out of his pocket in his hand wherein it seems he had prepared some heads of a speech which he intended to have delivered but the Sheriff and Lieuteant told him if he spoke any thing it must be very brief and that they must not suffer him to speak any thing that was seditious Well Gentlemen said he your will be done but God be praised I never yet had to do with any thing that was seditious I would fain have spoken something to clear my self to the world according to the custom if it might have been But come Sir saith he turning to the Minister Let you and I speake to him that will give us leave and so kneeling down together in a corner of the stage the Minister pray'd with him a short time which done they stood up again Then turning himself to the people and putting off his hat he told them That he was not permitted to speak a few words according to his intention yet he doubted not but what he would have said would come to their eyes though it must not come to their ears But this I desire all to take notice of and this he spoke with a double vehemence that I dye a faithfull subject and servant to King Charles the second whom I pray God to bless and restore to his Rights and had I ten thousand thousand lives I would gladly lay them all down thus for his service Here he was interrupted and the Sheriff wished him rather to confesse what he knew concerning the horrid plot he was condemned for He answered That he had confessed all that he knew concerning any Plot that he thought they knew more of the Plot that condemn'd him then he did but he heartily forgave them The Minister told him it was well done to forgive and pardon those that persecute us That was an act of true Christian love but as his case stood love was not enough He ought to deal in this business upon which his life lay with all candour and sincerity not concealing any thing of that nature as was charged against him as far as he might glorifie God and serve the publick good Upon which lifting up his eyes towards heaven and laying his hand upon his breast Oh Sir says he if there had been any such thing in this breast would I not have revealed it before this time I protest in the sight of Almighty God I know no more of any such design but onely what I have often acknowledged that it was motioned to me by Henshaw who I confidently believe is in their hands and debated twice or thrice when I was with him but I never entertained it at all and at the last flatly disown'd it and told him I would have nothing to do in it He was many times pressing me to nominate what persons I knew I could bring and to have their names but let them shew any such thing if they can against me But I am certain he is in their hands Pawsing here a little and fetching a turn or two on the Scaffold being very hot as he had been all that morning he call'd for some small beer which he had given order to be ready and was brought thither in a stone bottle of which he drank a little once or twice Then the Minister went to him and minded him that something might be expected from him as to his Religion and disposition to dye To which gathering up an extraordinary resolution in his face he replyed I dye a Christian a true Christian according to that Faith and Religion which was professed by the Church of Engl. in the time of our late King of blessed memory And I praise God I am so fitted and ready to dye that I am confident by the merits of Christ Jesus that my sins are pardoned and my salvation is at hand Then turning about he called for his wast-coat and cap and throwing off his doublet put them on whilst his servants helped to put up his hair His wast-coat was not very clean which he took notice of to his man but 't is no great matter said he if the heart be clean all 's well enough Being thus prepar'd he calls for the Block and viewing it as with delight laid himself down upon it to see how it would fit and was so far from sinking at the sight of it that he almost play'd with it and rising quickly pulls a little paper-book out of his pocket which he gave to the Minister willing him to find that particular Prayer which was proper for that occasion but the crowd being great he could not quickly find it so that he kneeled down with the book open a while in his hand as if he had read but quickly shut it and prayed with great expressions of fervency by himself When he had done the Lieutenant said something to him as it seesm concerning his Brother Charls that had witnessed against him I know not what the Lieutenant said for he spake low but Mr. Gerard spake aloud and replyed passionately O Christ Sir I love my poor brother with all my heart he is but a youth and was terrified I know how he was dealt with tell him I love him as well as ever I lov'd him in my life And commend me to my brother Sir Gilbert whose release I beseech you Sir to assist there being no more cause that I know of for his imprisonment then onely that he was found in the same bed with me which sure is no capital crime Having said this he took his leave with him and the Sheriff and all he knew on the Stage and turning about once more to the people desired them to pray for him himself kneeling down with the Minister laid his hand in his bosom and they prayed together the last time After this he bids them all farewel again and besought them to remember they had a poor Soveraign abroad who deserved to be remembred Then forgiving the Executioner and saluting the Minister with his last embrace and kisses he bow'd himself to the stroak of death with as much Christian meekness and noble courage mix'd together as I believe was ever seen in any that had bled upon that Altar And this all the people that were Spectators did seem to understand and acknowledge beholding his fatal blow with an universal sadness and silence whereas when the other Gentleman fell quickly after upon another score of bloud and ryot they gave a great and generall shout as applauding the Justice of the Portugals death but pittying and bewailing the untimely fall of so brave and magnanimous a spirit as did through all the clouds of death shine gloriously in this unfortunate Gentleman His Speech Gentlemen AS this kind of spectacle is no new entertainment to your eyes for you have had a late glut of such objects So is it no strange thing to me to be made such a spectacle for I have been bred upon the Theater of death and have learned that part so well
