with God least of all in matter of Religion and therefore I desire it may be remembred I have always lived in the Protestant Religion established in England and in that I come now to die What Clamors and Slanders I have endured for labouring to keep an Uniformity in the external service of God according to the Doctrine and Disciplice of this Church all men know and I have abundantly felt Now at last I am accused of high Treason in Parliament a crime which my soul ever abhorred this Treason was charged upon me to consist of two parts An endeavour to subvert the Law of the Realm and a like endeavour to overthrow the true Protestant Religion established by those Laws Besides my Answers which I gave to the severall Charges I protested my innocency in both Houses it was said Prisoners protestations at the Barre must not be taken de ipso I can bring no witnesse of my heart and the intentions thereof therefore I must come to my Protestation not at the bar but to my Protestation at this hour and instant of my death in which as I said before I hope all men will be such charitable Christians as not to think I would die and dissemble my Religion I doe therefore here with that caution that I delivered before without all prejudice in the world to my Judges that are to proceed secundum allegata probata and so to be understood I die in the presence of Almighty God and all his holy and blessed Angels and I take it now on my death that I never endeavoured the subversion of the Laws of the Realm nor never any change of the Protestant Religion into Popish superstition and I desire you all to remember this Protest of mine for my innocency in these and from all manner of Treasons whatsoever I have been accused likewise as an enemy to Parliaments no God forbid I understood them and the benefits that come by them a great deal too well to be so but I did indeed dislike some misgovernments as I conceived of some few one or two Parliaments and I did conceive humbly that I might have reason for it for corruptio optimi est pessima There is no corruption in the world so bad as that which is of the best thing in it self for the better the thing is in nature the worse it is corrupted and this being the highest and greatest Court over which no other can have any jurisdiction in the Kingdome if by any way a mis-government which God forbid should any ways fall upon it the Subjects of this Kingdome are left without all manner of remedy and therefore God preserve them and bless them and direct them that there may be no mis-conceit much lesse mis-government amongst them I will not inlarge my self any further I have done I forgive all the world all and every of those bitter enemies or others whosoever they have been which have any wayes prosecuted me in this kind and I humbly desire to be forgiven first of God and then of every man whether I have offended him or no if he doe but conceive that I have Lord doe thou forgive me and I beg forgivenesse of him and so I heartily desire you to joyn with me in prayer The Bishop of Canterburies first prayer on the Scaffold O Eternall God and mercifull Father look down upon me in mercy in the riches and fulnesse of all thy mercies look upon me but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the Cross of Christ look upon me but not till thou hast bathed me in the blood of Christ not till I have hid my self in the wounds of Christ that so the punishment that is due to my sinnes may passe away and goe over me and since thou art pleased to try me to the uttermost I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant full patience proportionable comfort a heart ready to die for thine honour the Kings happinesse and the Churches preservation and my zeal to these farre from arrogancy be it spoken is all the sin humane frailty excepted and all incidents thereunto which is yet known of me in this particular for which I now come to suffer I say in this particular of Treason but otherwise my sinnes are many and great Lord pradon them all and those especially whatsoever they be which have drawn down this present Judgment upon me and when thou hast given me strength to bear it then doe with me as seems best in thy own eyes and carry me through death that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me and that there may be a stop of this issue of blood in this more then miserable Kingdome I shall desire that I may pray for the people too as well as for my self O Lord I beseech thee give grace of repentance to all people that have a thirst for blood but if they will not repent then scatter their devices so and such as are or shall be contrary to the glory of thy great name the truth and sincerity of Religion the establishment of the King and his Posterity after him in their just Rights and Priviledges the honour and conservation of Parliaments in their ancient and just power the preservation of this poor Church in her truth peace and patrimony and the setlement of this distracted and distressed people under their ancient Laws and in their native Liberties and when thou hast done all this in meer mercy for them O Lord fill their hearts with thankfulnesse and with religious dutifull obedience to thee and thy Commandments all their daies So Amen Lord Jesus and I beseech thee receive my soul to mercy Our Father which art in Heaven Hollowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Amen When he had finished his Prayer he gave his Paper to Doctor Sterne saying Doctor I give you this that you may shew it to your Fellow-Chaplains that they may see how I am gone out of the world and Gods blessing and his mercy be upon them Then turning to Master Hinde he said Friend I beseech you hear me I cannot say I have spoken every word as it is in my Paper but I have gone very neer it to help my memory as well as I could but I beseech you let me have no wrong done me Hinde Sir you shall not if I doe any wrong let it fall on my own head I pray God have mercy on your soul Cant. I thank you I did not speak with any jealousie as if you would doe so but I spake it onely as a poor man going out of the world it is not possible for me to keep to the words in my paper and a phrase may doe me wrong I did think here would have been an
of these Inviters 'T is no time to dissemble How willingly I was to have served this Nation in any thing that was in my power is known to very many honest pious and religious men and how ready I would have been to have done what I could to have served them if it had pleased them to have preserved my life in whose hands there was a power They have not thought it fit and so I am become unuseful in that which willingly I would have done As I said at first Sir so I say now concerning that point I wish the Kingdoms happiness I wish it peace and truly Sir I wish that this bloud of mine may be the last that is drawn and howsoever I may perhaps have some reluctancy with my self as to the matter of my fact for my suffering for my fact yet I freely forgive all Sir I carry no rancour along with me to my grave His Will be done that has created both Heaven and Earth and me a poor miserable sinful creature now speaking before him For me to speak Sir to you State-business and the Government of the Kingdom or my opinion in that or for any thing in that nature truly it is to no end it contributes nothing My own inclination hath been to peace from the beginning and it is known to many that I never was an ill instrument betwixt the King and his people I never acted to the prejudice of the Parliament I bore no Arms I medled not with it I was not wanting by my prayers to God Almighty for the happiness of the King and truly I shall pray still that God may so direct him as that may be done which shall tend to his glory the peace happiness of the Kingdom I have not much more to say that I remember of I think I have spoken of my Religion D. Sibbald Your Lordship has not so fully said it Camb. Truly I do believe I did say