one of the People of the Lord, to have a care of defiling themselves with any Idolatry, with any Superftition, by treading in By-paths that may not fuit the Mind of God, however it however it may be

accepted in the Land.

I fhall not trouble you with much more, only a Word to thofe that have not yet an Intereft in Jefus Chrift, that cannot call God Father, I befeech fuch to confider, it may be that God hath a mind, by the Words of a dying Man, to do their Souls good, and I would add a Word; I beseech you confider, though you may not go the fame Way I go, you do not know how foon God may call for you by Death; and therefore. I speak to them that are young ones in the first place, That they remember their Creator in the Days of their Youth, before the evil Day is come, and the Days wherein they themselves fhall fay, they have no Pleafure in them. And to thofe that are antient, that have spent the greatest part of their Time. here, in fporting in their own Lufts, I would only fay this to 'em, There is yet a Day of Grace, To day if you will hear his Voice. Jefus Chrift is held forth in the Gofpel freely; He holds forth his Blood freely; for the worst of Sinners are not too old, nor too wicked, nor too great, they are not too unclean for Jefus Chrift to pity; and therefore Friends, confider in the Fear of the Lord whereabouts you are, and how the Cafe ftands with your poor Souls. I have faid what I have to fay, only I would defire that I might have liberty to wait upon God, to commit my Soul, and the Concernments of each other to the Lord in Prayer. Then he addrefs'd himself to the Lord in Prayer. His Prayer being ended, he faid he could not fpeak more, being very much tired, and his Body brought very low. The Hangman faid, The Lord receive your Soul. He reply'd, I thank you

Then another faid, This is a happy Day. He faid, no I blefs the Lord it is fo. The other faid, The Lord fro make your Paffage eafy. He faid, I truft he will fo One ask'd if he had any thing to fay to the She-e riff? He faid, No, but only thank him for his Cr vility. Then the Hangman having prepared him for his Death, drew away the Cart, John James faid aloud, (lifting up his Hands) Father, into thy Hands I commit my Spirit, and fo finished his Course.

The Sheriff and Hangman were so civil to him in his Execution, as to fuffer him to be dead before he was cut down; the Hangman taking out his Heart, and burning his Members and Entrails, return'd his Head and Quarters back to Newgate, put in a Basket in a Cart, and from thence were disposed by the King, viz. his Quarters to the Gates of the City, and his Head firf upon the Bridge, but afterwards (by Appointment) taken down thence, and put upon a Pole in White-Chappel, over-against the Paffage to the Meeting-place, where he and his Company were apprehended.

The Execution of Sir HEN. VANE, the 14th of June, 1662. related by a Friend of Sir Harry's.

HE

E faid, God bid Mofes go to the top of Mount Pifgab and die: So he bid him goup to the top of Tower-Hill and die.

Several Friends being with him in his Chamber this Morning, he oft encouraged them to Chearfulness, as well by his Example as Expreffion. In all his Deportment, he fhew'd himself marvellously fitted to meet the King of Terrors, without the least Affrightment. But to fhew where his Strength lay, he faid,. He was a poor unworthy Wretch, and had nothing but the Grace and Goodness of God to depend upon. He faid

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noreover, Death fhrunk from him, rather than he rom it. Upon the Occafion of parting with his Relations, he faid, There is fome Flefli remaining yet, but I must caft it behind me, and prefs forward to my Father.

Then one of the Sheriff's Men came in and told im, There was no Sled to come, but he was to walk on foot.

He told his Friends, the Sheriff's Chaplain came to him at Twelve of the Clock that Night, with an Order for his Execution, telling him, he was come to bring him that fatal Meffage of Death. I think, Friends, that in this Meffage was no Difmalness at all. After the Receipt of which, I flept four Hours fo foundly, that the Lord hath made it fufficient for me, and now I am going to fleep my laft, after which I fhall need Sleep no more.

