Former Ages Never Heard of, Floating text 17 – Floating text 19
Mr. Love's Speech made on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill. August 22. 1651.
BEloved Christians, I am this day made a Spectacle unto God, Angels, and men; and among them I am made a grief to the godly, a laughing stock to the wicked, and a gazing stock to all; yet blessed be my God, not a terror to my self; although there be but a little between me and death, yet this bears up my heart, there is but a little between me and Heaven: It comforted Dr. Taylor, the martyr, when he was going to Execution, That there were but two stiles between him and his fathers house; there is a lesser way between me and my fathers house, but two steps between me and glory, it is but lying down upon the block, and I shall ascend upon a Throne: I am this day sa…ling towards the Ocean of Eternity, through a rough passage, to my Haven of rest, through a red Sea, to the promised Land: methinks I hear God say to me as he did to Moses, Goe up to Mount Nebo and dye there, so goe thou up to Tower-hill, and dye there Isaac said of himself, That he was old and yet he know not the day of his death, but I cannot say thus, I am young, and yet I know the day, the kind, and the place of my death also; it is such a kind of death as two famous Preachers of the Gospel were put to before me, Iohn the Baptist, and Paul the Apostle, we have mention of the one in Scripture story, of the other in Ecclesiastical History: and Rev. 20.4. The Saints were beheaded for the word of God, and for the testimony of Iesus. But herein is the disadvantage which I am in in the thoughts of many, who judge that I suffer not for the Word or Conscience, but for medling with State matters. To this I shall briefly say, That it is an old guise of the Devil, to impute the cause of Gods peoples sufferings to be contrivements against the State. The Rulers of Israel would put Ieremiah, to death upon a Civil account, though it was the truth of his Prophesie made them angry, because he fell away to the Chaldeans, so Paul must dye as a mover of sedition. The same thing is laid to my charge, whereas indeed it is because I pursue my Covenant, and will not prostitute my p…inciples to the lusts of men. Beloved, I am this day to make a double exchange, I am changing a Pulpit for a Scaffold, and a Scaffold for a Throne; and I might add a third, I am changing this numerous multitude upon Tower-hill, for the innumerable company of angels in the holy hill of Zion; and I am changing a guard of Sould…ers for a guard of angels, which will receive me and carry me into Abrahams bosome. This Scaffold is the best Pulpit I ever Preached in, for in the Church Pulpit God through his grace made me an instrument to bring others to heaven, but 'in this he will bring me to heaven; and it may be this Speech upon a Scaffold may bring God more glory then many Sermons in a Pulpit.
Before I lay down my neck upon the block, I shall lay open my Case, and that without animosity or revenge; God is my record, whom I serve in the spirit, I speak the truth, and lye not, I doe not bring a revengefull heart unto the Scaffold this day; before I came here, upon my bended knees I have beg'd mercy for them that denied mercy to me, & I have prayed God to forgive them who would not forgive me: I have forgiven from my heart, the worst enemy I have in all the world, and this is the worst that I wish to my Accusers and Prosecuters, who have pursued my blood, that I might meet their souls in Heaven.
I have no more to say, but to desire the help of all your prayers, that God would give me the continuance and supply of Divine grace to carry me through this great work I am now to doe; that I, who am to doe a work I never did, I may have a strength that I never had; that I may put off this body with as much quietnesse and comfort of mind, as ever I put off my Cloaths to goe to bed. And now I am to commend my soule to God, and to receive my fatall blow, I am comforted in this, though men kill me, they cannot damne me, and tho they thrust me out of the world, yet they cannot shut me out of heaven. I am now going to my long home, to heaven my fathers house, to the heavenly Ierusalem, to the innumerable Company of Angels, to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to God the Judge of all, in whose presence there is fulnesse of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Then he kneeled down and made a short Prayer privately.
Then after rising up, he said, Blessed be God I am full of joy and peace in believing, I lye down with a world of comfort. And then saying The Lord bless you, he lay down with his head over the block, and when he stretched out his hands, the Executioner did his office.
The humble Petition of William Jenkins, Prisoner.
Most humbly sheweth;
THat your Petitioner is unfeignedly sorrowfull for all his late miscarriages, whether testified against him, or acknowledg'd by him, and for the great and sinfull unsutablenesse of them to his Calling and Condition.
