Loves Case, Narrative
A Brief and full NARRATIVE Humbly preſented, with my Petition to the Parliament, By me CHRISTOPHER LOVE.
COnſidering how a clear and full Narrative may ſatisfie the State (although it may prejudice my ſelf) I am willing with an Ingenuous Freedom and openneſs of heart to make known the whole matter, ſo far as I diſtinctly know and well remember, humbly hoping that this large acknowledgement of mine (which is more then any in the world can prove againſt me) ſhall not be taken as an Aggravation of my fault, but as a Demonſtration of my Ingenuity. Before I mention the matters of Fact, I humbly crave leave to ſignifie the time when, and maner how I came to be intangled in this unhappy Buſineſs.
As for the time, it was after the breaking off the Treaty between the King and the Scots at Jerſey; for before that time (to the beſt of my remembrance) I was not privy to, or acquainted with any meetings about the ſending of Captain Titus (whoſe face I never ſaw) to Jerſey, or ſending Letters to him, or receiving Letters from him whiles he was there; or about ſending any Letters to, or receiving Letters from the King, Queen, Jermyn, Piercy, or any other perſon in Forraign parts during the Treaty at Jerſey: But after that Treaty was ended, Mr. William Drake came to me, told me he had News to impart; and to that end, he deſired to know (if he could get Friends together) whether I was willing that they ſhould meet at my houſe (it being conveniently ſcituate in the midſt of the City) that ſo he might communicate what he heard of Affairs abroad. To ſatisfie my curioſity to hear News, I was content to let him, with thoſe he ſhould bring to meet at my houſe: Thus for the time when and maner how I came to be preſent at any meetings about Intelligence.
I now come humbly and truly to relate the matter of Fact, which is as followeth; It appeared to me by the Teſtimony of the Witneſſes, that there were frequent meetings by Mr. Drake, Alford, Titus, Adams, and others, ſoon after the death of the late King; and Applications made to the King of Scots, the Queen his Mother, to Jermyn and Piercy, both before and during the Treaty at Jerſey, of which I know nothing, nor was I preſent: But the firſt meeting I was at was at my houſe, and was (as I remember) at the reading of a Letter which came from Captain Titus after the Treaty was ended at Jerſey; the Contents of that Letter was (if I miſtake not) to this effect: That the Treaty at Jerſey was broken off through the violent and evil Counſels of deſperate Malignants; and that he had ſomething of concernment to communicate, which he durſt not do in perſon, being not ſafe for him to come over into England, nor could he well do it by writing, he judging it not fit nor ſafe to ſend by the common Poſt, fearing a miſcarriage; wherefore he deſired ſome body to be ſent over to him to Calice, to whom he might give an accompt of all Proceedings. Upon the reading of this Letter, Mr. Drake moved that ſome perſon ſhould be deſired to go to Calice; for ſaid he, We ſhall hear the whole Relation of the buſineſs at Jerſey: Whereupon Major Adams or Cap. Farr were moved by Mr. Drake to go. There was mention of Major Alford to go, though he was not preſent that I know of; nor was he ever within my houſe, as I remember, until after he returned from Calice: So that there was none that I know of was gone. Mr. Drake told me, Major Alford was the fitteſt man to go over to Calice, having buſineſs of his own to go into France, to look after his Prodigal ſon: So that it was (ſaid he) a plauſible pretence to conceal his going over to meet with Titus. There were preſent at this firſt meeting, Mr. Drake, Mr. Jenkins, Major Adams, Dr. Drake, Cap. Farr, Cap. Potter, and my ſelf, with ſome others; but who more, I cannot remember.
