I fpeak it in the prefence of almighty God » before whom I ftand, that there is not a difpleafing thought arifing in me towards any man living. I thank God I can fay it, and truly too, my confcience bearing me witnefs,. that, in all my employments, fince I had the honour to ferve his majefty, I never had any thing in the purpofe of my heart, but what tended to the joint and individual profperity of king and people, although it hath been my ill. fortune to be mifconftrued.

"I am not the first that hath fuffered in this kind; it is the common portion of us all, while we are in this life, to err; righteous judgment we must wait for in another place,. for here we are very fubject to be misjudged one of another. There is one thing that I defire to free myfelf of, and I am very conf dent," fpeaking it now with much chearful nefs, "that I hall obtain your chriftian cha rity in the belief of it. I was fo far from being againft parliaments, that I did always think the parliaments of England were the moft. happy conftitutions that any kingdom or nation lived under, and the beft means, under God, to make the king and people happy.

"For my death, I here acquit all the. world, and befeech the God of heaven heartily to forgive them that contrived it, though, in the intentions and purposes of my heart, I am not guilty of what I die for: and, my lordprimate, it is a great comfort for me, that his majefly,

H.3.

majefly conceives me not meriting fo fevere and heavy a punishment as is the utmost execution of this fentence. I do infinitely rejoice in this mercy of his, and I befeech God to return it into his own bofom, that he may find mercy when he ftands most in need of

it.

"I wish this kingdom all the profperity and happiness in the world; I did it living, and now dying it is my wifh. I do moft humbly recommend this to every one who hears me, and defire they would lay their hands upon their hearts, and confider ferioufly, whether the beginning of the happinefs and reformation of a kingdom fhould be written in letters of blood. Confider this when you are at your homes, and let me be never fo unhappy, as that the leaft drop of my blood fhould rife up in judgment against any one of you; but I fear you are in a wrong

way.

My lords, I have but one word more, and with that I fhall end. I profefs that I die a true and obedient fon to the church of England, wherein I was born, and in which I was bred. Peace and profperity be ever to it.

"It hath been objected (if it were an objection worth the anfwering) that I have been inclined to popery; but I fay truly from my heart, that, from the time that I was one and twenty years of age, to this prefent, going

now

now upon forty-nine, I never had in my heart to doubt of this religion of the church of England; nor ever had any man the boldness to fuggeft any fuch thing to me to the best of my remembrance: and fo, being reconciled by the merits of Jefus Chrift my Saviour, into whofe bofom I hope I fhall fhortly be gathered, to thofe eternal happineffes which fhall never have end. I defire heartily the forgiveness of every man for any rash or unadvised words, or any thing done amifs: and fo, my lords and gentlemen, farewel; farewel all things of this world.

"I defire that you would be filent, and join with me in prayer; and, I trust in God, we fhall all meet and live eternally in Heaven; there to receive the accomplishment of all happiness; where every tear fhall be wiped away from our eyes, and every fad thought from our hearts: and fo God bless this kingdom, and Jefus have mercy on my foul."

Then turning himself about, he faluted all the noblemen, and took a folemn leave of all confiderable perfons upon the fcaffold, giving them his hand. After that, he faid, gentlement, I would fay my prayers, and entreat you all to pray with me, and for me ; then his chaplain laid the book of commonprayer upon the chair before him as he kneeled down, on which he prayed almoft a quarter of an hour, and then as long, or longer, without the book, and concluded with the Lord's prayer.

H 4

Standing

Standing up, he efpied his brother, Sir George Wentworth, and called to him, fay, ing, brother, we muft part; remember me to my fifter, and to my wife, and carry my blef fing to my fun, and charge him that he fear God, and continue an obedient fon to the church of England, and warn him that he bear no private grudge, or revenge, toward any, man concerning me; and bid him be. ware that he meddle not with church-livings, for that will prove a moth and a canker to. him in his eftate; and with him to content himfelf to be a fervant to his country, not aiming at higher preferments. Carry my bleffing alfo to my daughters, Anne and Arabella, charge them to ferve and fear God, and he will blefs them; not forgetting my little in fant, who yet knows neither good nor evil, and cannot fpeak for itfelf; God speak for it and bleis it. Now," faid he, "I have nigh done; one ftroke will make my wife hufbandlefs, my dear children fatherlefs, and my poor fervants. mafterlefs, and will feparate me from my dear brother, and all my friends; but let God be to you and them all in all.”

After this going to take off his doublet, and to make himself ready, he faid, “I thank God I am not afraid of death, nor daunted with any difcouragement rifing from any fears, but do as chearfully put off my doublet at this time, as ever I did when I went to bed; then

then he put off his doublet, wound up his hair with his hands, and put on a white cap.

Then he called, Where is the man that is to do this laft office? (meaning the executioner) call him to me; when he came and asked him forgiveness, he told him, he forgave him and all the world. Then kneeling down by the block, he went to prayer again himself, the primate of Ireland kneeling on the one fide, and the minifter on the other: to the which minifter, after prayer, he turned himself, and fpake fome few words foftly, having his hands lifted up, and closed with the minister's hands. Then bowing himself to lay his head upon the block, he told the executioner, That he would first lay down his head to try the fitnefs of the block, and take it up again, before he would lay it down for good and all; and fo he did: and before he laid it down again, he told the executioner, That he would give him warning when to ftrike, by stretching forth his hands; and prefently laying down his neck upon the block, and ftretching forth his hands; the executioner ftruck off his head at one blow; and taking it up in his hand, shewed it to all the people, and said, " God fave the King."

His body was afterwards embalmed, and appointed to be carried into Yorkshire, there to be buried amongst his ancestors.

Lord Clarendon, fpeaking of the earl of Strafford, gives him the following character.