Of signing the warrant for the death
Of my only friend by commission.

If this be considerd guilty and sinful,
Forgive me gracious God! For what I
Did, is quite against my true conscience !
Adieu my lord Archbishop! I shall now
Retire from the court into my private
Chamber and there lament the death of my
Only friend! This is a sign my Strafford
That I shall soon follow thee!

Exeuent king and Laud

ACT 2d.

Seene. 1st London. In Towerhill

Enter Lord Strafford from his arragement ;

axe

Tipstaves before him; the one with the edge towards him; halberds on each side; with him sheriff of London and other officers and common people.

Strafford. All gracious people !

You that have come to pity me, hear me
Say my last words which shall surely make an
Impression in your heart, if it be

Made of penetrable stuff; this day I

Have received a judgment a traitor's

Judgment and shall meet my death with that

[name !

You all did know how faithfully have I
Served my king and my country and shall
I be thus requited? O judgment true
And noble ! When shalt thou appear again
Into England ? since that th' noble houses
Of Parliament are going to be spotted
With the innocent blood that was

Ever shed in England! You all good people see
How wretched am I? how stale and weak

[ seems

To me every thing of this world! How many Soldiers have but yesterday waited

Upon my smiles? how many peers of Authority and power have thought proper To secure to them my friendship? Alas! This is the day in which at one stroke of Parliament I shall lose my life and Property and all other things which I

Can call my own! Ah! sad change in my

[golden

Days I was earl of Strafford, the Prime

Minister of England, now poor Thomas Wentworth so great are my enemies that

E' en my gracious king was not able

To protect me ! and if

my death

Period to the unhappy contest

prove the

Between His Majesty and the commons
How gladly shall I meet with such a kind
Of death, which is to be devoutly wish'd!
But as I feel conscious that thousands
More will not conclude their plotted tragedy
I am sorry most sorry for those few
Gentlemen who were very friendly t' me
His Majesty was always kind to me
I heartly pray for him like a loyal
Subject and a faithful servant. May the
Almightly bless his majesty with a
Long life, strength and wisdom, may he

[ long live

In this world but forget that there was e' er
Such a man in it as Thomas Wentworth !
And when I am forgotten as I think

I shall be, remind his majesty, how
I died praying for him, I have done
And God forgive me!

Sheriff. I do beseech your lordship if ever

Any thing which have I done might be [ thought

Presumptuous on my part now to forgive

Me frankly.

Strafford. Sir sheriff I do forgive you all as
I should be forgiven. Adieu, Adieu

Remember me.

Exeuent Strafford and the train.

Scene 2d London.

A room in the Parliament House.

Enter sir Arthur Haselcig, Hollis, Hampden,
Pym, and Strode and other members of the
Parliament.

Haseloig. The High commission Court and that of
The star-chamber, have been exercising

Their powers independent of any law

They are therefore full of threats to us and

Our lives and properties; and if

I can pretend to any knowledge of laws
And constitution of th' country

I belive their erection is not

Supported by any laws and rules

Of practice. England does not know of

Any such courts in days of yore, hence I
Beg to put up the bill to abolish

Both courts and with them all other articles

Of prerogatives which are dangerous

To the commonwealth.

Hollis. Yes Mr. Hascloig, you weighed th' matter Well. For 'tis my real belief that the

Existence of both courts will alter the form

Of Government and our limited

Monarchy will

grow into the absolute.

And all the privileges of the commons

Will not be observed by the monarch.
Tis true in heaven the monarchical

Form prevails, but this cannot be on earth;
Can man, frail man, be so wise as his
Creator? How many heirs apparent

To grand empires, who were wise and good
Have become so lusty and cruel as are
A reproach to hummanity; when
Converted into absolute princes?
O mighty Augustus thou art an only
Prince who can properly be entitled