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a little to conceal his concern; but it would not do, his tears ran down his face; and coming to Mr. Hutcheson, he said, "I think his kindness overcomes me. But God is good to me, that he lets not out too much of it here, for he knows I could not bear it. Get me my cloak and let us go." But being told that the clock was kept back till one, till the bailies should come, he answered, “ They are far in the wrong;" and presently kneeled and prayed before all present, in a most sweet and heavenly manner. As he ended, the bailies sent up word for him to come down, upon which he called for a glass of wine, and having asked a blessing to it, standing and continuing in the same frame, he said, "Now let us go, and God be with us."

After having taken his leave of such in the room as were not to go with him to the scaffold, going towards the door, he said, "I could die like a Roman, but choose rather to die like a Christian. Come away, gentlemen, he that goes first goes cleanliest." When going down stairs, he called the reverend Mr. James Guthrie to him, and embracing him in a most endearing way, took his farewell of him; Mr. Guthrie, at parting, addressed the Marquis thus: "My lord, God hath been with you, he is with you, and will be with you. And such is my respect for your lordship, that if I were not under sentence of death myself, I would cheerfully die for your lordship," So they parted to meet again in a better place on the Friday following.

Then, accompanied by several noblemen and gentlemen, mounted in black, he with his cloak and hat on, went down the street, and having mounted the scaffold, with great serenity, like one going to his Father's house, saluted all on it. Mr. Hutcheson then prayed; after which his lordship addressed the spectators.*

HIS SPEECH ON THE SCAFFOLD.

"Many will expect that I speak many things, and according to their several opinions and dispositions, so will their expectations be from me, and constructions of me; but I resolve to disappoint many, for I come not hither to justify myself, but the Lord, Who is holy in all his ways, and righteous in all his works, holy and blessed is his name;' neither come I to condemn others: I know many will expect that I speak against the hardness of the sentence pronounced against me; but I will say nothing to it. I bless the Lord, I pardon all men, as I desire to be pardoned of the Lord myself: let the will of the Lord be done; that is all that I desire.

"I hope that ye will have more charity to me now, than ye would have at another time, seeing I speak before the Lord, to whom I must give an account very shortly. I know very well that my words have had but very little weight with many; and that many have mistaken my words and actings both: many have thought me to be a great enemy to these great works, that have of late been brought to pass. But do not mistake me, good people: I speak it in the presence of the Lord, I entered not upon the work of reformation with any design of advantage to myself, or prejudice to the king and his government;

Scots Worthies-Life of Argyle.

Wodrow's Hist. vol. i.

as my latter will which was written, 1655, and thereafter delivered to a friend (in whose hands it still remaineth), can show. As for these calumnies that have gone abroad of me, I bless God, I know them to be no more and as I go to make a reckoning to my God, I am free as to any of these, concerning the king's person or government. I was real and cordial in my desires to bring the king home, and in my endeavours for him when he was at home, and I had no correspondence with the adversaries' army, nor any of them, in the time when his majesty was in Scotland; nor had I any accession to his late majesty's horrid and execrable murder, by counsel or knowledge of it, or any other manner of way. This is a truth, as I shall answer to my Judge. And all the time his majesty was in Scotland, I was still endeavouring his advantage, my conscience beareth me witness in it. So much to that particular. And [turning about, he said] I hope, gentlemen, you all will remember these.

"I confess, many look on my condition as a suffering condition : but I bless the Lord, that he that hath gone before me, hath trod the wine-press of the Father's wrath; by whose sufferings, I hope that my sufferings shall not be eternal. I bless him that hath taken away the sting of my sufferings: I may say that my charter was sealed to-day; for the Lord hath said to me, Son be of good cheer, thy sins are freely forgiven thee:' and so I hope my sufferings shall be very easy. And ye know that the scripture saith, the Captain of our salvation was made perfect by sufferings.'

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"I shall not speak much to these things for which I am condemned, lest I seem to condemn others; it is well known, it is only for compliance, which was the epidemical fault of the nation. I wish the Lord to pardon them: I say no more.