something D. Sibbald I know you did 't is pleasing to hear it from your Lordship again Camb. Truly Sir for the profession of my Religion that which I said was the established Religion and that which I have practised in my own Kingdom where I was born and bred my Tenents they need not to be exprest they are known to all and I am not of a rigid opinion many godly men there is that may have scruples which do not concern me at all at no time they may differ in Opinion and now more then at any time differing in Opinion does not move me not any mans my own is clear Sir The Lord forgive me my sins and I forgive freely all those that even I might as a worldly man have the greatest animosity against We are bidden to forgive Sir 'T is a command laid upon us and there mentioned Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us D. Sibb 'T is our Saviours rule Love your Enemies Bless them that Curse you pray for them that persecute you do good to them that despightfully use you Camb. Sir it is high time for me to make an end of this and truly I remember no more that I have to say but to pray to God Almighty a few words and then I have done Then kneeling down with D. Sibbald he prayed thus MOst Blessed Lord I thy poor and most unworthy servant come unto thee presuming in thy infinite Mercy and the Merits of Jesus Christ who sits upon the Throne I come flying from that of Justice to that of Mercy and Tenderness for his Sake which shed his blood for sinners that he would take Compassion upon me that he will look upon we as one that graciously hears me that he would look upon me as one that hath Redeemed me that he would look upon me as one that hath shed his blood for me that he would look upon me as one who now calls and hopes to be saved by his All-sufficient merits For his sake Glorious God have Compassion upon me in the Freeness of thy infinite Mercy that when this sinful soul of mine shall depart out of this frail Carcass of Clay I may be carried into thy Everlasting Glory O Lord by thy Free Grace and out of thy infinite mercy hear me and look down and have Compassion upon me and thou Lord Jesus thou my Lord and thou my God and thou my Redeemer hear me take pity upon me take pity upon me gracious God and so deal with my soul that by thy precious merits I may attain to thy joy and bliss O Lord remember me so miserable and sinful a creature now thou O Lord thou O Lord that dyed for me receive me and receive me into thy own bound of mercy O Lord I trust in thee suffer me not now to be confounded Satan has had too long possession of this soul O let him not now prevail against it but let me O Lord from henceforth dwell with thee for evermore Now Lord it is thy time to hear me hear me gracious Jesus even for thy own Goodness Mercy and Truth O Glorious God O Blessed Father O Holy Redeemer O Gracious Comforted O Holy and Blessed Trinity I do render up my soul into thy hands and commit it with the Mediation of my Redeemer Praising thee for all thy Dispensations that it has pleased thee to confer upon me and even for this Praise and Honour and Thanks from this time forth for evermore D. Sibbald My Lord I trust you now behold with the Eye of Faith the Son of Righteousness shining upon your soul and will cheerfully submit unto him who hath Redeemed us through his Blood even the Blood of Jesus Christ that you may appear at the Tribunal of God clothed with the White Robe of his Unspotted Righteousness the Lord grant that with the Eye of Faith you may now see the Heavens opened and Jesus Christ standing at the Right Hand of God ready to receive you into his Arms of Mercy Camb. Then the Earl turning to the Executioner said Shall I put on another Cap Must this Hair be turn'd up from my Neck There are three of my servants to give satisfaction D. Sibbald My Lord I hope you are able to give all that are about you satisfaction you are assured that God is reconciled unto you through the Blood of Christ Jesus and the Spirit of the Lord witnesseth to you that Christ is become now a Jesus unto you My Lord fasten the Eyes of your Faith upon Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Salvation who himself was brought to a violent death for the Redemption of Mankind he chearfully submitted to his Fathers good pleasure in it and for us Blessed and holy is he that hath part my Lord in the first resurrection that is in the first Riser Jesus Christ who is both the Resurrection and the Life over him the second death shall have no power 'T is the unspeakable joy of a Believer that at the hour of death his soul
Wednesday the fifth of July 1643. in Corn-hill just against the Royal Exchange Presently after Mr. TOMKINS was Executed about tenne of the clock Mr. CHALLENOR was carried from New-gate accompanied with Mr. PETERS and some other Divines and conducted by two Troops of Horse to Corn-hill where a Gibbet was erected against the Royal Exchange about which was a Guard consisting of two of the Trained Bands When he came to the place of Execution being upon the Ladder after many Teares of hearty Contrition he spake as followeth GENTLEMEN IT hath pleased God to bring me to this place God hath how returned my prayer upon me my prayer was that if this Design might not be Honorable to him that it might be known God hath heard me and it is discovered that same very thing hath satisfied me that I was in an errour and that I am confident I was in a great deal of fault And I confesse I doe now die justly and I pray God that I may now glorifie the Lord. I shall onely thus much declare to the world that they may take off the aspersâ—on that was laid upon my partner and my wife which neither of them did know of this Design I have declared my conscience freely to God and the world in every particular that concerns the business thus much I shall say for my own particular There were three things laid to my charge which there was some mistake in Concerning the Kings Letter whereas it was thought to be another way I thank God it was not that way Then concerning the Seal I had no hand in the procuring of it nor knew not of it till the Friday There is another thing that is concerning the seizing of the Magazines which I had no hand in neither But I die justly and I deserve this punishment But now to you all that are here let my example be to you that you never take your self to any thing but what you have warrant for from the Lord I had no warrant I vow to God that hath now satisfied me that the Lord I hope will forgive me I have heartily repented and I beseech you all to take this as a warning And whereas there is now a great deal of distraction and division in the City and that we now make difference between Gods Ministers and Gods Ministers despise no meanes I acknowledge my fault I did make some difference and I now acknowledg it and desire the Lord to forgive me I have received more comfort from such men then ever I had before I shall not now have much to say But I desire heartily that the whole world would forgive me I do beg of my God and of my Christ who I have not honoured so much as I should have done that he would have mercy upon me And now to you all I speak I do now as freely forgive you as I trust my Saviour Jesus Christ hath forgiven me And so Lord Jesus into thy hands do I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God and so the Lord take me and the Lord receive me Then his Father tendred him the Kings pardon Saying Here is the Kings gracious pardon To which Mr. Challener replyed Sir I beseech you trouble me not with it Pray speak to my friends to take care of my corps and carry me home Whereupon Mr. Peters said to him You are now before the Lord of Heaven if you have any thing about the Lords you spoke of so often last night I beseech you speak your Conscience Mr. Challenor answering thus Gentlemen It is the happiest day that ever I had I shall now Gentlemen declare a little more of the occasion of this as I am desired by Mr. Peters and