though I confess a very hard one as to perform it pretty handsomly both as becomes a Gentleman and a Christian Onely I must desire you to expect no fine Prologue or Speech from me I never studied to make Orations a very unfit man to lay plots against a State who am scarce able to lay a few lines of plain English together as I ought But though I cannot speak happily I doubt not but I shall die happily I confess my self a great sinner Who is innocent God be mercifull to me a miserable sinner I adore the justice of God in all this that is come upon me I have deserved to die long since and blessed be God who hath given me such time to prepare But for this Crime I stand condemned for to day I do protest mine own innocency as to any consent or engagement to act in it I hope you will believe me when you consider upon what slender proofs and testimonies I suffer none of them legal or positive but circumstantial For my Brother Charls Alas poor youth how he was wrought upon But I desire all my friends to think honourably of him For my Brother Sir Gilbert This imagination of a Plot is said to have been hatched in France but I fear the nest was at Whitehall As for the King so far from concurring to such a Deed that I am only unsatisfied in this whether I shall die right in his favour because suspected of any thing so unworthy of him I fear he lost his Kingdome by such practises but whether he would recover them so is a question God hath better ways when it shall be good in his sight to plead his cause I was lately in France but on mine own score for I have commanded there and probably might For my past life it hath been but a troublesome one but now I hope I shall rest Since I was any thing I have served the King as I was bound And I wish all that did so had done it as faithfully He was condemned for a Tyrant but God For my Religion though a Souldier I am able to profess I am a Christian Souldier a true Son of the Church of England as constituted under Q. Elizabeth K. James and K. Charls of blessed memory Her Doctrine and Government I embrace Her Truth and Peace I pray God to restore I humbly give thanks to God Almighty for providing me the comfort of a Minister on whose fidelity I might repose my soul And I pray God to bless the poor faithful Ministers of this Church and give you hearts to esteem them the want whereof is no small cause of our misery My days have been few and evil yet God be blessed in all the vanities and folly of youth I have been far from Atheism or contempt of Gods worship I had alwaies awful impressions of Gods honour and service which is now my comfort And now dear Countrymen fare you well I pray God bless you all this whole Nation Alas poor England When will these black days be over When will there be blood enough I wish mine might fill up the measure I forgive all Once more fare you well Commend me to all my friends Pray for me I pray God make you as faithful and loyal as I have lived and as happy as I shall be by and by when I am dead Come Lord Jesus come quickly Father of mercies have mercy on me Saviour of the world save my soul O Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world hear my prayers Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit Lord Jesus receive my soul The last Speech of Mr. Peter Vowell which he intended to have delivered had he been permitted upon Munday the tenth of July 1654. on which day he suffered death in the place where Charing-Cross stood as from the Original paper written with his own hand appeareth Gentlemen AT this earthly Bar from them that pretend to have a great measure of sanctity I had hard measure but to that Bar I am now going the Bar of heaven I shall have Justice yea one day Justice against them except they water their beds and couches with tears of Repentance The Court gave severe and rash Judgement on my body and sent a pitifull fellow but a pitiless fellow that gave as rash a Judgement of my soul but that precious Jewel none of them could touch to hurt The Souls under the Altar cry loud for vengeance long ago how many more of late years have been added to them to help the cry the cry is loud of those lately whose blood hath been unlawfully spilt but vengeance is Gods and I will leave it to him The Court of my Tryal said I was confident and held it as a fault He also whom they sent to the Tower I know not if to entrap me under pretense to comfort my soul told me also I was confident I say the same and the same confidence I bring with me now and by Gods assistance I hope I shall carry it out of this world with my innocency Gentlemen Souldiers Among the ancient and savage sort of Heathen they had a Law once every three six or twelve moneths to offer up a sacrifice of humane blood to their God and that their God was a Divel Among us whether heathen or not you best know of late years we have had a fatal custome once in three six or twelve moneths to make not only a sacrifice but many sacrifices of humane Christian blood our Scaffolds have reek'd and smok'd with the choisest sort of blood But unto what God do you judge What God is he that delights in the blood of man Baal the god of Ekron Beelzebub the god of Flyes Amongst the Primitive Christians that lived neerest the time of our Saviour Christ the greatest Tyrants and persecutors of the Christians lived the persecution was great and yet the courage of those persecuted Christians was so great that it excelled the fury of the persecutors that they came in faster to be kill'd then they could kill they offered their bodies and throats so thick unto the slaughter that the hands of the Tyrants were weary with killing and yet Sanguis Martirum was Semen Ecclesiae and many Heathens came in with the Christians seeing their cheerful constancy rurned Christians and dyed Christians and dyed with them the Christians still encreased the more Of late years here hath been a great persecution in this Nation and yet the sufferers have been so many and present themselves so thick in the vindication of their King Country and Laws that they startled the very enemy himself their constancy so great that the eyes of their Judges dropped tears whether real or true let the Judge of Judges judge They still stand amazed at their constancy though they exceed the old Heathens Are not weary of killing Oh Souldiers How many of you have been brought up and led on by blind Principles wronged in your Education or seduced by your indiscreet
