able, and useless office. My lords, the
constant discourse of this gentleman at that time was such as he
did believe would never be called into question, so it was not a
thing that a man was necessitated to observe by an accident, but
it was their whole discourse. I will put you in mind of a
particular passage. When the news came to Windsor that the king
was in prison at the Isle of Wight, my father (whose house that
was) was very much troubled at it; and being an ancient man, was
not able to control his passions with reason, told my mother
that they (meaning Mr. Ireton, etc.) should have no
entertainment there, and took the key of the cellar and put it
in his pocket; his passions being lessened, Mr. Ireton, his
wife, and another officer being at supper, and afterwards my
father said grace, and, as he usually did, though they were
there, he said that usual and honest expression, praying for the
king in these usual words, 'God save the king, prince, and
realm'; sometimes they did laugh at it, but never did reflect
upon him; but this night he made this expression, 'God save the
king's most excellent majesty, and preserve him out of the hands
of all his enemies.' Peters, who was then at the table, turns
about to him, and said, 'Old gentleman, your idol will not stand
long'; I do conceive he meant it of the king. For a matter of
two months of the constant residence and being of the army
there, I did observe that in the General Council there, and in
this private cabal (after the business was broke out, and when
the king was taken prisoner, and carried to Windsor), Mr. Peters
was the constant man; and when the business broke out, I looked
upon it in reason that Cromwell, Ireton, and this gentleman at
the bar, and Rich, and that other gentleman, whose name I have
forgot, that they were the persons that did the business. My
lords, Mr. Peters he continued at Windsor: I remember very well
that after the body of the army, the general, and the officers
of the army, were gone to London, he continued at Windsor: I
remember a passage of one Bacon, who was a sectary; Mr. Peters
being in discourse of the king, Mr. Bacon took great distaste at
Mr. Peters for some affront put upon the King; Mr. Peters falls
upon him, and rails at him, and was ready to beat him; we
understood it so, because he