to give him and the world satisfaction It came from Mr. Waller under this notion that if that we could make a moderate party here in London to stand betwixt the gap and in the gap to unite the King and the Parliament it would be a very acceptable work for now the three Kingdoms lay a bleeding and unlesse that were done there was no hopes to unite them withall I made this Reply Sir if I could assure you of three parts of London none of them should stir unless we had the countenance of the Lords and Commons To this he replyed You shall have to countenance this business the whole House of Lords except three or four you shall have divers of the House of Commons we were promised we should speak with these Lords And in truth except we had spoken with these Lords nothing could have been done for Mr. Abbot Mr. Blinkehorne Mr. Luntloe Mr. King and my self agreed that we would not stir til these Lords had declared themselves and would be ingaged And now Gentlemen I have another thing to declare which shall be in the behalf of those that are condemned As Mr. Waller was the mouth from the Lords as he did declare so I was the unhappy instrument from Mr. Waller to the rest the sentence is now past I desire if it might be that it might be moved to the House that no more might suffer in the cause This is all I have to say and desire your hearty prayers to God for me Then one Mr. Smart said unto him Mr. Challenor if you were to live longer would you ever have done the like again Mr. Challenor Answered I am thus far confident that if it had pleased God to lend me life I think I should have run another course and I am confident of it I hope this is the happiest day I ever saw and I hope God is reconciled to me in my Saviour Jesus Christ that hath given me repentance and I am confident he will return my prayer for me Then at his request Mr. Peters prayed very fervently and devoutly with him after his prayer was ended Mr. Challenor spake these words Gentlemen I do from my heart forgive you and all the world desiring you and all the world â—o forgive me also and so I commend my soul into the hands of my God Sir Alexander Carew Baronet his Trial together with his Speech upon the Scaffold on Tower-hill immediately before his execution on Munday Decemb. 23. 1644. ON Tuesday Novemb. 19. 1644. By the Court then sitting in Guild-hall London Sir John Corbet being President of the Court Sir Alexander Carew Baronet was tryed The effect of the Charge against him was that he the said Alexander Carew being Governour of the Island of St. Nicolas near Plymouth and of the Forces therein for the Parliament did hold correspondency with the Enemy both by private Treaties and by Letters and endeaveured the yeilding of that Island and Fort to the Enemy as appears by divers of his Letters to Colonel Edgcombe and Major Scowen of the Enemies party which Charge was grounded upon the 2. and 7. Articles in the Ordinances of Parliament for Martial Law Secondly that whereas Sir George Chidleigh was pitcht upon as Governour for that Island and for
their Hats off And then coming to the front of the Scaffold he said I shall hardly be understood here I think and then began his speech as followeth Capel The conclusion that I made with those that sent me hither and are the cause of this violent death of mine shall be the beginning of what I shall say to you When I made an address to them which was the last I told them with much sincerity that I would pray to the God of all mercies that they might be partakers of his inestimable and boundless mercies in Jesus Christ and truly I still pray that prayer and I beseech the God of Heaven forgive any injury they have done to me from my soul I wish it And truly this I tell you as a Christian to let you see I am a Christian But it is necessary I should tell you somewhat more that I am a Protestant And truly I am a Protestant and very much in love with the profession of it after the manner as it was established in England by the thirty nine Articles a blessed way of profession and such an one as truly I never knew none so good I am so far from being a Papist which some body have truly very unworthily at some time charged me withall that truly I profess to you that though I love good works and commend good works yet I hold they have nothing at all to doe in the matter of salvation my Anchor-hold is this That Christ loved me and gave himself for me that is that that I rest upon And truly something I shall say to you as a Citizen of the whole world and in that consideration I am here condemned to die truly contrary to the Law that governs all the world that is the Law of the Sword I had the protection of that for my life and the honor of it but truly I will not trouble you much with that because in another place I have spoken very largely and liberally about it I believe you will hear by other means what Arguments I used in that case But truly that that is stranger you that are Englishmen behold here an Englishman here before you and acknowledged a Peer not condemned to die by any Law of England not by any Law of England nay shall I tell you more which is strangest of all contrary to all the Lawes of England that I know of And truly I will tell you in the matter of the civil part of my death and the cause that I have maintained I die I take it for maintaining the fifth Commandement injoyned by God himself which injoyns reverence and obedience to Parents All Divines on all hands though they contradict one another in many severall Opinions yet all Divines on all hands doe acknowledge that here is intended Magistracy and Order and certainly I have obeyed that Magistracy and that Order under which I have lived which I was bound to obey and truly I do say very confidently that I do die here for keeping for obeying that fifth Commandement given by God himself and written with his own finger And now Gentlemen I will take this opportunity to tell you That I cannot imitate a better nor a greater ingenuity then his that said of himself For suffering an unjust judgment upon another himself was brought to suffer by an unjust judgment Truly Gentlemen that God may be glorified that all men that are concerned in it may take the occasion of it of humble repentance to God Almighty for it I doe here profess to you that I did give my Vote to that Bill against the Earl of Strafford I doubt not but God almighty hath washed that away with a more precious bloud the blood of his own Son and my dear Saviour Jesus Christ and I hope he will wash it away from all those that are guilty of it truly this I may say I had not the least part nor degree of malice in doing of it but I must confess again to Gods glory and the accusation of mine own frailty and the frailty of my Nature that truly it was unworthy Cowardize not to resist so great a torrent as carried that businesse at that time And truly this I think I am most guilty of of not courage enough it it but malice I had none but what soever it was God I am sure hath pardoned it hath given me the assurance of it that Christ Jesus his bloud hath washed it away and truly I do from my soul wish that all men that have any stain by it may seriously repent and receive a remission and pardon from God for it And now Gentlemen we have had an occasion by this intimation to remember his Majesty our King that last was and I cannot speak of him nor think of it but truly I must needs say that in my opinion that have had time to consider all the Images of all the greatest and vertuousest Princes in the world and truly in my opinion there was not a more vertuous and more sufficient Prince known in the world then our gracious King Charls that died last God almighty preserve our King that now is his Son God send him moâ—e fortunate and longer daies God Almighty so assist him that he may exceed both the vertues and sufficiencies of his Father For certainly I that have been a Counsellor to him and have lived long with him and in a