Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	call_v	lord_n	soul_n	6,288	5	5.4233	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30389	The memoires of the lives and actions of James and William, Dukes of Hamilton and Castleherald, &c. in which an account is given of the rise and progress of the civil wars of Scotland, with other great transactions both in England and Germany, from the year 1625, to the year 1652 : together with many letters, instructions, and other papers, written by King Charles the I : never before published : all drawn out of, or copied from the originals / by Gilbert Burnet ; in seven books.	Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.; Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649. Selections. 1677.	1677 (1677)	Wing B5832; ESTC R15331	511,397	467

sometimes in raillery since he was now to seal it with his Blood then he kneeled down and prayed in these words His Prayer MOst blessed Lord I thy poor and most unworthy Servant come unto thee presuming in thy infinite Mercy and the Merits of Iesus Christ who sits upon thy Throne I come flying from that of Iustice to that of Mercy and Tenderness for his sake who shed his Blood for Sinners that he would take Compassion upon me that he would look upon me 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 Carcase of Clay I may be carried unto 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 Iesus thou my Lord thou my God and thou my Redeemer hear me take pity upon me O Glorious God and so deal with my Soul that by thy precious Merits I may attain to thy Ioy and bliss O Lord remember me so miserable and sinful a Creature Now thou O Lord thou O Lord who died for me receive me receive me into thy own bound of Mercy O Lord I trust in thee suffer me not now to be confounded Satan hath too long had possession of this Soul O let him not now prevail against it but let me O Lord from hence-forth dwell with thee for evermore Now O Lord it is thy time to hear me hear me Gracious Iesus even for thine own Goodness Mercy and Truth O Glorious God O blessed Father O holy Redeemer O Gracious Comforter O holy and blessed Trinity I do render up my Soul into thy hands and commit it to the Mediation of my Redeemer praising thee for all thy Dispensations that it hath pleased thee to confer upon me and even for this Praise and Honour and Thanks be to thee from this time forth and for evermore His Death and Burial After this Doctor Sibbald entertained him with some pious Discourses and then the Duke prayed a short Prayer by himself After which he with a cheerful and smiling Countenance imbraced the Doctor and said Truly I bless God I do not fear I have an assurance that is grounded here laying his hand on his Heart that gives me more true Ioy than ever I had I pass out of a miserable World to go to an eternal and glorious Kingdom and though I have been a most sinful Creature yet I know Gods Mercy is infinite and I bless my God I go with so clear a Conscience that I know not the man I have personally injured Then embracing his Servants that were there present he said to every one of them you have been very faithful to me the Lord bless you He turned next to the Executioner and after he had observed how he should lay his Body he told him he was to say a short Prayer to his God while he lay all along and should give a Sign by stretching out his right Hand and then he was to do his Duty whom he freely forgave as he did all the World And then he stretched himself out on the Ground and having placed his Head aright he lay a little while praying with great appearance of Devotion within himself and then gave the Sign upon which the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body which was received in a Crimson-taffety skarf by two of his Servants kneeling by him and was together with his Body immediately put in a Coffin which was ready on the Scaffold and from thence conveyed to a House in the Mews from whence it was according to the Orders he had given sent down by Sea to Scotland and interred in the Burial-place of his Family where it lies in the hopes of a Blessed Resurrection to eternal Life THE CHARACTER OF James Duke of Hamilton c. THus lived and died IAMES Duke of Hamilton who was born at Hamilton the 19th of Iune His Birth and Parents 1606. His Parents were Iames Marquis of Hamilton and Lady Anne Cunningham Daughter to the Earl of Glencairn He was of a middle Stature his Body well-shaped His Person and Constitution of Health and his Limbs proportioned and straight in his last years he enclined to fatness his Complection and hair were black but his Countenance was pleasant and full of Life and shewed a great Sweetness of Disposition his Health was regular suitable to his Diet and free of sickness or pain only in his last years he was a little subject to the Stone But when his Body was opened all his Inwards were found sound and entire so that had not that fatal stroak brought his days to a