and his gang were with drawn over into the Park, and the Keepers walking the Round and ranging about, perceived them armed with Guns and Crossbows, and they with Forest Bills encountered with them and defeated them, pursuing them quite to the Town's end, but then fearing some other assistance retired bacl to the Park again till next morning, and then came to Oxford and enquired after these Dear killers; faith those of his Company were feign to absent the College, quit the Town and be gone; So there he wrought their Ruin and destruction in the first place; for in regard they durst not make appearance in the College; some took to the High way by which means they were Hanged; but according to the old Proverb, The veriest Thief escapes best. For the crafty Fox and Ringleader himself, was neither discovered, taxed, nor suspected, yet observe the malice and treachery of this judas, a week after following he goes and buys a peck of Apples, and cuts off the top next the stalk of every one, picks out the Core, put in Ratsbane and stopped them up again with the same pieces; observing that Deer doth love Apples excessively, he caries one evening to the same Park, and throws them about for the Innocent beasts, whereby several of them were poisoned to death. Thus did he vent his Malicious poison against man and Beast; You'll say 'twas enough to deserve hanging but his time was not come. But a Thief and a Traitor he was from the beginning: But to proceed he had not been passing the space of three years in this College; Tell this unparallelled fact was Committed; for by his craft and close concealing mind, he kept it private and unknown two years longer; which time being expired, it thus came out. He and some others being in a Tavern: The Wind wrought strong began a discourse in this manner. Said one, as I was once coming over a Park being rutting time I was like to be spoiled with a Buck; But I think I met with him: For I broke his Heape-bone with a Pistol bullet. Why introth said Peter, and I received and abuse once by two Keepers, but I think his Sweet meat had but Sour sauce: For in eating the Fruit which I presented there fell more in one Night, then in the Garden of Eden in a whole Year. Why said the other, Adam was not there, said Peter again, that doth not argue the Serpent was not there. Whereupon Notice being taken by one who was not his Cordial friend: So that the College came to hear of it. CHAP. 3. How Peter was called before the Proctors of the School with his Accusation, for killing and poisoning Dear; For which he was expelled the College. HOw Peter was called before the Bench, taxed upon't, but stoutly denied it; Insomuch that one of the Proctors told him he was a Brazen-fac'-Fellow: He answered than he learned it in Brazen nosed College, upon which he was presently expelled, Oxford then being too hot for him, he hasted away to Woodstock, at which place there lay a Bishop; to whom he made his Address for an Ordination to Preach, but went away without his Errand. Thus having not obtained his Request, rather than stand Idly He made bold of himself; And thereupon insinuated with one Person then another Person, one Sermon here and another there: Telling the Ignorant people, Doom's day was come, and the Days they lived in were the Later days. Hover up and down the Country amongst the Lay Committee: So that he was taken for a little small Prophet: But all this while Oxford remained his Antagonest and durst not come there, which caused Him to his Power, to spit his Venom at that Town as formerly he did to the D●ere: For at Enstone in Oxfordshire he preached the Unniversitie a profane place, and aught to be refined and purged. But that would not prevail, he was feign to quit the Town and repair to London, where at Bishopsgate Church, he preached down the Bishops, raised Sectory, which too many were to prone for to follow. But presently than he met with able Divines, which scorned to dispute with such a Quicksilvered brain Fellow; Yet to please the People, and the ignorant multitude were feign to argue, cross him, and thwart him, to beat down Rising sedition. CHAP. 4. How Peter being Confuted in London by some able Divines for his erroneous Errors, did marry a wife and sent her to Virginia and himself to New England. WEll then this contentious Hypocrite Seduced a young Gentleman's daughter to Marry with him: And not long he lived with her, but the Spirit of Cavalation struck in betwixt them. Then did