O blessed Father we beseech Thee for Christs sake draw nigh to us that we may draw nigh to Thee our God O that Thou wouldst pour down Thy holy Spirit that we may pour out our souls before Thee O Lord we pray Thee for Christ's sake give us the Spirit of Wisdom and the Spirit of Understanding and the Spirit of Knowledge and the Spirit whereby we may cry Abba Father We are not now come to tell long stories of our Iniquities time and strength would fail us they are as the hairs of our heads and as the sands of the Sea-shore but O Lord we are before Thee in the Name of Jesus Christ humbly to intreat and beseech Thee O for the Lord's sake to look upon us there was never any more unworthy of Mercy than we are yet never any poor Wretches stood in more need of Mercy than we do We humbly pray thee for the Lord's sake extend Mercy to us O Lord do not remember against us what we have done but remember what the Lord Jesus Christ hath suffered and when Thou hast look'd upon thy dear Son then look upon thy poor Worms O Lord we humbly pray Thee for Jesus sake forgive whatever is past cover us with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ let none of our nakedness appear we beg for the Lord's sake O that the Lord would be pleased to speak Peace now to our souls Blessed Father we have in some measure blessed be thy Name the assurance of thy Love sealed to our Souls by thy glorious Spirit we humbly pray Thee O Lord we beseech Thee for Christ's sake look upon us and come and pour down thy glorious and holy Spirit upon us and let us we beseech thee have yet more Assurance that our Sins are pardoned that Thou hast found out a Ransom for us that our Names are written in the Book of Life and that we shall not die but live for evermore because we are washed with the Blood of Christ even with the Blood of thy dear Son who hath loved us and died for us and washed us with his own Blood O that the Lord would be pleased now to come and warm our souls with thy Love that they may never be cold more O Lord we beseech thee receive us into the Everlasting Arms of thy Mercy O Lord we beseech Thee for Christs sake that Thou wouldst now let us see as Stephen once did by the eye of Faith even Heaven opened and the Lord upon the Throne and Jesus Christ at his Right-hand and the glorious Angels receiving our souls into thy everlasting Mercy Blessed Father we beseech thee for the Lord sake that Thou wouldst be with us and bless us and the Lord shew us Mercy onely upon the account of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we pray Thee bless us and with us all Thine all the World over Remember thy Churches from the rising of he Sun to the going down of the same Think upon this Nation wherein we live we humbly beg for the Lord's sake that England Scotland and Ireland might live in thy Glorious Presence and that England may be a quiet Habitation for thy People to dwell in O for the Lord's sake as Thou hast given them a Name and a Gospel above any other Nations that we have heard of or seen So pour down abundance of thy Spirit and give them Grace and hearts that they may walk answerable to the Gospel and be a Nation for thy Glory more zealous than any other Nation And Lord we humbly pray Thee continue the Mercies they yet enjoy and remove and divert any Judgements that they feel or fear And for the Lord's sake bless him that Thou hast been pleased to set over us let the King live in Thy sight we humbly beg that he may reign so here that he may reign in Glory for ever that he may be a nursing father to thy Israel and that he may be a Friend to those that are thy Friends and an Enemy to those that are thy Enemies and Enemies to thy Gospel let him remember that he is but a Steward and he must ere long give an account and the Lord grant that he may do it with much joy and not with grief and bless the Council do thou pour down thy Spirit upon them and guide and direct them to do the things that may be for thy Glory and for the Comfort of their own souls And bless the Faithful Ministers of the Gospel O that the Lord would double his Spirit upon them and that the Lord would be pleased abundantly to encrease the number of them let not that Judgment come upon the Nation that the Godly Faithful and Holy Ministers should be removed from us that their eyes should not behold their Teachers Lord let us not have a famine of thy Word for the Lord's sake but that the Gospel may continue in more splendor and glory than ever it hath done heretofore O that the Lord would be pleased to keep Idolatry out of this Nation O let not that Judgement befall this poor Nation for the Lord's sake And we humbly beg for thy Name sake that the Lord would be pleased to look upon this great City Thou hast made them famous for Religion and for owning the Gospel but Lord grant that they may not decline but that they may abundantly improve their gifts and graces and that they may walk humbly and thankfully and O that the Lord would be pleased to bless the City and the Nation from one end to another and that he would give them the blessings of the right hand and the blessings of the left that they may have the dew of Heaven and the fatness of the Earth and that they may provoke and stir up one another to praise thy holy Name and to live in Love Unity and Peace O Lord we pray thee for Jesus sake look upon us in thy presence and shew Mercy to us and look in love and mercy upon any that are near unto us we leave them with Thee we commit them into thy hands we beg for the Lord's sake shew Mercy to us and be with thy poor Servants and Lord we pray thee accept of us and our services in Jesus Christ and pardon our deadness and pardon our weakness our wanderings and all our sins even for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake since we came into Thy glorious presence and we pray Thee to accept of us and do us good and receive us to Mercy and Glory and all only for the glory of thy Name and for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and rose again and lives for ever at Thy right hand to whom be all Honour and Glory and Praise for evermore Then Col. Barkstead addressed himself to Prayer having first spoken to the Sheriffs these few words following Mr. Sheriff I do see your time is spent and we are drawn up into a very narrow compass And I hope you will take my word now as before I
