The loyall martyrology, or, Brief catalogues and characters of the most eminent persons who suffered for their conscience during the late times of rebellion either by death, imprisonment, banishment, or sequestration together with those who were slain in the Kings service : as also dregs of treachery : with the catalogue and characters of those regicides who sat as judges on our late dread soveraign of ever blessed memory : with others of that gang, most eminent for villany / by William Winstanley.

Come we in the next place to speak of those who were Executed for commit∣ting of Treason after his Majesties Happy Restauration, and Setlement in his Throne again; where we shall find Traytors of so Desparate and Sanguine a disposition, as scarcely to be paralleld in former Ages; Men who though of different Tenets, and and who like Hydra's heads seemed to look several wayes, yet cemented together in the tayle, wherein lies the sting, being Enemies to all Civil Go∣vernment, and whatsoever was de∣cent, either in Church or State.

And first of that bloody Attempt of Ven∣ner and his Mirmidons, which strange and unparalleld Action will afford the Truest Light and Judgement of that Fanatique, and desparate opinion of Chilianisme, and make after Ages to admire, that a handfull

of wild-brain'd People should dare to un∣dertake such an Attempt against Metro∣polis of the Kingdome, which a well Go∣verned Potent Army would not without good advice be driven unto.

This Venner, a Wine-Cooper by Trade, with several others of his Gang, who were strongly perswaded that now was the Time come for Christ Personally to Raign upon Earth; having had several Meetings at Bell-Alley in Coleman-Street, where it was agreed amongst them, that the Powers of the Earth were to be Destroyed, and King Jesus alone to be set Up; Venner Preaching to them to this purpose (alluding to that of the Psal∣mist) That one of them should chace a Hundred, and a Hundred put Ten Thousand to flight; Assu∣ring them also, That no Weapons formed against them should prosper, nor hair of their head be touched. January 6. 1660. They took Armes, and in the dusk of the Evening came to St. Pauls Church-Yard, where they mustered their small Party, and placed Centinals for the time, where an Innocent Person coming by accidentally, being by them asked whom he was for, and he answering according to the usuall mode, For God, and King Charles, they immediately shot him, which Action

soon Allarum'd the City, and some Parties of the Trained Bands marched against them, but their strength being too great for those few Files, they without controule marched along to Aldersgate, where the Constable being but weakly attended, was forced to let them out again; Here they Declared themselves for King Jesus, and those of their Friends whose Quarters were upon the Gates: From thence they proceeded to Beech-lane, where a Head-borough opposing them, they shot and killed him, and so with all hast marched to Cane-Wood, where for a while they remained; But the City having Intelligence thereof, sent out a Party of Horse and Foot, which took about Thirty of them, and brought them before the Ge∣neral, who sent them Prisoners to the Gate-House.

January the 9. after some Encouragement and Assurance of Victory from their Chief∣tain Venner, they again assumed their first En∣terprize, and no sooner were the Watches and Guards removed, but they made their appearance at Bishopsgate, which they passed, and came into the City without opposition as far as Threadneedle-street, with such a confident resoluteness, that a Party of the

Trained Bands designed to Watch that day, being sent out to follow them, were forced to Retreat to their Main-Guard, when the whole Body advancing towards them, they retreated into Bishopsgate-street, where some of them took into an Ale-House at the signe of the Helmet, where they maintained a sharp Dispute, two of them being Killed, and two Taken, and as many Killed and Wounded of the Trained Bands. The next News of them was at Colledge-Hill, from whence they marched up into Cheap-side, and so into Wood-street, as far as the Counter, where Venner who Headed them, being Ar∣med with a Murrion on his head, and a Hal∣bert in his hand, commanded the Prisoners to be let out, or else he told them they were but dead men; But before he could accom∣plish his designs, they were charged by the Life-Guard, whom they put to the Retreat, but they being seconded by two Companies of the Trained Bands, the Dispute was very sharp and desparate, untill at last Venner be∣ing knockt down, and Tuffnel and Crag two of their prime Teachers fled, they began to give ground, and betook themselves to flight by several wayes, the greatest part of them went down Wood-street, and so to Criple∣gate,