About two or three days after Major Alfords return from Calice, Mr. Drake told me he was come to London, and told me he would go to ſeveral Miniſters and Citizens, to deſire them to meet at my houſe, that ſo we might hear what news Major Alford brought with him from Calice, accordingly the next day in the Evening they met at my houſe, Mr. Drake brought Major Alford with him; Major Alford at that meeting gave an accompt of his conference with Titus, and of his receiving a Copy of the Kings Letter from him, as alſo a Narrative of the Proceedings at the Treaty of Jerſey: But he ſaid (if I miſtake not) that he brought not over the Letters himſelf, but delivered them to a Paſſenger that came over in the Ship to carry them, leſt that himſelf ſhould be ſearched; but after he came into England, he received the Letter and Narrative from the Paſſenger (but who he was I know not) and ſo brought them to London, Whether the Copy of the Kings Letter was read at my houſe in my hearing, I remember not; yet I deny not, but it was read there: I am ſure I heard that the Contents of it, were to this effect, That he took in good part the Affections and Loyalty of thoſe who formerly had made Applications by way of Petition to him (of which Petition I know nothing) And if ever God reſtored him or put him in a Condition, he ſhould remember them. The Narrative which Alford brought from Titus, was read in my houſe in my hearing, which was to this effect, He made a large Deſcription of the King of Scots, commending his Prudent Carriage and good Inclinations to an Agreement with the Scots, but that his bad Councel about him hindered it: Alſo he made a Rehearſal of his Sufferings from the Cavaliers at Jerſey, how he was impriſoned in a cloſe Room: Many things elſe was in the Narrative which I have forgotten. There were preſent at this meeting, Major Alford, Mr. Drake, Mr. Caſe, Major Adams, Mr. Jaquel, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Jenkins, Doctor Drake, Cap. Potter, M. Sterks, Cap. Farr, and my ſelf, with ſome others; but who more, I do not remember.
A little before or about the Treaty, between the King and the Scots at Breda, there was a meeting at my houſe, Mr. Drake propoſed, That we ſhould think of ſome way to promote the Agreement between the King and the Scots; where by the way, I deſire humbly to give notice, That this was the firſt and onelyonly meeting of this nature, and for this end, as my houſe, that I know of. At this meeting, Mr. Drake took out ſome Papers out of his Pocket written in Characters, which he read in my Study; What he read, went under the name of a Commiſſion and Inſtructions (as he termed it) to be ſent to the Lord Willoughby; Alderman Bunce, Maſſey, Graves and Titus, to appoint them to adviſe with, and uſe their Intereſt in Perſons of Honor about the King, to provoke him to agree with the Scots, and to take the Covenant; as alſo to adviſe with the Scots Commiſsioners, and perſwade them, That in their Agreemnt with their King, they would have ſpecial reſpect to the Intereſt of Religion, and terms of the Covenant; the Commiſſion ran in this form, as if it were in the names of all the Presbyterial party in England: After I heard it read, I expreſſed my ſelf againſt it, alledging ſeveral Reaſons, chiefly, That it was an Act of high Preſumption for private perſons to ſend Commiſſion with Inſtructions, and an act of notorious falſhood, to ſay, This was in the name of the Presbyterial party of England; when none but a few perſons then preſent knew thereof that I know of: Many in the Company did expreſs a diſlike thereof, as well as my ſelf; I mention not this my diſcent as an Apology to excuſe my ſelf, I know a condemned man ſhould not plead an excuſe, but meerly as a Relation of ſuch Circumſtances which will make my Narrative more clear and full: I ſhall anon mention particulars rather to aggravate, then extenuate my fault. But to return to the buſineſs of this meeting, Mr. Draks did alſo read a Letter in this meeting, but to whom it was, I know not, neither know I the Contents of it; I was at leaſt a dozen times called out of the Room, whiles the Company were there met; ſo that I am not able to give ſo full and particular an accompt of the Contents of the Letter, and of the Commiſſion and Inſtructions: What Mr. Drake did about the Commiſſion and Inſtructions after he was gone from my houſe, I know not; what he ſent away, I know not; nor did I know by whom it was ſent away, until Major Alford declared before the High Court, That he received the Papers from Mr. Drake, carried them to Graveſend, and delivered them to one Maſon (whoſe face I never ſaw) and he carried them to Holland. There were preſent at this meeting, Major Huntingdon (who was never at my houſe before nor ſince, whoſe face I never ſaw before, nor ſince, but at my Tryal) There were preſent alſo Mr. Drake, Dr. Drake, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Cauton, Major Alford, Mr. Gibbons, Major Adams, Cap. Farr, and my ſelf, with ſome others▪ whom I cannot remember.