shall only speak a word or two unto the Lord and no more Colonel Barkstead's Prayer O Eternal and ever-blessed Lord God Thou who sittest upon the highest Heavens who hast the highest Heavens for thy Throne and the Earth for thy Footstool We poor Creatures are here by thy Providence brought at this day to this place at this time and by Thee it is that we are in the Condition we are now in for which O Lord we blesse Thee and for which we can blesse thy Name Blessed be thy Name O Lord that Thou wert pleased before Thou broughtest us hither to speak Peace to our poor souls in the Blood of Jesus Christ and blessed for ever be thy Name that thou givest-in Assurance of Peace Pardon and Reconciliation to our Souls at this very minute blessed be thy Name Dear Father for the Lord's sake continue it and ô draw forth the hearts of thy poor Creatures even while one blast of breath is in us to blesse thy holy Name Father we pray Thee remember the Nation in which we live the King whom Thou hast set over the Nation Lord make him Thine and cause him to rule for Thee in Righteousness and for thy Glory that so Lord he may rule to the Comfort of all that fear thy Name O dear Father look in mercy upon all that fear thy Name in the Nation make them all of one heart and mind to advance thy Name and Glory to live in Unity one with another and to make it their business to seek Peace and pursue it that so they may thereby truly advance the Kingdom and Scepter of Jesus Christ who is coming and will come O dear Father carry forth the spirits of thy People to love Thee and one another and to walk closely and humbly and holily before Thee all their dayes Remember the Relations of thy poor Creatures here before Thee Lord do good to them that we leave behind us we commit them into thy Arms Lord take them into thine Arms O Lord thou hast said in thy Word Leave thy fatherless Children I will preserve them alive and let thy Widows trust in me Lord it is thy Word and this is thy Command that we should leave them with Thee therefore we leave them in thy Arms. Dear Father we desire from the bottom of our hearts freely and fully to forgive all that we any wayes think have done us wrong in any kind whatsoever freely and fully either in England or elsewhere and we pray Thee shew kindness to those that any wayes have shewed kindness to us for the Lord Jesus sake reward all their labour of love a thousand fold into their bosoms Look in mercy upon the Chief Magistrates that are here at this time dear Father pardon their sins and reconcile them unto thy self in the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in which we pray Thee wash their souls And O Lord as for the person that is now appointed to take away our lives and to destroy our Bodies dear Father do not Thou destroy his Soul but wash his Soul in the Blood of Jesus Christ Even that person that is to wash his hands in our Blood O pardon him and let not any of his sins be remembred before Thee We leave ourselves with Thee and blessed be thy Name Thou hast been good unto us and thy Presence is with us and there is nothing that gives trouble to us at this moment Father continue this thy loving-kindness to us O Lord thou hast not blessed be thy Name caused Death to be terrible to us no Lord thy poor Creature can say with freeness and comfort that there hath not been any thing of trouble or terror that hath past thy Servant since he came into this place either for what he is to suffer or the manner of his Sufferings but here he is before Thee and begs further help and strength from Thee being willing to surrender up his Soul to Thee in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Then Col. Okey spake a few words more as followeth I did break off duty because you desired it and I would not be troublesome to you Then he very earnestly expressed himself further as followeth O love the Lord and hate all things that are evil I have found by experience more evil in the least sin than good in any thing this world can afford Therefore I beg it of all that are here To love God and to hate that that is evil The Lord give you Peace and Truth I hope our Relations shall not fare the worse for us but that you will shew them kindness And as to what my Brother said I thank the Lord I have the Assurance of his Love and the Pardon of my Sins through the Riches of his Grace and free love in Jesus Christ. After this Col. Barkstead called a young man who was known to him and taking a silver Box out of his pocket he charged him to give it to his Daughter Their Speeches and Prayers being ended the Executioner cleared the Cart of the rest of the People who were gotten in and then pulled down their several Caps over their eyes and upon the lifting up their hands the Cart was drawn away at which time Col. Barkstead especially was heard to say Lord Jesus receive our Souls and after he had hanged for a little space he lifted up his hand That which many did especially take notice of was That there was not so much as the least attempt made by any to raise a triumphant shout upon the drawing away of the Cart but there rather appeared the symptoms of an universal face of Sadness in that vast and generally tumultuous Assembly who were the Spectators of their several Deaths They all hung near about a quarter of an hour The first that was cut down was Col. Barkstead who was quartered according to the Sentence the other two hanging all the while The next cut down was Col. Okey Mr. Corbet hanging still who after Col. Okey was quartered had the Execution done upon him also according to the Sentence Their several Quarters were brought back to Newgate about five of the Clock in the Afternoon to be boyled A brief Account of Col. Okey's Funeral WHen Col. Okey's Body was quartered it pleased the King to send a Warrant to the Sheriff of London to deliver the macerated Body to be buried where his Wife should think meet Which thing being granted without Petition or Application from her or his Relations and the Rumour of his Funeral suddenly flying about the City and the place appointed at Stepney where his first Wife lieth in a fair Vault which he purchased formerly for a Burying-place for him and his Family there was a numerous Concourse of sober substantial People assembled to Christ-Church to attend the Corps and some thousands more were coming thither to that purpose so that there were in view about Twenty thousand People attending that Solemnity at and coming to the place aforesaid who in a solemn and peaceable manner behaved themselves as that affair required Yet it so pleased the King to revoke this first Grant to Mris. Okey and by the Sheriff of London to disappoint and send home again the Company attending the Funeral which Sheriff with much harshness and many bitter words did his work The People though much troubled at the disappointment yet so soon as they understood the King's pleasure departed and left the mangled Limbs to the dispose of them that had devoted them to the Gibbet and Ax the Company left many a thousand sighs to attend him to his then unknown Grave That Night the Body was carried to the Tower of London and there by Mr. Glendon Parson of Barkin was buried with the Service-Book afresh wounding his bleeding Limbs thereby but Rapes are imputed only to the Ravisher Mr. Glendon could not but say that his Body was laid there in sure and certain hope of a Joyful Resurrection His Testimony was true though a Poet of their own And now there he lyes and the Tower of London is his Tomb. His Epitaph he partly writ in the hearts of thousands at the place of Execution FINIS
