383 thoroughly; but the collonell, who was peek'd at heart that they should thus use him, to reserve him with an imagination that he would serve their turnes in witnessing to the destruction of the rest, compos'd himselfe as well as he could, and resolv'd upon another testimony then they expected, if they had call'd him to any. But the atturney general! was so ill satisfied with his. private examination that he would not, venture a publick one. He dealt with him with all the art and flatteries that could be, to wake him but appeare, in the least thing, to have deserted his owne and ernbrac'd the king's party; and he brought the warrant of execution to the colloneH, and would faine have perswaded him to owne some of the hands, and to have imparted some circumstances of the sealing, because himselfe was present. But the collonell answered him, that in a businesse transac'ted so many years agoe, wherein life was concern'd, he durst not beare a testimony, having at that time bene so little an observer, that he could not remember the least title of that most eminent circumstance, of Cromwell's forcing Coli. Inglesby to sett to his unwilling hand, which, if his life had depended on that circumstance, he could not have affirm'd. "And then, Sir," sayd he, "if I have lost so great a thing as that, it cannot be expected " !esse eminent passages remaine with me." Then being shew'cL the gentlemen's hands, he told him he was not well acquainted witl1 them, as having never had commerce with the most of them by letters; and those he could owne, he could only say they resembled the writings which he was acquainted with; among these he only pickt out Cromwell's, Ireton's, and my lord Grey's. The attorney generall, very ill satisfied with his private examination, dismiss'd him; yett was he serv'd with a writt to appear in the court the next . ,day. The collonell had bene told that, when they were in distresse for 'vitnessrs to make up their formallity, Coli. Inglesby had put them upon sendii).g for him, which made him give that instance to • 3 F
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