firing in the Rear at a Trained Band of Yellow who closely pursued them; at last they took in at the Blew Anchor Ale-House by the Postern, which House they main∣tained with much desparate courage, and would not hear of any Termes of Yielding; soon after came Lievtenant Colonel Cox with his Company and surrounded all places about it, and then some of the Souldiers got up upon the Tilings of the next House, which they cast down, and fired into the uppermost Room where the Rebells were, yet were they so desparately bent in their wickedness, that even then they refused Quarter, untill a File of Musqueteers got up the Stairs, and having shot down the door, entered upon them, six of them being killed, and an∣other wounded, yet one of them still refu∣sed Quarter, who being knockt down with the But end of a Musquet, was afterwards shot; the rest yielded, who being demand∣ed, why they craved not Quarter before, Answered, They durst not for fear their owne Fellows should shoot them, of such a desparate resolution was the temper of their Spi∣rits.

In this Rebellious Insurrection were slain alike of both sides, Twenty Two of the Kings

Leige People, and Twenty Two of the Tray∣tors. Twenty One more besides were taken, whose Names were as followeth, (viz.) Thomas Venner, their Chief Ring-leader, the Captain of this Rebellious Rout; The Se∣cond to Venner were one Tuffnel a Car∣penter living in Grays-Inn-lane, a desparate Fellow, who after He and his Party were forced over the Houses through More-lane, they fled into the Fields, and he having four or five Pistolls about him, discharged them all before he could be got down; but at last he was so mortally wounded, that they brought him in a Chair to Newgate, and so they sent him to Christ-Church Hospital, where after three dayes space he dyed of his wounds, and was carried into Christ-Church-Yard, for to be viewed, to see if any body would own him; but a hole being digged the Blew Coat Boyes covered him with the Earth, and he was never further lookt after. The next was Roger Hodgkins, a Button-Sellor in St. Clements Lane neer Lumbard street; Giles Pritcherd, a Cow-keeper, Leonard Gowler, Jonas Allen, John Pym, William Orsingham, Wil∣liam Ashton, Stephen Fall, John Smith, William Corbet, John Dod, Iohn Elestone, Thomas Harris, Iohn Gardener, Robert Bradley, Richard Marten,

Iohn Patshall, Robert Hopkins, and Iohn Wells. These Twenty and One were all brought to the Bar together, Tuffnel excepted; (their Tryal succeeding soon after their Desparate En∣gagement) where the wounded Men had Chairs allowed them to sit down in, and af∣ter the Indictment was read, which was laid both to Treason and Murther; Thomas Venner was first called, who being asked Guilty or not Guilty, ran out into a wild Discourse about his Conversation in New-England, and concerning the Fifth Monar∣chy, and the Testimony within him above these Twenty years. He confessed, He was in the late Rising, but was not Guilty of Treason, intending not to Leavy War against the King; and again ran out into impertinent Stories and Discourses as before; but being pressed by the Court to Answer to his Indictment, he pleaded Not Guilty, and for his Tryal put himself upon God and the Country. In the like manner all the rest used many rambling diversions from the business, but at last pleaded to their Indictments: Whereupon the Witnesses were sworn, who made it ap∣pear, that Venner, Tuffnel, and Crag, (the two last being killed in the business) Did several times perswade their Congregation to take up Arms

for King Iesus, against the Powers of the Earth, (which were his Majesty, the Duke of York, the General, &c.) That they were to Kill all that opposed them: That they had been Praying and Preaching, but not Acting for God: That they Armed themselves at their Meeting-House in Coleman-street, with Blunder-busses, Musquets, &c. Marten, Hopkins, Wells, and Patshall, the Witnesses being not so clear against them, were acquitted by the Jury, the other Six∣teen were found Guilty, and being brought to the Bar, were demanded to shew cause why Sentence of Death should not pass upon them? which they not doing, they were all Sixteen Condemned to be Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered. The Lord Chief Justice Foster charging Venner with the blood of his Complices, by his Seduction and Leading of them, he Answered, He did not; to which the Witnesses being produced again, he blasphemously evaded it with this quible, and said, It was not He, but Iesus that Led Them.