too early Period he might probably have been very long lived His Education At the time of his Fathers coming to Court the Duke of Buckingham being then in great favour with King Iames and desiring to strengthen his Family with Noble Alliances agreed a Marriage betwixt him the Lady Mary Feilding Daughter to William Earl of Denbigh and the Lady Susanna Villiers Sister to the Duke of Buckingham upon which his Father sent for him to Court to be married when he himself was fourteen years of age and the Lady designed for him but seven This broke off the Course of Studies in which he had been educated till then in Scotland and though he was sent afterwards to the University of Oxford yet the interruption that his stay at Court put to his Education in Letters was such that he never recovered it After the years of Consummating the intended Marriage were come he was forced to it not without great Aversion occasioned partly by the disproportion of their ages and partly by some other secret Considerations His Marriage He lived with his Lady for some years in no good terms and that concurring with other Motives made him leave the Court upon his Fathers death but her excellent qualities did afterwards overcome that Aversion into as much Affection as he was capable of and it was no wonder for she was a Lady of great and singular worth and her Person was noble and graceful like the handsome Race of the Villiers's But to such as knew her well the vertues of her mind were far more shining She was educated from a Child in the Court and esteemed and honoured by all in it and by none more than the late King who as he was one of the Chastest men not to say Princes so he was a perfect honourer of all vertuous Ladies She was Lady of the Queens Bedchamber and admitted by her Majesty into an entire Confidence and Friendship and not

The shortning of our days is an Evil wholly depending on Opinion for if men did now naturally live but Twenty years then we should be satisfied if they died about 16 or 18. We call not that Death immature in any who live to Seventy and yet this Age is as far short of the old Period before and since the Flood as he who now dies of eighteen is of Seventy Let us still be ready for it and it cannot come too soon for let us die young or old still we have an Immortal Soul and do lay down our Bodies for a time as that which was the Instrument of our Sorrow and Trouble and the Scene of Sickness and Diseases let us not then fear that which rids us of all these for by fearing it we shall never the more avoid it but make it the more miserable to us Fanius who killed himself for fear of Death died as certainly as Porcia who eat burning Coals or Cato who tore out his own Bowels To die is necessary and natural and may be honourable but to die poorly basely and sinfully that alone is that which can make a man miserable for no man can be a Slave but he that fears pain or fears to die to such a man nothing but peaceable times can secure his Quiet for he depends upon things without him for his Felicity and so is well but during the Pleasure of his Enemy a Thief or a Tyrant but blessed is he who willingly resigns his Soul and Body into Gods hands as unto the hands of a blessed Creator and Redeemer O Blessed Iesus thou didst die for me grant that I may with Ioy submit unto thy Summons when thou shalt call me to Death for thou art my Advocate as well as my Iudge and camest into the World to save sinners whereof O Lord I acknowledg I am the greatest but thy Mercies are infinite O God of Mercy and God of all Comfort with much mercy look upon the sadness and sorrow of thy Servant my Sins lie heavy upon me and press me sore by reason of thy hot displeasure my Miseries are without comfort because they are the punishments of my Sins my Sin hath caused my sorrow and my sorrow doth not cure my Sin and unless thou for thy own sake and meerly because thou art good pity me I am as much without Remedy as without Comfort Lord pity me let thy Grace refresh my spirit let thy Comfort support me thy Mercies pardon me and let not my portion be among helpless and accursed Spirits for thou art good and gracious and I throw my self upon thy Mercy suffer me never to let my hold go anddo then with me what seems good in thy own eyes I cannot suffer more than I have deserved and yet I can need no Relief so great as thy Mercy is for thou art infinitely more merciful than I can be miserable Lord make me the object of thy Mercy both in my Life and in my Death if even this day thou shalt think fit to remove me from this valley of miseries either by the violent hand of this merciless Enemy or any other way which in thy Providence thou hast ordained when my Soul shall go out from the Prison of this Body may it be received by Angels and preserved from the horrour and amazements and the surprize of Evil Spirits and be laid up in the Bosom of our Lord till at the day of thy second Coming it shall be reunited to the Body which is