I was preſent ſometimes at private Faſts, particularly at Major Adams and Colonel Bartons; in both places I ſaw on the Table, a Paper written, by whom know not; where among other ends of thoſe Faſts, this one End was ſpecified, To deſire a Bleſſing upon the Treaty between the King and the Scots. At Major Adams houſe Mr. Caſe Preached and I prayed, but who elſe exerciſed, I remember not. I confeſs I did in that Faſt pray, That God would reſcue the King from Wicked and Malignant Councels, That God would redeem him from the Iniquity of his Fathers houſe, That there might be a firm Agreement between him and his Subjects of Scotland, ſuch as might conſiſt with the Intereſt of Religion, and Terms of the Covenant. Preſent at this meeting, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Caſe, Doctor Drake, Mr. Robinſon, Mr. Cauton, Mr. Sterks, Mr. Drake, Major Adams, Mr. Jaquel, my ſelf and many others; but I cannot call one more to minde.
There was a Faſt alſo at Col. Bartons, where Mr. Jenkins and my ſelf Preached, Mr. Caſe, Mr. Cauton, Mr. Robinſon prayed, ſundry other perſons were preſent; but I remember none but Col. Barton, Dr. Drake, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Mr. Drake and Major Adams.
About a year ſince Captain Potter ſpake to me to deſire ſome money for a good uſe, for a poor Scotchman who was to leave this Nation, his name was Sterks, but he was no Agent for any in Scotland that I know of: I gave Captain Potter Ten ſhillings to give to him.
In the monethmonth of July, 1650. or thereabouts, there was a rough-draft of a Letter read in my houſe, intended to be ſent to the Church of Scotland, by whom it was written, I know not, by whom it was read I remember not, I heard but a part of it read, The ſubſtance of that part of the Letter which I heard, was to ſignifie the great ſufferings that many of the Brethren here were under, what ſnares and dangers we were daily in; yet to aſſure them of our ſtedfaſtneſs to the Covenant, to which end we deſired the help of their prayers, promiſing them ours: I declared my ſelf againſt the ſending away of this Letter, yet it was (as I heard) written afterwards by Mr. William Drake, and that with Sack in a Table Book, or Paper Book, and ſent away by one Col. Bampfield (whoſe face I never ſaw) and without my knowledge or conſent carried by him into Scotland: There were preſent at this meeting, Cap. Potter, Doctor Drake, Major Adams, Major Alford Mr. Sterks, Mr. Jeaquel, Mr. Gibbons, Cap. Farr, and my ſelf, with ſome others whom I remember not.
After Dunbar fight, there was a rough-draft of a Letter read in my houſe, it was ſpoken to be directed to the Commiſſioners of the General Aſſembly of the Church of Scotland; The rough-draft was read by Doctor Drake, but that it was written by him, I cannot poſitively ſay: I ſuppoſe he drew up that Letter and Copy which was ſent away, but cannot affirm it. I confeſs I did offer ſome general Heads to be inſerted in the Letter before it was drawn up, which were to this effect: Firſt, To intimate that their Brethren here did ſenſibly lay to heart their ſad loſs, That ſo many of them ſhould fall by the hands of their Brethren. Secondly, To deſire them to ſearch into the cauſe of the Lords ſevere diſpleaſure againſt them. Thirdly, To underſtand the true ſtate of their Affairs ſo far as was fit for them to impart; and for us to know, Whether they did ſtill maintain Religious and Covenant-Intereſt. There were preſent at this meeting, Mr. Caſe, Major Adams, Doctor Drake, Captain Maſſey, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Mr. Gibbons, Cap. Potter, and my ſelf, with ſome others whom I remember not.
