Former Ages Never Heard of, Floating text 12
The Speech of the Earl of Holland upon the Scaffold.
IT is to no purpose (I think) to speak any thing here, which way must I speak? and then being directed to the front of the Scaffold, he (leaning over the raile) said, I think it is fit to say something, since God hath called me to this place.
The first thing which I must professe, is, what concerns my Religion and my breeding, which hath been in a good Family, that hath been ever faithfull to the true Protestant Religion, in the which I have been bred, in the which I have lived, and in the which by Gods grace and mercy I shall dye.
I have not lived according to that Education I had in that Family where I was borne and bred: I hope God will forgive me my sins, since I conceive that it is very much his pleasure to bring me to this place for the sins that I have committed.
The cause that hath brought me hither, I believe by many hath been much mistaken, They have conceived that I have had ill designs to the State, and to the Kingdome, truly I look upon it as a judgement, and a just judgement of God; not but I have offended so much the State and the Kingdome, and the Parliament, as that I have had an extream vanity in serving them very extraordinarily. For those actions that I have done, I think it is knowne they have been ever faithfull to the publick, and very particularly to Parliam: my affections have been ever exprest truly and cleerly to them. The dispositions of affaires now have put things in another posture then they were when I was ingaged with the Parl. I have never gone off from those principles that ever I have profest, I have lived in them, and by Gods grace will I dye in them.
There may be alterations and changes that may carry them further then I thought reasonable, and there I left them: But there hath been nothing that I have said or done, or professed either by Covenant or Declaration, which hath not been very constant, and very clear upon the Principles that I ever have gone upon, which was to serve the King, the Parl. Religion (I should have said in the first place) the Common-wealth, and to seeke the peace of the Kingdome.
That made me think it no improper time, being prest out by accidents and circumstances, to seek the peace of the Kingdom, which I thought was proper, since there was something then in agitation, but nothing agreed on for sending Propositions to the King, that was the furthest aime that I had, and truly beyond that I had no intention, none at all. And God be praised, although my blood comes to be shed here, there was I think scarcely a drop of blood shed in that action that I was ingaged in.
For the present affaires, as they are I cannot tell how to judge of them, and truly they are in such a condition, as (I conceive) no body can make a judgment of them: and therefore I must make use of my prayers, rather then of my opinion, which are, that God would blesse this Kingdome, this Nation, this State, that he would settle it in a way agreeable to what this Kingdom hath been happily Governed under; by a King, by the Lords, by the Commons, a Government that (I conceive) it hath flourished much under, and I pray God the change of it bring not rather a prejudice, a disorder, and a confusion, then the contrary.
I look upon the Posterity of the King, and truly my conscience directs me to it, to desire, that if God be pleased that these people may look upon them with that affection that they owe, that they may be called in again, and they may be, not through blood, nor through disorder, admitted againe into that power, and to that glory that God hath in their birth intended to them. I shall pray with all my Soul for the happinesse of this State, of this Nation, that the blood which is here spilt, may be even the last which may fall amongst us, and truly I should lay down my life with as much cheerfulnesse as ever person did, if I conceived that there would no more blood follow us; for a State, or affairs that are built upon blood, is a foundation for the most part that doth not prosper.
After the blessing that I give to the Nation, to the Kingdome, and truly to the Parliament, I doe wish with all my heart, happinesse, and a blessing to all those that have been authors in this business, and truly that have been authors in this very work that bringeth us hither: I doe not only forgive them, but I pray heartily and really for them; as God will forgive my sins, so I desire God may forgive them.
I have a particular relation, as I am Chancellor of Cambridge and truly I must here, since it is the last of my prayers, pray to God that that University may goe on in that happy way which it is in, that God may make it a Nursery to plant those persons that may be distributed to the Kingdome, that the Soules of the people may receive a great benefit and a great advantage by them; and (I hope) God will reward them for their kindnesse, and their affections that I have found from them. (Looking towards Mr. Bolton.)
I have said what Religion I have been breed in, what Religion I have been born in, what Religion I have practiced, I began with it and I must end with it.
I told you that my actions and my life have not been agreeable to my breeding, I have told you likewise that the Family where I was bred, hath been an exemplary Family (I may say so I hope without vanity) of much affection to Religion, and of much faithfullnesse to this Kingdome, and to this State.
I have endeavoured to doe those actions that have become an honest man, and which became a good English-man, and which became a good Christian. I have been willing to oblige those that have been in trouble, those that have been in persecution, and truly I finde a great reward of it, for I have found their prayers and their kindnesse now in this distresse, and in this condition I am in, and I think it a great reward, and I pray God reward them for it.
