As all men must confess who therein look; J. H. The Loyall Sacrifice, &c. Noble actions having relation to persons of eminent quality, have been ever memorable to posterity. Amongst which, mone more remarkable than such as have borne the face of loyalty, and expressed their true native lustre in defence of the just privileges of their country, and conservation of a * monarchical sovereignty. Many, indeed, and those singular heroick spirits, (whose names are to this day recorded in the annals of fame) do our ancient historians present unto us; who have received no other guerdon than ingratitude, from those parts where they have best deserved. Carthage may satisfy you with an Annibal; Rome with an African; Athens with a Phocion. Notwithstanding all this, the memory of their surviving actions begot such a glorious emulation in their successors, as that unthankfulness their countries shew'd unto them: or aspersions which unmeriting spirits darted on them, even redounded more to their honour, than if they had never suffered under the censure of a groundless popular opinion, or been crush'd by the votes of such state commanding imperialists, who maligned their rising. I shall not labour to make any large porch to my Mindian building; lest some critick tax me, as sometimes that Cynick did, that the city might run out at the gate. Viget. de mil. discipl. 1. 2. c. 4. Guic. in Hist. l. 1. c. 35. Polit. de regim. Princ. 1. 3. c. 5. Gesner. de jure regal. Cent. 4. c. 7. Riv. de Ord. Princip. sect. 2. Arnob. de Magist. Civil. I. 6. Lampsach. de stat, Mo narch. et Imper. sect. 3. parag. 2. Owin, in anti. Para. We are here to present unto your view and uninterested judgement, equally poized to their merits, persons of quality, and patterns of loyalty, who have acted their parts bravely upon the theatre of honour: whose names, though the memories of some men be apt to freeze in these distempered times, shall, like fresh and fragrant odours, breathe sweetness in the nostrils of those who hold fidelity to be the best cognizance for the coat of a subject. You cannot chuse but collect where I am like to lay my scene, before I unfold my story. Colchester must be the place; than which, none more memorable for continuance of a siege above expectance; nor more gallant in opposing of a powerfull foe, with a constant and cheerful resistance. During which siege, it is incredible in what a prudential way and form of discipline, those who were designed commanders and managers of weighty action, bore themselves, not only in animating those who were for them, but ingratiating those (and that in a generous and gracefull posture) of whose affections they stood doubtfull. But to omit the relation of these particulars which deserve approvement and invitation from those who stand ingaged in actions of like quality: we will make it our work to acquaint you more punctually with the descent, breeding, and condition of these eminent Gentlemen, who closed the sundry passages of their loyall lives with a glorious evening, by sacrificing their blood for the honour of their sovereign, and easing their oppressed country of an insup* portable tyrannick burden. First then, for the family of Sir Charles Lucas; none that knows it can bestow any other style upon it then of lineal worth and antiquity: a stem from whence sprung many eminent Scions, useful instruments to their state and country. Amongst which, this * Noble Gentleman confers such an ad * Not to omit that nobly accomplished, and deservingly honoured, the Lo. Lucas, his brother, a Gentleman singularly gifted in all sutable elements of knowledge: together with Sir Gervas Lucas, a valiant and loyal comVOL. 11. 3 к ditament upon it, as the loyalty and memory of his person shall to succeeding times highly improve it. For his education, it was generous, having his youth sufficiently seasoned in principles of knowledge, humane and divine learning, his manhood for discipline in the field. He was ever of an active disposition, accompanyed with a resolute spirit, and sutable discretion to manage it. Strict in his commands, without a supercilious severity, though some herein have taxed him too censoriously. Free in his rewards to persons of desert and quality. Since the first beginning of these distractions, all his expresses, with what company soever he consorted, evermore tended to the advancement of loyalty, how odious and unjustifiable a thing it was to lift up an hand against the power of soverignty, under what plausive pretence or colour soever, that adulterate face of treason were disguised: being usually known to deliver himself in these words, "That he preferred the style of loyalty, before any dignity that earth could confer upon him." In his society, he was affable and pleasant; in his charge, serious and vigilant: remiss in nothing that might any way improve or expedite his