A88579:52
A clear and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love,…A cleare and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love,…
A clear and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love, since my trial before, and condemnation by, the High Court of Justice. Whereby it is manifested, that a close prison, a long sword, a High Court, and a bloody scaffold, have not in the least altered my judgment. Whereas also the cruelty of the sentence, the insufficiency of the proofs, and my own innocency, are demonstrated. As also my grounds and reasons of giving in a narrative, and the lawfulness of the matter and titles of my petitions (though to usurpers) manifested and maintained. Together with a declaration of my judgement concerning Cromwells unlawful invasion of the kingdom of Scotland. Written by me Christopher Love, Master of Arts, minister of Lawrence Jury, London; penned by me the eighth of August, fourteen days before my death.A cleare and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love, since my tryall before, and condemnation by, the High Court of Iustice. Whereby it is manifested, that a close prison, a long sword, a High Court, and a bloody scaffold, have not in the least altered my judgment. Whereas also the cruelty of the sentence, the insufficiency of the proofs, and my own innocency, are demonstrated. As also my grounds and reasons of giving in a narrative, and the lawfulness of the matter and titles of my petitions (though to usurpers) manifested and maintained. Together with a declaration of my judgement concerning Cromwells unlawfull invasion of the kingdom of Scotland. Written by me Christopher Love, Master of Arts, minister of Lawrence Iury, London; penned by me the eighth of August, fourteen days before my death.
London : s.n., Printed in the year 1651
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
7. In saying I have by the high violation of their Laws rendered my self guilty of the sentence of Death justly past upon me by the high Court of Justice, I would be rightly understood in these words, that they might not be wrested beyond, or contrary, to my intendment; that you may fully apprehend what I aim at in this expression, I desire you would take notice of a few particulars. 1. I do not say I am proved to be guilty of the sentence of death, but I have rendered my self guilty, &c. that is, though they have not proved, yet I confess it, I have done those things (contrary to their late Acts) which are punishable with death by their cruel Laws; so that if the Reader mark my words, I do not place my guiltiness of the sentence of death upon the things proved against me, but upon the things done by me. And when I say The sentence of death is justly past upon me by the High Court of Justice, I do not place the justice of the sentence on the clearness or sufficiency of the proof, (for there was no treasonable fact (as they call it) proved against me by two Witnesses) but upon my violation of their Laws; that is, I had done those things which are punishable (by their bloody Laws) with death; I did violate their Laws, and upon my violation of their Laws, not upon the clearness of the evidence, do I acknowledge the sentence of death to be justly past upon, by their bloody and tyrannical Law;: for although eight Witnesses came in against me, yet they were very deficient in their evidence, sometimes they contradicted one another, they did not agree among themselves; sometimes a Witness contradicted himself; none of the Witnesses proved, that ever I received Letter, that ever I writ Letter, that ever I collected, gave or lent one penny of money, yet I am condemned to dye; I confess I did write two Letters, and did give a small sum of money, (not upon any Military account) both which facts are adjudged Treason by their new Acts, in which regard I do acknowledge the sentence of death is justly past upon me, that this was the sense that I intended, many friends who were with me in the Tower can bear Witness.
7. In saying I have by the high violation of their Lawes rendred my selfe guilty of the sentence of Death justly past upon me by the high Court of Iustice, I would be rightly understood in these words, that they might not be wrested beyond, or contrary, to my intendment; that you may fully apprehend what I ayme at in this expression, I desire you would take notice of a few particulars. 1. I do not say I am proved to be guilty of the sentence of death, but I have rendred my selfe guilty, &c. that is, though they have not proved, yet I confesse it, I have done those things (contrary to their late Acts) which are punishable with death by their cruell Lawes; so that if the Reader marke my words, I do not place my guiltinesse of the sentence of death upon the things proved against me, but upon the things done by me. And when I say The sentence of death is justly past upon me by the High Court of Iustice, I do not place the justice of the sentence on the clearnesse or sufficiency of the proof, (for there was no treasonable fact (as they call it) proved against me by two Witnesses) but upon my violation of their Lawes; that is, I had done those things which are punishable (by their bloody Lawes) with death; I did violate their Lawes, and upon my violation of their Lawes, not upon the clearnesse of the evidence, do I acknowledge the sentence of death to be justly past upon, by their bloody and tyrannicall Lawe;: for although eight Witnesses came in against me, yet they were very deficient in their evidence, sometimes they contradicted one another, they did not agree among themselves; sometimes a Witnesse contradicted himselfe; none of the Witnesses proved, that ever I received Letter, that ever I writ Letter, that ever I collected, gave or lent one peny of money, yet I am condemned to dye; I confesse I did write two Letters, and did give a small summe of money, (not upon any Military accompt) both which facts are adjudged Treason by their new Acts, in which regard I do acknowledge the sentence of death is justly past upon me, that this was the sence that I intended, many friends who were with me in the Tower can beare Witnesse.