That upon earnest seeking of God, and diligent enquiry into his will, your Petitioner is convinced, that the alterations of Civill Governments are ordered by, and founded upon the wise and righteous providences of God, who removeth Kings and setteth up Kings, ruleth in the Kingdomes of men, and giveth them to whomsoever he will.
That the providences of this God, have in the judgement of your Petitioner, as evidently appeared in the removing of others from, and the investing your Honours with the Government of this Nation, as ever they appeared in the taking away, or bestowing of any Government in any History of any age of the World.
That he apprehends, that a refusall to be subject to this present au…hority, under the p…etence of upholding the Title of any one upon earth, is a refusall to acquiesce in the wise and righteous pleasure of God, such an opposing of the Government set up by the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth, as none can have peace, either in acting in, or suffering for, and that your Petitioner looks upon it as his duty, to yeeld to this authority, all active and cheerfull obedience in the Lord, even for Conscience sake, to promise (he being required) truth and fidelity to it, and to hold forth the grounds of his so doing to any as God shall call him thereunto.
That though an imprisonment, accompanied with the losse of Estate, and to be followed (without your gracious prevention) with a speedy Arraignment before a high and eminent Judicatory, are far from being pleasant to flesh and blood, and though the injoyment of your grace and favour, be a blessing most deserving to be reckoned among the best of temporals, yet that neither the feeling, and fearing of the former, nor the expectation of the latter, could have induced your Petitioner against the light of his owne judgement, and the prepondering part of his owne conscience to have made, or presenting this acknowledgment, he sadly fore-casting, that a whole skin is but a contemptible recompence for a wounded conscience.
WIL: JENKIN.
Sept. 3. 1651. A Victory obtained over the Scotch Army at Worcester. This day twelve months was glorious at Dunbar, but this day hath been very glorious before Worcester; the Word was, The Lord of Hosts, and so it was now; the same signall we had now as then, wch was to have no white about us, yet the Lord hath cloathed us with white Garments though to the Enemy they have been bloody, onelyonly here lyeth the difference, that at Dunbar our Work was at break of day, but now it began towards the close of the evening, 10000 taken and 3000 slain of the Enemy, about 200 of ours. The General hazarding himselfe, rode up to the Enemies Forts, offering them Quarter, whereto they returned no answer but shot.
Sept. 1. Dundee taken by storm, 60 ships in the Harbour, 40 Guns.
The Scots King beaten at Worcester, gets into a hollow Tree, remains there a night, next day in a Wood, cuts his haire short, shipt for Havre de Grace, and so to Paris.
Sir,
The Scottish King came hither on Munday the last of October, N. S. and being demanded by his Mother and the Duke of Orleans, how he escaped the Fight of Worcester, gave them this account.
That about six a Clock in the evening, his Army being in all likelihood lost, he quitted Wor. Towne, with a party of Horse, and marched toward Lancashire, but being fearfull of being pursued, and o the Scottish Officers that might deliver him up, he with the L: Wilmot quitted their Horses, and betook themselves next day to a Tree, where they staid till night, and then marched, the third day they lay in a wood, and at night marched toward Lancashire, a Lady receiving them, furnished them with Cloaths for a disguise, and cut off their haire. Having reposed 2 or 3 dayes, she endeavoured to ship them out of England, and she riding behind the King, and Wilmot as another Servant by, they went to Bristoll, but finding a narrow inquiry there, resolved to go for London, where they stayed 3 week. The King one day went into Westminster Hall, where he saw the States Arms, and Scots Colours; my Lord Wilmot procured a Merchant to hire a ship of forty Tuns to transport them, which cost them a hundred and twenty pounds, but where they took shipping is not known: but as soon as my Lord was entred the Barque, and the King as his Servant, the Master came to him, and told him that he knew the King, and in case it should be known, he could expect no mercy: which saying troubled them, but at length, what with money and promises, they prevailed, and so set saile for Havre de Grace, where they landed, and from thence to Roven, where they cloathed themselves, and writ to Paris. His arrivall there will put them to new Counsels, since, now they cannot send their Ambassadors, which was concluded on before his coming. The Duke of Orleans fetcht him into Towne, and expressed much as to serve him. Yesterday, he, with Thurenne, Beaufort, and the D. of Guise came to him to the Louvre, where the King told them, that they should endeavour to reconcile the breach between the Prince and the King of France, for, said he, to my knowledge the English will visit you with an Army in the Spring.