he act Richard the 3 .d, 'tis true he did not break her Neck, but he sent her to Virginiae to be made a Slave on. And went himself to New-England, wherein he continued three years, till the very Natives were feign to give him Money to be rid of him. Then to England he came again, as the Proverb is, An Ill herb grows any any where. And just as the War's was broke out in Flames: this Atheist came again to lay more Fuel to the fire. Presently struck into the Army, got preferment Chaplin to the Lord Brookes his Regiment: At which time News was Novelties, and none could declare more in a private Alehouse than He could in a public Pulpit: The ignotant did praise him, the learned despise him: So that he was like the Fox, when once he was well known He was feign to quit his Burough. Even so he qickly departed from Brooks, and fell into Fairfax Army, and there he preached, the Soldiers into so much obedience, that they were ready to stone him away: Then he bethought himself whose he could please best, that if any Devil was on Earth he would find him. For Towns nor Cities would not entertain him, he knew the Sea (or A●my) must so strick into Oliver Cromwell, than Lieutenant's General, where now we will hunt him, like a Fox by the Smell. CHAP. 5. How Peter got his Preferment with his Master Noll, and his going with him into Ireland. NOw Reader observe, that no sooner had his Master and he disputed, but they were Haile-Fellow well met: trim tram, like Master like Man. Now Oliver was subtle, and of the same kind Peter was, for in a Month's time, he found out what Peter was, and Peter what he was, so they became unto one another, as pliable as a clack to a Mill-Wheele. And Oliver made him not only his Chaplin but his privy Counsellor Varsooth. took him over to Ireland with him: For Oliver knew he was a Servant fit for his turn, and Peter knew, he was a Master for his: So a little before Tredath fight, Peter's preached to Oliver in the Camp, and quoted his Text in the 45. Psalms, and part of the sixth verse, Thy arrows are very sharp and the People shall be subdued unto thee: For truly said he Ichu destroyed the house of Ahab King of Israel even to that, which pissed against the Wall, for it was the work of the Lord, and thou which art going to do this mighty work, behave thyself like Maccabees, who slew of the Philistines in one day threescore and ten thousand. Therefore smite them to the Earth and leave not one alive. The Tyrant did as the Traitor had said, and turned the City into streams of blood: So this was his seventh horrid Act of Villainy: From thence to England came again: Because many men to lose their Estates, and this Hypocritical Peter was the first that transformed the Word from Malignant to Delinquent. So after a great deal of Mischief, the Parliament were willing to be rid of them sent them to Scotland; In which Travel two Soldiers being short of money knocked a Goose in the Head, besides having done some small affront to Peter before; Saying, he was their holy divine Prophet: Which in troth they wronged him; He caused them to be hanged for't, But Dunbar in Scotland, Edinburgh, Fife and Sterling: For all his good deeds there, we'll give him in to the Bargain. And discourse of their horrid and detestable Plots in Counsel at the Castle of Windsor, lastly at Ware. In which we will show the very essence of his Roguery, Villainy, jests and Mischief. CHAP. 6. How Peter and his Master Noll sat in Counsel at Windsor and Ware, to contrive the Murder of the King, and dissolution of the Parliament, thereby to assume the Power. IN Windsor, he and his Master sat three Nights together up, to contrive for and how to usurp the Government: The King being then at Holmby, by Peter advice they pitched upon a perfidious il-borne brat, one joice to secure the King. Who did accordingly, after which they withdrew to Ware, where at distance from the Army in a Field by their selves Concluded, the King to be Murdered, the Parliament interupted, and Oliver to reign Potentate, as he confessed when he lay sick at Plymouth. Which was all accordingly done, but when the House was interrupted, so many as were Secluded were put in Hell at Westminster, in which place Peter stood with his Pen and Ink ro take a list how many they were; after preached a Sermon at St. Alban's stooping in the Pulpit like an Actor in a play, which a great one in m●schiefe, said he had been in Hell, and there had seen a great many Parliament men; still