the Fountain of Life now let it come flowing upon our poor souls that we may be presented before thee with exceeding Joy Lord let us hear that same joyful Sound Come ye blessed of my Father O though we be despised of men and some they reproach us ô but Lord forgive them and the Lord pardon them whosoever hath done us any wrong the Lord pardon them through Jesus Christ we beg it And blessed Father we pray thee let us hear this joyful sound Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you O there is a Crown of Life laid up for them that love the Lord. Thou knowest thy poor Worms desire to love thee ô dear Lord shed abroad thy Love in our hearts and though we be now dying yet we desire to love thy Name though thou art now correcting us yet we have cause to love thee and bless thee ô shed abroad thy Love in our poor souls O Lord we pray thee come and accept us and let our cry come and pierce the heavens ô Lord let us now be looking for and hastening to the glorious appearing of that blessed hope our Lord Jesus Christ. He that shall come will come and will not tarry Come quickly Lord. O that thy Servants could see thee as thy Servant Stephen in much-what such a condition as we are in he saw Jesus Christ standing at thy Right-hand Though we cannot look upon thee with our bodily eyes yet we desire to see thee with the eye of faith O we pray thee look down upon us and Lord strengthen our Faith and that our Faith may not fail O let us obtain the end of our Faith the salvation of our Souls And ô that thou wouldst strengthen us according to thy Glorious Power with all Patience in this hour O Lord though our hearts would faint and flesh faint ô Lord thou art the God of our strength come lay hold upon us lead us by thy Righteousness and let thy Everlasting Arms be under us O dear Lord let us taste of Love in this bitter Cup ô we pray thee let us see thee in Mercy do not correct us in thy Wrath. O we bow our knees to thee let not this Affliction be in thy Wrath We are under the wrath of men but Lord do thou forgive and let us be under thy Love and lay no more upon thy poor Worms than the strength that thou shalt now give us through Jesus Christ will enable us to bear and come and take us into those Mansions that our Lord Jesus Christ hath prepared Is it not thy promise to go and provide Mansions for us our fore-runner is gone to appear for us in Heaven now before the Throne of Grace O hear us now in him and dismiss us now with a blessing And the Lord blesse this Nation the Lord blesse the Government the Lord continue thy Truth keep the Gospel still in this Nation which hath been the glory of it O let thy poor People glorifie the Gospel in their lives 't is that we beg of thee for the Lord's sake and do thou prevent those heavy Judgements that hang over our heads Lord pardon those great Abominations that thine eyes do see that Prophanation of the Sabbath O the spirit of Prophaneness is broken out among us O we desire to be humbled and mourn for it Lord turn from thy Wrath and dear Father continue thy Gospel in the purity of it O the Lord forgive the sins of those that bear thy Name thy Wrath is kindled against us and therefore it is that thou dost rebuke us but we pray thee give thy People a Spirit of returning to thee and do thou heal our back-slidings and give us a Spirit of Love to Thee and to thy Truths and one to another and take away the Envy betwixt Ephraim and Judah Thou seest these bitter Contests we pray thee put a stop to them and let thy People be of one heart and one mind and let them minde the great things of Jesus Christ and those Truths that are after Godliness let those be more and more enquired after and imbraced by the People of these Nations and the Lord grant that those Superstitions and Idolatries that are a provocation in thy sight may not be brought into the Nation for thou art a jealous God and if we go that way thy Wrath will be kindled once more but Lord shew Mercy to England and do not take away the Gospel nor remove thy Golden Candlestick from the midst of us And the Lord bless the Government and the King thou hast set over us that which we beg of thee for him is That he may rule righteously and let him hate whom thou hatest and love those whom thou lovest And blesse the Ministers of the Word them that are faithful to thee Lord continue them in their Liberties and let not our Teachers be removed into corners blesse them that are faithful to thee and make them more faithful Being interrupted after a while he proceeded as followeth O Father we have many Suits to put up unto thee but we now commit our selves unto thee here we are Lord we will roul our souls upon thee and rest and wait for thy Salvation We pray thee accept of us forgive the sins of this duty O sprinkle the Blood of the Lord Jesus upon us and take us into thy Arms. Father of Mercy that comfortest us in all our Tribulations come and comfort us in this hour and do thou accept of us in Christ for through him we offer up ourselves our souls a sacrifice Father accept of us and our sacrifice c. The Conclusion was omitted because of a busling among the horses Then Col. Okey addressed himself to Prayer as followeth Colonel Okey's Prayer MOst Glorious most Holy Eternal and most blessed Lord God who art the glorious Creator and the blessed Maker of all things who art from Everlasting to Everlasting blessed for evermore Thou art worthy to be praised from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof Thou art the mighty God that art cloathed with Glory and Honour and Majesty as with a garment and Thou art the Fountain of all that 's good and the Well-spring of Everlasting-life O Lord we are once more in thy glorious Presence the Lord hath been pleased to give us this opportunity that we may once more pour out our souls to thee in the Name of Jesus Christ before we go hence and be seen no more Now we pray Thee for the Lord Jesus sake as thou hast been pleased to put a price into our hands so O Lord we pray thee for Jesus Christs sake give us hearts to improve it O Lord we pray thee convince us in whose glorious presence we are and of the great work we are now about we are before Thee the Eternal and Unchangeable Lord who searchest the hearts and knowest our thoughts and Thou knowest with what intents we pour out our souls before Thee at this time
