A88575:102
Mr. Love's case
Mr. Love's case: wherein is published, first, his several petitions to the Parliament. Secondly, a full narrative of the late dangerous design against the state, written with Mr. Loves own hand, and by him sent to the Parliament; wherein he setteth down his several meetings and secret actings with Major Alford, Maj. Adams, Col. Barton, Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Case, Mr. Cauton, Dr. Drake, Mr. Drake, Cap. Far, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Haviland, Major Huntington, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jaquel, Mr Jackson, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Cap. Massey, Mr. Nalton, Cap. Potter, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Sterks, Colonel Sowton, Colonel Vaughan, and others. Thirdly, Mr. Loves speech and prayer on the scaffold on Tower Hill, August 22. 1651. Printed by an exact copy, taken in short-hand by John Hind. Fourthly, animadversions on the said speech and prayer.Mr. Love's case: wherein is published, first, his several petitions to the Parliament. Secondly, a full narrative of the late dangerous design against the state, written with Mr. Loves own hand, and by him sent to the Parliament; wherein he setteth down his several meetings and secret actings with Major Alford, Maj. Adams, Col. Barton, Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Case, Mr. Cauton, Dr. Drake, Mr. Drake, Cap. Farr, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Haviland, Major Huntington, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jaquel, Mr Jackson, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Cap. Massey, Mr. Nalton, Cap. Potter, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Sterks, Colonel Sowton, Colonel Vaughan, and others. Thirdly, Mr. Loves speech and prayer on the scaffold on Towerhil, August 22. 1651. Printed by an exact copy, taken in short-hand by John Hinde. Fourthly, animadversions on the said speech and prayer.
London: printed for R.W. and Peter Cole, 1651
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Mr. Love's Speech made on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill, August 22. 1651. › Section 11
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. XI.
But that which goes nearest my heart, I am accused to be a Murderer also, and this is a Charge high indeed; I am charged with the guilt of all the Blood of Scotland, whereas if I did lie under the guilt of one drop of blood, I could not look upon you with so cheerful a Countenance, and I could not be filled with so peaceable a Heart and Conscience as I am at this day, I bless my God I am free from the blood of all: indeed those who lay this to my charge, they do to me as Nero did to the Christians, he put Rome on fire, and then charged the Christians with it: so they put England and Scotland into a flame, and yet charge me with the guilt of that Blood, who have poured tears to God night and day to quench the burning which some mens Ambition and Lusts have kindled. I would fain know of any man what act it is I have done, what was it was proved in the High Court against me to make me guilty of Scotland's blood? Did I ever invite the Scots to invade England? what man did lay that to my charge? Did I ever encourage our English Army to invade Scotland? what action is it that I have done that makes me guilty of the blood? Indeed this I have done, and this I own, and this I stand to; I have as a private man prayed unto God many a day, and kept many a Fast, wherein I have sought God, that there might be an Agreement between the King and the Scots upon the interest of Religion, and the terms of the Covenant. Now by what consequence can this be strained to charge me with Scotland's blood? For my part, I was but only at one Meeting where that Question was proposed (Fasts only excepted) what should be thought fit to be done to promote the Agreement between the King and the Scots, and that was moved in my house, and to that end when there were some things there produced which they called a Commission and Instructions to send to Holland; as soon as ever I heard them, I did declare against them: I did declare that private persons, it was an act of high presumption for private persons to commissionate, and an act of notorious falsehood to say, it was in the Name of the Presbyterian Party, when none knew of it as I know, but only those few that were then present. Now this is only a politic Engine to make the Presbyterian Party odious, who are the best friends to a well-ordered Government of any sort of people in the world.