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"There was an expression in these papers presented by me to the parliament, of the contagion of these times,' which may by some be misconstructed, as if I intended to lay an imputation upon the work of reformation; but I declare, that I intended no such thing; but it only related to the corruptions and failings of men, occasioned by the

no doubt the chief And, in palliation

His "compliance" with Cromwell's government was judicial ground on which sentence against him was passed. of this fact, there are many circumstances to be taken into account. First of all, it was, as he declares, “the epidemical fault of the nation" and times. It was in his case become a matter of absolute necessity, so as to save himself and people from impending ruin, before he acceded to it. It was a fault, moreover, which was committed by many others, under circumstances as aggravated, who, nevertheless, were received into favour and office after the restoration, without an exception being taken to their loyalty. Of this, Sir John Fletcher, the king's advocate, who led the prosecution against him, and many of the noble men who sat as his judges, were notable instances. It was determined, how ever, by Middleton and others, who expected to share in his property, and who dreaded his opposition in the measures they had in view anent the church,— that he should be made a sacrifice. And the detestable baseness of General Monk, who sent forward some of the Marquis's confidential letters, in which he had expressed approbation of the usurper's government, unhappily afforded means on which to substantiate the very insufficient plea upon which he was condemned.

prevailing of the usurping powers. [At this he turned, and took them all witnesses.]

"Now, gentlemen, concerning the nation, I think there are three sorts of people that take up much of the world, and of this nation. There is:

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1st, The openly profane: and truly I may say, though I have been a prisoner, I have not had mine ears shut; I hear assuredly, that drinking, swearing, whoring, were never more common, never more countenanced than now they are. Truly, if magistrates were here, I would say to them, if they would lay forth their power for glorifying of God, by restraining this, they should fare the better; if they continue in not restraining, they shall fare the worse. I say no more, but either let people shun profanity, and magistrates restrain it, or assuredly the wrath of God shall follow on it.

"2d, Others are not openly profane (every one will not allow that), but yet they are Gallios in the matter: if matters go well as to their private interest, they care not whether the church of God sink or swim. But whatever they think, God hath laid engagements upon Scotland; we are tied by covenants to religion and reformation; these that were then unborn are yet engaged; and in our baptism we are engaged to it. And it passeth the power of all the magistrates under heaven to absolve them from the oath of God: they deceive themselves, and it may be, would deceive others that think otherwise. But I would caveat this; people will be ready to think this a kind of instigation to rebellion in me; but they are very far wrong that think religion and loyalty are not well consistent. Whoever they be that separate them, religion is not to be blamed, but they. It is true, it is the duty of every Christian to be loyal; yet, I think, the order of things are to be observed, as well as their natures; the order of religion, as well as the nature of it. Religion must not be the cockboat, it must be the ship. God must have what is his, as well as Cæsar what is his: and these are the best subjects that are the best Christians. And that I am looked upon as a friend to reformation, is my glory.

"3d, There is another sort that are truly godly: and to speak to them, I must say what I fear, and every one hath reason to fear, (it is good to fear evil.) It is true the Lord may prevent it; but if he do not, (and truly I cannot foresee any probability of it,) times are like either to be very sinning or very suffering times: and let Christians make their choice: there is a sad dilemma in the business, 'sin or suffer;' and surely, he that would choose the better part, will choose to suffer. Others that will choose to sin, shall not escape suffering; they shall suffer, but it may be, not as I do, [turning about, and pointing to the maiden] but worse: mine is but temporal, theirs shall be eternal; when I shall be singing, they shall be howling. Beware therefore of sin, whatever you are aware of, especially in such times.

"Yet I cannot say of my own condition, but that the Lord in his providence hath mind of mercy to me, even in this world: for if I had been more favourably dealt with, I fear I might have been overcome with temptations as many others are, and many more I fear

will be; and so should have gone out of the world with a more polluted conscience, than through the mercy of God now I have. And hence my condition is such now, as when I am gone, will be seen not to have been such as many imagined. It is fit that God take me away before I fall into these temptations that I see others are falling into, and many others I fear will fall: I wish the Lord may prevent it. Yet blessed be his name, that I am kept both from present evils, and evils to come." [Here he turned about a little, and spoke some words to Mr. Hutcheson; when, turning again to the people, he spoke as followeth.]