What Roaring and Ranting What uncontrolable wickedness rageth every where through the Land Even as if the men of these times had been delivered on purpose to do all these abominations Jerem. 7.10 may not ruful England as much now as ever sit down in tears and even weep her eyes out for grief Dr. Gauden himself being Judge It is true indeed there are many that cry up the blessednesse of these times and the happy changes we are now under that do in a manner conclude that it is impossible any thing can be now done which may admit of amendment that nothing ought now to be accounted grievous or oppressive no not though Princes themselves become companions of theeves Esay 1.23 though open Robberies Assaults and Murthers be done by them upon the very high wayes The Poor Commons of England travelling about their lawful occasions may be now slain and their innocent blood bought and sold if they be great men or great mens Sons that do it They may Kill and Murther and do what they please and yet shall find a deliverance Oh! how are witnesses even in the case of blood now tampered with silenced ' or over-awed by Bribes or Threats What Corrupt and Vnrighteous Juryes have we How is Judgement turned into wormwood Murther into man-slaughter and man-slaughter into murther as the case lyes for or against a Phanatique as they call him or a poor Commoner But may not such as bring the price or guilt of innocent blood upon their own Families as well as pollute the Nation with it chance to have the innocent blood of themselves or some of theirs be enquired after by the next Jury whilest thus they encourage the hands of murtherers against their Brethren As for those that blesse themselves with such times times as these what are they for the most part at least but men of most filthy and dissolute lives such as were described before Haters of God and godlinesse such as cannot indure holinesse of Life or soundnesse of Doctrine but are even mad against a convincing Ministry in the Nation and the pious Examples of such neighbours as walk most close with God least their own wickednesse should be reproved or shamed and what ever their pretended devotion may be yet are they not such generally as care no more for one Religion then for another any further then it suits with the full swing and dominion of their lusts and is it not for this very reason that they contend so much for present things even with a zeal as hot as hell For our parts we account it no priviledge to live to behold what is already come in part upon us and is farther coming upon these Nations therefore are the lesse sollicitous about our death And however at present we may be judged to suffer as malâ—factors yet who can tell but that our blood may prove as fattening and sructifying towards the Common Cause as the bloud of the Martyrs did in the Church and then it will be no soliscisme to say Sanguis Martyrum semen est ut Ecclesiae sic Reipublicae Some Occasional Passages Discourses and Letters of Col. John Barksteads as they were taken from his own mouth or left behind him in writing under his own hand AFter Liberty was granted to some of his Relations and Friends to visit him in his imprisonment very many of them did at several times repair to him Those who first came to him were so affected with those choice Expressions which dropt from him that like the Woman of Samaria they made it their work to invite and encourage others to partake of the same Mercy with themselves upon which many had the opportunity to hear him speak and amongst them several sober and descreet Persons did commit to writing the things that were most remarkable which fell from him And here we begin with what he spake to several Friends who came to visit him during the time of his imprisonment Having been saith he but a very little while off of my Watch in that time giving way to a Parley with Flesh and Bloud Sathan who is never idle was not now wanting but put me for some hours to it endeavouring to present to me the greatnesse of the Sufferings I was yet to go through and my own weaknesse to go thorow them I saw indeed my own weaknesse and inability and taking the Bible to look for a word from whence I might get strength and encouragement the Lord brought to me that place of Isaiah 26.3 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he truâ—teth in thee And so v. 4. Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength And so v. 8. Yea in the way of thy Judgement O Lord have we waited for thee the desires of our souls is to thy Name and to the Remembrance of thee The Lord helped him by this word to conquer all his fears which did arise from the sense of his own weaknesse and utter insufficiency to conflict with those difficulties and deaths which did now encounter him neither was the Lord wanting in renewing his strength from other portions of his good Word which upon the opening of his Bible his eye by Providence was still directed to whereof hear him give his following account When I was sayes he locked up in my lodging in the Tower alone I began to consider what my present condition called for from me and taking my Bible my joy I first pitched on this Scripture Psalm 4. vers 4. Stand in aw and sin not commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be still and vers 5. Offer the Sacrifice of Righteousnesse and put your trust in the Lord. After some hours spent in Reading and Meditating upon these words and finding not one syllable in which there was not an overflowing fulness as to me At this time of my Affliction I was lead forth in my Spirit abundantly to add more the goodnesse of the Lord to me that I should so providentially pitch upon this Scripture And now my heart being filled with ravishing Joys and Rejoycings I looked a little further and reading vers 7. Thou hast put gladnesse in my Heart more than in the time that their Corn and their Wine encreased I found that Scripture aboundantly made good to me and can truly seal to this that in all my full enjoyments of the Creature I never had such Joy and Gladnesse in my heart as now and that all the Afflictions Cares and Torments I have met with are nothing to those sweet enjoyments that God hath given in through Christ No no there is more affliction in the least sin then in the greatest of Sufferings and that I can truly say there hath not one private thought past through me that I was sorry or wish I had not been so far engaged in this Glorious Cause but I have rather admired the great love of Christ to me that he