Octob. 15. 1651. Earl of Darby Beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire. Octob. 30. The Isle of Jersey taken. Nov. 16. The Isle of Man taken.
Resolv: That the time for the continuance of this Parl. beyond which they resolve not to fit, shall be Nov. 3. 1654.
The Parl. of the Common-wealth of England Declare;
1 THat no Power, Jurisdiction, or Authority, otherwise then from the Parl. of Engl: be used, exercised, or enjoyned within Scotl: or the Isles, or any of the Territories thereof.
2 That they doe forbid, annull, and make voyd the use and exercise of any Power, Jurisdiction, and Authority whatsoever, within Scotl: or the Isles, or any of the Territories thereof, other then such as shall be so derived.
An Act of Generall Pardon and Oblivion, Feb. 24. 1651.
THe Parl. of England having had good experience of the affections of the people to this present Government, by their ready assistance against Charles Stuart Sonne of the late Tyrant, and the Forces lately invading this Nation under his Command; and being much afflicted with the miserable and sad effects which the late unnaturall War hath produced, and resolved to settle the peace and freedome of this Common wealth; and being desirous that the minds, persons, and Estates of all the people of this Nation might be composed, setled, and secured, and that all rancour and evill will occasioned by the late differences, may be buried in perpetuall Oblivion, Be it Enacted by this present Parl. and by Authority of the same, That all and every person or persons of or within the Common-wealth of England, the Isles of Iersey and Garnsey, the Towne of Berwick upon Tweed, and the Heirs, Execut: and Admin: of them and every of them, and all and singular bodies in any manner incorporated, Cities, Burroughs, Shires, &c. and every of them are, and shall be acquitted and pardoned, of all Treasons, Fellonies, Offences, &c. done bebefore Sept. 3. 1651. not in this present Act hereafter not excepted nor fore-prized. And the said Keepers of the Liberties of England, granteth and freely giveth to every of them, all Goods, Debts, Chattels, Fines, which to the said Keepers of the Liberties of England, do belong or appertain, before Sept. 3. and which be not hereafter in this Act foreprized and excepted. And it is further Enacted, That this Pardon shall be taken in Courts of Justice, available to all and singular the said persons. &c. shall be arrested, &c. for any thing acquitted by this Act, every person so offending, shall pay to him offended, his treble damages, and 10. l. to the State. Excepted all High-Treasons (other then for words only) and all levying of war, rebellions, insurrections, and conspiracies committed against the Par. since Ian. 30. 1648. And all concealments of the said offences. And all voluntary Murthers, petty Treasons, poysoning, piracles, buggeries, rapes, ravishments, marrying any one against her will. And also all persons now attained for petty treason, murther, poysoning, conjurations, witchcrafts, charms, detainments of Customs, and sums of money due upon Composition, Excise, or New-Imposts; all Conditions, Covenants, and penalties of forfeitures due to the Parl. or the late K. since Ian. 30. 1648. All first fruits, and Tithes, and all offences and misdemeanours, whereof any sentence or judgment hath been given in Parl. since Ian. 30. 1648. And all offences of Bribery, perjuries, and subordination of Witnesses, counterfeiting Deeds, Debenters, Bills of Publick Faith, Escripts, or writings whatsoever, carrying over Seas any Coyn or Jewels, melting downe of Gold or Bullion, &c. detaining the Goods, &c. of the late King or Queen, all offences committed by any Jesuite, any Outlawries upon any writ of Capion ad satisfaciendum, and all, except such persons as were Ian. 28. 1651. in prison by Order of Parl. and all proceedings concerning common High-wayes, all Free-farm-rents, and arrerages due since Iune 24. 1645. all moneys imprested since Nov. 3. 1638. Provided all Acts of Hostility between the late King and Parl. or between any of the people of this Nation, or falling out by reason of the late troubles, shalt in no time after Iune 18. 1651. be called in question.