dispatch in affairs of government. Those his sundry fields, martial exploits, and brave adventures, wherein he was ever personally engaged, and wherein he usually appeared (as was generally observed) in the head of the army, were needless here to recount. As his yalour was well known, so was his native candour and clemency no less approv'd by all such as in the close of his conquest submitted themselves to his mercy. So as, in this particular, we may truly conclude, that during all his time of service, he was ever ready to afford what himself mander: (by which notion of loyalty, true valour is justly dignified, and from perfidious rashness distinguished) sometimes Governour of Belvoir Castle. Albeit I am not ignorant how rigid and severe commanders be com monly less beloved by their souldiers, than those who are of more indulgent tempers. ↑ Reserving them for a more proper place in our discourse hereafter. could not receive, free quarter: no, nor so much as one daye's reprieve for his better preparation against his last voyage. This we purposely here have touched, to vindicate his clear and noble temper, from the injurious censure of those who in the freedom of their report tax him for being too violent and implacable in this kind: whereas that man breathes not who can justly accuse him in the whole current of his actions or commands, that he ever lay his impetuous hand upon a sub→ missive captive in cold blood; or ever suffered any blood to be spilt, which he might with honour, or without prejudice to his commands, spare. But these critick spirits, who are so apt to censure and traduce the clearest actions of honour, may be pro→ perly compared to the camelion: that can assume any colour but white. But the foe must have something to speak in his own de fence; yet when he has produced all the reasons he can possibly alledge, to wind up the spider woven webb of his apology, he must appear to the whole world, and succeeding posterities after these distracted times, an actor of a cruel and bloody tragedy. In one word, never did a more virile or undaunted spirit harbout more noble compassion; holding nothing more inglorious than to dominere o're the misery of a subdued foe. So as to bestow on him any ampler character, or present him in a fuller portraiture, were to give beams to the sun: his integrity being impaled with such honour, as it far surmounts the reach of cen sure.* Extract, p. 82. So far as may concern their personal worth, they shall little need to be either further displayed or distinguished: for Sir Charles, he was known to be an accomplished souldier; an * See the account of the LUCAS family, in The Life of Margaret Duchess of Newcastle. Reprinted at Lee Priory. EDITOR. high prizer of his honour; a perfect master both of the ancient and modern militia; accounted as eminent in the command of horse (a service wherein he had been ever imployed, and singularly improved) as the most experienced commander in Eu rope. Being in a word, such a man of men, and pattern of active loyalty, as he was all, that Sir GEO. LISLE, in a gallant emulation, aimed to be; whom, as he dearly tendered, so he seriously imitated, and now in the end, nearly seconded; being reputed a most knowing and obliging commander for the infantry: and of such discipline and courage, that he led them, as in a line upon any services, through the greatest danger and difficulty. This was the ready way to make fame the foundation of a family; seeing nothing can be properly said to be ours, but what takes life from the merit or repute of those actions of ours; for whatsoever is derived to us from ours, is others, and not ours." Give me leave then, in behalf of this noble pair, to summ up all with this positive conclusion: "He shoots his shafts at the moon, who out of a malignant humour, makes it his labour to darken the splendour of goodness and honour." It is said when his majesty heard the news of their deaths, that out of a pious compassion, and princely affection which he bore to their persons, he burst forth into tears; which that Hebrew Intelligencer interprets softness or effeminacy: as if it beseem'd no virile spirit to compassionate the loss of a friend. Whereas if that seditious Rabbi had ever repaired to those tents of Israel, whereto he sometimes incouraged the people against their sovereign, he might have seen a David (that conqueror of Goliah) shed tears for an Absolom and a Jonathan. Our best master for a Lazarus, and the approaching ruins of a Hierusalem. Nay, if ever his small portion of learning would have suffer'd him to have been versed in profane histories, he might have found Marcellus' eyes dropping tears for Syracusa. That sweet-temper'd Tytus for the miseries of Judea. Variety of examples in all stories, what singular arguments of princely compassion, eminent'st personages even in their greatest victo |