time when discovery is easily enough made for he was young he was about thirteen fourteen fifteen or sixteen years of age those years I was with him truly I never saw greater hopes of vertue in any young person then in him great judgement great understanding great apprehension much honour in his nature and truly a very perfect Englishmen in his inclination and I pray God restore him to this Kingdom and unite the Kingdoms one unto another and send a great happinesse both to you and to him that he may long live and reign among you and that that Family may reign till thy Kingdome come that is while all temporall power is consummated I beseech God of his mercy give much happinesse to this your King and to you that in it shall be his Subjects by the grace of Jesus Christ Truly I like my beginning so well that I will make my conclusion with it that is That God Almighty would confer of his infinite and inestimable grace and mercy to those that are the causers of my coming hither I pray God give them as much mercy as their hearts can wish and truly for my part I will not accuse any one of them of malice truly I will not nay I will not think there was any malice in them what other ends there is I know not nor will I examine but let it be what it will from my very soul I forgive them every one And so the Lord of heaven bless you all God almighty be infinite in goodness and mercy to you and direct you in those ways of obedience to
his commands to His Majesty that this Kingdom may be an happy and glorious Nation again and that your King may be an happy King in so good and so obedient people God almighty keep you all God almighty preserve this Kingdom God almighty preserve you all Then turning about and looking for the Executioner who was gone off the Scaffold said which is the Gentleman which is the man Answer was made He is coming He then said Stay I must pull off my Doublet first and my Wast-coat and then the Executioner being come upon the Scaffold the Lord Capel said O friend prethee come hither Then the Executioner kneeling down the Lord Capel said I forgive thee from my soul and not onely forgive thee but I shall pray to God to give thee all grace for a better life There is five pounds for thee and truly for my clothes and those things if there be any thing due to you for it you shall be fully recompenced but I desire my body may not be stripped here and no body to take notice of my body but my own servants Look you friend this I shall desire of you that when I lie down you would give me a time for a particular short prayer Lieut. Col. Beecher Make your own sign my Lord. Gapell Stay a little Which side do you stand upon speaking to the executioner Stay I think I should lay my hands forward that way pointing fore-right and answer being made Yes he stood still a little while and then said God almighty bless all this People God almighty stench this bloud God almighty stench stench stench this issue of bloud this will not do the business God almighty find out another way to do it And when turning to one of his servants said Baldwin I cannot see any thing that belongs to my wife but I must desire thee and beseech her to rest wholly upon Jesus Christ to be contented and fully satisfied and then speaking to his Servants he said God keep you and Gentlemen let me now do a business quickly privately and pray let me have your prayers at the moment of death that God would receive my soul L. Col. Beecher I wish it Capell Pray at the moment of striking joyn your prayers but make no noise turning to his Servants it is inconvenient at this time Servant My Lord put on your cap. Capell Should I what will that do me good Stay a little it is well as it is now As he was puting up his hair And then turning to the Executioner he said honest man I have forgiven thee therefore strike boldly from my soul I do it Then a Gentleman speaking to him he said Nay prethee be contented be quiet good Mr. be quiet Then turning to the Executioner he said Well you are ready when I am ready are you not and stretching out his hands he said Then pray stand off Gentlemen Then going to the front of the scaffold he said to the People Gentlemen though I doubt not of it yet I think it convenient to ask it of you That you would all joyn in Prayers with me That God would mercifully receive my soul and that for his alone mercies in Christ Jesus God almighty keep you all Executioner My Lord shall I put up your hair Capell I I prethee do and then as he stood lifting up his hands and eyes he said O God I doe with a perfect and a willing heart submit to thy will O God! I doe most willingly humble my self and then kneeling down said I will try first how I can lie and laying his head over the block said Am I well now Executioner Yes And then as he lay with both his hands stretched out he said to the Executioner Here lie both my hands out when I lift up my hand thus lifting up his right hand then you may strike And then after he had said a short prayer he lifted up his right hand and the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body which was taken up by his servants and put with his body into a coffin as the former A Relation together with the speech of Colonel John Morris lately Governour of Pomfret Castle at the place of his Execution at York August 23. 1649. WHen he was brought out of prison looking upon the Sledge that was there set for him lifting up his eyes to Heaven knocking upon his breast he said I am as willing to go to my death as to put off my doublet to go to bed I despise the shame as well as the Crosse I know I am going to a joyfull place with many like expressions When the Post met him about St. Jame's Church that was sent to the Parliament to mediate for a repreive and told him he could not prevaile in it he said Sir I pray God reward you for your pains I hope and am well assured to find a better pardon then any they can give my hope is not in man but in the living God At the place of execution he made this profession of his faith his breeding his cause he had fought in Gentlemen first I was bred up in the true Protestant Religion having my education and breeding from that honoured house my Dear Lord and Master Strafford which place I dare boldly say was as well governed and ruled as ever any yet was before it I much doubt better then any will be after it unlesse it please God to put a period to these distracted times this Faith and Religion I say I have been bred in and I thank God I have hitherto lived in without the least wavering and now I am resolved by Gods assistance to dye in Those paines are nothing if compared to those dolours and pains which Jesus Christ our Saviour hath suffered for us when in a bloody sweat he endured the wrath of God the pains of hell and the cursed and shamefull death which was due to our sinnes Therefore I praise the Lord that I am not plagued with farre more grievous punishment that the like hath befaln others who undoubtedly are most glorious and blessed Saints with Christ in heaven It is the Lords affliction and who will not take any affliction in good part when it comes from the hand of God and what shall we receive good from the hands of God and not receive evil And though I desire as I am carnall that this cup may depart from me yet not my will but thy will be done Death brings unto the godly an end of sinning and of all miseries due unto sin so that after death there shall be no more sorrow nor cry or pain for God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes by death our souls shall be delivered from thraldome and this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality Therefore blessed are they that are delivered out of so vile a world and freed from such a body of bondage and corruption the soul shall enjoy immediate Communion with God in