now to be laid in the dust yet I hope shall be raised up in Ioy to live for ever and behold the Face of God in the Glories of our Lord Iesus who is our Hope our Resurrection and our Life our Blessed and ever-Glorious Redeemer to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen In these Exercises he continued till it was almost morning and then he threw himself down on the Bed where he did not lie above two hours when he was called on to make ready and assoon as he was Dressed and Armed he waited on the King into the Field The Dukes Regiment charges gallantly at Worcester-Fight The Account of that Engagement is not here to be offered since nothing belongs to this Work but that wherein the Duke was concerned His Regiment was commanded to charge a Body of Horse and Foot that stood near two peece of Cannon not far from the Severn but there were two great Bodies of Foot standing on each side of the Lane through which they were to go and these firing on them as they pas●ed they received great Loss but having got through the Lane there was no coming to the Enemy who stood in a close Ground but through aGap in the Hedge through which theLieutenant Collonel with a very inconsiderable Number Charged and the Enemy gave ground and left the Cannon in their hands the Horse retiring to Hacker's Regiment who came up and Charged and was gallantly received by the Lieutenant Collonel and the Dukes Regiment but some Foot brought to line the Hedges on their Flanks Fired so on them that they were forced to retire The Duke being near the Kings Person and observing all that passed inquired who they were and being told it was his own Regiment His great Valour he thought it unworthy of him to be too far from Danger when they were so put to it and galloped all alone from the King to the place where they were where he found them retiring and did all he could either by words or threatnings to make them keep their Ground But the Enemy did still bring up more Foot and Fired uncessantly on them and most of the Officers were either wounded or had their Horses killed under them particularly the Lieutenant Collonel who had all the while Charged very gallantly had his Horse shot under him and so they were beaten back The Duke himself keeped in the Reer with such as were in a Condition to wait on him to the great hazard of his Person and gave signal demonstrations of a high Courage but the Enemy following him close in great Bodies he commanded some Foot to make good the Hedge against them and rode up and down among them and encouraged them to stand and die for the Service of their King and the Honour of their Country An. 1652. and did several times Charge down to the Hedges so that all were astonished at such daring and unusual Valour But the Enemy pressing on he rode again with his Pistol in his hand to the Hedge where he received the fatal Shot that quite disabled him He is wounded His Majesty hearing of the extreme Danger he exposed himself to in these Charges and knowing well how great a loss he would suffer if so brave a Commander and such a wise and faithful Counsellor were killed sent once again to call him away from that Hazard he was in but he choosed to prefer

his Majesties Service to these most obliging Commands yet being disabled by the Wound he got he was forced to retire to the Town And taken The total routing of the Army quickly followed and by the taking of Worcester that night he fell into the Enemies hands When he came to his Lodgings his Wound was searched by the Kings Surgeon Mr. Kincaid who found that by a slug-shot the Bone of his Leg a little below the Joynt was crushed and so broken that many Splinters with the Bullet were taken out at first dressing and many more fragments were at several other dressings separated from the Bone and the Surgeon told him the only way to save his Life was to lose his Leg. But Trappam Cromwel's Surgeon being sent by him to wait on the Duke assured him there was no hazard Two days after the Duke was wounded the Kings Physitian Sir Robert Cunningham being found out among the Prisoners was brought to him who found he had lost much blood by his Wound and therefore opened a vein in his Arm which diverted the Course of the Blood Then the Duke asked his opinion about him who told him plainly there was no hope of saving his Life but by cutting off his Leg and if that were done some hopes remained but Trappam having assured him there was no hazard he was not willing to submit to so severe a Sentence till he were further satisfied of its being absolutely necessary therefore he sent to London for Mr. Dickson who was an expert Surgeon in whom he had great Confidence and he came to him with all possible haste but it was too late for the Dukes Strength and Spirits were so wasted that they durst not adventure on the Operation During these few days of the Dukes Life he expressed great Composure of mind and a chearful willingness to welcome his approaching End which drew