Soon after this, there was a Letter read in my houſe by Cap. Maſſey, as was ſaid to be from Major General Maſſey, which was the firſt Letter that I remember was read in my houſe, which came from Scotland; This was neer three moneths after Dunbar fight: Together with this Letter from Maſſey, there were Letters read from Alderman Bunce and Mr. Drake at the ſame time (if I miſtake not) The ſubſtance of Alderman Bunces and Mr. Drakes Letters, I have wholly forgotten; but the Contents of Maſſeys Letter was to this Effect, He mentioned the Poverty of his Condition, to what Neceſſities both Titus and himſelf were reduced, having no Command at all in the Scotiſh Army: He alſo in his Letter related the number of the Scots, who were both ſlain and taken priſoners; and wrote for Money and Arms to be ſent him, by the way of Holland: All the company was againſt ſending money on a Military Accompt to provide Arms; all did diſavow that: But there was a Propoſition made (by whom I know not) to ſend them money for a ſupply of their perſonal Neceſſities: The ſum propounded was, either Three hundred pounds, or elſe Four hundred pounds. I confeſs, I did ſecond this Propoſal, and did move for the Contribution of money for them, but named no ſum, and utterly diſclaimed the buſineſs of Arms: I moved it chiefly for Maſſey (for I knew not Titus) becauſe Maſſey had formerly done eminent Services for the good of this Nation; and I moved it meerly for a ſupply of his perſonal Neceſſities, without any reference to the War: I confeſs, I did ſubſcribe Ten pounds for that purpoſe, and did give it accordingly, laying it down on the Table in my Parlor, wrapt up in a Paper with C. L. written on it. There were many preſent in the Room, but none ſaw me lay it down (that I know of) nor did I ſee any take it up, yet I believe Cap. Maſſey received it. I confeſs, I did not onelyonly ſubſcribe the ſum that I my ſelf did give, but I did write down alſo ſome few of the ſums, which others ſaid they would give: Particularly I writ down Ten pounds which Lieut. Col. Jackson promiſed to give, Ten pounds which Maj. Adams promiſed to give, and Five pounds which Cap. Farr promiſed to give, and Five pounds which Mr. Jaquel told me of before, if there were need he would give: But I received not the money from any of thoſe forementioned, but onelyonly from Mr. Jaquel I received Five pounds for the uſe of Maſſey and Titus, and the next meeting laid it on my Table, wrapt in a Paper, with Mr. Jaquel written on it. I might poſſibly receive Five or ten pounds from ſome of the company, who met at my houſe, for the uſe of Maſſey, but cannot now remember from whom. There were ſeveral ſums of money left on my Table, but I ſaw them not laid down, nor did I ſee any take it up; yet I ſuppoſe Cap. Maſſey did receive it, and return it.
I do confeſs, I writ an anſwer to Maſſey's Letter, which none in the World could accuſe me of; it was the firſt and onelyonly Letter that ever I writ into Scotland, ſince the Wars began: I writ it in long hand, for I never uſed Cypher or Character in all my life. And though before the High Court I did ſay (and that truly) I never wrote Letter to any perſon of the Scotiſh Nation, ſince the Wars began, yet I durſt not ſay, I never writ to any perſon in the Scotiſh Nation, becauſe I did write this one (and but this one) Letter to Maſſey: The ſubſtance of the Letter was to this effect, To let him know, his Friends here could not forget the eminent Services he had formerly done; That we were ſorry to hear of the Neceſſity of his Condition; That ſome Friends here had reſolved, as an Expreſſion of their Reſpects towards him and Cap. Titus, to ſend them Four hundred pounds (although I believe that ſum was never raiſed) for a ſupply of their perſonal Neceſſities: But as for Arms, I wrote expreſly, We could not, we would not provide any; it was neither ſafe, nor fit for us to ingage in a buſineſs of that nature: Wherefore I prayed him to forbear any ſuch motions to us. There were preſent at this meeting theſe perſons following, Major Alford, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Mr. Caſe, Cap. Maſſey, Major Adams, Dr. Drake, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Cauton, Cap. Farr, and my ſelf, with ſome others; but who more, I cannot well remember.