to make a question of it I should shame my self and my discretion In the strictnesse of that Law something is done by me that is applicable to some clause therein by which I stand condemnable the means whereby I was brought under that interpretation of that which was not in my self intended maliciously being testimony given by persons whom I pity so false yet so positive that I cannot condemn my Judges for passing sentence against me according to legall Justice for equity lieth in higher breasts As for my accusers or rather betrayers I pity and am sorry for them they have committed Judas his crime but I wish and pray for them Peters tears that by Peters repentance they may escape Judas his punishment and I wish other people so happy they may be taken up betimes before they have drunk up more bloud of Christian men possibly less deserving then my self It is true there have been severall addresses made for mercy and I will put the obstruction of it upon nothing more then upon my own sin and seeing God sees it sit having not glorified him in my life I might do it in my death which I am contented to do I profess in the face of God particular malice to any one of State or Parliament to do them a bodily injury I had none For the cause in which I had long waded I must needs say my engagement or continuance in it hath laid no scruple upon my Conscience it was on principles of Law the knowledge whereof I professe and on principles of Religion my Judgment satisfied and Conscience rectified that I have pursued those ways which I bless God I find no blackness upon my Conscience nor have I put it into the bed-roll of my sins I will not presume to decide controversies I desire God to honour himself in prospering that side that hath right with it and that you may enjoy peace and plenty when I shall enjoy peace and plenty beyond all you possess here in my conversation in the world I do not know where I have an enemy with cause or that there is such a person whom I have to regret but if there be any whom I cannot recollect under the notion of Christian men I pardon them as freely as if I had named them by name I freely forgive them being in free peace with all the world as I desire God for Christs sake to be at peace with me For the business of death it is a sad sentence in it self if men consult with flesh and blood But truly without boasting I say it or if I doe boast I boast in the Lord I have not to this minute had one consultation with the flesh about the blow of the Axe or one thought of the Axe more then as my passe-port to glory I take it for an honour and I owe thankfulness to those under whose power I am that they have sent me hither to a place however of punishment yet of some honour to die a death somewhat worthy of my bloud answerable to my birth and qualification and this courtesie of theirs hath much helped toward the pacification of my mind I shall desire God that those Gentlemen in that fad beadrol to be tried by the H. Court of Justice that they may find that really there that is nominall in the Act an H. Court of Justice a Court of high Justice high in its righteousness though not in its severity Father forgive them and forgive me as I forgive them I desire you now that you would pray for me and not give over praying till the hour of death not till the moment of death for the hour is come already that as I have a great load of sins so I may have the wings of your prayers to help those Angels that are to convey my soul to Heaven and I doubt not but I shall see my Saviour my gallant Master the King of England and another Mr. whom I much honoured my Lord Capel hopeing this day to see my Christ in the presence of the Father the King in the presence of him my Lord Capel in the presence of them all and my self there to rejoyce with all other Saints and Angels for evermore D. Swadling he being upon the Scaffold spake as followeth unto the Colonel You have this morning in the presence of a few given some accompt of your Religion and under general notions or words have given an accompt of your faith charity and repentance To those on the Scaffold If you please to hear the same questions asked here you shall that it may be a generall testimony to you all that he died in the favour of God To the Colonel Now Sir I being to deal with you do you acknowledge that this stroke that you are to suffer is a just punishment laid upon you by God for your former sins Col. Andrews I dare not only not deny it but dare not but confess it I have no opportunity of glorifying God more then by taking shame to my self and I have a reason of the justice of God in my own bosome which I have put to your bosome Doctor You acknowledg that you deserve more then this stroak of the Axe and that a farre greater misery is due to you even the pains and torments of Hell that the damned there endure Col. I know it is due in righteous Judgment but I know again I have a satisfaction made by my elder Brother Christ Jesus and then I say it is not due 't is due from me but quitted by his righteousness Doct. Do you believe to be saved by that Mediator and none others Col. By that and that only renouncing all secondary causes whatsoever Doct. Are you truly and unfainedly sorry before God as you appear to us for all those sins that have brought you hither Col. I am sorry and can never be sorrowful enough and am sorry I can be no more sorry Doct. If God should by a miracle not to put you to a vain hope but if God should as he did to Ezekiah renew your daies what life doe you resolve to lead hereafter Col. It is a question of great length and requires a great time to answer Men in such straits would promise great things but I would first call some freinds to limit how far I should make a Vow that I might not make a rash one and to offer the Sacrifice of fools but a Vow I would make and by Gods help endeavour to keep it Doct. Do you wish health and happiness upon all lawfull Authorities and government Col. I do prize all obedience to lawfull government and the adventuring against them is sinfull and I do not justifie my self what ever my judgment be for my thus venturing against the present Government I leave it to God to judge whether it be righteous if it be it must stand Doct. Are you now in love and charity with all men do you freely forgive them Col. With all the world freely and the
over his Lordship called for the Heads-man and asked to see the Axe and taking it in his hand said Friend I will not hurt it and I am sure it cannot hurt me and then kissing it said Me thinks this is as a Wedding Ring which is as a signe I am to leave all the World and eternally to be married to my Saviour Then putting his hand in his pocket said to the Heads-man here friend take these two pieces all that I have thou must be my Priest I pray thee do thy work well and effectually then handling the rough furr'd coat the Heads-man had on This saies he will be troublesome to thee I pray thee put it off and do it as willingly as I put off this garment of my flesh that is now so heavy for my soul then some of the standers by bid the Heads-man kneel and ask his Lordship pardon but he did not but was surly and crabbed but his Lordship said Friend I give thee the pardon thou wilt not aske and God forgive thee also Then turning up his eyes to heaven said aloud How long Lord how long then gently passing over the Scaffold and seeing one of his Chaplains on horseback among the people Good Sir said he pray for me and the Lord return your prayers into your own bosom and I pray remember me kindly to your brother and God remember him for his love to me and mine Then turning towards his Coffin Thou art said he my bridall Chamber in thee I shall rest without a guard and sleep without Souldiers Then looking towards the block he asked if all were ready That saies he methinks is very low and yet there is but one step betwixt that and heaven then turning his eyes to the people he saluted them and desired again their prayers then said I see your tears and hear your sighs and groans and prayers the God of Heaven hear and grant your supplications for