I am a great sinner, and I hope God will be pleased to hear my prayers, to give me Faith to trust in him, that as he hath called me to death at this place, hee will make it but a passage to an eternall life through Jesus Christ, which I trust to, which I relye upon, and which I expect by the mercy of God. And so I pray God blesse you all, and send that you may see this to be the last execution, and the last blood that is likely to be spilt among you. And then turning to the side raile, he prayed for a good space of time.
God hath given me (speaking to Mr. Bolton) long time in this world, he hath carried me through many great accidents of Fortune, he hath at last brought me downe into a condition, where I find my selfe brought to an end, for a dis-affection to this State, to this Parl. that (as I said before) I did believe no body in the world more unlikely to have expected to suffer for that Cause. I look upon it as a great judgement of God for my sins. And truly Sir, since that the death is violent; I am the lesse troubled with it, because of those violent deaths that I have seen before: Principally my Saviour that hath shewed us the way, how and in what manner he hath done it, and for what cause, I am the more comforted, I am the more rejoyced. It is not long since the King my Master passed in the same manner, and truly I hope that his purposes and intentions were such, as a man may not be ashamed not onelyonly to follow him in the way that was taken with him, but likewise not ashamed of his purposes, if God had given him life. I have often dispu…ed with him concerning many things of this kind, and I conceive his sufferings, and his better knowledge and better understanding (if God had spared him life) might have made him a Prince very happy towards himselfe, and very happy towards this Kingdome. I have seen and known, that those blessed souls in Heaven, have passed thither by the gate of sorrow, and many by the gate of violence: And since it is Gods pleasure to dispose me this way, I submit my soule to him, with all comfort, and with all hope, that he hath made this my end, and this my conclusision, that though I be low in death, yet neverthelesse this, lownesse shall raise me to the highest glory for ever.
Truly, I have not said much in publick to the people concerning the particular actions that I conceive I have done by my Counsels in this Kingdome, I conceive they are well known, it were somthing of vanity (me thinks) to take notice of them here, I'le rather dye with them, with the comfort of them in mine own bosome; and that I never intended in this action, or any action that ever I did in my life, either malice, or bloodshed, or prejudice to any Creature that lives. For that which concerns my Religion, I made my profession before of it, how I was bred, and in what manner I was bred, in a Family that was looked upon to be no little notorious in opposition to some liberties, that they conceived, then to be taken; and truly there was some mark upon me, as if I had some taint of it, even throout the whole wayes that I have taken: every body knows what my affections have been to many that have suffered, to many that have been in troubles in this Kingdome, I endeavoured to oblige them, I thought I was tyed so by my Conscience, I thought it by my charity, and truly very much my breeding; God hath now brought me to the last instant of my time, all that I can say, and all that I can adhere unto is this, That as I am a great sinner, so I have a great Saviour, that as he hath given me here a fortune to come publickly in a shew of shame in the way of this suffering, (truly I understand it not to be so) I understand it to be a glory, a glory, when I consider who hath gone before me, and a glory when I consider I had no end in it but what I conceive to be the service of God, the King, and the Kingdom, and therefore my heart is not charged much with any thing in that particular, since I conceive God will accept of the intention, whatsoever the action seem to be. I am going to dye, and the Lord receive my soul, I have no reliance but upon Christ for my self, I do acknowledge that I am the unworthiest of sinners, my life hath been a vanity, and a continued sin, and God may justly bring me to this end, for the sins I have committed against him, and were there nothing else but the iniquities that I have committed in the way of my life, I look upon this as a great justice of God to bring me to this suffering, and those hands that have been most active in it, I pray God forgive them, and that there may not be many such Trophies of their Victory. I might say somthing of our Tryal, which I think hath been extraordinary, but because I would not seem as if I made some complaint, I will not so much as mention it, because no body shall believe I repine at their actions, or my owne fortune; it is the will of God, it is the hand of God under whom I fall, I take it intirely from him, I submit my self to him, I shall desire to roule my selfe into the arms of my blessed Saviour.
And when I come to this place (pointing to the Block) when I bowe downe my selfe there, I hope God will raise me up, and when I bid farewell, as I must now to hope and to Faith, that Love will abide, I know nothing to accompany the Soule out of this World but Love, and I hope that Love will bring me to the Fountaine of glory in Heaven, through the Arms, Mediation, and the Mercy of my Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom I believe, O Lord help my unbelief.