Lord forgive them and forgive me as I freely forgive them Doct. You have for some late years laid down your gown and took up the Sword and you were a man of note in those parts where you had your residence I have nothing to accuse you for want of diligence in hindering the doing of injuries yet possibly there might be some wrong done by your Officers or those under you to some particular men if you had your Estate in your hands would you make restitution Col. The wrongs themselves you bring to my mind are not great nor many some things of no great moment but such as they are my desire is to make restitution but have not wherewithall Doct. If you had ability would you likewise leave a legacy of thankfulness to Almighty God something to his poor Servants to his lame Members to his deaf Members to his dumb Members Col. My will hath alwayes been better then my ability that way Doct. Sir I shall trouble you very little further I thank you for all those heavenly Colloquies I have enjoyed by being in your Company these three days and truly I am very sorry I must part with so heavenly an associate We have known one another heretofore but never so Chriâ—â—ian-like before I have rather been a Scholler to learn from you then an instructer I wish this Stage wherein you are made a spectacle to God Angels and the World may be a School to all about you for though I will not diminish your sins not shall I conceal nor hypocrize my own for they are great ones betwixt God and my self yet I think there is few here have a lighter load upon them then you have if we consider things well and I only wish them your repentance and that measure of faith God hath given you and that measure of courage you have attained from God and that constant perseverance God hath crowned you with hitherto Col. His name be praised Here the Doctor prayed with him almost a quarter of an hour after which the Col. turning himself again to the people spake as followeth One thing more I desire to be clear in There lieth a common imputation upon the Cavaliers that they are Papists and under that name we are made odious to those of the contrary opinion I am not a Papist but renounce the Pope with all his dependencies when the distractions in Religion first sprang up I might have been thought apt to turn from this Church to the Roman but was utterly unsatisfied in their Doctrine in point of faith and very much as to their discipline The Religion which I professe is that which passeth under the name of Protestant though that be rather a name of distinction then properly essential to Religion But the Religion which was found out in the reformation purged from all the errours of Rome in the Reign of Edward 6. practiced in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth K. James and K. Charles that blessed Prince deceased that Religion before it was defaced I am of which I take to be Christs Catholick though not the Roman Catholick Religion in the profession and practice whereof I will live and die that for my Religion Then he turned himself unto the Executioner I have no reason to quarrel with thee thou art not the hand that throws the stone I am not of such an Estate to be liberall but there is three pound for thee which is all I have Now tell me what I lack Executioner Your hair to be turned up Col. Shew me how to fit my self upon the block After which his doublet being off and hair turned up he turned again to the people and prayed a good while Before he laid down upon the block he spake again to the people viz. There is not one face that looks upon me though many faces and perhaps different from me in opinion and practice but methinks hath something of pity in it and may that mercy which is in your hearts fall into your own bosoms when you have need of it and may you never find such blocks of sin to stand in the way of your mercy as I have met with I beseech you joyn with me in prayer Then he prayed leaning on the Scaffold with an audible voice for about a quarter of an hour having done he had some private conference with Doctor Swadling then taking his leave of his friends Sheriffs and acquaintance saluting them all with a courteous valediction he prepared himself for the block kneeling down said let me try the block which he did after casting his eyes up and fixing them very intentively upon Heaven he said when I say Lord Jesus receive me Executioner do thine Office then kissing the Axe he laid down and with as much undaunted yet Christian courage as possibly as could be in man did he expose his throat to the fatall Axe his life to the Executioner and commended his soul into the hands of a faithfull and mercifull Creator through the meritorious passion of a gracious Redeemer saying the forementioned words his head was smitten off at one blow Sir Henry Hide 's Speech on the Scaffold near the Exchange immediately before his execution March 4. 1650. REader Take notice That this Speech following is published in those very words that the Gentleman delivered them and though there be some abrupt breakings off and other expressions not so smooth as might have been yet I could not with honesty alter a word and therefore have I tied my self to his own expressions that I may neither abuse the world or the dying man or my self THe Gentleman came in a Coach to the Scaffold attended by the Lieutenant of the Tower and the Sheriffs of London and also in his company one of his Servants and Doctor Hide Sir H. Hide I Am come to put in practice the Christian Profession and as I owe a death to nature and sin now I pay it upon the score of grace Dr. Hide Blessed be God that hath enabled you to it God hath and will enable you Sir H. Hide Looking round on the People he said A populous City God blesse it and grant they may live to his Grace Then turning to his Man he said John I pray now though I have not been a good Master to you be you a good Servant and accompany me with your prayers and help me both in body and mind John Have you my things about you John Then staying for his Servants they being not on the Scaffold he said I had rather have my Servants then Strangers Then the Lieutenant of the Tower coming to him he said pray Sir rejoyce with me I think Almighty God I am brought hither to suffer for him Lieut. of the Tower I am glad you are so comforted Gods will be fulfilled in all things Sir H. Hide If God call me to him and I glorifie him it is well I seek only the company of your Christian Prayers L. of the Tower I shall not be wanting in that God