time of their affliction and to say it was good for them they were afflicted And oh my dear Friend I do again beg your prayers for I am very sensible I am at present but as a brand pul'd out of the fire and am very confident it is for the sakes of the Lords People that I am alive at this day The Lord grant that while I live I may live to the glory of his most holy Name I hope you will excuse me for being so tedious to you I shall therefore no further trouble you but only present my due respects to you and all the rest of my Christian Friends wishing you from my soul all good here and glory hereafter in that World which is to come And now the God of all praise that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of his Sheep through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work and work in you that which is wel-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ. I am your loving friend in the Gospel of our Lord Christ J. B. Another Letter written by Col. Barkstead to a dear Friend INdeared and endearing Friend Thine of the fourth instant came to my hands which I blesse the Lord was as seasonable as welcom and as welcom as seasonable it was to me as Apples of Gold in Pâ—ctures of Silver very Pleasant and Beautiful Dear Friend I being now a close Prisoner in the Tower in one of the as they conceive meanest and securest Prison lodgings in which when it rains I have no place to fit dry but in a high window being attended with a Life-guard of two Warders and two Souldiers day and night and denied the use of Pen Ink and Paper so that what I write is so by stealth and that so by bits that I am sore't sometimes before I have writ two lines to tear what I have written and with much trouble to secure my Paper ink and pen but yet I have adventured on a line or two to you to let you know that I received your welcom Letter every line of which was being filled with that spirit in by which my soul hath been through free mercy born up by to this very moment far beyond and above what I am here able to express Oh the infinit and Eternal Riches of the free Grace of our good God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ to poor unworthy creatures it is he and he alone that hath and doth make hard things easie soft and pleasant bitter things sweet crooked rough ways plain and pleasant this hath through mercy been his way towards me unworthy man since I became mans bond-man He even he alone out of the free riches of his never-failing Mercie in Jesus Christ hath made me his free-man He hath set my feet in large and fresh pastures He hath not only taken out the blots and blurs that my sins have made in my old Evidences since the old Record and Assurance I had many years of his Eternal and Everlasting Love to my poor soul in Jesus Christ but he even since I came within this my Palace for so I can truly and chearfully call it I say through the free Grace He hath not onely cleared up my old Assurance but hath also given me fair new Copies together with such Inlargements that are unutterable In the Deeps I cryed when and where none could hear but He and He alone who heard and answered blessed be his Name When my heart and my strength failed He then heard so that as a return of prayer yea of yours and the People of the Lord together with the breathing of his own Spirit in the hearts of his People here He hath made such gracious and full returns that I through mercy can say from the first of my being in bonds notwithstanding the weakness of my body and present want of health through extream Colds yet the Dungeon Chains Bolts and Manacles have not had the least of hardness in them no I must say it again through free Grace the Lord hath not only made them easie but pleasant yea kickings and buffetings when in Irons by some of Downing's men yet the Lord strengthened me Pray mistake me not I do not write this as having here any thing to boast of from my self or from any strength of mine no no I have not been without my buffetings though in them the Lord hath been wonderful gracious to me and he hath made me a very great gainer by them Three times since I came into this Room or Palace Satan who may be truly said to go about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour waiting his opportunity I having been for a very very little space drawn off my Out-Sentinels and begining to hold a Parly with Sence and reason with flesh and blood to look backward and forward on the right and left hand in which work I do not remember I exceeded above half an hour but I perceived a general discomposure and unsettlement in all my former settlements and immediately found Satan with a full Body ready to surprize my Main-guards but the Lord was merciful and made good his Promise to me He in the instant of time came in and shewed me where my weakness lay and where my strength I cryed out to Him as a ravished Damosel He heard and strengthened me with strength in my soul blessed O blessed be for ever his most great and glorious Name My dear Friend I hint these things only to let you know how seasonable through mercy the Lord hath made me and doth keep me off my own weakness and nothingness and unworthiness indeed I dare not be off the Watch or from going the Rounds to see if all the Sentinels be watchful every moment I do now very well understand that Command Pray alwayes Pray continually watch and pray pray and watch are and must be a Christians constant and continual and unseparable Companions at all times and in all places Now that the Lord hath thus far answered the prayers of his People what I shall be able to undergo the next hour I know not I therefore do heartily again and again beg that you would with me continually be blessing and praising the Lord for those blessed Returns he hath hitherto made to your former Prayers and lay them before you as encouragements and spread them before the Lord as Arguments for his hearing your Prayers for the future for what is yet to come for though I can say the Dungeon Bolts Chains and Manacles with kickings and buffetings have been nothing and therefore can comfortably and confidently desire the People of the Lord not to fear any of them but to fear sin only for that the least sin hath more terror in it than the greatest evil or trouble that can befall a Child of God here therefore fear O fear sin I say I do not know what a Sled a Gibbet a Halter Ax or
