Clement Walker

was born at Cliffe in Dorsetshire, educated in Acad. learning in Ch. Church, as I have been informed by his son Joh. Walker, sometimes a Gent. Com. of Linc. Coll. but in what year, or years, of the Lord, I know not, for his name occurs not in the Matricula, either under Ch. Church, or Broadgates Hall adjoyning, a receptacle mostly in the Reign of K. Jam. 1. for Dorsetshire men. Afterwards leaving the University without a degree, he retired to an Estate he had at Charterhouse near Wells in Somersetshire, where living in good repute, was esteem’d among the Gentry in those parts for his knowledge in secular affairs, and always taken to be, as really he was, an enemy to the Puritans, as making it his frequent theme to declaim against them. Before the Civil War commenc’d, he was made Usher of the Exchequer, but when the Puritans or Presbyterians were like to carry all before, he closed with, them, was elected one of the Burgesses for the City of Wells upon the retreat to his Maj. of Sir Ralph Hopton and Sir Edw. Rodney, who were elected to serve for that City in the Parliament began at Westminster 3 Nov. 1640. Afterwards he became a zealous Covenantier, and was Advocate to that Congregation of Murderers, that adjudged Rob. Yeomans and George Bowcher Citizens of Bristow to death, having had (as ’tis ((a))((a)) In The two state Martyrs; or the murther of Mr. R. Yeomans and Mr. G. Bowcher, &c. printed 1643 in qu. p. 11. See also in M [•] r. Rusticus, nu. 19. said) his hands stayned with his own Wives blood, before he dipped them so deep in those Martyrs at Bristow. About that time he and W Prynne, (inseparable Brethren) became great Enemies to Col. Nath. Fiennes for his cowardly surrendring up the City of Bristow, and were the chief men that brought him to a tryal for his life for the same. During the time that our Author Walker sate in the Parliament, he was a curious Observer, and diligent Enquirer after, not only the Actions, but the Counsels of those times. He was well read also, and notably vers’d in the Liberties and Privileges of Parliaments, and in the Statute Law of this Kingdom, as those that knew him well, have often affirmed it: And when he saw how the Independent Faction began to sway, and govern all things, then did he become a bitter enemy to Fairfax the General for his folly to be led by the nose by O. Cromwell, and to Cromwell for his devilish hypocrisie, falsness, tyranny, &c. and an indefatigable enemy in his Writings and Prayers against the said Independents that were then the Saints militant. But so it was, that tho he shew’d himself a zealous Presbyterian, yet he was very serviceable in many things to the Parliament, and did not at all get as others did, as his own ((b))((b)) In the first part of The History of Independency, §. 49. words, which I believe are true, averr it thus— “I have served you (the Parliament) faithfully from the beginning, and have taken as much pains, and run as many hazards as most men in your service, wherein I have lost my health, and above seven thousand pounds of my estate, without any penny of compensation, as other men have had. Nor have I laid my hands upon any mans money or goods, or had any gainful Imployments from you. I was contented to serve my Country gratis, and some little honor I had gotten thereby, whereof you have now rob’d me, &c. by a roaving ((c))((c)) He was accused for setting on the Apprentices to force the H. of Commons. Accusation shot at random at me, &c. ” Thus our Author: which service of his was performed till 1647, when he saw the Independent Faction to grow mighty, he being then an elderly man and of a low stature. His works that are published are these.

An Answer to Col. Nathan Fiennes relation concerning his surrender of the City and Castle of Bristow.—printed 1643 in 2 sheets in qu. But for some misconstruction made of a clause in the said answer, the Author was suddenly seiz’d and sent Prisoner to the Tower of Lond. by the Parliament, where he continued for some time.

Articles of impeachment and accusation, exhibited in Parliament against Col. Nath. Fiennes touching his dishonorable surrender of the City and Castle of Bristow. Lond. 1643. in 2 sh. in qu. W. Prynne had a hand also in drawing up of the said articles: at the end of which is his letter to the said Fiennes.

True and full relation of the prosecution, arraignment, tryal and condemnation of Nath. Fiennes late Colonel and Governour of the City and Castle of Brist. before a Counsel of War, held at S. Albans, during 9 days space, in Decemb. 1643. Lond. 1644. qu. The said Prynne was his co-operator in this work also.

Declaration and protestation against the actings and proceedings of the Army and their Faction, now remaining in the H. of Commons.—This was written on the 19 of Jan. 1648, the Author being then a member of that house secured, after he, with many of his fellows, had been by force taken thence.

Six serious Queries concerning the Kings tryal by the High Court of Justice—The Authors name is not set to them, but by all believed to have been written by Walker.

The mysterie of the two Juntoes, Presbyterian and Independent. Lond. 1647. in 3 sh. in qu.

Historie of Independency, with the rise, growth and practices of that powerful and restless faction. Lond. 1648. qu.

A list of the names of the members of the H. of Commons, observing which are Officers of the Army, contrary to the self denying ordinance: together with such sums of money, Offices and Lands, as they have given to themselves for service done, or to be done, against the King and Kingdom. Lond. 1648. This being printed in one sh. in qu. was soon after remitted into the first part of the Hist. of Independency. See more in George Wharton.

Appendix to the Hist. of Independency, being a brief description of some few of Argyles proceedings, before and since he joyned in confederacy with the Independent Junto in England. Lond. 1648. qu.

Parallel between Argyle and Cromwell.—This is printed with the Appendix.

Anarchia Anglicana: Or, the history of Independency; the second part. Lond. 1649. qu. Put out as the former part was, under the name of Theodorus verax.

The High Court of Justice: or, Cromwells slaughter house, being the third part of the Hist. of Indep. Lond. 1651. qu. Out of which, as also the two former parts, were many things translated into Latine, and printed beyond the seas in a manual, 1653. After the Kings Restauration, one T. M. added a fourth part; which, with all the things before mentioned from The mysterie of the two Juntoes, &c. were printed in one thick volume in qu.—Lond. 1661. Upon the coming out of the sec. part of the Hist. of Independency, the Author being discover’d by Cromwell, was committed Prisoner to the Tower of London, 13 Nov. 1649, where having got allowance of pen, ink, and paper, he wrot the third part of that history. He gave way to fate there, to the great grief of the Presbyterian Party, in the month of Octob. in sixteen hundred fifty and one:1651. whereupon his body was conveyed to the Church of Allhallowes Barkin near to the said Tower, and there buried, as I have been informed by his said son John Walker. The next Writer that must follow according to time, was the greatest Royalist in the age he lived, and a person much reverenced by those who knew his Vertues and Piety.