Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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A61720
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The Earle of Straffords speech on the scaffold before he was beheaded on Tower-hill, the 12 of May, 1641
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Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, 1593-1641.
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1641
(1641)
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Wing S5794; ESTC R8900
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1,747
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6
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THE EARLE OF STRAFFORDS SPEECH ON THE SCAFFOLD before he was beheaded on Tower-hill the 12 of May 1641. LONDON Printed for PETER COLE at the Glove in Cornhill neare the Royall Exchange 1641. THE EARLE OF STRAFFORDS SPEECH On the Scaffold MY Lord Primate of Ireland and my Lords and the rest of these Gentlemen it is a very great comfort to me to have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have beene knowne to you a long time I should bee very glad to obtaine so much silence as to bee heard a few wordes but I doubt I shall not my Lord I come hither by the good will and pleasure of almighty God to pay that last debt I owe to sin which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise againe through the merits of Christ Jesus to eternall glory I wish I had beene private that I might have beene heard my Lord if I might be so much beholding to you that I might use a few wordes I should take it for a very great Curtesie my Lord I come hither to submit to that judgement which hath past against mee I doe it with a very quiet and contented minde I doe freely forgive all the world a forgivenesse that is not spoken from the teeth outward as they say but from the heart I speake it in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not so much as a displeasing thought in me arising to any Creature I thanke God I may say truely and my Conscience beares me witnesse that in all my services since I have had the Honeur to serve his Majesty in any Employment I never had any thing in my heart but the joynt and individuall prosperity of King and People if it have beene my hap to bee misconster'd it is the common portion of us all while we are in this life the righteous judgement is hereafter here wee are subject to errour and apt to bee misjudged one of another there is one thing I desire to cleere my selfe off and I am very confident I speake it with so much clearenesse that I hope I shall have your Christian Charity in the beliefe of it I did alwayes ever thinke the Parliaments of England were the happiest Constitutions that any Kingdome or any Nation lived under and under God the meanes of making King and people happie so farre have I beene from being against Parliaments for my death J here acquit all the world and pray God heartilie to forgive them and in particular my Lord Primate I am verie glad that his Majestie is pleased to conceive mee not meriting so severe and heavie a punishment as the utmost execution of this sentence I am very glad and infinitely rejoice in this mercy of his and Beseech God to turne it to him that he may find mercy when hee hath most need of it I wish this Kingdome all the prosperitie and happinesse in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I doe now professe it from my heart and doe most humbly recommend it unto every man here and wish every man to lay his hand upon his heart and consider seriously whither the beginnig of the happinesse of a people should be written in Letters of bloud I feare you are in a wrong way I desire almightie God that no one drop of my bloud may rise up in judgment against you My Lord I professe my selfe a true and obedient Son to the Church of England to that Church wherein I was borne and wherein I was bred prosperitie and happinesse be ever to it and whereas it hath been said that I have enclin'd to Popery if it be an Objection worth answering let me say truely that from the time since I was one and twenty yeares of age till this houre now going upon nine and forty I never had thought in my heart to doubt of the truth of my Religion in England and never any had the boldnesse to suggest to me the contrary to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled to the mercies of Christ Jesus my Saviour into whose bosome I hope shortly to be gather'd to enjoy those eternall happinesses that shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man both for any rash or unadvised word or deed and desire your Prayers And so my Lords farewell farewell all the things of this world LORD strengthen my faith give me confidence and assurance in the merits of Christ Iesus I desire you that you would be silent and joyne in Praires with me and I trust in GOD that we shall all meet and live eternally in Heaven there to receive the accomplishment of all happinesse where every teare shal be wiped from our eyes and every sad thought from our hearts And so GOD blesse this Kingdome and Iesus have mercy upon my Soule FINIS