"Some may expect I will regret my own condition; but truly, I neither grudge nor repine, nor desire any revenge. And I declare I do not repent my last going up to London, for I had always rather have suffered any thing, than lie under reproaches as I did. I desire not that the Lord should judge any man; nor do I judge any but myself: I wish, as the Lord hath pardoned me, so he may pardon them for this and other things; and that what they have done to me, may never meet them in their accounts. I have no more to say, but to beg the Lord, that when I go away, he would bless every one that stayeth behind."

laid his head on the "I desire you, gentle

[His last words, immediately before he block, after his doublet was off, were these:] men, all that hear me this day to take notice, and I wish that all who see me might hear me, that now when I am entering into eternity, and am to appear before my Judge; and as I desire salvation, and do expect eternal salvation and happiness from him,-from my birth to my scaffold, I am free from any accession by my knowledge, concerning counsel, or any other way, to his late majesty's death; and I pray the Lord to preserve his majesty, and to pour his best blessings on his person and government; and the Lord give him good and faithful counsellors." [Turning about to his friends, he said,]" Many Christians may stumble at this, and my friends may be discontented; but when things are rightly considered, my friends have no discredit of me, nor Christians no stumbling-block, but rather an encouragement."

When he had delivered this seasonable and pathetic speech, Mr. Hamilton prayed; after which he prayed most sweetly himself; then he took his leave of all his friends on the scaffold. He first gave the executioner a napkin with some money in it; he gave to his sons-inlaw, Caithness and Ker, his watch and some other things out of his pocket; he gave to Loudon his silver penner, to Lothian a double ducat, and then threw off his coat. When going to the maiden, Mr. Hutcheson said, "My lord, now hold your grip sicker." He answered, "You know, Mr. Hutcheson, what I said to you in the chamber. I am not afraid to be surprised with fear." The laird of Skelmorlie took him by the hand, when near the maiden, and found him most composed. He kneeled down most cheerfully, and after he had prayed a little, he gave the signal (which was by lifting up his hand), and the instrument, called the maiden, struck off his head from his body.†

• Naphtali, pp. 285-290.

Scots Worthies-Life of Argyle.

III. JAMES GUTHRIE.

[Mr. Guthrie was born of an ancient and honourable family. Having passed through the usual course of learning at the grammar school and college with applause, he was elected a regent of philosophy in the university of St. Andrews. Whilst in this situation, by converse with Mr. Rutherford, who was then professor of divinity, his sentiments seem to have undergone a most important change; and from having been opposed to the presbyterian interests, he forthwith became their most cordial defender. Having passed his trials, he was in 1638, settled minister at Lauder, where he remained for about ten years. He was then translated to Stirling, where he continued till his death a most faithful watchman on Zion's walls. Notwithstanding the love to his country, and loyalty to his king by which he was distinguished, and which on many occasions he had prominently displayed, he was, according to the spirit of the times, charged with high treason, on account of certain expressions, which, in the discharge of his duty, he had written and uttered; and on the 1st of June, 1661, just three days after his friend Argyle's execution, he suffered a similar death.]

HIS LAST WORDS IN PRISON.

Betwixt Mr. Guthrie's sentence and his execution, he enjoyed perfect composure and serenity of spirit, and wrote a great many letters to his friends and acquaintances. In this interval he uttered several prophetical expressions, which, together with the foresaid religious letters, could they now be recovered, might be of no small use, in this apostate and backsliding age. The day (June 1.) on which he was executed, it being reported that he was to buy his life, at the expense of retracting some of the things he had formerly said and done, he wrote and subscribed the following declaration :

"These are to declare, that I do own the Causes of God's Wrath,' the Supplication at Edinburgh, August last, and the accession I had to the remonstrances. And if any do think, or have reported, that I was willing to recede from these, they have wronged me, as never having any ground from me to think or to report so. This I attest, under my hand, at Edinburgh, about eleven o'clock, forenoon, before these witnesses :—

Mr. ARTHUR FORBES, Mr. JOHN Guthrie,
Mr. HUGH WALKER, Mr. JAMES COWIE."

Upon the same day, and it is probable about the same time, he addressed a farewell letter to his wife, which is as follows.

HIS LETTER TO HIS WIFE.

"My heart,-Being within a few hours to lay down my life for the testimony of Jesus Christ, I do send these few lines as the last obedience of unfeigned and spotless affection which I bear unto you, not only as one flesh, but as a member with me of that blessed mysti

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