Then Mr. Sheriff coming into the Room, was friendly faluted by him, and after a little Paufe communicated a Prohibition that he faid he had receiv'd, which was, That he must not speak any thing against his Majefty, or the Government. His Answer to this he himself relates on the Scaffold. He further told Mr. Sheriff, he was ready; but, the Sheriff faid, he was not, nor could be this. half hour yet; Then, Sir, it refts on you, not on me (faid Sir Henry) for I have been ready this half hour. Then the Sheriff, at his Request, promifed him his Servants fhould attend him on the Scaffold, and be civilly dealt with ; neither of which were performed; for (notwithstanding this Promife) they were beaten and kept off the Scaffold, till he faid, What, have I never a Servant here?

After this, one of the Sheriff's Men came and told him, there must be a Sled; to which Sir Henry replied, Any way, how they please, for I long to be at home, to be diffolved and to be with Chrift, which is best of all. He went very V 2 chear

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chearfully and readily down the Stairs from his Chamber, and feated himfelf on the Sled, (Friends and Servants standing about him) then he was forthwith drawn away towards the Scaffold. As nc he went, fome in the Tower (Prifoners as well as others) fpake to him, praying the Lord to go with him. And after he was out of the Tower, from the tops of Houfes, and out of Windows, the People used fuch Means and Geftures as might best difcover, at a diftance, their Refpects and Love to him, crying aloud, The Lord go with you, the great God of Heaven and Earth appear in you, and for you; whereof he took what Notice he was capable in thofe Circumstances, in a chearful manner accepting their Refpe&t, putting off his Hat and bowing to them. Being ask'd feveral times, how he did, by fome about him, he anfwer'd, Never better in all my life. Another replied, How fhould he do ill that fuffers for fo glorious a Caufe? To which a tall black Man faid, Many fuffer'd for a better Caufe; And may for a worse, faid Sir Henry; wifhing, That when they come to feal their better Cause (as he call'd it) with their Blood (as he was now going to feal his ) they might not find themselves deceiv'd; and as to this Cause, said he, it hath given Life in Death to all the Owners of it, and Sufferers for it.

Being pafs'd within the Rails on Tower-hill, there were many loud Acclamations of the People, crying out, The Lord Jefus go with your dear Soul, c. One told him, That was the moft glorious Seat he ever fate on; he anfwer'd, It is fo indeed, and rejoyced exceedingly.

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Being come to the Scaffold, he chearfully af cends, and being up, after the Crowd on the Scaffold was broken in two pieces, to make way for him, he fhew'd himself to the People on the front of the Scaffold, with that noble and christian-like

Deport

Deportment, that he rather feem'd a Looker on, than the Perfon concern'd in the Execution, infomuch that it was difficult to perfuade many of he People that he was the Prifoner. But when they knew that the Gentleman in the black Suit and Cloak (with a scarlet filk Waftcoat, the viccorious Colour fhewing itself at the Breast) was the Prifoner, they generally admir'd that noble and great Prefence he appear'd with. How

chearful he is! faid fome: He does not look like a dying Man! faid others; with many like Speeches, as aftonished with that strange Appearance he fhined forth in.

Then (Silence being commanded by the Sheriff) lifting up his Hands and Eyes towards Heaven, and refting his Hands on the Rails; and taking a very ferious, compofed, and majestick View of the great Multitude about him, he spake as follows.

His Speech on the Scaffold.

Gentlemen, Fellow-Countrymen, and Chriftians,

WHEN Mr. Sheriff came to me this Mor

ning, and told me he had receiv'd a Command from the King, that I fhould fay nothing reflecting upon his Majefty or the Government; I anfwer'd, I fhould confine and order my Speech, as near as I could, fo as to be leaft offenfive, faving my Faithfulness to the Truft repofed in me, which I muft ever difcharge with a good Confcience unto Death; for I ever valued a Man according to his Faithfulness to the Truft reposed in him, even on his Majesty's Behalf, in the late Controversy. And if you dare truft my Difcretion, Mr. Sheriff, I fhall do nothing but what becomes a good Chriftian and an

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