on a-pace nor shewed he anxiety or concern in any thing but his Majesties Preservation for which as he prayed constantly so he still enquired News concerning him and blessed God that he heard none judging from that that he was safe and had escaped On the 8th of September finding his Strength failing him and looking on himself as a dead man he sent his last thoughts to his Lady and Neeces in the following Letter written with his own Hand Dear Heart YOV know I have been long labouring though in great weakness to be prepared against this expected Change He writes to his Lady and I thank my God I find Comfort in it in this my day of Tryal for my Body is not more weakned by my Wounds then I find my Spirit Comforted and Supported by the infinite Mercies and great Love of my Blessed Redeemer who will be with me to the end and in the end I am not able to say much more to you the Lord preserve you under your Tryals and sanctifie the use of them to the Comfort of your Soul I will not so much as in a Letter divide my dear Neeces and you the Lord grant you may be constant Comforts to one another in this Life and send you all Eternal Happiness with your Saviour in the Life to come to both of your Cares I recommend my poor Children let your great Work be to make them early accquainted with God and their Duties to him and though they may suffer many wants here before their Removal from hence yet they will find an inexhaustible Treasure in the Love of Christ. May the Comforts of the Blessed Spirit be ever near you in all your Straits and Difficulties and suffer not the least repining to enter into any of your Hearts for his Dispensations towards me for his Mercies have been infinitely above his Iustice in the whole Pilgrimage of Dear Heart Your Own HAMILTON Worcester Sept. 8. 1651. His Death ON the 11th of September the Dukes Pulse failed quite which he discerned first himself and called for his Physician to whom he said he felt no pain nor sickness but could not discern his Pulse to move and no more did his Physician but imputing it to malignant vapors rising from his Wound he gave him some Cordials which made no Change upon him and then his Spirits quitting all their Natural operations retired to his Brain and his Intellectual Faculties his Memory Reason and Expression continued in their vigor for the space of twelve hours after that his Voice was likewise entire and strong The total cessation of the Arterial Motion together with a Marmoreous coldness that was creeping up by degrees from all his extremities made his Physician warn him that Death was approaching the Duke answered that from the beginning he apprehended his Wound would prove Mortal but he could not think Death was so near him since he found neither sickness pain fainting nor oppression trouble him He had been during his Sickness oft waited on both by the Ministers of Worcester and the Ministers who waited on the Kings Army whom he called for and as they Prayed and ministred Divine Consolations to him so they were much comforted and edified with the Christian Courage and Joy he exprest in these his last and closest Conflicts From six in the morning on the 12th of September he lay quiet speaking little but was observed all the while by these who looked often to see what he was doing that he was well imployed in mental Prayer and devout Ejaculations About nine a Clock being asked by his Physician how he was he answered his Heart was free of Sickness but added That he should tell his Relations in Scotland that he died believing that through the Merits of the Mediator the Lord Iesus C●rist the Lord his Righteousness and through the infinite Mercies of his God it should fare with him as with the idle Labourers in the Parable of the Vineyard who went in at the 11th hour and yet received the peny so he believed that though in the last hour of the day he had entred into his Masters Service yet he should receive his peny From that time he lay quiet and about twelve a Clock after three groans without any other struggling or passion of Death he breathed out his Soul and his Body was interred in the Cathedral Church of Worcester An. 1651. for though according to his Orders for burying him with his Ancestors at Hamilton his Servants did move earnestly that they might have leave to carry his Body to Scotland yet it was flatly denied When the news of his Death was carried to Scotland his Will was opened which follows In the Name of God Amen I William Duke of Hamilton c. being I thank God in perfect Health yet considering the uncertainty thereof and the many Dangers that all men are subject to and few more than my self am desirous to leave my Worldly Affairs at the time of my Death in the best order I can as it shall please the Lord to direct me to whose Providence and Dispensation I humbly and

