A Copy of the Paper containing the Heads of the Lord Strafford's last Speech, written by his own Hand, as it was left upon the Scaffold. I. 2. 3. I come to pay the last debt we owe to sin. Rise to righteousness. Die willingly. 4. Forgive all. 5. Submit to what is voted justice but my intentions innocent from subverting, &c. 6. Wishing nothing more than great prosperity to king and people. 7. Acquit the king constrained. 8. 9. IO. II. 12. Beseech to repent. Strange way to write the beginning of reformation, and Call not blood on themselves. Die in the faith of the church. 13. Pray for it, and desire their prayers with me. 287 APPENDIX II. SELECTED PAPERS AND LETTERS PRINTED SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF BROWNING'S LIFE 15 Sept. 1617. SIR THOS. WENTWORTH TO THE EARL (Fortescue Papers (p. 23). Camden Society, 1871, 4o.) Right Honorable and my very good Lord. Thes are to give your Lordship humble thankes for your respective letters dated from Warwicke the 5 of this instant September, which I receaved the 13 of the same; the messinger told me your Lordship expected a speedy answear, in observance whearof I must crave your patience in reading a long letter. Your Lordship was pleased therin to lett me understande, that wheras his Majestie is informed that Sir John Savill yealded up his place of Custos Rotulorum voluntarily unto me, his Majestie will take it well att my hands that I resigne itt up to him againe, with the same willingnes, and will be mindfull of me to give me as good prefermentt upon any other occasion. My Lord I am with all duty to receave and with all humble thankfullnes to acknowledge his Majesties great favours hearin: both of his espetiall grace to take the consentt of his humblest subject, wher it might have pleased his Majestie absolutely to commaund, as alsoe for soe princely a promise of other prefermentt: and itt wear indeed the greatest good happ unto me, if I had the means wherby his Majestie would be pleased to take notice how much I esteem myself bownd to his princely goodnes for the same. When your Lordship is informed that Sir Jhon yealded up his place of Custos Rotulorum willingly unto me; under favour, I haue noe reason so to conceave; for, first, he had noe interest to yeald, and, further, I imagin he would not haue done the same willingly att all, wherof this his desiring itt againe is a sufficientt argumentt. Butt, howsoever, voluntarily unto me I cannot be perswaded, both in respect he neuer acquainted me with this motion, which would haue been done, had I been soe much behoulden unto him as is pretended, and in regard I had then some reason to misdoubt (which I have since found) he was not soe well affected towards me. Butt if itt please your Lordship to be satisfied of the truth, you shall find Sir Jhon brought into the Staire-chamber for his passionate cariage upon the benche towards one of his fellow commissioners; upon a motion in that Court for his contempts committed to the Fleet, and, upon reading of an affidavit, thought unfitt to be continued in the Commission of Peace, to which purpose my late Lord Chancelour gave his direction about the 3. of December shallbe tow years; which Sir Jhon getting notice of, to give the better coullor to his displacing, writt some 3 dayes after to my Lord desiring his Lordship would be pleased to spaire his service in respect of his years; wher indeed he was in effect out of the Commission before, by vertu of that direction: and so consequently ther was nothing in him to resigne, aither voluntarily or other wayes. This will partly appear by a coppy of Sir Jhon's letter, and my Lord's answear under the same, which this bearer hath to shew your Lordship. Presently hearupon itt pleased my Lord Chancelour, I being att that time in the cuntry, freely of himself to conferre that place upon me, and, as his Lordship did fully assure me, without any motion made unto him, directly or indirectly, by any frend of mine whoesoever. Being thus placed I have ever since, according to that poore talent God hath lentt me, applied myself, with all paines, dilligence, care, and sincerity to his Majesties service, bothe according to the common duty of a subject and the particuler duty of my place, wherin if any man can charge me to the contrary, I wilbe ready to justifie my self. Allbeitt I doe infinittly desire to doe his Majestie service, I may truly say that I am free from ambition to desire places of implɔymentt wherby ether his Majesties service might not be soe well performed, or my owne ends better effected; yett, my Lord, to be removed without any misdeamenour, I trust, that can be alledged against me, the like I thinke hath