end of his Journey one came from a Friend to the Sled side to tell him that endeavours were used to get his Body for burial What care I saith he what becomes of my Body when I am dead let them do what they will with it I blesse God my Soul is safe Many other excellent Passages are yet behind scattered in the hands of several Friends which cannot be yet brought together but care is taken that they shall not be lost but are all preserved to a more large Account when the afore-mentioned History of his Life and Death comes out together with several choice Letters of his very worthy of Record All which will ask some time to prepare and put them into due order for the Presse The Several SPEECHES and PRAYERS of Col. John Okey Col. John Barkstead and Miles Corbet Esq at the place of Execution April 19. 1662. UPon April 19. 1662. being the day appointed for the Execution of Col. John Barkstead Col. John Okey and Miles Corbet Esq who were drawn on three several Hurdles from the Tower to Tyburn Col. Barkstead was first brought to the place of Execution and then Col. Okey and then Mr. M. Corbet who at a good distance of time one after another mounted a Cart which was prepared for them to stand in whilst they spake to the people Col. John Barkstead was the first that ascended the Cart And as soon as he was in he lifted up his eyes to Heaven and said Blessed be God and then immediatly one supposed to be of the Life-guard cryed out very loud He is almost dead if he be not quickly hanged he will be dead before therefore hang him hang him before he be quite dead See how he looks But being much spent he waved speaking to that And after he was tyed up finding the Rope very strait he would sit on the side of the Cart to rest himself but could not till the Rope was somewhat loosened After resting himself it was expected he would say something before the other Prisoners came which was at least half an hours distance The Sheriff therefore spake to him to this effect Sheriff You must not speak any thing in justification of such an horrid Offence for which you came hither to suffer To which Col. Barkstead replyed I cannot speak much Barkst by reason of the weakness of my body I desire to get as much refreshment as I can before I speak Then the Sheriff spake to Mr. Hastings Sheriff who was Under-Sheriff of the County of Middlesex Will not you dispatch one first of all To which the Under-Sheriff answered We use to hang all together Undersh Col. Barkstead then lifted up his eyes and hands to Heaven Then replyed the Sheriff Let it be according as it use to be Sheriff Execut. Then said the Executioner to Col. Barkstead You may be going on in your own prayers and lose no time Barkst I shall be but short and taking something out of a silver Box putting it into his mouth lifting up his eyes said I bless God I have a better Comforter than this Then being asked by some person of quality whether he were not sorry for what he had done He answered Sir I shall be sorry for whatever the Lord convinceth me to be a sin When the Lord sets home that upon my soul I shall express it unto God and man and truly that must be from him alone Mr. Th. Porter Then Mr. Thomas Porter spake to him I am sorry to see you there but you will be a happy man within this half hour Barkst I have I bless God an assurance through Jesus Christ that I shall be so but feeling the Cart stir under him as he did several times before and thereby the Rope pinched him he desired it might be eased Then Col. Okey was brought towards the Cart and when Col. Barkstead saw him he lifted up his eyes and hands Some of the Sheriffs Officers when Okey came to the Cart said of him That he was a lusty stout brave man as ever fought in England Sheriff Then said the Sheriff to Col. Okey I hope I need not give you this Caution that you make no justification of this horrid Offence not to justifie that Offence for which you are brought hither this day Okey To which Col. Okey made this reply Sir I must not lye for God much less for you I hope you will give me leave to speak what lies upon my conscience whether I am guilty or not guilty We will speak something of what lyes upon us Then Mr. Corbet being at the Cart ready to come up Col. Okey stooping down to help him up said Come brother Corbet how do you and clapping his hand upon his breast Okey said I thank God I have it here Then speaking to the Sheriff he said May I have my Hat on or stand bare Sheriff Which you please said the Sheriff you have your liberty for that Then Col. Okey addressed himself to speak to the People as followeth Colonel Okey's Speech GENTLEMEN THe Providence of God hath brought me to this place to pay that which every man oweth I shall not trouble you with what is superfluous which is to tell you of my Family which of all the Families in Israel was the least and I was the least of that Family It is not unknown to most here what troubles have been in this Nation and how eminently the hand of God did appear therein Among many others that were called forth to serve the King and Parliament as then the Cause was stated I was one which I did faithfully according to the best of my power and knowledge I here do bless God that I was called to that Work For I am perswaded in my heart that it was for the Glory of God and the good of his People however it was turned at last and if I had as many lives as I have hairs on my head I should have ventured them all in that Cause I have nothing upon me as to that and I thank God I am fully satisfied as to that Cause but I shall say no more to that but only this in general That as the Parents of him that was born blind being asked by the Pharisees how he came to his sight answered He is of Age let him speak for himself and so the Cause is sufficiently able to speak for it self But as to that vvhich I have been adjudged for and am come hither to give my Life for viz. the Death of the late King I shall only say thus much That I think most of you know that I vvas none of the Counsel within or without neither did I know any thing of the Tryal of the King or who vvere the Judges till I saw my Name inserted in a Paper and I did sit there but once or twice but for any malice to him I had no more than to my own soul but prayed for him to
