you do not well to trample upon a dying Man; you are greatly mistaken, I had nothing to do in the Death of the King.

When Mr. Cooke was cut down, and brought to be quarter'd, one they call'd Colonel Turner, called to the Sheriff's Men to bring Mr. Peters near, that he might fee it, and by and by the Hangman came to him, all befmear'd in Blood, and rubbing his bloody Hands together, he tauntingly ask'd, Come, how do you like this Mr. Peters, how do you like this Work? To whom he reply'd, I am not (I thank God) terrified at it, you may do your worst.

When he was going to his Execution, he look'd about and efpy'd a Man, to whom he gave a Piece of Gold (having bowed it first) and defir'd him to go to the Place where his Daughter lodg'd, and to carry that to her as a Token from him, and to let her know that his Heart was as full of Comfort as it could be; and that before that Piece should come to her Hands, he fhould be with God in Glory.

Being upon the Ladder, he fpake to the Sheriff, faying, Sir, you have here flain one of the Servants of God before mine Eyes, and have made me to behold it, on purpose to terrify and difcourage me, but God hath made it an Ordinance to me for my strengthning and Encouragement.

When he was going to die, he faid, What, Flesh, art thou unwilling to go to God thro' the Fire and Jaws of Death? Oh (faid he) this is a good Day, he is come that I have long look'd for, and I fhall be with him in Glory, and fo fmiled when he went away.

What Mr. Peters faid further at his Execution, either in his Speech or Prayer, it could not be taken, in regard his Voice was low at that time, and the People uncivil.

The

The Execution of GREGORY CLEMENTS, the Regicide, the 17th of October, 1660, as related by a Friend of his.

R. Clements was very filent both in the time

MR

of his Imprisonment at Newgate, and at the Time and Place of his Execution at CharingCrofs, only this it is faid, that he exprefs'd his Trouble (to fome Friends in the Prison) for yielding fo far to the Importunity of his Relations, as to plead guilty to the Indictment: And tho' he fpoke little at the Place of Execution, yet (fo far as could be judged by fome difcerning Perfons that were near him) he departed this Life in

Peace.

The Execution of Colonel JOHN JONES, the Regicide, the 17th of October, 1660.

SP

Peaking of the Sledge in which he was to be carried to Execution; it is (faid he) like Elijah's fiery Chariot, only it goes thro' Fleet-ftreet. The Time of his Departure being come, this aged Gentleman was drawn in one Sledge, with his aged Companion Colonel Scroop, whofe grave and graceful Countenances, accompanied with Courage and Chearfulness, caufed great Admiration and Compaffion in the Spectators, as they paffed along the Streets to Charing Cross, the Place of their Execution: And after the Executioner had done his Part upon three others that Day, he was fo drunk with Blood, that like one furfeited, he grew fick at Stomach; and not being able himfelf, he fet his Boy to finish the Tragedy upon Colonel Jones; who coming up the Ladder with the like Chearfulness as his Brethren did before him,

him, and being placed fit for Execution, he proceeded to speak as followeth :

Colonel JOHN JONES's Speech upon the Ladder.

There are two things that are neceffary now I am going thro' this narrow Gate or Paffage to the eternal Majefty; I fay, two things are neceffary as to the occafion of my coming hither to receive my Father's good Pleasure.

Firft, Peace with God. Secondly, Peace with Man.

I fhall speak fomething to each of these; and in the first Place, fpeak fomething of the Court wherein I receiv'd the Sentence: It hath been reported, as I was told, that I confefs'd this Fact, and confefs'd that I was guilty of Murder, as under those several Expreffions that are in the Indictment, viz. -----

I defire to clear myfelf before the Lord, and before the World, in that Particular; for fhould I grant that I was guilty in Reality and Truth of Murder and Malice, viz. -----

I fhould bely my own Confcience, and draw upon me a greater weight than I could bear. But thus far I do confefs, I was willing to make the Work as short as I could; and because I would not ftand fo long, I told them I would take the first Jury that came; and when a Jury was call'd, then I did confefs fo much as I was convinc'd of, as to the Matter of Fact; I defire you will judge charitably of this that I fpeak at this time, as in the Prefence of the Lord, that it is not fo really, (viz. that I acknowledg'd myfelf guilty of Murder) I had no fuch thing in my Heart.

I must confefs I very freely quit his Majesty, confidering what he doth in this Cafe is the Part of a loving Son to a Father, especially the Judges telling

telling him that it is the Law; and I conceive that the Court did nothing but what they, to their beft Understandings, judged right as to Law; therefore I freely acquit the Court, tho' there was not enough said to fatisfy fuch a poor Creature as I am, in fo great and deep a Point as that was: As for all others, I do not know any Man on the Earth, to whom I do bear any Malice, but I am in perfect Charity with all Men, and I hope the Lord is in Charity with me: And therefore, as I defire to have Forgiveness myself from all those I have offended, even fo I do freely forgive all thofe that have in any Measure offended me.

The next thing is towards God, and it is that which fhould be laft upon my Heart: It is not expected that I fhould give an Account here of my State and Condition, for that is betwixt God and my own Soul; and I do, thro' the Grace and Goodness of God, firmly believe that my Redemp tion is wrought, and my Pardon is fealed, and that I fhall be immediately in my Father's Arms, and that I fhall be tranflated and brought to behold the Lord Jefus Christ in Glory, with Comfort and Fulnefs of Joy.

Then he betook himself to his Prayers.

His Prayers being ended, he faid, Mr. Sheriff, I must needs return you many Thanks for your Civility.

Sher. Repl. I am glad to hear such an ingenuous Confeffion, and that you make fuch an End, and that you have not gone into any reviling Language, as fome others have done before.

After this he committed his Soul to God, and was turn'd off,

The

The Execution of Colonel DANIEL AXTEL, and Colonel FRANCIS HACKER, Regicides, the 19th Day of October, 1660, as related by a Friend of theirs.

HE Day of their Execution being come,

Tfeveral godly Minifters (pent fome time in

Prayer with Colonel Axtel and Colonel Hacker; and many Friends coming in to pay their last Refpects, Colonel Axtel feeing one of his familiar Friends and Companions, faid, My dear Brother, thou art better than I am, and yet I must go to Heaven before thee for all that.

He very chearfully faid to divers then with him, dear Friends, rejoice, I am going where ye fhall be alfo, yea, where we fhall be for ever with the Lord, and never part, and be without any more Change; I beseech you follow the Lamb whereever he goeth, tho' he may lead you in a harsh, difmal and difficult Way; yet at last he will bring you into a pleasant Path, and cause you to lie down in green Paftures, in the Land of Reft; Oh be faithful unto the Death, and he will give you a Crown of Life, as he hath given to your fuffering Brethren.

Oh all that we have, or do fuffer, is but to make Chrift and Heaven more fweet, dear and glorious to us; all the fad Steps we shall tread on this Ladder, is but to mount us to Heaven, for at the Top are Angels teady to receive us, as was on Jacob's Ladder. All the things I meet with move me not, I blefs my God, for I am fure to fight a good Fight, and finish my Course with Joy.

Afterwards taking his leave of his Son, imbracing him in his Arms, he said, My dear Son, fare thee well, I muft leave thee, get an Interest