blinding the people, only to advance his Master's interest. Which being done, and all things accomplished, he was invested in his throne of wickedness, yet he would flout his Master, jeer his Competitors, object to all. For in the Pulpit at White-Hall some persons being in the Chapel he did not affect, Heason was under the Gallery, Peter said there sat a blind Cobbler had more grace in his face then any of them all. At another time his Master asked him, what College he received his Education in, he said in Brazen-nosed College. His Master supposed he had jeered him of his Nose, said he was a Brazen nosed fellow to answer him so; At another time in St. james his Park being his Master in a Coach and he on Horseback, it chanced to rain, whereby his Master sent him his own Coat to preserve him from the shower; Peter sent him word again, he would not be in his Coat for 500 l. See how the Traitor himself did hint at the unworthiness of his Master's cause. Another time his Master's Son Richard himself and another Gentleman to the number of three, were at the Devil Tavern at Temple bar, fifteen Shillings being to pay, faith Richard would pay but his club, what but your club said Peter.— Come hang it I'll pay my 3. Crowns, that's more spent in an hour then your Father could get easily in seven years; but suddenly after Noll posted away, Richard defeated, and Peter's feign to shift for himself. CHAP. 7. How Peter after the Decease of his wretched Master, and the total Defeat of all his wicked Rabble was feign to shift for himself, his narrow Escapes and Apprehension, with his going to Trial and from thence to the Gallows. NOw this miserable Caitiff was in a worse condition than ever was Cain for slaying his Brother Abel, then was he feign to shuffle and cut, and try his wits to the purpose, for he knew the Game stood upon his Life, but perceiving the game to be dangerous, resolved the best way to play least in sight which he did for a certain while, but being closely pursued and chased, he was constrained to take hold in Southwark, his dables being discovered, a Messenger was sent to apprehend him; but he like a Fox did soon quit his Borough, and so missed for that time; but not long after he was taken and secured, though strongly denied he was not Peter; questionless a Fox if that he could speak, to quit himself from Death would swear he was a Lamb; But Peter's guilt and erroneous actions could not appear in the coat of Innocency, so forthwith was brought to the Tower, and a while after to Newgate and at the Old Baily took fair trial before the judges, who gave him Sentence to be drawn from thence on a Sledge to Charingcross to be Hanged, drawn and Quartered, which was done: and now his quarters hangs on the Gates, and his Head on London-Bridge, where we will leave them to the Readers judgement, whether he was more honoured in a Tyrant's counsel, or on the Gibbet at Charing-cross. So farewell to an unparalled Traitor never to be forgotten in the rolls of Infamy. Good Sir forbear who ere you are that laugh, I needs must write Hugh Peter's Epitaph: I cannot say the Body lieth here, But point unto the Gates his Limbs are there. The Epitaph. IN stead of saying, in this place doth Lie, I now must say upon the Gates on high There hangs Hugh Peter's Limbs, a Traitor that Rebellion itself did stand amazed at: To see such Confidence in mortal Man, Hard Natured, like unto a Flinty stone Tutored in Cruel barbarous Tyranny. Like to the Imps in Hell are wont to be Hot seared Conscience to himself alone, Sprung from Mount Aetna's horrid burning Zone. High piece of baseness that presumed to tell Newses in Pulpits, as if he'd come from Hell, No question of it, for 'tis Certainly None trod such steps, none knew it so well as he. He being Pluto's Chaplin needs could bring Tidings from Hell to act against his King; Grand piece of Impudence, that durst to be Plunged in that barbarous horrid Villainy. Like to an Impious base profane relector. When he was Chaplin to his Lord Protector. Numerous more l●ke this I should rela●e, Which he did act against the Church and State; For which the Ground did think him fare unfit, His Dusty relics should compare with it. The Earth did scorn his Corpses though in a tomb Should have a burying place within her womb▪ Hold Muse be silent, for thou hast done fair And leave him on the Gates to Fowls of th'air, Who scorn for to approach his filthy Tomb, But what the Traitor— he have done. T. H.