they may be a●sured as well as I that your up-coming is neither to desert them nor it And thus certainly if as you write you get the mutinous Multitude once dispersed you will have done me very good Service for I am confident that my Declaration published before your coming away according to the Alterations that I have given you leave to make will give some stop to their Madnesses however your endeavours have been such that you shall be welcom to Your assur●d constant Friend CHARLES R. Greenwich 29 June 1638. The King did also signifie to him by my Lord of Canterbury that he appointed him to adde to the Declaration some general words giving hopes of an Assembly and Parliament by whom also he gave him Warrant for calling the Session to Edinburgh To this I shall adde a Letter of the Bishop of Ross to the Marquis which will shew what sense the Bishops had of his Proceedings all this while My Lord may it please your Grace Letter from the Bishop of Ross to the Marquis WE are exceeding sorry to hear that the success of your Lordships Travels in this difficult Business is otherwayes than good Christians and Subjects do wish and heartily pray for but on the other part are glad to hear from our Friends there that whereof we were ever confident that nothing is omitted by your Lordship to effectuate what is necessary for His Majesties Honour and expedient for the good and quiet of that poor distracted and distempered Kingdom For my own part give me leave without either flattery or presumption to say ingenuously that the Course your Lordship keeps seemeth to be such as all good and wise men must approve your Lordships wisdom and Loyalty Infallibly the fruit will be besides the Warrant your Lordship hath in your own Conscience by this Noble and Wise carriage your Lordship must be more if any accrewment can be to former Deserts beloved of your Master it will indear your Lordship more to all good wise and well-affected Patriots and oblige all especially honest Church-men to be your Servants It cannot seem strange to any wise heart who looks on the Distemper of that Kingdom wherein is the concourse of so many different and divers Distempers where so many of all sorts of different Iudgements and no less variety of Affections are so strongly engaged and where many have their own private ends that the best wisest and most powerful Agents are not able on a sudden to rectifie their Iudgements cure their Affections and by disappointing the private intentions of some to reduce all to Order Peace and Quiet In any great Work of this strain we must all rely somewhat more on the wise and gracious Providence of God than in other ordinary accidents He is able to work good out of ill light out of darkness and order out of confusion which I pray God heartily we may see to His Glory the Kings Honour and Peace of the Church and State without any other effect upon any author or abetter of these Disorders but of Gods Mercy and His Majesties Royal Clemency In this I fear I have exceeded more possibly than becomes me with your Grace but as I humbly beg pardon so I trust your Lordships Goodness will easily pardon the expressions of a poor Heart surcharged with grief not so much flowing from or following the fear of any Personal or Private evil can befall it as fearing the danger the Publick is in because of our Sins which are calling for Vengeance God of his Mercy give us Repentance and be merciful to that Church and State We can return nothing for your Lordships care and kindness to us but humble and hearty thanks and earnestly pray God Almighty for all Honour Wealth and Happiness to your Lordship here and hence As your Lordship hath commanded us we shall go from hence and where we pitch our abode with the first opportunity shall acquaint your Lordship We were ad●ised by our best friends to doe so before we received your Lordships but that Obedience we owe and promised to His Majesty and your Lordship made us that we would not stir for any Advertisement or Advice how necessary or affectionate soever till we had your Lordships Warrant All that kind respect which is above our desert and condition and tender care your Lordship hath expressed to us for our safety and that which your Lordship hath superadded out of your noble Bounty desiring us to be so bold as to shew your Lordship what Money or any thing else necessary we stand in need of that your Lordship may supply our necessity in this hath so perplexed us for a time that we knew not what to choose on the one part being ashamed to doe it both because it seemeth impertinent and incongruous to trouble one of your Lordships Honour Place and Imployment with matters of this kind and especially so unreasonably at such a time when your Lordship is at such charge for the Honour of His Majesties Service as also that we are unprofitable and cannot be useful to your Lordship in any kind and so how should we to other troubles we make your Lordship adde this to be chargeable yet your Lordships noble and generous offer and the necessity we are cast into at this present that what is our own or due to us we cannot command and