me and mine for you and the Mediation of Christ Jesus for us all Here his Lordship caused the block to be turned that he might look upon the Church saying Whilst I am here I will look towards thy holy Sanctuary and I know that within a few minutes I shall behold thee my God and King in thy Sanctuary above under the shadow of thy wings shall be my rest till this calamity be over-past then he pulled off his blew garter and sent it to his Son and pulling off his doublet with a very religious chearfulness he said I come Lord Jesus and O come thou quickly that I may be with thee for ever upon this he said Pray tell me how must I lye I have been called a bloudy man yet truly I never yet had that severe curiosity to see any man put to death in peace then laying himself down on the block after a few minutes he rose again and caused the block to be a little removed then said to the Heads-man Friend remember what I said to thee and be no more afraid to strike then I to dye and when I put up my hand do thy work so looking round about upon his friends and the people he said The Lord blesse you all and once more pray for me and with me at which words he kneeled down and prayed privately within himself with great sighings about half a quarter of an hour concluding with the Lords prayer then rising up again he said smilingly My soul is now at rest and so shall my body be immediately The Lord bless my King and restore him to his rights in this Kingdom and the Lord bless this Kingdom and restore them to their rights in their King that he and they may joyn hand in hand to settle truth and peace and the Lord bless this County and this Town and this People The Lord comfort my sad wife and children and reward all my friends with peace and happiness both here and hereafter and the Lord forgive them who were the cause and authors of this my sad end and unjust death for so it is as to mankind though before God I deserve much worse but I hope my sins are all bathed in the bloud of Jesus Christ So laying his neck upon the block and his armes stretcht out he said these words Blessed be Gods glorius name for ever and ever Let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen At which words he gave the Heads-man the signe but he either not observing it or not being ready stayed too long so that his Lordship rose up again saying Why doe you keep me from my Saviour what have I done that I die not and that I may live with him Once more I will lay down my self in peace and so take my everlasting rest Then saying Come Lord Jesus come quickly he stretched out his armes and gave the signe repeating the same words Blessed be Gods glorious name for ever and ever Let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen Then lifting up his hand the Executioner did his work at one blow all the people weeping and crying and giving all expressions of grief and lamentation When the corps was carried off the Scaffold they carried them to a house in the Town where was thrown into his coffin in a peice of paper these two lines Upon JAMES Earl of DERBY Bounty Wit Courage all here in one lie dead A Stanleys hand Veres heart and Cecil's head The sentence of the Council of Warre Resolved by the Court upon the Question That James Earl of Derby is guilty of the breach of the Act of the 12. of August 1651. last past entituled An Act prohibiting correspondence with Charles Stuart or his Party and so of high Treason against the Common-wealth of England and is therefore worthy of death Resolved by the Court That the said James Earl of Derby is a Traitor to the Common-wealth of England and an abettor encourager and assister of the declared Traitors and enemies thereof and shall be put to death by severing his head from his body at the market-place in the Town of Bolton in Lancashire upon wednesday the 15. day of this instant October about the hour of one of the clock the same day A True and Impartial Relation of the Death of Mr. John Gerhard who was beheaded on Tower-hill July 10. 1654. IT was thought needless by the friends of Mr. Gerhard to declare any thing concerning his sufferings to the world more then in their sighs had not the sacrilegious malice of the last weekly-pamphlet thrown some stains upon his name and so incensed them to a vindication as pious as his death was 'T is most certain that there can no blots stick upon true honour which such weak fellowes endeavour against it These are cursed beasts but their horns are short sepulchral dogs that scrape up graves and violate the dead and are fierce and ravenous but yet dogs still And all worthy people will call their rayling praise and what they intend a barking
that purpose he had a Commission from the Earl of Essex and by deputation from him by consent of Parliament the Charge and government thereof was intrusted upon Sir Alexander Carew but by the said Alexander Carew as is justly proved by divers Witnesses the designe was plotted contrived After his heart was possessed with these Treaties with the Enemy it soon vented it self into outward expression First by openly declaring his resolution to hold this Island for the King then by indeavouring to put that resolution in practice Many other circumstances were alleaged against him to this purpose and made good against him by divers Witnesses viz. Mr. Frances the Mayor of Plymouth Mr. Willis and Mr. Randall both Ministers Robert Roe Captain John Hancock Mr. Perce Mr. Deep Merchants Arthur Skinner besides divers of his own Souldiers All which by their several Depositions did clearly prove his said design to betray the Island to the Enemy Many of which actions as aforesaid though clearly proved and testified upon oath the said Sir Alex. Carew denied and pleaded that the Ordinance of Parliament did look forward and not backward and that he ought not to be tryed by them Unto which Mr. Mills Advocate of the Court replied 1. That your defence was grounded upon the Ordinance of Parliament which they hold not onely insufficient but to reflect upon the wisdome and justice of the Parliament 2. That the exception grew upon a great mistake for the two Articles which they proceeded against you is upon the second and seventh Articles which are very clear against you viz. the second and seventh Whosoever shall plot c. as in the Article both look back as well as forward and these Articles do not create a new but only declare the punishment of that was before which by all the Laws Civill is death and treachery and treason which is your case which is a Law to be taken notice of and known by all commanders in Armies For the Proviso in the Ordinance it is plain in it self After which the Sentence of the Court was pronounced The Sentence against Sir Alexander Carew Baronet Sir Alexander Carew Baronet You have been arraigned and convicted before this honorable Court Martial That you being a Commander in the service of the Parliament and particularly Commander of St. Nicolas Island and the Forces there have traiterously deserted your trust and persidiously plotted and combined and indeavoured to betray the said Isle and Forces to the Enemy For which the honorable Court Martial doth adjudge you to death by having your head severed from your body According to which Sentence of the Court upon Munday 23. of December 1644. Sir Alex. Carew Baronet was brought from the Tower by the Lieutenant and his officers to Tower-Hill attended by three Companies of the trained Bands of the City where being come upon the scaffold after some conference with the Ministers he addressed himself to the people there present Sir Alexander Carew's Speech on the Scaffold Gentlemen I Hope you will in consideration of my weak body not expect that I should speak much to you neither is it my part to discourse nor my desire of my actions and to justifie my self but I shall rather confess as the poor Publican did God be mercifull to me a sinner I desire your prayers to God for me and I pray to God for you that