over-rulest all our counsels; over-rule also all our hearts; that the worse things we suffer by thy justice, the better we may be by thy mercy.

As our sinnes have turned our antidotes into poyson, so let thy grace turne our poysons into antidotes.

As the sinnes of our peace disposed us to this unhappy warre, so let this warre prepare us for thy blessed peace.

That although I have but troublesome kingdomes here, yet I may attaine to that Kingdome of Peace in My heart, and in thy Heaven, which Christ hath purchased, and thou wilt give to thy Servant (tho a sinner) for my Saviours sake. Amen.

II. UPON THE EARLE OF STRAFFORD'S DEATH.

I LOOKED upon my Lord of Strafford, as a gentleman, whose great abilities might make a prince rather afraid, then ashamed to employ him, in the greatest affaires of state.

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For those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings, and this was like enough to betray him to great errours, and many enemies whereof he could not but contract good store, while moving in so high a spheare, and with so vigorous a lustre, he must needs (as the sun) raise many envious exhalations, which condensed by a popular odium, were capable to cast a cloud upon the brightest merit, and integrity.

Though I cannot in My judgment approve all he did, driven (it may be) by the necessities of times, and the temper of that people, more then led by his owne disposition to any height and rigour of actions: yet I could never be convinced of any such criminousnesse in him, as willingly to expose his life to the stroke of Justice, and malice of his enemies.

I never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affaires, then in the businesse of that unfortu

nate Earle when between My owne unsatisfiednesse in conscience, and a necessity (as some told Me) of satisfying the importunities of some people; I was perswaded by those, that I think wished Me well, to chuse rather what was safe, than what seemed just; preferring the outward peace of My kingdomes with men, before that inward exactnesse of conscience before God.

And indeed, I am so farre from excusing or denying that complyance on My part (for plenary consent it was not) to his destruction, whom in My judgment I thought not, by any cleare law, guilty of death: that I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret: which, as a signe of My repentance, I have often with sorrow confessed both to God and men, as an act of so sinfull frailty, that it discovered more a feare of man, than of God, whose name and place on earth no man is worthy to beare, who will avoid inconveniences of state, by acts of so high injustice, as no publique convenience can expiate or compensate.

I see it a bad exchange to wound a man's owne conscience, thereby to salve state sores; to calme the stormes of popular discontents, by stirring up a tempest in a man's owne bosome.

Nor hath God's justice failed in the event and sad consequences, to shew the world the fallacy of that maxime, Better one man perish (tho unjustly) then the people be displeased, or destroyed.

For, in all likelyhood, I could never have suffered, with My people, greater calamities, (yet with greater comfort) had I vindicated Strafford's innocency, at least by denying to signe that destructive bill, according to that justice, which My conscience suggested to Me, then I have done since I gratified some mens unthankful importunities with so cruell a favour. And I have observed, that those, who counselled Me to signe that bill, have been so farre from receiving the rewards of such ingratiatings with the people, that no men have been harassed and crushed more then they: he onely hath been least vexed by them, who counselled Me, not to consent against the vote of My owne conscience; I hope God hath forgiven Me and them, the sinful rashnesse of that businesse.

To which being in My soule so fully conscious, those judgments God hath pleased to send upon Me, are so much the more welcome, as a meanes (I hope) which his mercy hath sanctified so to Me, as to make Me repent of that

unjust act, (for so it was to Me) and for the future to teach Me, that the best rule of policy is to preferre the doing of justice, before all enjoyments, and the peace of My conscience before the preservation of My kingdomes.

Nor hath any thing more fortified My resolutions against all those violent importunities, which since have sought to gaine a like consent from Me, to acts, wherein My conscience is unsatisfied, then the sharp touches I have had for what passed Me in My Lord of Strafford's busi

nesse.

Not that I resolved to have employed him in My affaires, against the advice of My Parliament, but I would not have had any hand in his death, of whose guiltlesnesse I was better assured, then any man living could be.

Nor were the crimes objected against him so cleare, as after a long and faire hearing to give convincing satisfaction to the major part of both Houses; especially that of the Lords, of whom scarce a third part were present, when the Bill passed that House: and for the House of Commons, many gentlemen, disposed enough to diminish My Lord of Strafford's greatnesse and power, yet unsatisfied of his guilt in law, durst