know as little who will do us the favour at this time to trust us hath made us seeing Obedience is better than Sacrifice to cast our selves upon your Lordships Bounty and Favour fearing on the one part your Lordship may be offended if we doe it not and on the other that otherwise we cannot be provided Therefore I humbly intreat your Lordship to let me have with the Bearer a hundred and fifty Pieces payable at Whitsunday next with the Interest or Martinmass as your Lordship pleases for which your Lordship shall receive from the Bearer my own personal Bond. Here and at this time I cannot give better Security but by Gods Grace your Lordship shall be in no danger come the world as it will I have more than need to beg humble pardon for my unmannerly and impertinent importunities in troubling your Lordship at this time taken up with weighty Affairs if it were but to read this long Paper and that I offend no more in this kind I shut up all with my hearty Prayers to God Almighty for all Honour and Happiness to your Lordship and an effectual blessing upon your Travels So wisheth he who shall be whilest he lives Your Graces most humble and bounden Servant IO. ROSSEN Berwick 29 June 1638. The Marquis had Orders from His Majesty to see the Bishops or other Churchmen who suffered for their Duty relieved out of the Treasury but that was exhausted yet the Marquis was careful that none of them should want and therefore supplied them liberally out of his own Money even without taking from them any Legal Security for repayment as appears by

the English Parliament at which Proposition the Duke and his Brother expressed their horrour with language so full both of Reason and Affection that nothing but violent and enraged Passion could have resisted it They said Would Scotland now quit a Possession of 1500 Years Date which was their Interest in their Soveraign and do it to those whose Enmity both against Him and them did now visibly appear Was this the effect of all their Protestations of Duty and Affection to His Majesty Was this their keeping of their Cov●nant wherein they had sworn to defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority Was this a suitable return to the Kings Goodness both in his consenting to all the Desires of that Kingdom An. 1641. and in His late trusting His Person to them what Censures would be past upon this through the whole World what a stain would it be to the whole Reformed Religion and in fine what Danger might be apprehended both to the Kings Person and to Scotland from the Party that was now prevalent in England But notwithstanding all this the Question was put in these words Whether they should leave His Majesty in England to the Two Houses there or not so softly did the prevailing Party present that infamous Business to the Vote of the Parliament The Dukes Vote was suitable to his Discourse and Temper being a Negative uttered with much grave and deep Sorrow but I shall set down Lanerick's in the formal terms wherein he expressed it As God shall have mercy upon my Soul at the Great Day I would chuse rather to have my Head struck off at the Market-cross of Edinburgh than give my consent to this Vote The Earl of Lindsay now Earl Crawford was President and so could not debate but as in the stating the Vote he expressed much honest Zeal so when it was carried in the Affirmative he dissented from it and to him those who had voted in the Negative did adhere But some of their Friends were accidentally absent others on design and some downright deserted them so that though there were divers who dissented yet they were far short of being able to ballance the Vote When all this was done Lanerick with a deep Groan said this was the blackest Saturday that ever Scotland saw alluding to a great Eclipse that was many years before on a Saturday from which it was still called the Black Saturday This being sent to the Commissioners at Newcastle did not at all shake His Majesty he being resolved not to yield to that no not at Holmby which He had refused at Newcastle The King is delivered and sent Prisoner to Holmby In the end of the Month the English Commissioners and Forces came down and the Arrears for the payment of the Army being delivered the Scotish Army withdrew and left the King in the hands of the English who presently sent him to Holmby And this is a free and faithful Relation of that great Transaction only in invidious Passages I have spared the Memories and Families of the unhappy Actors which is variously censured It was presently the matter of Discourse and Censure of Christendom and brought an Infamy on those who acted it which though an Indempnity could pardon yet no Oblivion was able to deface It was thought strange since the King had trusted himself to Scotland that they should have thus deserted Him What grounds Montrevil had for giving the King those Assurances did not appear and certain it is they were very slight ones and were only from single Persons