There is one thing I have yet to declare concerning a learned and godly Brother, Dr. Drake, which I hope will not turn to his prejudice; He did twice or thrice bring Letters to my houſe, and read them when we met: I believe they were from his Brother M. William Drake who is in Holland, the matter of them was, An expreſſion of Brotherly affection, a remembring to Friends, and a relation of what News he heard either in Scotland or Holland, and an exciting ſometimes to do ſomething to raiſe money for the Scots, which motion Dr. Drake did reject, and (as he told me) writ a Denial. Dr. Drake did alſo ſhew me the Tranſcript of a Letter (which he ſaid) was from the King; it was written in his Brothers Letter; the ſubſtance of it was to this effect, That he was glad he was joyned in the ſame Covenant with ſuch honeſt men, as he had cauſe to judge them to be; but to whom the Letter was written I know not, nor can I remember one paſſage more in it.
About February laſt paſt, Capt. Potter (and M. Jaquel with him) brought Letters to my houſe, which was the laſt Meeting (to the beſt of my remembrance) at my houſe about a buſineſs of ſuch a nature, when Capt. Potter came in, he ſaid, He had News to ſhew me, and took out of his pocket ſeveral Letters, I think they were moſt, if not all opened, before he brought them to my houſe: One Letter was from M. Bayly a Miniſter in Scotland, another from Col. Bampfield, a third ſubſcribed by four Lords of Scotland, viz. Argyle, Loudon, Lothian and Belcarris; there was a Letter or two more, but from whom or to whom, I know not; I cannot remember the Contents of each Letter on the bare hearing Capt. Potter reading of them, onelyonly in one or more of them, there was a Narration of the Affairs of Scotland, how they ſtood ſince Dunbar Fight; what Diviſions and Parties there were in Scotland, ſome for the King, others for the Kirk, and ſome for neither. There was a motion alſo for 10000 l. to be raiſed for the Affairs of Scotland, but all preſent diſliked the motion, and did utterly refuſe to act any thing in that buſineſs, and reſolved to give a Negative Anſwer: I was deſired to write an Anſwer to Col. Bampfield, which I did, but who writ anſwer to the other Letters I do not know certainly, onelyonly this I know, Dr. Drake was deſired to return an Anſwer to M. Bayly, which I believe he did: It was agreed on by us who were preſent, That though we did diſlike the motion for raiſing ſo great a ſum for the Scotiſh Affairs, yet we would ſend a Gratuity to the meſſenger; we judged it convenient to give Col. Bampfield and his man 40 l. In theſe Letters ſent by Col. Bampfield were an Anſwer to that Letter which M. Drake writ with Sack in a Table-book or Paper-book, which was ſent in Iuly 1650. but the Anſwer not returned till the February following. I confeſs I writ an Anſwer to Col. Bampfield's Letter, but to none of the reſt; I wrote (though I knew not the man) on purpoſe to ſtop further Solicitations to us for money; the Contents of the Letter was to this effect, To give him notice of the Receipt of his Letter with the Letters incloſed; I did write peremptorily, we could not, we would not raiſe any moneys, it was neither fit nor ſafe for us to do ſo, I deſired him to deſiſt any ſuch motions for the future, telling him we ſhould not ſatisfie his expectation and the Scots; I writ plainly to him, that we had no occaſion to uſe or employ him in any buſineſs for us: I gave him notice alſo of 30 l. ſent him, and 10 l. given his man, for their care and pains. This was the ſum of that Letter I writ to Col. Bampfield who was then in Holland. Beſides one Letter to Maſſey in Scotland, and this to Bampfield in Holland, I never writ any other about buſineſs of this nature; moreover I gave 5 l. towards the 40 l. and delivered it to M. Jaquel, but whether he returned it or who elſe I do not certainly know, nor who elſe made up the ſum of 40 l. I know not; onelyonly this I know, it was agreed upon that among our ſelves we ſhould raiſe that ſum, and ſo have no more to do with Bampfield; there were preſent when the Letters were read which were ſent by Bampfield, Dr. Drake, Captain Potter, Mr. Jaquel, and my ſelf: This was the laſt meeting, as I remember, which was at my houſe about theſe Tranſactions, I was unwilling to continue it any longer.
