be troubled with this seditious Priest,- whereupon they told him, hee
should first sing a Psalme. - No, no (faith hee) I am not in the humour
to sing, nor have I Cause to bee sorrowfull suffering for so just a Cause;
but if you please let me commend my selfe to God by a short Prayer, and
that's all I'le bee beholding to you for (except the prayers of so many of you
as wish well to the Cause I dye for:) which hee did privatly, and in such
a Posture as gave great testimony of his inward devotion, which finished
hee dyed, no lesse Piously then Honourably, submiting cheerefully to the
will of God without the least visible feare of Death.
Col. Bethell and some others (knowing the gallantry of the Man, and
the injustnesse of their Proceeding against him) had writ a letter to
the Generall and his Councell of Warre, wherein they desired, That
hee and his fellow might bee reprieved in case they should bee found
guiltie (as they knew they would bee, having such a Jury and Judges
to dispose of their lives:) And another Letter was sent to Lambert to
promote the other to the Generall &c. who having communicated the
same to the Councell of Warre Col. Pr de was the only man that opposed
it, saying, That it would not stand with the Justice of the Army, non
the safety of the Common-Wealth to suffer so Devillish and Implacable
Enemies to live; we knowing also that the Parliament have adjudged them
worthy of death, and given Instructions to the Judges of that Circuit to
Proceede against them accordingly: so that no Reprieve could bee had
from the councell of warre, nor durst the Generall grant any of his own
accord, notwithstanding hee was strongly prossed to it, and severall
mens names (very considerable) given in to him of their owne Party
now in the Custody of Prince Rupert and the Marquesse of Ormond
who might bee exchanged for them.
Whereby wee see what a brave Generall Tom Fairfax is, who hath
not the Power of saving a mans life, unlesse such a fellow as Pride give
way to it, who because some of our weekely Mercuries have of late
abused, in saying hee was a B[unr]stard left by his Mother at a doore in St.
Brides Parish, from whence hee received his name; Bee pleased to Read
him really what hee was and whence hee came, as I received it from the
hands of one that truly knowes him and his education.
Collonel John Pride a Beggar, borne in a Village called Ashcot, three
miles from Glaster bury in the Countie of Sommerlet; hee kept for divers
yeares together, a heard of Swine for one Trye in that Parish; his Dame
is yet living and her [unr] Philippa Trye; who When her servant Pride
left her Service and would goe to London caused a Purse hee made for him
in the Parish, whereby she got for him betweene fourty and fifty shillings,