but not from any Iunto or Judicatory But generous minds thought the Kings frank casting Himself into their hands was an Obligation beyond any Engagements they could have given And it was thought strange madness in those of Scotland to do it at that time since they saw the Independents prevailing whose Designs against the Kings Person and Monarchy had been faithfully discovered to them by some of their Commissioners at London and who were as little Friends to the Covenant and Presbytery as the King himself was so that considering their Power such a Strengthening of them brought Religion under a hazard of another nature than could have been apprehended upon their Accepting of the Kings Concessions But the Contradiction that this course had to the Covenant was so plain that none could avoid observing it for to make their King a Prisoner was an odd Comment upon their Defending of His Person and Authority and to do all that because he would not force his Conscience was judged a strange Practice from those who had so lately complained heavily against any appearance of Force upon Tender Consciences These were the Censures that generally passed on that Transaction the Kings stifness was also very much condemned and most men not understanding the strictness of a Tender Conscience thought it was Humour that swayed Him and judged that in the posture Affairs were then in He should have yielded to any thing how unreasonable soever rather than have so exposed Himself His Posterity and His Kingdoms to such visible hazards reckoning that no Form of Government that ever was deserved to be so firmly adhered to All persons looked for dismal effects from these Resolutions few thinking the Friendship betwixt Scotland and England would be lasting and all apprehended some strange Curse would overtake those who were active in this infamous Business Amidst these greater Reflections there were some who suspected the Duke had not acted in that Affair with that Candour and Zeal He expressed and this was chiefly founded on the base Votes of some of his Friends chiefly of one who had served him but was then a Lord. But as the tract of this Account hath cleared the whole Progress of his Negotiation so the visible affliction of his Mind which drew after it a great indisposition in his Body did abundantly refute these Calumnies And indeed that great Mind which did not succumb under the hardest Trials when it imployed its utmost strength was now reduced to the most pinching Straits and almost to desperate Resentments so that he repented his Stay in Scotland since he foresaw nothing but imminent Ruine to King and Country yet His Majesties opinion of his Zeal and Affection to His Service was at this time proof against all Whispers which appears by the following Letter Hamilton I Know it were needless to recommend this Bearer Will. Murray to you but that his Persecution at this instant for My sake is such that in a manner it even extorts these lines from Me to tell you that your hearty and real dealing to procure his waiting upon Me is a good occasion which I am confident you will not let slip to shew your constant zealous Affection to Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 29th January 1647. Now it was that genuine Melancholy and Horrour dwelt in all the Dukes thoughts The Duke contrives how to turn Scotland to the Kings Service his Brother was too deeply prepossessed

my Master to the Preservation of whose Person I was by Obligation and Natural Affections as passionately tied as I could be by Duty and Allegeance And now I confess I am void of all rancour or displeasure against any though I am within few hours to die adjudged by a lawless and arbitrary Court of purpose erected as is said to destroy my Master and some of his Servants and for a great pa●t composed of men Mechanick and unfit to be Judges my Death being decree'd right or wrong as is reported before ever the Trial begun And though my Death is no less than Murder yet I forgive all and pray to God to do it and that my Blood be not laid to their Charge or to some powerful and eminent mens who as is thought upon some sinistrous Ends have many Months since contrived my Destruction which now is ready to take effect And though I have answered to that Cou●t in regard of the Justness of my Defence which I thought would have weighed with them yet I never thought nor do I acknowledge any Jurisdiction or lawful Authority in the same notwithstanding I do with all Christian Humility submit to the Punishment which for my other Personal Sins the Lord hath justly brought upon me I should have spoken more yet would not have said so much but for fear lest either my Memory might slip it on the Scaffold or that the rudeness of some People by noise or otherwise might have interrupted me speaking on this Subject So I thank God I am well prepared God bless you remember me to all my Faiends I know I have been a great Sinner yet through Faith I have an assurance