According to the Sentence pronounced on them Ianuary 19. 1661. Venner and Hodg∣kings (both desparately wounded in the Re∣bellion, and as yet uncured) were Drawn on Sledges from Newgate through Cheap-side,

over against their Meeting House in Swan-Alley in Coleman-street, where they were Ex∣ecuted according to the Sentence pronoun∣ced against them. Venner (according to the nature of most desparate Traytors) vindica∣ting Himself and his Fact, being confident he said, That the time was at hand when other judge∣ment would be, reflecting much upon the Govern∣ment: But if the one was mad, the other raved, Hodgkins in way of Praying, Calling down Vengeance from Heaven upon the King, the Iudges, and the City of London; nor would he leave, until the Hangman by the Sheriff's or∣der turn'd him off the Ladder; so that as they lived in a mad Religion, they died as madly in the same: Their Quarters were set upon the Four Gates of the City, by the late Ex∣ecuted Regicides, whose quarrel and re∣venge they undertook, in this desparate at∣tempt, and their Heads upon Poles as loving∣ly by some of them on London-Bridge.

The same day Giles Pritchard, a Cow-keeper, and another of them were Executed in Cheap-side, and on the Munday following, be∣ing the 21. of Ian. Nine more of them were Executed at five several places, (viz.) Two at the West end of St. Pauls, Two at the Bull and Mouth in St. Martins, Two at Beech-lane,

Two at the Royal Exchange, and One a notable Fellow named Leonard Gowler at Bishopsgate. They all (especially the last) obstinately per∣sisted in their Errour, only a young man who was Hanged in Redcross-street, did relent and repent of his sin, and the blood he had spilt, but yet could not be perswaded out of his opinion of Chilianisme.

Thus this desparate attempt ended in a halter, and their Declaration called A door of Hope opened, proved to be a trap door, to draw silly souls to destruction. I shall here add those Verses made under Venners picture, as being pertinent to this purpose, and so take my leave of them.

His Helmet was a Crown by Revelation, His Halbert was a Scepter for the Nation; So the Fifth Monarchy anew is grac'd, King Venner next to John a Leydon plac'd.

To these we may add one John James, a Small-cole-man by Trade, a rank Fifth Mo∣narchist, and one who had been engaged in Venners busines, but was absent, or had saved himself the last day they broke out; yet not∣withstanding that fair warning, departed not from his malice, but continued his Meetings

and Conventicles with others of his despa∣rate Crue, amongst whom he was a principal Rabby or Teacher. This man, as Venner had done before him, and as was couched in their Declaration, flew out into several Traytor∣ous Speeches and Invectives against the Kings Person, Government, and Family, which being over-heard by some Neigh∣bours living near, James was seized upon, and carried before a Justice, who committed him to Newgate, and the next Terme was brought to a Tryal at the Kings Bench-Bar, where the words were proved against him, and he convicted and condemned as a Tray∣tor. November 27. 1661. He was drawn on a Sledge from Newgate to Tyburn, some of his Sect throwing themselves into the same Sledge, and embracing him, so highly opi∣nionated were they of this their silly though bold Seducer. At the Gallows he denied the words, but owned and avowed his Chilia∣nisme, and the Personal Reign of Christ, and with the usuall confidence of his Party resolutely died. His Quarters were disposed of by his Majesties Orders, and his Head fix∣ed upon a Pole in White-Chappel, neer to their Meeting House, for an Example to his Fel∣lows.