I shall make as much hast as I can to come to that glory, and the Lord of Heaven and Earth take my soule: I look upon my selfe intirely in him, and hope to find mercy through him, I expect it, and through that Fountaine that is opened for sin, and for uncleannesse, my soule must receive it, for did I rest in any thing else, I have nothing but sin and corruption in me; I have nothing but that, which instead of being carried up into the Arms of God and Glory, I have nothing but may throw me downe into Hell.
And here is the place where I lye downe before him, from whence I hope he will raise me to an eternall Glory through my Saviour, upon whom I rely, from whom only I can expect mercy: into his arms I commend my spirit, into his bleeding arms, that when I leave this bleeding body that must lye upon this place, he will receive that Soule that ariseth out of it, and receive it into his Eternall mercy, through the Merits, through the Worthinesse, through the Mediation of Christ that hath purchased it with his owne most precious Blood.
Christ Jesus receive my Soule, my Soule hungers and thirsts after him, clouds are gathering, and …ust in God through all my heavinesse: and I hope through all impediments, he will settle my interest in him, and throw off all the claim that Sathan can make unto it, and that he will carry the soul in despight of all the calumnies, and all that the Devill and Satan can invent, will carry it into eternall mercy, there to receive the blessednesse of his presence to all eternity.
That Lamb of God, into his hands I commit my soul; and that Lamb of God that sits upon the Throne to judge those 24 that fall down before him, I hope he will be pleased to look downward, and judge me with mercy that fall down before him, and that worship him, and that adore him, that only trusts upon his mercy for his compassion, and that as he hath purchased me, he would lay his claim unto me now, and receive me.
Indeed if Christ justifie, no body can condemn, and I trust in God, in his justification, though there is confusion here without us, and though there are wonders and staring that now disquiet us, yet I trust that I shall be carried into that mercy, that God will receive my soule.
Then the Earl of Holland looking over among the people, pointing to a Souldier, said, This honest man took me Prisoner, you little thought I should have been brought to this, when I delivered my self to you upon conditions; and espying Capt. Watson on Horse back putting off his Hat said to him, God be with you Sir, God reward you Sir.
Here must now be my Anchor, a great storm makes me find my Anchor, and but in stormes no body trust to their Anchor, and therefore I must trust upon my Anchor (Upon that God, said Mr Bolton, upon whom your Anchor trusts) yea, God, I hope, will Anchor my soule fast upon Christ Jesus: and if I dye not with that clearnesse and heartinesse that you speak of, truly, I will trust in God though he kill me, I will relye upon him, and the mercy of my Saviour.
Then the Earl of Holland imbraced Liev: Col: Beecher, and tooke his leave of him: After which, he came to Mr Bolton, and having imbraced him, and returned him many thanks for his great paines and affections to his soule, desiring God to reward him, and returne his love into his bosome, Mr Bolton said to him, The Lord God support you, and be seen in this great extremity, the Lord reveale and discover himselfe to you, and make your death the passage unto eternall life.
Then the Earl turning to the Executioner, said, Here my friend, let my Cloaths and my Body alone, there is ten pounds for thee, that is better then try Cloaths, I am sure of it.
Execut. Will your Lordship please to give me a signe when I shall strike? And his Lordship said, you have room enough here, have you not? Execut. Yes.
Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner, said, Friend, doe you hear me, if you take up my Head, doe not take off my Cap. Then turning to his Servants, be said to one, Fare you well, thou art an honest fellow, and to another, God be with thee, thou art an honest man, and then said, Stay, I will kneel down and aske God forgivenesse, and then prayed for a pretty space with seeming earnestnesse. Then speaking to the Executioner, he said,
Which is the way of lying? (which they shewed him) and then going to the Front of the Scaffold, he said to the people, God blesse you all, and God deliver you from any such act as may bring you to any such death as is violent, either by war or by these accidents, but that there may be peace among you, and you may find that these accidents that have hapned to us, may be the last that may happen in this Kingdome; it is that I desire, it is that I beg of God, next the saving of my soule; I pray God give all happinesse to this Kingdom, to this people, and this Nation: And then turning to the Executioner, said, How must I lye? I know not.
Execut. Lye down flat upon your Belly: and then having laid himselfe down, he said, Must I lye closer? Execut. Yes. and backwarder.
I will tell you when you shall strike, and then as he lay seemed to pray with much affection for a short space, and then lifting up his head, said, where is the man? and seeing the Executioner by him, he said, Stay while I give the signe, and presently after stretching out his hand, and the Executioner being not fully ready, he said, Now, now, and just as the words were coming out of his mouth, the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body.