willing Then then Chyrurgion coming but not his Kinsman who was called for he said My Kinsman is of no use you may be usefull about my body I hope Mr. Sheriff that you 'l give order I may have a little more room here Sheriff Yes yes Sir Sir H. Hide And likewise for liberty of speech and that it shall please you for I am not acquainted with the Forms here of England that I may speak my own sense I am now going into the presence of Almighty God a very little without any disturbance Sheriff Why Sir you shall Sir H. Hide John where is my Coffin John It is here Sir Sheriff Sir it seems these men cannot be found Sir H. Hide But if Mr. Barret could be found After some stay Mr. Barret being not found the Sheriff spake to him saying Sheriff You have your liberty you know your time Sir H. Hide Where is the place of standing that way or this way pointing towards the Exchange and the Poultery Sheriff Which way you please you may stand which way you will but that way you must lie pointing towards the Exchange Sir H. Hide I am indifferent It is not the way to Heaven where a man stands One brought word to him that there was no help to be had Sir H. Hide That is no hindrance to my felicity Dr. Hide God enable you that you may find that joy and comfort which is due to the glory of his Holy Name he will not forsake you that have put your trust in him Sir H. Hide I will open my heart and my mouth with thanksgiving if this Gentleman please to give way Then turning towards the Poultery he put off his Hat and said Glory be to God on high on Earth Peace Good-will to men CHristian People I come hither to die I am brought hither to die and that I may die Christian like I humbly beseech the assistance of your Christian Prayers that by the benefit of them my passage may be the more easie yet because men in that condition which it hath pleased God to reduce me carry more credit to their Speeches In the discharge of my Duty towards God I shall use a few words and so dispatch I pray all of you joyn with me to praise this Almighty God to whom I desire to render all hearty thanks as for all his mercies so in in particular for this That he hath brought me hither That whereas I owe a duty to Sin and to Nature that now can pay the account A debt to Nature I can pay it upon the account or Grace And because it is sit to render an account of that Hope that is in me I shall tell you to the praise of Almighty God That I have been born and bred up in the Doctrine of the Church of England I have no Negative Religion believing to be saved by the onely merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ putting off his Hat and whatsoever else is profest in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England authorized by Law humbly beseeching almighty God to restore unto this Church her Peace Prosperity and Patrimony whereof I have been an obedient and a loving however an unworthy Son And now both my Hope being confident and my Faith perfected there remains onely Christian Charity Charity we carry into Heaven Charity on Earth and that I leave beseeching all whomsoever I have offended whether I have or no to forgive me as I from the bottom of my heart do them whomsoever blessing Almighty God for the happy advantage he takes to bring me nearer to heaven blessing Almighty God that he hath given me this advantage as he hath been mercifull to me before the foundation of the World in my Saviour so that now he hath in mercy honoured me with a suffering for his Name in obedience to his Commandement On this day seven night I was summoned before that Justice which ondemned me on Friday last praised be Almighty God that by this way he hath brought me the nearer to Himself putting off his hat My Charge I presume is publike as my Punishment is visible if there have been any thing in the management of my part being unskilfull having discontinued my own Country many years I shall beseech the Christian charity of all you my beloved Countrey-men to impute it unto the right part the ignorance that is in this skilfull way of managing It was objected unto me there That I had a vanity of delighting in strange Tongues I was best skill'd in the Italian but free from that vanity I thank Almighty God and therefore I would in defence of my life if it had been the Custome here or the Judges favour have used that Language It was objected That I did not so freely as a thorow-paced Cavalier own my Master I was told since I came into England for other skill I have not in your Lawes that a legal Denial in Law might be tolerable I hope I did not exceed the bounds of that in any thing for God forbid that I should be ashamed of serving so good so pious so just a Master putting off his hat for that I therein rejoyce and I humbly beseech almighty God to fill my heart and my tongue and all that hear me this day with thankfulness for it As to the Business that another construction had been made and believed here then what was there the righteous God knoweth it if any weakness was in the management that was mine I was sent to serve and protect not to injure any and as God acquits me of the intention in matter of Fact as having done any manner of evil that way however here understood blessed be his holy Name putting off his hat so those Gentlemen of the Turkey Company if they would seriously consider for they know it very well the impossibility of my doing them any manner of harm Whereas that of the Embassie objected against me that my Master never honored me withall I was never worthy of it I was his Messenger an Internuncio for the conservation only of his good Subjects of all the Merchants untill such time as he could confirm that Gentleman now Resident or to send any other and they themselves know that there was impossibility in me as I bless God there was an innocency in me unto any such intention to doe them any harm for my Masters Commands were point-blank the contrary I was onely sent for their good as I never owned the Title so the very Letters themselves speaking no other I never did so much as think of any manner of Address unto the Grand Seignior but gave him the Letter from my Master the rest of the English Nation that were there present may when they please assert so much This I would insert that those Gentlemen as they have been losers by the miscarriages of others may now have no breach of their charity with me but if it be as it seems it is now in this Country a Sin to
