I am this day making a double exchange, a Pulpit for a Scaffold and a Scaffold for a Thro••, and may also trade a numerous multitude for the innumerable Company of Saints on Tower-Hill, for the holy Hill of Zion, and this Guard of Soldiers ⟨p. 2⟩for a Guard of Angels to carry my soul •nto Abraham […] this is the best Pulpit I ever came into, in my former God made me an instrument to […] others to Heaven, hereby God brings me to Heaven. These are the last words I shall speak, and perhaps this last speech of mine may bring more glory to God, then my former Sermons. Before I lay down my neck to the block, I shall lay open my cause to the people, I speak the truth and lie not, God is my witness whom • serve in my spirit, I do not bring a revengeful heart to the Scaffold, but avoiding all rancour and malice, I have bagged mercy for them that denied mercy to me▪ and have prayed God to forgive them that would not forgive me; and the worst I wish to them is, that I may meet their souls in Heaven. Concerning my charge which is black and hideous, wherein many things were falsely suggested, but nothing sufficiently proved by any one Act. The Charge high and full, but the proof empty and low, though there were eight Witnesses against me, yet none proved that I ever wrote any Letter, or directed any to write, no man proved that I sent away any Letter that I collected any money for King, Queen, or any of the Scottish Nation, as concerning my accusers, I have forgiven them, and I pray God forgive them also; they not all agree amongst themselves; for some being terrified before-hand, would not bear witness against me. Another sent to me under his own hand, desiring to forgive him for the wrong he had done me, and told me that day I should die a violent death, his life would be no comfort to him, because •e was an instrument of taking away mine. As concerning my accusers, I will not judge them, neither will I justify them. I believed what moved Herod to put off John Baptists, was the cause of my death, for telling Herod of his herd incest, and for his Oaths sake Command was given to behead John; to avoid, perjury, he would commit murder: had Johns head continued on his shoulders, he would have been guilty of […]. Concerning my self who have gone through many and various ••po•ts, some have been ready to bury my name before my friends were ready to bury my body.
I am this day making a double exchange, a Pulpit for a Scaffold and a Scaffold for a Thro••, and may also trade a numerous multitude for the innumerable Company of Saints on Tower-Hill, for the holy Hill of Sion, and this Guard of Souldiers ⟨p. 2⟩for a Guard of Angels to carry my soule •nto Abraham 〈…〉 this is the best Pulpit I ever came into, in my former God made me an instrument to 〈…〉 others to Heaven, hereby God brings me to Heaven. These are the last words I shall speak, and perhaps this last speech of mine may bring more glory to God, then my former Sermons. Before I lay down my neck to the block, I shall lay open my cause to the people, I speak the truth and lie not, God is my witness whom • serve in my spirit, I do not bring a revengeful heart to the Scaffold, but avoiding all rancor and mallice, I have bagged mercy for them that denied mercy to mee▪ and have prayed God to forgive them that would not forgive me; and the worst I wish to them is, that I may meet their soules in Heaven. Concerning my charge which is black and hiddeous, wherein many things were falsly suggested, but nothing sufficiently proved by any one Act. The Charge high and full, but the proof empty and lowe, though there were eight Witnesses against me, yet none proved that I ever wrote any Letter, or directed any to write, no man proved that I sent away any Letter that I collected any mony for King, Queen, or any of the Scottish Nation, as concerning my accusers, I have forgiven them, and I pray God forgive them also; they not all agree amongst themselves; for some being terrified before-hand, would not bear witness against me. Another sent to me under his own hand, desiring to forgive him for the wrong he had done me, and told me that day I should die a violent death, his life would be no comfort to him, becaus• •e was an instrument of taking away mine. As concerning my accusers, I wil not judge them, neither will I justifie them. I believed what moved Herod to put off Iohn Baptists, was the cause of my death, for telling Herod of his herd incest, and for his Oaths sake Command was given to behead Iohn; to avoid, perjury, he would commit murther: had Iohns head continued on his shoulders, he would have been guilty of 〈…〉. Concerning my self who have gone through many and various ••po•ts, some have been ready to bury my name before my friends were ready to bury my body.
