The Tales and Jests of Hugh Peters, Jest 59
LIX. How two Gentlemen put up a Bill to Mr. Peters.
On Sunday Jan. 21. 1648. being the time of that grand Tryall and bloody murther of our Soveraigne Lord King Charls the first of Blessed Memory, Mr. Peters preach▪ that Whitehall upon Psal. 149. vers. 8. Of Binding the Kings in Chaines, and the Nobles with fetters of Iron; applying his Text and Sermon to the late King, and saying he had seen one joyfull day, and he hoped to see another to morrow as good as the former; There being at that time in the Church two Gentlemen, who as many more usually did went rather to hear his Jests then his Doctrine; they hearing how bitterly he inveighed against his late Majesty, and how he applauded the proceedings of the Army, being provided with Pen Ink and Paper on purpose to beare away some of his Pulpit Jests, immediately betake themselves to send him a line or two, which accidentally falling into my hands, I have here inserted.
Sir, We return you thanks for this your pains,
And hope you'l live your self to wear the Chains;
For if our Genius don't at this time falter,
Your merits well may claim both chain & halter.
This being wrapped close up, and he drawing to the conclusion of his Sermon, they deliver it to be handed to him, as though it were the Petition of some dying soul; but he having read it, put it up, and as occasion served, made it now and then passe for a malignant Jest, notwithstanding at last it proved an earnest truth.
For now at last I shall conclude with the Authors death; He was Indicted October 9. 1660. at Hicks-hall, and the Bill found by the Grand Jury of Knights and Gentlemen of Quality of the County of Middlesex; such a Bench and such a Jury hath rarely been seene in that Court, where that most learned Lord Chiefe Baron, Sir Orlando Bridgeman gave him his charge, and being asked guilty or not guilty, lift up his hands and his eyes (according to his custome,) and sayd, Guilty! no, not for ten thousand worlds. However after his Indictment was read and the Jury sworne, he saw a whole congregation of witnesses against him; many things were by them asserted, relating to his guilt of being accessary to the spilling of his late Majesties Royall Blood, and his moving and stirring up seditious rebellions in his Majesties Dominions. To whch Mr Peters making no answer, the Jury gave their Verdict that Mr Hugh Peters was guilty; whereupon the sentence of the Court was, that he should be drawne upon a Sledge to the place of execution, and there be hanged by the neck till he be halfe dead, his Bowels burnt, and his quarters to be disposed of according to order; which on Tuesday the 16th of October was accordingly done at the place where formerly Charing Crosse stood.
Thus did he that called his sacred Majesty a Barrabas, a murderer, and seditious, die for murther and sedition himselfe, so that the snare which he layd for another, hath catched hold of himselfe; in this may we see, that according to that of St Augustine, Justice hath leaden feete, but Iron hands; And though vengeance treads slowly, it comes surely, as hath appeared by this man, (sometime my acquaintance) who was every thing, and indeed nothing; sometime foole, and sometime knave; but what most commonly might induce to his benefit and advantage.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hugh Peters, The Tales and Jests of Hugh Peters (1660)