THE SPEECH AND Confeſſion, of Sr HENRY HIDE (Embaſſador for the King of Scotland, to the Emperour of Turkie) at the place of execution, againſt the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, on Tueſday the 4 of March, 1651. with the manner of his deportment on the Scaffold; his kiſſing of the Ax and block; his prayer; and Oration to the People, touching his Maſter the King; As alſo the manner how he was firſt taken in Turkie, by the Engliſh Marchants, and ſent priſoner to the Parliament, in the London-Dragon. With the Charge exhibited againſt him at his Tryal.
London, Printed for G.H. and are to be ſold in Cornhill, 1651..
SIr Henry Hide (late Agent for the King of Scotland, to the Emperour of Turkie) having for theſe two years laſt paſt, been very active in forrein Countries, for the advancing of his Maſters prerogative and power againſt the Parliament of England; and alſo endeavouring (what in him lay) to obſtruft all trading and commerce between the Engliſh Marchants, and others; and in order thereunto, ſome time he ſpent at Smerney in Turkie, for the better accompliſhing thereof; but finding his negotiations and conſultations to be no way feacible, he rode from thence to the city of Conſtantinople, ſoliciting the Vice-Roy about many things of great and dangerous conſequence; but the Marchants (occaſioned by many fears and jealouſies) having made a great diſcovery2 of his deſign; and being likewiſe informed that he was determined to ſeize and ſecure their ſhips, &c. for the uſe and ſervice of his Maſter; they immediatly reſolved to ſend forth a conſiderable party to intercept him in his return from Constantinople to Smerney; which accordingly they did (to his great aſtoniſhment) and brought him aboard the Dragon, tranſporting the ſaid Sir Henry from thence to London, where by ſpecial authority, and command from the Parliament, he was ſent priſoner to the Tower; and after few dayes, brought to a Tryal before the High Court of Juſtice in Weſtminſter Hall, and by Them adjudged guilty of high Treaſon againſt the Common-wealth of England; receiving this Sentence of Death, To have his head ſevered from his ſhoulders at the Old Exchange, London, on Tueſday the fourth of March 1651. which accordingly was performed, in the preſence of many thouſand ſpectators; the manner whereof, together with his Speech, Prayer, and Deportment, in effect, followeth.
On Tueſday being the 4 of this inſtant, Sir Henry Hide was brought from the Tower, in a Coach, to the place of execution, being guarded with a Troop of horſe, and accompanied by the Sheriffs of London, and the Lieutenant of the Tower; when he came upon the Scaffold, he put off his hat to the ſpectators, deporting himſelf with great cheerfulneſſe, and undantedneſſe of ſpirit: then turning himſelf about, he deſired to ſee his Coffin, which was accordingly ſhewed him, a black mourning cloth being alſo prepared to cover the ſame. Then turning himſelf again to the people, and leaning over the railes of the Scaffold, ſpake as followeth.
YOur coming hither to day is to behold a ſad ſpectacle, where you may apparently diſcern an Object of pity; I am by a law condemned to die, and I thank my God that hath appointed me this death for mine offence, for I have alwayes lived a ſinner, and offended my God, for which I humbly implore and deſire a general remiſſion and forgiveneſſe. I am come hither to pay the wages of death, and to ſacrifice my life for my obedience and loyalty to my Maſter the King, for whoſe ſake, I was ever willing to adventure both life and fortunes. But as for thoſe things laid to my charge, of having a deſign againſt the Engliſh Marchants, I here proteſt my innocency thereof; neither did ever the leaſt thought of evil or prejudice ariſe within my breaſt, againſt this my Native Countrey of England; but alwayes deſired its proſperity and happineſſe; under a quiet and peaceable Government, &c. Much more was ſaid to this purpoſe, and delivered with great applauſe and earneſtneſſe of ſpirit to the ſpectators: Having ended his ſpeech, he turned himſelf about to Sheriff Tichburn, who was all in mourning, and after ſome queries and anſwers, uttered many divine and excellent expreſſions; deſiring them to joyn in prayer with him; and kneeling upon his coffin, with his hat in his right hand, and his black mourning gloves in the left, moſt fervently beſought the Lord by prayer, humbly ſupplicating himſelf before his Divine Majeſty, in manner and form as followeth.
O Lord Jeſus, which art the onely health of all men living, and the everlaſting life of them which dy in thee; I wretched ſinner do ſubmit my ſelf wholy to thy bleſſed Wil; and being ſure that that thing cannot periſh which is committed to thy mercy; willingly now I leave this frail and wicked fleſh, in ſure hope that thou wilt moſt gloriouſly reſtore it to me again at the laſt day, in the reſurrection of the juſt: I beſeech thee moſt merciful God, that thou wilt by thy grace make ſtrong my faith againſt all temptations, and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy againſt all the aſſaults of Satan. I ſee, and know, that there is no hope of ſalvation, but by Thee, O God, and thy Son,5 the Saviour of the World, into whoſe hands I recommend my ſpirit; for my confidence and truſt is in thy moſt merciful goodneſs: O Lord, I have no merits, nor good works, that I may alledge before thee: Of ſins and evil works (alas) I ſee a great heap; but yet through thy mercy, I truſt to be in the number of them, to whom thou wilt not impute their ſins; but receive them as inheritors of thy everlaſting kingdome. O thou ſweet Jeſus of Heaven, that waſt born for my ſake, and gaveſt thy moſt precious bloud to be ſhed upon the Croſs for my ſake, humbly I beſeech thee, in theſe thy ſufferings, graciouſly to vouchſafe an intereſt to me; and grant, O moſt merciful Father, that when death ſhal ſhut up the eyes of my body, yet the eyes of my ſoul may ſtil behold and look upon Thee;6 and when Death hath taken the uſe of my Tongue, yet my Heart may cry, and ſay unto Thee, Lord into thy hands I commend my ſoul; Lord Jeſus receive my ſoul.
Having ended his prayer, he roſe from his Coffin whereon he kneeled, and turning to Sheriff Titchborn, gave him a ſalutation: Then the Executione came to him, and asked him forgiveneſſe: Sir Henry replyed, I freely forgive thee, and all mine enemies; and as a ſignal thereof, here's 3 l. for thee. Then the Executioner took the Block, and placed it on the Scaffold, and Sir Henry prepared himſelf for the ſame, pulling off his Cloak, Doublet, and Band, and gave them to his man; which done, he went to the block, and kneeling down, laid his neck thereon, to try how it would fit: ſuddenly he aroſe again, taking his laſt farewel of the miniſter, who came along with him, and the reſt of his friends; and kneeling down again the ſecond time, the Executioner ſpread a red Scarf over the block, deſiring the ſign; to which he anſwered, By the ſtretceing forth my hands: Then, after kiſſing the Ax and block, caſting his eyes up to heaven, earneſtly cryed out, Lord Jeſus receive my ſoul; and patiently ſubmitting to the block, immediatly gave the ſign, which the Executioner diligently obſerving, at one blow ſevered his head from his ſhoulders; the head mov'd three times after it was off; but neither body, hands, nor feet once ſtir'd Preſently after the blow was given, both head and body were put into a Coffin, and ſo carryed away from off the Scaffold.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A86949)
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