Yet could not the ill success of these dis∣courage others from Plots against his Maje∣sty, but still new Treasons was hatched by the Rebellious Spirits of one Captain Baker, a New-England man, and great acquaintance of Hugh Peters, who preferred him to be one of Olivers Pensioners; with him was enga∣ged one George Phillips a Serjant in the Co∣lonels Company of the White Regiment, Thomas Tongue a distiller of Strong Waters, Francis Stubbs a Cheese-monger, James Hide Gunner, John Selly Compass-maker, and Na∣thaniel Gibbs Felt-maker. Their Plot was against the Sacred Life of the King, the Duke of York, General Monk, and Sir Richard Brown, and generally the Bishops, the Nobi∣lity, Gentry and Commonalty, that were not of their opinion, and assisted them not: Their Commander in Chief was to be Lud∣low, and one Colonel Danvers, Master Nye, Master Lockyer, Lievtenant Strange; the Cap∣tains, Spencer and Taverner were favourable to the Design; Their Councils was carried on by Six, who never sat twice in a Place, nor could be known to any two; Deal Castle in Kent, and Windsor was promised to be theirs. This Treasonable Plot was by one Hill (who was endeavoured to be drawn into

it by Captain Baker) discovered to Sir Richard Brown, with the Names of the Conspirators, who were for the same apprehended, and December 11. 1662. brought to a Tryal, where being by plain Evidence convicted, they were condemned, and December 22. Four of them, (viz.) Phillips, Tongue, Gibbs and Stubbs were Executed, and their Heads set upon several Poles, two on each Tower-Hill, the nearest place to the Tower. After∣wards February the 20. one Gibbs, Brother of the aforesaid Nathaniel, who fled, and was re-taken, was sent to the Sessions House in the Old Baily, and with the said Captain Ba∣ker condemned for the former Treason, and both of them Executed at Tyburn.

To these might be added the Intended Re∣bellion in York-shire, and some other of the Northern Counties, by some desparate Fa∣naticks, for which divers of them were Ex∣ecuted at York, and else-where; but we shall wave our Discourse of them, and conclude with the Execution of some Notorious Scotch Traytors.

And first of the Marquess of Argyle, one who was a desparate Enemy to the Old King all along, a chief Contriver and Fo∣menter of that Destructive Covenant, the

Ignis Fatuus of that Nation, which the Scots believed (as the Trojans did by their Image of Pallas) came from Heaven; a greater Sider with Cromwel, and one who had carried himself very undutifully and irreverently to his Majesty, at what time he was amongst them in Scotland; yet notwithstanding all these insolencies, upon the Kings Restitution with great confidence he came up to London, hoping to have obtained his pardon for all those base Treasons he had so covertly Acted in that Kingdome, and that his Majesty ac∣cording to his Gracious Inclination would have past by all his Offences; But such was the general hatred and detestation of that People towards him, especially of the Nobi∣lity, that by the Kings Order he was com∣mitted to the Tower, and from thence, not long after in order to his Tryal conveyed to Edenburgh in Scotland, where he was brought to account for all his abominable Treasons, and notwithstanding he cunningly defended himself, and pleaded the Kings Pardon, and the Treaties in 1650. and 1651. yet was there such Crimes of a later date, (besides the never to be forgotten Treachery of Sel∣ling King Charles the First to the English) as justly condemned him, whereupon June the

1. 1661. He was accordingly Beheaded with the Maiden, for so is the Axe called in Scotland; At his death he very much justi∣fied the Covenant, that Scottish Witch, which consisted of 666 words, the number of the Beast in the Revelation, and which cost almost as many Thousand Mens lives as there were words contained in the same.

Neer unto the same time, Master James Guthery, a prime Remonstrator, and a violent Adversary to the King in his Lievtenant the Marquess of Montross, together with one Captain Giffan a Runnegado to Cromwel, were by Sentence and Decree of Parliament han∣ged at Edenburgh; so far (to use the words of an Elegant Authour writing upon these Affairs) the Laws, and a suffering sense of the Miseries and Reproaches that Nation lay under by these Men, and their Partisans Guilt, did now prevail against the Domi∣nion of the Kirk, which had Enslaved and Enchanted the whole Masse of that Peo∣ple.

We shall conclude all with the Lord Warreston, a wicked Knave, a Committee of Safety Man, notoriously Infamous for his Treason in Scotland, and a fugitive there; who being Proclaimed a Rebel and Traytor,

was taken and secured in France, and sent over hither, where having remained some time in the Tower, he was conveyed into Scotland, and there Tryed, Condemned, and Executed according to Law, 1662.

Ecclesiastes, 10.20.

Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, for a bird in the Air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.