in our ill-willers â—â—u would avoid that spirit Censure us not for having parted with too much of Our own right the price was great the commodity was security to Us Peace to Our People And We are confident another Parliament would remember how useful a Kings power is to a Peoples liberty Of how much we have divested Our self that We they might meet again in a due Parliamentary way to agree the bounds for Prince and People And in this give belief to Our experience never to affect more Greatness or Prerogative than what is really and intrinsecally for the good of your Subjects not satisfaction of Favorites And if you thus use it you will never want means to be a Father to all and a bountiful Prince to any you would ba extraordinarily gracious unto You may perceive all men trust their treasure where it returns them interest And if Princes like the Sea receive and repay all the fresh streams and rivets trust them with they will nor grudge but pride themselves to make them up an Ocean These considerations may make you a great Prince as your Father is now a low one and your state maybe so much the more established as mine hath been shaken For Subjects have learnt We dare say that Victories over their Princes are but Triumphs over themselves and so will be more unwilling to hearken to changes hereafter The English Nation are a sober People however at present under some infatuation We know not but this may be the last time We may speak to you or the world publickly We are sensible into what hand We are faln and yet We bless God We have those inward tefreshments that the malice of Our Enemies cannot perturb We have learnt to own Our self by tetiting into Our self and therefore can the better digest what befals Us not doubting but God can restrain Our Enemies malice and turn their fierceness into his praise To conclude if God give you success use it humbly and far from revenge It he restore you to your Right upon hard conditions what ever you promise keep Those men which have forced Lawes which they were bound to observe will find their triumphs full of troubles Do not think any thing in this World worth obtaining by foul and unjust means You are the Son of Our love and as We direct you to what we have recommended to you so we assure you We do not more affectionatlely pray for you to whom We are a natural Parent then We doe that the ancient glory and renown of this Nation be not buried in irreligion and fanatick humour And that all our Subjects to whom we are a Politick Parent may have such sober thoughts as to seek their Peace in the Orthodox Profession of the Christian Religion as it was established since the Reformation in this Kingdome and not in new Revelations And that the ancient Lawes with the Interpretation according to the known practises may once again be an hedge about them that you may in due time govern and they be governed as in the fear of the Lord. C.R. THe Commissioners are gone the Corn is now in the Ground We expect the Harvest if the Fruit be Peace We hope the God of Peace will in time reduce all to Truth and Order again Which that he may do is the prayer of C. R. AN ELEGIE On the Sufferings and Death OF K. Charles I. COme come let 's Mourn all Eyes that see this Day Melt into Showrs and Weep your selves away O that each Private head could yield a Flood Of Tears whil'st Britain's Head stream's out His Blood Could we pay what His Sacred Drops might claim The World must needs be drowned once again Hands cannot write for trembling let our Eye Supply the Quill and shed an Elegy Tongues cannot speak this Grief know's no such vent Nothing but Silence can be Eloquent Words are not here significant in This Our Sighs our Groans bear all the Emphasis Dread Sir What shall we say Hyperbole Is not a Figure when it speaks of Thee Thy Book is our best Language what to this Shall e're be added is thy Meiosis Thy Name 's a Text too hard for us no men Can write of it without Thy Parts and Pen. Thy Prisons Scorns Reproach and Poverty Though these were thought too courteous Injury How could'st Thow bear Thou Meeker Moses how Was ever Lion bit with Whelps till now And did not roar Thou England's David how Did Shimei's Tongue not move Thee Where 's the Man Where is the King Charles is all Christian Thou never wanted'st Subjects no when they Rebell'd thou mad'st thy Passions to obey Had'st Thou regain'd thy Throne of State by Power Thou had'st not then been more a Conqueror But Thou thine own Soul's Monarch art above Revenge and Anger Can'st Thou tame thy Love How could'st Thou bear Thy Queen's Divorce must She At once Thy Wife and yet Thy Widow be Where are Thy tender Babes once Princely bred Thy choycest Jewels are they Sequestred Where are thy Nobles Lo in stead of these Base savage Villains and Thine Enemies Egyptian Plague 't was onely Pharaoh's doom To see such Vermin in His Lodging-room What Guards are set what Watches do they keep They do not think Thee safe though lock't in Sleep Would they confine Thy Dreams within to dwell Nor let Thy Fancy pass their Centinel Are Thy Devotions dangerous Or do Thy Prayers want a Guard These faulty too Varlets 't was onely when they spake for You. But lo a Charge is drawn a Day is set The silent Lamb is brought the Wolves are met Law is arraign'd of Treason Peace of War And Justice stand's a Prisoner at the Bar. This Scene was like the Passion-Tragedie His Saviour's Person none could Act but He. Behold what Scribes were here what Pharisees What bands of Souldiers What false witnesses Here was a Priest and that a Chief one who Durst strike at God and His Vicegerent too Here Bradshaw Pilate there This make's them twain Pilate for Fear Bradshaw condemn'd for Gain Wretch could'st not thou be rich till Charles was dead Thou might'st have took the Crown yet spar'd the Head Th' hast justifi'd that Roman Judge He stood And washt in Water thou hast dipt in Blood And where 's the slaughter-House White-hall must be Lately His Palace now His Calvarie Great Charles is this Thy Dying-place And where Thou wer 't our King art thou our Martyr there Thence thence Thy Soul took flight and there will we Not cease to Mourn where Thou did'st cease to Be. And thus blest Soul He 's gon a Star whose fall As no Eclipse prove's Oecumenical That Wretch had skill to sin whose Hand did know How to behead three Kingdoms at one blow England hath lost the Influence of her King No wonder that so backward was Her Spring O dismal Day but yet how quickly gon It must be short Our Sun went down at Noon And now ye Senators is this the Thing So oft declar'd Is