that God will forgive me and have Mercy upon me through the alone Suffering and Intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour Amen About nine a clock the Officers called to them to prepare themselves to go they were to be carried in Sedans and great Guards of Horse and Foot to attend them to Sir Robert Cotton's House The Duke is led out to the Execution But after the Duke had gone through two Rooms he reflecting on the faithful Services of Mr. Cole and judging they deserved a more particular Resentment than was in the Letter he had written to his Brother the day before called for Pen Ink and Paper and wrote the following Note to his Brother Brother THere is nothing more certain than that a faithful Servant is an humble Friend this Bearer I have found such and therefore recommend him to you in that quality I need say no more for him nor can I of worldly business being so near par●ing out of it but as I have loved you all my life so I do now at the end of it The Lord of his mercy preserve you from dangers of Soul and Body Yours H. This will more clearly discover the serene and composed Temper he was then in than can be done by any Testimony of Spectators who could only see the out-side which as many of them have witnessed to the Writer was very calm and resolute When he came to Sir Robert Cotton's three or four Officers were sent from Cromwel to him desiring that he would discover what had been oft askt of him and he should not only be preserved but be made a Great man but he rejected their Offers with the same language he had formerly used on the like occasions and said if he had as many Lives as hairs in his Head he would lay them all down rather than redeem them by so base means which an Ear-witness vouched to the Writer Then all went to Prayers and they had some excellent good Preachers waiting on them and praying with them Some Wine was brought and they all drunk one to another and did embrace and kiss each other with much tenderness The Duke was first led away to the Scaffold on the way other Officers came from Cromwel Continued offers of Life if he would make Discoveries but they are rejected renewing the former Offers if he would make Discoveries but all to no purpose he rejecting them with scorn Those many Offers as they were great temptations which would have shaken any man whose Soul was not fully at Peace with God and well-prepared for Death so they discovered the baseness of those mens Designs But as malice did ever pursue the Duke with the unjustest Slanders so his Enemies hearing that Messengers came often to him did strangely misrepresent it as if he had been even then in some Treaty for his Life Being come to the Scaffold the Earl of Denbigh desired to speak with one of his Servants and Mr. Lewis was sent to him the Duke asked Mr. Cole what might the matter be who answered he judged it was to know what Order he had given about his Children the Duke answered he might satisfie him if that were the matter The Duke was during his stay at St. Iames's visited sometimes by Doctor Sibbald Doctor Sibbald encourages the Duke on the Scaffold Him he chose now to accompany him in his last minutes who encouraged him to look to that fountain of the Blood of Christ in which he must be purged from all his Iniquities the effusion whereof was for the Salvation of all who by a true and lively Faith rested on him he was the only Rock on which he was to build his Hopes and though the waters of Jordan did run an impetuous Current he was the Ark of the Covenant that was to lead him through them to that sure Refuge against which neither the Powers on Earth nor the Gates of Hell could prevail He desired him to lift up the eyes of firm Confidence to the Crucified Christ and with St. Stephen to behold him sitting at his Father's right hand ready to receive his Soul adding who would be in love with Life if they could but before-hand consider what it would prove all being a heap of Cares Anxieties and Miseries with which every rank of Men and state of Life was beset it was therefore a Happiness to be with much Ioy welcomed when we found a quick and easie Passage for escaping these swelling Billows and getting into that blessed harbour of eternal Happiness We must pass through a Sea but a Sea of our Saviour's Blood in which never any Shipwrackt and through which we are carried by the soft winds of the Divine Spirit which can scatter all contrary blasts When the Doctor had thus ended his Discourse the Duke perceiving a greater silence than he expected though he had resolved to make no Publick Speech and therefore had as was already told expressed himself in private yet being invited by the Attention he observed he spoke to the People but as he had not premeditated it so no Copy of it remains except what was printed from the Notes of the Hearers and therefore I shall only set down the Heads of it He addressed himself to the Sheriff The Duke's last Speech and told him he judged it not