residing there seven years, was sent into England by that colony, to mediate for ease in customs and excise. The civil war being then on foot, he went into Ireland, and upon his return, was entertained by the earl of Warwick, sir Thomas Fairfax, and Oliver Cromwell, afterwards protectors. He

с

a

Entertained by the earl of Warwick, sir Thomas Fairfax, and Oliver Cromwell.] Mr. Whitlock shall be voucher for this. Mr. Peters, says he, gave a my large relation to the commons, of all the business of Lyme, where he was with the earl of Warwick. Again, Mr. Peters, who brought up letters from sir Thomas Fairfax, was called into the house, and made a large relation of the particular passages in the taking of Bridgwater. And Mr. Peters was called into the house, and gave them a particular account of the siege of Bristol;—and he pressed the desire of sir Thomas Fairfax to have recruits sent him.- Letters brought by Mr. Peters, from lieutenant-general Cromwell, concerning the taking Winchester Castle; after which he was called in, and gave a particular relation of it.He came from the army to the house, and made them a narration of the storming and taking of Dartmouth, and of the valour, unity, and affection of the army, and presented several letters, papers, crucifixes, and other popish things taken in the town. It is plain from these quotations, that Peters must have been in favour with the generals, and that he must have made some considerable figure in the transactions of those

e

a Whitlock's Memorials, p. 92, Lond. 1732, folio. p. 171.

C

Ibid.

d Ibid. p. 175.

e

* Ibid. p. 189.

b Ibid. p. 163.

was much valued by the parliament, and improved his interest with them in the behalf of the unfortunate". He was very zealous and active in their cause, and had presents made him, and an estate given him by them".

times. It is not improbable that the distinction with which he was treated by them, attached him so firmly to their interest, that in the end it cost him his life.

6

Improved his interest with them in the behalf of the unfortunate.] "At his trial he averred he had a certificate under the marchioness of Worcester's hand, beginning with these words: I do here testify, that in all the sufferings of my husband, Mr. Peters was my great friend. And added he, I have here a seal, (and then produced it) that the earl of Norwich gave me to keep for his sake, for saving his life, which I will keep as long as I live" And how great the opinion was of his interest with the persons in power, we find from the following words in a letter addressed to secretary Nicholas, March 8, 1648. Mr. Peters presenting yesterday Hamilton's petition to the speaker, made many believe he at last would escape'. Indeed, here he was unsuccessful: but his good-nature, and readiness to oblige, were manifested, and one would have thought should have merited some return to him when in distress.

7 The presents made him, and an estate given him by them.] We find in Whitlock, that he had 100

* Exact and impartial account of the trial of the regicides. Lond. 4to. 1660, p. 173.

b Ormond's Papers published by Carte, vol. I. p. 233. Lond. 1739.

He assisted Mr. Cháloner in his last moments, as he afterwards did sir Jn. HothamR.

b

pounds given him, when he brought the news of taking Bridgwater; 50 pounds, when he brought letters from Cromwell concerning the taking Winchester Castle; that there was an order for 100 pounds a year for him and his heirs; and another ordinance for 200 pounds a year. To all which we may add, the estate the parliament gave him, mentioned in the body of the article (if it was distinct from the 100 and 200 pounds per annum mentioned by Whitlock) which was part of the lord Craven's; and the bishop's books (Laud's, I suppose) valued, as he tells us, at 140 pounds; and likewise the pay of a preacher as he could get it. These were handsome rewards, and shew the parliament to have been no bad masters. But, notwithstanding," he says, he lived in debt, because what he had, others shared in." From hence, generosity or prodigality of temper, may be inferred: but as it may as well be attributed to the former as to the latter, I know not why we should not consider him rather as laudable than culpable. Indeed, the clergy have been branded for their covetousness; though certain it is, there have been some among them, who have performed as many generous, good-natured actions, as any of their illwillers.

He assisted Mr. Chaloner and sir John Hotham.] Mr. Chaloner was executed for what was called Waller's plot, an account of which is to be found in the historians of those times. He owned he died justly, and deserved his punishment. In compliance with Pe

* See the pages before quoted in remark 5. p. 102, 104, 115.

Id. p. 103.

d

b

Peters's Legacy,

July 5, 1643.

ters's request, he explained the part he had had in it, and being desired by him, Peters prayed with him2. -The business of sir John Hotham is well known. Peters attended him on the scaffold, and received public thanks on it from him. I will transcribe part of his speech, and likewise of Peters's, by his command, that the reader may judge something of his temper and behaviour. "I hope," said sir John, "God Almighty will forgive me, the parliament, and the court martial, and all men that have had any thing to do with my death. And, gentlemen, I thank this worthy gentleman for putting me in mind of it."-Then Mr. Peters spoke again [he had before mentioned the desire of sir John, not to have many questions put to him, he having fully discovered his mind to him and other ministers: but that he might have liberty to speak only what he thought fit concerning himself]" and told the audience, that he had something further to commend unto them from sir John Hotham, which was, that he had lived in abundance of plenty, his estate large, about 2000 pounds a year at first, and that he had gained much to it; that, in the beginning of his days, he was a soldier in the Low Countries, and was at the battle of Prague that at his first going out for a soldier, his father spoke to him to this effect; Son! when the crown of England lies at stake, you will have fighting enough. That he had run through great hazards and undertakings; and now coming to this end, desired they would take notice in him, of the vanity of all things here below, as wit, parts, prowess, strength, friends, honour, or what else."

"Then Mr. Peters having prayed, and after him sir

Rushw. Hist. Collect. Part III. vol. II. p. 327, 328. Lond. 1692, fol. b Jan. 2, 1644. He was hereunto moved by Mr. Peters, says Rushworth.

He could fight' as well as pray; though,

John, they sung the 38th Psalm; and sir John kneeling behind the block, spent above a quarter of an hour in private prayer; after which, lying down, the executioner, at one blow, did his office."

We see nothing here but great civility in Peters, and the due discharge of his office. Here is nothing troublesome or impertinent, but as one would wish to have it in like circumstances. Let the reader compare the following account of sir John's behaviour with Rushworth's, and judge of the truth of the narration, and the justness of the epithet bestowed on Peters.

"The poor man (sir John Hotham) appeared so dispirited, that he spoke but few words after he came upon the scaffold, and suffered his ungodly confessor Peters, to tell the people, that he had revealed himself to him, and confessed his offences against the parliament; and so he committed his head to the block b.”

Peters, we see, said nothing like his having confessed his offences against the parliament. This, therefore, is mere invention, like too many other things to be found in this celebrated history: the charge of interpolations and additions against which I am sorry, for the noble writer's sake, to find affirmed to be groundless, by so worthy a man, and so good a judge, as Mr. Birch. As to the epithet ungodly conferred on Peters, the considerate reader will judge of it as it deserves.

9 Fight as well as pray.] Let us hear Whitlock. “Mr. Peters, at the beginning of the troubles in Ireland, led a brigade against the rebels, and came off

fol.

a

Rushworth, Hist. Collect. Part III. Vol. II. p. 803, 804. Lond. 1692, b Clarendon's History of the grand Rebellion, Vol. II. Part II. p. 622. Oxford, 1707. Life of Hampden among the Lives of illustrious Men. A. 78.