the last hour of his life as I did for my self and so I have done for this King also which is my duty to do I have many hundred times since I went out of England this two years last past and before also begged with tears of the Lord if there were any iniquity or malice or any thing of that nature in what I did that God would shew it to me yea the like I did this very morning beseeching the Lord that if I had any guilt of his Majesties blood upon me or any hatred against him he would reveal it to me that I might here confess it before you all But I have nothing upon my spirit as to that And what ever other men did I shall say nothing to that as for my self I can say again that I got not any thing by it but remained in the same condition I was a Colonel before and was no more since I thank the Lord I am clear in that Then making a stop he said there is such a noise I cannot speak And Sir I shall tell you now vvhat is upon my spirit I take vvhat hath befallen me as righteous and just from the Lord for my unworthy walking for being no more zealous for God and his People no more fruitful in my Generation and no more thankful but as for that thing I thank the Lord I have no guilt upon my spirit And as for all my other sins I confess they are many and great but I thank the Lord he hath given my soul the pardon of them all through the Blood of Christ for his Name sake and through the Riches of his Grace and his abundant Mercy towards me And now I will only speak a word to our Friends here You all know we have had many troubles and much blood hath been shed and there hath been a vacancy as to a single person But the Nation did earnestly desire him that now reigns and I wish from my soul he may reign gloriously and righteously and reign here so as he may reign for ever And now they have the great Mercy they did desire I wish that they would make a right improvement of it and that they would walk in some measure answerable to that mercy that they have so much desired I shall beg this as a dying man That as they have received a Mercy which they account so exceeding great that they would walk answerable to it that God might have the glory and the Nation might yet flourish in Peace and Righteousness I shall beg of these †Some of the Guard Gentlemen and all others that have a great affection to their King that they would pray more for him and love him more and that they would swear less and drink less for if you were beyond Sea to hear what I have heard of this Nation it would make your hair stand on end and your ears to tingle They say certainly that notwithstanding the great answer they have had of their desires yet if they go on in the way of wickedness and Blasphemy which they report do abound in England for my part I have been a close Prisoner and have spoken with no body almost since I came that this Nation cannot stand three years together therefore I shall make it my humble request That as this Nation hath flourished and gone beyond other Nations in Piety and Religion it might flourish ten times more than it hath done this many years upon the same account It hath been a Nation that hath profest the Gospel which indeed hath flourished here more than in any other Kingdom and so it hath had more glory and honour than other Nations and I desire it may continue that you may have Peace within your Palaces and Plenty within your Dwellings Oh that every man would study in his place to fear God and honour the King and to give glory to God and walk in some measure answerable to those many mercies they have and do enjoy And that as they have what they so much desired every man would now beg that the Gospel may flourish and that Righteousness and Truth may be in the midst of you There is something that I shall speak more I would be loth to speak so as to offend you in any thing Then replyed the Sheriff I am glad to hear these Expressions from you Sir let me tell you because it 's a very great matter and looks like a black thing that is charged upon us in the Indictment I should have abhorred it had there not been a face of Authority an Authority that then was owned had it not been so I should have abhorred to have done any thing in that business as much as any Gent. here therefore I thank God I have peace as to that and Peace as to the Pardon of all mine Iniquities whatsoever through rich Grace and Mercy And truly as to the Cause I am as confident even as I am of my Resurrection That that Cause which we first took up the Sword for which was for Righteousness and for Justice and for the advancement of a godly Magistracy and a good Ministery however some men turned about for their own ends shall yet revive again I am confident I say That Cause for which so much Blood hath been shed will have another Resurrection that is You will have a blessed fruit of those many thousands that have been killed in the late War But I would leave this to all my Brethren and Friends that they would keep their places wait upon God stand still and see the Salvation of God and rather suffer than do any thing to deliver themselves by any indirect or unjust wayes If his Majesty had been pleased to have given me my Life or if I had come over or heard for I had a Warrant for my return into England from the House of Commons but I fell short two dayes and so was fain to go back time enough of the Proclamation I would through the blessing of God have lived quietly and rather have suffered than have done any thing against the Law of the Land and I would say this to all good men and others Rather to suffer than take any indirect means to deliver themselves but to wait upon God keep their way stand still and see the Salvation of God And God when it shall make most for his own Glory and the good of his People will deliver and that in such a way that himself shall have Glory in and the Gospel shall have no Reproach by But because some think we are enemies to Magistracy and Ministry I shall only say this That I alwaies I thank the Lord did pray both for Magistracy and Ministry and that you might have righteous Laws established that so Judgement may run down like a Stream and Righteousness like a mighty River And that shall be my Prayer now That God would give you Peace and Truth and scatter them that delight in Blood and War Mr.