no one drop of my blood may be required at any mans hands I forgive all the world with as full and free heart as mortall man can and I beseech God in heaven to forgive me mine the God of heaven and earth that seeth heareth and beholdeth knowes that I lie not I have desired with unfained desire and hearty affection to be dissolved and to be with Christ knowing that it shall be better for me being assured thereby to be freed from the miseries of sin and enter into a better life It was the last words of my Grandfather and here of my Father the assurance of their eternal peace and happinesse after the dissolution of this body of theirs in which they lived here on earth it is mine likewise I have no more to say but humbly take my leave of you Upon the conclusion of his Speech he desired the People then present to joyn with him in singing the 23. Psalm which he read very distinctly to them and joyned with them with much fervency therein The Psalm being ended he put on his Cap and unbuttoned himself and with much resolution laid his head on the block The Executioner at two blows severed his head from his body Captain Hotham's Speech on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill immediately before his Execution Wednesday January 1. 1644. Gentlemen YOU see here in what condition I stand you all come here to look upon me as a Spectacle of shame and Justice And I believe a great many of you are possest with very great Crimes that I have committed of Treason against the Parliament Those things I must declare to you all that this Conscience knows no guilt of I did ingage my self in the Parliaments cause I did them service in possessing of Hull I preserved their Forts and Magazines I preserved their Towns and Forces wheresoever they came and never miscarried It hath pleased God to bring me to this end for my sins to him which I acknowledge to be just but not for any sins that I have committed in Treason against the Parliament Neither do I know any Treason or intention of Treason in my poor Father that lies in the same condition that I do whatsoever other men do call Treason This I testifie to you all here some few words more he spake to this purpose After the Executioner did his office Sir John Hotham's Speech on the Scaffold on Tower-hill immediately before his Execution Thursday January 2. 1644. HE being come upon the Scaffold with Mr. Peters and other Ministers and his Friends Mr. Peters spake these words on his behalf to the people near the Scaffold Gentlemen It is the desire of Sir John Hotham That since he hath in his chamber fully discovered to divers Ministers his mind fully and clearly that many questions may not be put to him here but that he may seriously and quietly speak what he is guilty of and what he is guiltless in and so the Lord direct him Sir John Hothams Speech Gentlemen I Know no more of my self but this That I deserve this Death from God Almighty and that I deserve damnation and the severest punishments from him As for the business of Hull the betraying of it from the Parliament the Ministers have all been with me and given me good counsell I thank them Neither was I any waies guilty of it that 's all I can say to that Act. For other offences rash words anger and such things no man hath been more guilty I beseech God to forgive me I have received as many favours as any man from God and I have been as ingrateful as
up Your Spirit and if there want evidence there is reliance my security lies not in my knowing that I shall come to Heaven and come to Glory but in my resting and relying upon him When the Aâ—chor of Faith is thrown out there may be shakings and tossings but there is safety nothing shall interrupt safety although something may interrupt security my safety is sure although I apprehend it not and what if I goe to God in the dark What if I come to him as Nicodemus did staggering in the night It is a night of trouble a night of darkness though I come trembling and slaggering in this night yet I shall be sure to find comfort and fixedness in him And the Lord of heaven be the strength stay and support of Your soul and the Lord furnish You with all those graces which may carry You into the bosome of the Lord Jesus that when You expire this life You may be able to expire it into him in whom You may begin to live to all Eternity and that is my humble Prayer Holland M. Bolton God hath given me long time in this world he hath carried me through many great accidents of Fortune he hath at last brought me down into a condition where I find my self brought to an end for a dis-affection to this State to this Parliament that as I said before I did believe no body in the world more unlikely to have expected to suffer for that Cause I look upon it as a great judgement of God for my sins And truly Sir since that the death is violent I am the less troubled with it because of those violent death that I have seen before principally my Saviour that hath shewed us the way how and in what manner he hath done it and for what cause I am the more comforted I am the more rejoyced It is not long since the King my Master passed in the same manner and truly I hope that his purposes and intentions were such as a man may not be ashamed not onely to follow him in the way that was taken with him but likewise not ashamed of his purposes if God had given him life I have often disputed with him concerning many things of this kind and I conceive his sufferings and his better knowledge and better understanding if God had spared him life might have made him a Prince very happy towards himself and very happy towards this Kingdom I have seen and known that those blessed souls in heaven have passed thither by the gate of sorrow and many by the gate of violence and since it is Gods pleasure to dispose me this way I submit my soul to him with all comfort and with all hope that he hath made this my end and this my conclusion that though I be low in death yet neverthelesse this lownesse shall raise me to the highest glory for ever Truly I have not said much in publick to the people concerning the particular Actions that I conceive I have done by my counsels in this Kingdom I conceive they are well known it were something of vanity methinks to take notice of them here I 'le rather die with them with the comfort of them in my own bosom and that I never intended in this action or any action that ever I did in my life either malice or bloud-shed or prejudice to any creature that lives For that which concerns my Religion I made my profession before of it how I was bred and in what manner I was bred in a Family that was looked upon to be no little notorious in opposition to some liberties they have conceived then to be taken and truly there was some mark upon me as if I had some taint of it even throughout my whole ways that I have taken every body knows what my affections have been to many that have suffered to many that have been in troubles in this Kingdom I endeavourad to relieve them I endeavoured to oblige them I thought I was tyed so by my Conscience I thought it by my charity and truly very much by my Breeding God hath now brought me to the last instant of my time all that I can say and all that I can adhere unto is this That as I am a great sinner so I have a great Saviour that as he hath given me here a fortune to come publickly in a shew of shame in the way of this suffering truly I understand it not to be so I understand it to be a glory a glory when I consider who hath gone before me and a glory when I consider I had no end in it but what I conceive to be the service of God the King and the Kingdom and therefore my heart is not charged much with any thing in that particular since I conceive God will accept of the intention whatsoever the action seems to be I am going to dye and the Lord receive my Soul I have no relyance but upon Christ for my self I do acknowledge that I am the unworthyest of sinners my life hath been a