PETERS. 30 him, for his satisfaction in some scruples of conscience, Dr. J uxton, bishop of London, was ordered to go to his majesty.". And Sir John Denham being entrusted by the queen to deliver a naeSsa<!se to his majesty, who at that time was in the hands Of the army, by the assistance of Hugh Peters he got admittance to the king."t These were certainly very considerable services, and could hardly have been expected from a man, who, accord- ing to Burnet, " was outrageous in pressing the king's death, with the cruelty 'and rudeness of an inquisitor. 't As to the vile insinuation of many writers, that he was sup- posed to have been one of the masked executioners, besides the deposition at his trial, that he was then confined by sick- ness, no stress was laid by the king's counsel on any sus- picions or reports on this head. So that in all good reason, Dr. Barwick, Mr. Granger, and others, should have fore- borne saying, " that he was upon no slight grounds accused to have been one of the king's murderers."§ Mr. Peters, in further protestation of his own innocence, says, " I thought the act of indemnity would have included me; but the hard character upon me excluded me. I have not had my band in any man's blood, but saved many in life and estate." 11 All that was proved against him con- sisted merely in words; but words; it must be acknowledged, unfit to be uttered. Yet, when it is recollected that many greater offenders than Mr. Peters escaped capital punish- ment, we shall be led to suspect that he met with some unkind and hard usage. Whenhe was asked why sentence should not be passed 'upon him, to die according to law, he only said, " I will submit myself to God ; and if I have spoken any thing against the gospel of Christ, I am heartily sorry for it."s The sentence of deathwas then passed upon him;' when he was ,confined in Newgate only three days and then executed. According to Ludlow, it was of no use to plead in his own defence : the court was fully resolved on his execution. " It was not expected," observes this author, " that any thing he could say should save him from the revenge of the court ; and, therefore, he was without hesitation brought in guilty.".. Mr. Peters, the day after his condemnation, preached to Whitlocke's Memorials, p. 364. + Historical Account, p. 24. t.Hist. of his Time, vol. i. p. 162. § Historical Account, p. 25.-Granger's Hiog. Hist. vol. iii. p. 55. Peters's Dying Legacy, p. 104, 106. 4Trial of Regicides, p. 182-184. 0. Ludlow's Memoirs, p. 407.
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