Corbet's Speech WE are now dying Men and upon dying ground we are now in the presence of the great God to whom we are now going Truly I desire to speak in His Fear touching that which we are here come to suffer for I will only say this Mr. Sheriff both the Levying of the War and that Act that we are now accused and condemned for if they had been done without Authority they had been abominable and to justifie that Authority I do not come here to do it The Parliament the Wisdom of the Nation that now is hath decryed it down and said 't is void and the Court of Justice where we have been in pursuance of their Judgement have given Judgement against us Truly so long as that Act of Parliament stands on foot Judges must give Judgement accordingly But there hath been many Appeals about that Authority and the Nation hath been governed by it and the Nations about us have owned it and we are now going to God who is the Righteous Judge and that Word is upon my heart Isa. 33.22 Truly Men may judge and they may make Laws and it is our duty to submit to the Laws of the Nation or leave it if we think them too hard But whatsoever Laws are made God is our Judge and he will Judge this Cause and God is our Law-giver It is a Scripture phrase God is our Law-giver and He is also our King and he will save us He will Judge the Cause of his People And I hope that the minds of sober Men will wait for that Judgment Truly Mr. Sheriff as concerning that common aspersion laid upon us that we should be against Magistrates and Ministers the Lord knows it is my Principle and I desire there may be a standing setled Government a godly Magistracy and likewise a godly Ministry in this Nation And I pray God grant that his People may be blessed under them and truly for the Magistrate that now is the hand of God hath brought him into the Throne while I have been in other Nations I have blessed God and desired the Lord that he may Rule for God and be a terror to evil doers and countenance the true Professors of the true Protestant Religion that he may defend both Religion it self and the Professors of it Truly there have been many as they call them Sects and Heresies that have sprung up in these later times but blessed be God there have been also great appearances of God and much Light is broken out more in this Nation than I could ever hear of or see in the Nations round about though they profess the same Religion I have been among many whom they call Reformed Protestants but of true Protestants such as hold out their Profession in their Lives there are more in this Nation than else-where and they are not to be compared for number blessed be God and the Lord increase them and multiply them daily For the glory of the Nation is not in a Multitude of People onely but of such as Fear the Lord and Worship God and lift up his Name and truly my desire and Prayer is That the Gospel the true and glorious Gospel of God the Gospel of Jesus Christ may have a free course in this Nation and may be glorified in the Lives of men as well as in their Words As for the particular Way of Worship that I am of I shall onely say that in my Judgment and Conscience I have and do understand that which is called the Congregational way to be nearest to the Word of God and I do freely bear my Testimony to the Confession of it that is extant which was made at the Savoy But with this that also of the Assembly of Divines that was made in the time of the Long Parliament and the Declaration they made concerning Religion saving only as to the discipline-part As to the other I do fully subscribe unto it for I think that the said Confessions are the most clear of any Protestant Confessions whereof I have seen divers that are extant And in Forreign parts they will confesse as much Mr. Sheriffs As to what I shall desire for the Nation for truly we are taking our leaves of it and we shall see your faces no more that which I upon the knees of my soul do beg for this Nation is That as they are Protestants in Name and take that upon them in Profession so their Lives may be answerable Truly nothing doth more dread my spirit and cause me to fear the Wrath of God to come upon this Nation then when I hear that amongst those which bear the Names of Protestants there is such Prophaneness Drunkenness Swearing and such Abominations that are not to be named no not among Moral men The Lord stop the course of them as also the growth of Popery and Superstition and that the Truth of God may break forth and that men may love it for truly the Gospel is worth the loving the Truths of God are worth loving And if we love them then truly God will love us and bless us Mr. Sheriffs For my own part if there were any here that I knew I had wronged I would ask them pardon and forgiveness if I knew them I must confess I have been in many publick actions I have been of all the Parliaments since the late King's Reign and in the beginning of this Parliament I must confess I being called to it did think it was my duty to act according to the ability God gave me and to deny my self I thank God for it I came with an Estate to the Parliament and I bless God for it I spent it while I sat in the Parliament And truly I thank God they cannot find any Estate that I have forfeited for I have none to forfeit This business that we are here for I was very far from being a Contriver of When the Bill came into the House I must confess I being a Member of the Parliament did somewhat wonder at it and I did speak against it but when it was past and I was named to be a Commissioner truly it being done by that that was then called the Authority of the Nation I did think I was bound to obey in that respect I will say no more I never sat but once in that they called the High Court of Justice but for that I 'le say no more I do not come to condemn that Authority and Power neither will I now because the Parliament and the Nation and the Spirits of Men are against it justifie it And being a little interrupted he said I will not speak to offend any man Truly I thank God I never got any thing either of Kings Lands nor Bishops nor Dean Chapters Lands I never knew what belonged to the Trade of Buying or Selling Lands I thought I was in a better way looking to that Station which God had called me to And as my Brother said let men hold to their