vanity and a continued sin and God may justly bring me to this end for the sins I have committed against him and were there nothing else but the iniquities that I have committed in the Way of my Life I look upon this as a great Justice of God to bring me to this Suffering and to bring me to this Punishment And those Hands that have been most active in it if any such there hath been I pray God forgive them I pray God that there may not be many such Trophies of their Victories but that this may be as I said before the last Shew that this People shall see of the Blood of Persons of Condition of Persons of Honour I might say something of the Way of our Tryall which certainly hath been as extraordinary as any thing I think hath ever been seen in this Kingdom but because that I would not seem as if I made some complaint I will not so much as mention it because no body shall believe I repine at their actions that I repine at my Fortune it is the will of God it is the hand of God under whom I fall I take it entirely from him I submit my self to him I shall desire to roul my self into the Arms of my blessed Saviour and when I come to this place when I bow down my self there I hope God will raise me up and when I bid farewell as I must now to Hope and to Faith that Love will abide I know nothing to accompany the soul out of this World but Love and I hope that Love will bring me to the Fountain of Glory in Heaven through the Arms Mediation and the Mercy of my Saviour Jesus Christ in whom I Believe O Lord help my Unbelief Hodges The Lord make over unto You the righteousness of his own Son it is that Treasurie that he hath bestowed upon You and the Lord shew You the Light of his Countenance and
fill You full with his joy and kindness O my dear Lord the Lord of Heaven and Earth be with You and the Lord of Heaven and Earth bring You to that Safety Holland I shall make as much haste as I can to come to that glory and the Lord of Heaven and Earth take my soul I look upon my self entirely in Him and hope to find mercy through Him I expect it and through that Fountain that is opened for Sin and for Uncleanness my soul must receive it for did I rest in any thing else I have nothing but sin and corruption in me I have nothing but that which in stead of being carried up into the Arms of God and of Glory I have nothing but may throw me down into Hell Bolton But my Lord when you are cloathed with the righteousnesse of another you will appear glorious though now sinfull in your self The Apostle saith I desire not to be found in my own righteousness and when you are cloathed with another the Lord will own you and I shall say but thus much Doubt not that ever God will deny salvation to sinners that come to him when the end of all his death and sufferings was the salvation of sinners when as I say the whole end and the whole design and the great work that God had to do in the world by the death of Christ wherein he laid out all his councells and infinite wisdom and mercy and goodness beyond which there was a Non ultra in Gods thoughts what this was the great design and great end the salvation of sinners that poor souls should come over to him and live certainly when sinners come he will not reject he will not refuse And my Lord do but think of this the greatest work that ever was done in the world was the bloud of Christ that was shed never any thing like it and this blood of Christ that was shed never any thing like it And this blood of Christ that was shed was shed for them that come if not for them for none it was in vain else you see the Devills they are out of capacity of good by it the Angels they have no need of it wicked men will not come and there are but a few that come over but a few that come over and should he deny them there were no end nor fruit of the bloud and sufferings of the Lord Jesus and had your Lordship been with Christ in that bloudy agony when he was in that bloudy sweat sweating drops of bloud if you had asked him Lord what art thou now a doing art thou not now reconciling an angry God and me together art thou not pacifying the wrath of God art thou not interposing thy self between the justice of God and my soul Would he not have said yea and surely then he will not deny it now My Lord His passions are over his compassions still remain and the larger and greater because he is gone up into a higher place that he may throw down more abundance of his mercy and grace upon you and my Lord think of that infinite love that abundance of riches in Christ I am lost I am empty I have nothing I am poor I am sinfull be it so as bad as God will make me and as vile as I possibly can conceive my self I am willing to be but when I have said all the more I advance that riches and honour that grace of God And why should I doubt when by this he puts me into a capacity into a disposition for him to shew we mercy that by this I may the better advance the riches of his grace and say grace grace to the Lord to all eternity that God should own such a Creature that deserves nothing and the lesse I deserve the more conspicuous is his grace and this is certain the riches of his grace he throweth amongst men that the glory of his grace might be given to himself if we can give him but the glory of his grace we shall never doubt to partake of the riches of it and that fulnesse My Lord that fulness be your comfort that fulnesse of mercy that fulnesse of love that fulnesse of righteousness and power be now your riches and your onely stay and the Lord interpose himself between God and you as your Faith hath indeavoured to interpose him between God and your soul so I doubt not but there he stands my Lord to plead for you and when you are not able to do any thing your self yet lie down at the feet of him that is a mercifull Saviour and knowes what you would desire and wait upon him while you live trust in him when you die there is riches enough and mercy enough if he open not yet die at his doore say there I 'le die there is mercy enough Holland And here is the place where I lie down before him from whence I hope he will raise me to an eternall Glory through my Saviour upon whom I rely from whom only I can expect mercy into his armes I commend my spirit into his bleeding armes that when I leave this bleeding body that must lie upon this place he will receive that soul that ariseth out of it and receive it into his eternall mercy through the merits through the worthiness through the mediation of Christ that hath purchased it with his own most pretious bloud Bolton My Lord Though you conclude here I hope you begin above and though you put an end here I hope there will never be an end of the mercy and goodness of God and if this be the morning of Eternity if this be the rise of Glory if God pleaseth to throw you down here to raise you up for ever say Welcome Lord welcome that death that shall make way for life and welcome any condition that shall throw me down here to bring me into the possession of Jesus Christ Hodges My Lord if you have made a Deed of Gift of your self to Jesus Christ to be found onely in him I am confident you shall stand at the day of Christ my dear Lord we shall meet in happiness Holland Christ Jesus receive my soul my soul hungers and thirsts after him clouds are gathering and I trust in God through all my heavinesse and I hope through all impediments he will settle my interest in him and throw off all the claime that Satan can make unto it and that he will carry my soul in despight of all the calumnies and all that the Devil and Satan can invent will carry it into eternal mercy there to receive the blessednesse of his presence to all Eternity Hodges My Lords it was his own by Creation it is his own now by Redemption and purchase and it is likewise his own by resignation O my Lord look therefore up to the Lamb of God that sits at the right hand of God to take away the sinnes of the World O that Lamb of God! Holland That Lamb of God