not been heard of; but thatt Sir Jhon should supply the roome in my place, the world conceaving generally, and I having felt experiencedly, to be very little frendly towards me, itt might justly be taken as the greatest disgrace that could be done unto me, and being that which his Majestie never offered to Sir Jhon during all the time of his displeasure against him, I might well conceave his Majestie to be (to my greatest greef) highly offended with me, by some indirect means of my adversaries. Thes reasons give me assurance in my hope that his Majestie out of his accustomed goodnes to all sort of persons willbe pleased to deale graciousely with me, espetially when his Majestie shallbe informed of these reasons, which I humbly desire he may by your Lordship's good means, as alsoe if Sir Jhon be soe desirouse to doe his Majestie service (which is all our duties) he may doe itt as effectually, being Justice of peace, as if he wear the Custos Rotulorum. Howsoever, with all due reverence and observance shall I waite his Majesties best pleasure, and willingly and dutifully submitt myself to the same, yett humbly crave to be excused, if, out of thes reasons, I say plainly as yett I finde no willingnesse in myself to yeald up my place to Sir Jhon Savill. Thus much am I hold to signifie to your Lordship to give you satisfaction, which I doe very much desire, and withall to move your Lordship very humbly that ther may be noe further proceedings hearin, till I attend your Lordship, which shalbe, God willing, with all convenient speed. Lastly, my Lord, myself never having nourished a thought that might in any sortt draw your Lordship's hard conceitt towards me, I fully rely upon your Lordship's favour, in a matter of this nature, that, soe deeply concerns my creditt in the cuntry whear I live, which makes me now therof the more sensible; and shall give me just occasion still to indevour myself to doe you service, and beseeche God to blesse your Lordship with longe life and all happines. Your Lordship's humbly to be commaunded, GAWTHORP, this 15th of September, 1617. U II. 20 Jan. 1625-6. Wentworth to Lord Conway, asking for the place of Lord President of the North. (State Papers, Domestic, Charles I. xviij, 110.) My much Honored Lorde. The duties of the Place I now hold, not admitting my absence out of thes parttes, I shall be bold to trouble your lordship with a few lines, wheras otherwayes I would haue attended you in person. Ther is a stronge and generall beleefe with vs hear, that my Lord Scroope, purposeth to leaue the Presidentshippe of Yorke; whearvpon many of my frendes, haue earnestly moued me to vse sum meanes to procure itt, and I haue att Last yealded to take itt a little into consideration, more to complye with them, then out of any violentt, or inordinate desire thervnto in my self: yet as on the one side, I haue neuer thought of itt, vnlesse itt might be effected, with the good liking of my Lord Scroope; soe will I neuer moue further in itt, till I knowe allsoe, how this sute may please, my Lord of Buckingham, seeing indeed such a seale of his graciouse good opinion would comfortt me much, make the place more acceptable; and that I am fully resolued nott to ascende one steppe in this kinde, excepte I may take alonge with me by the way a spetiall obligation to my Lord Duke, from whose bowntye and goodnesse I doe nott only acknowledge much allready; but iustified in the truthe of my owne hartte, doe still repose and rest vnder the shadow and protection of his fauoure. I beseeche your Lordship therfore be pleased to take sum good oportunity fully to acquainte his Grace hearwith, and then to voutchsafe (with your accustomed freedum and noblenesse) to giue me your Counsell and direction, which I am prepaired strictly to obserue, as one all beitt chearfully imbracing better meanes to doe his Maiestie humble and faithfull seruice in thes parttes whear I liue; yet can with as well a contented minde rest wher I am, if by reason of my many imperfections I shall not be iudged capable of nearer imploymentt and trust. Ther is nothing more to adde for the presentt, saue that I must rest much bounden vnto your Lordship, for the light I shall borrow from your iudgmentt, and affection hearin, and soe borrowe itt too, as may better inable me more effectually to exspresse my self hearafter. Your lordships most humble and affectionate Wentworth this 20th of January, 1625. (Addressed) To the Right Honorable my much honored Lorde the Lorde Conway Principall Secretarye to his Maiestie. (Endorsed) 20 January 1625 Sir Thomas Wentworth to the Lord Conway, ffor the place of Lord President of the North. (Well preserved seal.) |