and to him who is yesterday to day and the same for ever against whom the powers and principalities the gates of Hell shall never be able to prevail lift up and fasten your eyes now upon Christ crucified and labour to behold Jesus stand at the right hand of his Father as the Protomartyr Stephen ready to receive your soul when it shall be separated from this frail and mortal body Alas no man would desire life if he knew beforehand what it were to live it is nothing but sorrow vexation and trouble grief and discontent that waits upon every condition whether publick or private in every station and calling there are several miseries and troubles that are inseparable from them therefore what a blessed thing it is to have a speedy and comfortable passage out of this raging Sea into the Port of everlasting Happiness We must passe through a Sea but it is the Sea of Christs Bloud in which never soul suffered shipwrack in which we must be blown with winds and tempests but they are the Gales of Gods Spirit upon us which blow away all contrary winds of diffidence in his mercy Here one acquainting the Earl his servant was coming he answered So Sir And turning to the under-Sheriffs Son said Cambridg Sir you have your Warrant here Sheriff Yes my Lord we have a Command Cambridg A Command I take this time Sir of staying in regard of the Earl of Denbighs sending to speak with me I know not for what it is he desires me to stay Dr. Sibbald I presume Mr. Sheriff will not grudg your Lordship a few minutes time when so great a work as this is in hand His Lordships servant being returned and having delivered his message to the Earl of Cambridg privately he said So it is done now and then turning to the front of the Scaffold before which as in all the rest of the Palaces there was a great concourse of people he said Cambridg I think it is truly not very necessary for me to speak much there are many Gentlemen and Souldiers there that sees me but my voyce truly is so weak so low that they cannot hear me neither truly was I ever at any time so much in love with speaking or with any thing I had to express that I took delight in it yet this being the last time that I am to do so by a divine Providence of Almighty God who hath brought me to this end justly for my sins I shall to you Sir Mr. Sheriff declare thus much as to the matter that I am now to suffer for which is as being a Traytor to the Kingdom of England Truly Sir it was a Country that I equally loved with my own I made no difference I never intended either the generality of its prejudice or any particular mans in it what I did was by the Command of the Parliament of the Country where I was born whose Commands I could not disobey without running into the same hazard there of that condition that I am now in The ends Sir of that Engagement is publick they are in Print and so I shall not need to specifie them Dr. Sibbald The Sun perhaps will be too much in your Lordships face as you speak Cambridg No Sir it will not burn it I hope I shall see a brighter Sun then this Sir very speedily Dr. Sibbald The Sun of Righteousnesse my Lord. Cambridg But to that which I was saying Sir It pleased God so to dispose that Army under my Command as it was ruined and I as their General clothed with a Commission stand here now ready to dye I shall not trouble you with repeating of my Plea what I said in my own Defence at the Court of JUSTICE my self being satisfied with the commands that is laid upon me and they satisfied with the Justnesse of their procedure according to the Laws of this Land God is just and howsoever I shall not say any thing as to the matter of the sentence but that I do willingly submit to his Divine Providence and I acknowledg that very many ways I deserve even a worldly punishment as well as hereafter for we are all sinful Sir and I a great one yet for my comfort I know there is a God in heaven that is exceeding merciful I know my Redeemer sits at his Right Hand and am confident clapping his hand to his Breast is Mediating for me at this instant I am hopeful through his free grace and all-sufficient merits to be pardoned of my sins and to be received into his mercy upon that I rely trusting to nothing but the Free Grace of God through Jesus Christ I have not been tainted with my Religion I thank God for it since my infancy it hath been such as hath been profest in the Land and established and now 't is not this Religion or that Religion or this or that Fancy of men that is to be built upon 't is but one that 's right one that 's sure and that comes from God Sir and in the free grace of our Saviour Sir there is truly something that had I thought my Speech would have been thus taken I would have digested it into some better method then now I can and shall desire these Gentlemen that do write it that they will not wrong me in it and that it may not in this manner be published to my disadvantage for truly I did not intend to have spoken thus when I came here There is sirs terrible aspersions has been laid upon my self truly such as I thank God I am very free from as if my actions and intentions had not been such as they were pretended for but that notwithstanding what I pretended it was for the King there was nothing less intended then to serve him in it I was bred with him for many years I was his domestick servant and there was nothing declar'd by the Parliament that was not really intended by me and truly in it I ventured my life one way and now I lose it another way and that was one of the ends as to the King I speak onely of that because the rest has many particulars and to clear my self from so horrid an aspersion as is laid upon me neither was there any other design known to me by the incoming of the Army then what is really in the Declaration published His person I do profess I had reason to love as he was my King and as he had been my master it has pleased God now to dispose of him so as it cannot be thought flattery to have said this or any end in me for the saying of it but to free my self from that calumny which lay upon me I cannot gain by it yet Truth is that which we shall gain by for ever There hath been much spoken Sir of an invitation into this Kingdom it 's mentioned in that Declaration and truly to that I did and do remit my self and I have been very much laboured for discoveries
