waved his evidence, and prayed another witness might be called.]

MORTIMER--Me Lar, me can peak Englis----

COUNSEL--No, no, pray sit down, we will examine other witnesses.
Call Stephen Clough.

_Stephen Clough_ heard there was to be a meeting of the Council of
officers at Westminster, about three weeks or a month before the King's
execution,

and I being willing (my Lord) to hear what their consultations
were, I went thither, and was there as one of them (but I was
not one); amongst the rest Hugh Peters was one; when the room
was pretty full the door was shut. Mr. Peters was desired to
call for a blessing upon their business; in his prayer he
uttered these words, 'O Lord (said he) what a mercy it is to see
this great city fall down before us! And what a stir there is to
bring this great man to trial, without whose blood he will turn
us all into blood if he reign again!'

_Beaver_, upon the day appointed for a fast for those that sat then as a
parliament,

went to Westminster to find out some company to dine with me,
and having walked about an hour in Westminster Hall, and finding
none of my friends to dine with me, I went to that place called
Heaven, and dined there.

After he had dined he went through St. Margaret's churchyard, and
finding it all full of muskets and pikes, asked some soldiers what was
their business there. They told him that Peters was preaching in the
church, and 'I must needs have the curiosity to hear that man, having
heard many stories of the manner of his preaching (God knows I did not
do it out of any manner of devotion); I crowded near the pulpit, and
came near to the speaker's pew.' He heard Peters preaching on the text
about the Jews releasing Barabbas and crucifying Christ; interpreting
Barabbas to mean the King, and Christ the Army.

Says he, and because that you should think, my lords and
gentlemen, that it is a question, I tell you it is a question; I
have been in the city which may very well be compared to
Hierusalem in this conjuncture of time, and I profess these
foolish citizens for a little trading and profit, they will have
Christ (pointing to the redcoats on the pulpit stairs)
crucified, and the great Barabbas at Westminster released.

He told the members that they were the Sanhedrim, and that it was they
to whom the people looked for justice--

Do not prefer the great