There is one thing more I make bold to mention, That there are other perſons, beſides thoſe I have named, who did now and then come to theſe Meetings at my Houſe; as Mr. Robinſon, Mr. Nalton, Mr. Haviland, Mr. Blackmore, Col: Vaughan, Col: Sowton; theſe were alſo preſent at one time or another, but at what particular Meeting I cannot poſitively ſay.
Thus I have clearly laid open the whole matter of Fact ſo far as I well remember, and diſtinctly know of Paſſages about theſe Meetings and Tranſactions at my Houſe; yea, I have expreſſed more then all the Witneſſes have proved, or then all the men in the world could prove againſt me; and now I humbly hope, the Parliament will be as free in pardoning, as I am in confeſſing, that as by what I have done, I am an object of your juſt diſpleaſure; ſo by what I have confeſſed, I may become an object of your free grace and favor.
I fully reſolving never to ingage again in a buſineſs of the like nature, if through your clemency you paſs by theſe ſundry and great Offences upon my free Confeſſion, and full reſolution to leave them, you will reſemble God himſelf, who hath ſaid, He that confeſſeth and forſakes his ſins ſhall finde mercy.
Having thus laid open my heart in this matter, in an ingenuous acknowledgement, I humbly crave leave to expreſs my ſelf in a few Particulars for further ſatisfaction to the Parliament.
1. Although I was preſent at ſeveral meetings in my Houſe to hear Letters read, yet I uſed not to be at meetings elſewhere about buſineſſes of this nature; it ſeems there were meetings in other places many Moneths before I knew any thing.
2. There are no perſons who uſed theſe meetings, ſo far as I remember (and as I am informed) but they are already diſcovered and made known.
3. There is no Intelligence or Correſpondencies now held that I know of, with any in, or of the Scotiſh Nation, or any imployed by them.
4. I am not privy to, or acquainted with any Plots or Deſigns now carrying on, for raiſing inteſtine Inſurrections at home, or joyning with Forreign Invaſions from abroad.
5. There was never any money raiſed that I know of, for any of the Scotiſh Nation to carry on their War; yea, when Letters were read wherein there were motions to that purpoſe, I utterly refuſed to do any thing therein.
6. I do retain as vehement a Deteſtation of Malignancy, whether in England, or in Scotland, as ever I did, and ſhall in my Place and Calling oppoſe ſuch a Deſign and intereſt with as much zeal and faithfulneſs as ever.
7. Laſtly, I do faithfully promiſe never to ingage in a buſineſs of the like nature as this, wherein I have been inſnared; nor ſhall I Plot, Contrive or Deſign the ſubverſion of this preſent Government, but ſhall under the ſame, lead a peaceable and quiet life in all godlineſs and honeſty.
I have no more to ſay, but to make this humble and laſt requeſt, That this my large Confeſſion may not be taken as an Aggravation of my fault, but as a Demonſtration of my Ingenuity. I acknowledge by your Juſtice, you might in one day leave a Flock without a Shepherd, a Wife without a Husband, Children without a Father, and a Body without a Soul: But my Hope and Prayer is, That your Mercy will triumph over Juſtice, That I ſhall hear that joyful ſound, That my life ſhall ſee the Light, That I ſhall be reſcued from going down to the Grave: To which, if God ſhall incline your hearts, I ſhall devote the remainder of my days, to the glory of God, and good of his people, The peace and ſafety of this Commonwealth, againſt all the Malignant Enemies, and Oppoſers thereof.
I have but one Requeſt more to make to this Honorable Houſe, That if ſome Paſſages about theſe Meetings and Tranſactions have paſſed my Obſervation, or ſlipt my Memory (as happily through tract of time ſome things have) That you would not impute it to my Wilfulneſs, but to my Forgetfulneſs of things done ſo long ago.
From the Tower of London, July 22. 1651. I Atteſt the truth of this Narrative under my Hand. Chriſtopher Love.