blessings upon them I accuse no man I find fault nor quarrell with no man neither with the persons that were the occasions they were but instruments neither at the persons condemning I accept thankfully the Sentence of Death upon my self and I beseech Almighty God that I may be the last that may suffer upon this score or upon any other Master Sheriff If there be any thing wherein I can give any other satisfaction to any Christian whatsoever in any kind as I spake in generall I bless Almighty God from my own Heart now so assisted by the especiall Operation and Motions and Dictates of the Holy Ghost if I can know any thing wherein or how to be now in my dying not having served God so well in my life serviceable to the Church of God of Christ and the full satisaction of any whatsover I am here ready I am unacquainted but in my extasies to Heaven there is that Glory I am going to I beseech Almighty God that he will give me grace to bless his holy Name as for all as for Jesus Christ and in him all things so particularly for this that he hath thought me worthy to bring me hither for my faithfulness to my Master that is the most pious and most just Prince in all the world My Master hath suffered bitterly in England and if there be any failing in his service the fault is onely mine God knows I have done nothing in the business but by the instance of the Merchants I delivered my Letters and there they lie To other things I am a Stranger I hope that God will give me the grace of perseverance in that Christian Religion in that loyalty to my Prince in that love to all the World that now being to give up my accompt to him that I may with comfort be received in the arms of his mercy If there be any thing Master Sheriff that I may give satisfaction in I am ready to do it according to the poor talent I have I will receive my punishment in the way God hath prepared for me and many ways I have been taken up Truly I am bound to all that see me and many thousands more since I came into England not an uncivil look we had strange reports abroad not an uncivil look from any God repay them all and return them from the Throne of his Grace into their own Bosoms And God in particular bless that Honourable Lady who was the occasion of the coming of my Lords Grace of Armagh with the Confirmation of those glorious and eternal Messages of Comfort which now I am going to enjoy being thankfull to all those that know me and know me not for since I am come hither whereas I might have received prejudice in respect to my Loyalty which is not the way now I have from them all received courtesie the Lord repay them I thank God I am otherwise bred and my Allegiance hath been incorporated imbodied into my Religion and besides the great desires of other Gentlemen that I might goe out of the World but that the world might see that the Grace of God hath had a perfect Reformation in me and a willing and thankfull Submission to his Will therefore I repent me not of it but I beseech Almighty God to bless and prosper all people whatsoever that to this Kingdome belong As my Speech is imperfect so is my Health I have forced my self in this Discourse to give that satisfaction which I could And I beseech you Mr. Sheriff if you can hear of any Gentlemen that are wronged what I offer here I am to answer it and I beseech you joyn with me in your Christian Prayres that I may have a passage whither I am now going to give an account not only of every deed but of every word Then turning to his Man he said Sir H. Hide John Which is the Executioner The Executioner being brought to him he said Sir H. Hide Honest Friend I have no quarrel with you you are the welcome instrument do your work only let me see the place that I may fit my self for I have an infirm body Sheriff You shall when you have prayed if you please to pray first Sir H. Hide I desire to see the Block I can pray afterwards Here Mr. Executioner is that money that is left here is Four pounds for you Then being shewed the Block he kissed it saying Sir H. Hide It is unworthy for me to put my Head where my Masters was Blessed be God Blessed be his holy Name putting off his Hat I have an infirmity in my Body but God hath enabled me inwardly Pray M. Sheriff let me have a little more room Sheriff Go to Prayer and we will clear the room Sir H. Hide I have I thank Almighty God done those Christian Offices belonging to me at home I come hither only to die Then kneeling down he said the Lords prayer Then having prayed a short space he stood up and turning to the Executioner said Sir H. Hide Honest Friend I pray give me direction what I am to doe and doe your Office You will cure all diseases presently pray direct me Then the Executioner going to spread the Scarf over the Block he said Sir H. Hide Put it not on now but by and by D. Hide God Almighty strengthen you Sir H. Hide God reward you all Then the Executioner going to put up his Hair under his Sattin Cap he thought he had been taking of it off Whereupon he said Sir H. Hide Must I have my black Cap off it is very cold all these Diseases will be cured the Lord be thanked Then going to lie down his Man not helping him he said Sir H. Hide John help me a little I pray Did not I tell you I could neither rise nor fall lay me down and lift me up again John Then rising again upon his knees he spake to the Executioner having the Ax in his hand Sir H. Hide Pray Sir give me the Ax. And then taking the Ax in his hand he kissed it and returned it to the Executioner again saying Sir H. Hide I will only say Lord Jesus receive my Soul and when I lift up my Right-hand do your work And then lying down again after a little space he lift up his Right-hand and the Executioner at one stroke severed his Head from his Body The speech of James Earl of Derby upon the Scaffold at Bolton in Lancashire together with his Deportment and prayer before his death on Wednesday the 15. day of October 1651. THe Earl of Derby according to the order of the Court Marshall held at Chester by which he was sentenced to die at Bolton in Lancashire was brought to that Town with a guard of Horse and Foot of Colonel Jones's commanded by one Southley who received his order from Colonel Robert Duckenfield betwixt 12. and 1. of the clock on Wednesday the 15. of October the people weeping praying and bewailing him all the way from the prison
hath forgiven and too readily drunk in by others whom I pray God to forgive As for my crime as some are pleased to term it which was objected against me by the Council of war for Bootle's death was never mentioned against me there that being onely secretly used to raise a prejudice against me in the judgments of such as did not know me my crime I say though I hope it deserves a farre better name was that I came into my own Country with my own lawfull King I came in obedience to his Majesties call whom both by the laws of God and the laws of this land I conceived my self obliged to obey and according to the protestation I took in Parliament in the time of that blessed Prince his Father so if it be my crime I here confesse it again before God Angels and men that I love Monarchy as the best government and I die with Love and Honour and for the Love and Honour I bear to my Master that now is CHARLES the second of that name whom I my self in this Countrey proclaimed King the Lord blesse and preserve him and incline the hearts of those that have power in this Nation to accept him to his Fathers Throne with Honour and Peace for certainly as I believe this Nation will never be well contented never throughly happy without a King so I believe also that King CHARLES the second our now lawfull King were he a stranger to this Crown were the most fit and most accomplisht Prince that this day lives to take the government of this people his admirable piety vertue justice great valour and discretion far above so few years doth now make him in all places he comes highly beloved and will hereafter make him honourable among all Nations and I wish the people of this Nation so much happinesse when my eyes are closed that he may peaceably be received to the injoyment of his just right and then they shall never want their just rights which till then they will always want As for my being in armes in the beginning of this war I professe here in the presence of my God before whom within a few minutes I must make an account for this profession I onely fought for peace and setling the late King my Master in his just rights and the maintenance of the laws of this land and that I had no other designe intent or purpose for my then taking up armes and for this last ingagement I professe here again in the presence of the same God that I did it for the restoring of my lawfull Soveraign into that Throne out of which his Father was most unchristianly and barbarously taken by the most unjust sentence of a pretended Court of Justice and himself against law and all Justice kept out and dispossest of and this was all my reason For as for estate or quality I wanted not a sufficient competency neither was I ever ambitious to enlarge either for by the favour of my King's Predecessors my family was raised to a condition well known in this Country and now it is as well known that by his enemies I am adjudged to die and that by new and monstrous laws as making me an enemy to my Country for fighting for my Country as a Traitor to the laws for endeavouring to preserve the laws But Oh! God give me grace to consider him who suffered such contradictions of sinners and O my God assert the King to his Fathers Throne assert the laws to their former honour and restore thy own religion in its purity that all these shadows and false pretences of religion may vanish away and our childrens posterities may serve thee in spirit and in truth Good friends I die for the King the laws of the land the Protestant Religion maintained in the Church of England all as which I was ready to maintain with my life so I cheerfully suffer for them in this welcome death I am sentenced to death by a Council of Warre after quarter for life and assurance of honourable and safe usage by Captain Edge I had reason to have expected the Council would have justified my Plea which hath been Ancient Honourable Sacred and Unviolable untill this time that I am made the first suffering President for I dare affirm it that never Gentleman before in any Christian Nation was adjudged to death by a Council of war after quarter given I am the first and I pray God I may be the last president in this case I must die and I thank God I am ready for it Death would now be my choice had I the whole World in competition with it I leave nothing behind me which I much care for but my King my Wife Children and Friends whom I trust the never-failing mercies of my God will provide for I beseech God shew mercy to those who neither had mercy nor justice for me my blessed Saviour taught me by his example and command both to pray for my enemies and to so give my enemies I forgive them freely even those that contrived my ruine and pursued me to death I thank God I never personally offended them to my knowledge in my life and let me not offend against them at my death I forgive them freely and pray God for Christs sake to forgive them also Of my Faith and Religion I shall not I hope need to say much herein I hope my enemies if now I have any will speak for me I professe my faith to be in God only from whom I look for my salvation through the precious merits and sufferings of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ which merits and sufferrings are applyed to my soul by the blessed Spirit of comfort the Spirit of God by whom I am assured in my own Soul that my God is reconciled unto me in Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I die a Dutiful Son to the Church of England as it was established in that blessed Prince my late Masters Reign which all men of Learning and Temperance will acknowledge to be the most pure and agreeable to the word of God and Primitive government of any Church within 12. or 1300. years since Christ and which to my great comfort I left established in the Isle of man God preserve it there and restore it to this Nation And O blessed God I magnifie thy name that thou gavest me the happinesse and mercy to be born in a Christian Nation and in a Nation where thy truth was professed in purity with honour to thy name and comfort to thy people I ascribe the comforts of thy Holy Spirit which I feel in my bosome to the Ministery of thy Word and Sacraments conveyed unto me in thy Church and made effectual by the operation of the same blessed Spirit In this faith good people I have lived and in this I die pray for me I beseech you and the God of mercies hear your prayers and my prayers for mine and your salvation Presently after the tumult was