KNow it is not for the gene­rall businesse that I am to suf­fer this untimely Death, as it would appeare, but I take it as a just Iudgement from Heaven for par­ticular grosse and grievous sinnes com­mitted against the great God and Su­preame Ruler of Men and Angells; who hath oftentimes (to his glory be it spoken) brought me through many dangerous and huge difficulties, in so much, that few dayes (for a long time together) escaped me, but I have look't Death on the face, and by assistance from the Almighty, shall now out­brave him: yet such was the mercy of God towards me, that I not onely [Page 4] have been preserved, but successefully returned with Victorie: and though I was ever so ambitious of Honour, that to purchase it, I never declin'd the worst of dangers, yet was no one drop of my bloud ever drawne to this houre: but now, because (through am­bition, my greatest sinne) I robb'd the Lord of his Honour, as the justest judgement that could befall me, I am brought here to lay downe my Head at the mercy of a poore simple hang­man; and I doe it with much cheare­fulnesse, for I am throughly sensible of the happy difference betwixt this death, and that in a Field, where mens fiery spirits breathe nothing but fury and heat of bloud; and what addes most to my comfort is That I suffer for so honourable and just a Cause, as onely for my Loyaltie and zeale to my dread Soveraigne, whose sad conditi­on [Page 5] I more grieve at, then ten such Deaths; for it goes beyond all admi­ration, that understanding people should be so much infatuated with the delusions of some particular Noble­men and Ministers, who governe for the time at their pleasure; and doubt­lesse have a large account to make to the knower of the secrets of all hearts, as all this while not to undisguise these masked zealots, who under the pretence of maintaining Religion; and the Kings Honour, have sufficiently un­done the one, and unavoydeably will ruine the other: I speake not this out of a repining or resenting humour; for were it not the pleasure of the all com­manding God, who alone hath power of Life and Death, that I should in this way bid farewell to the World, though invironed with Armies, I could not perish: And therefore I freely for­give [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] whatsoever wrongs I have recei­ved from men, and beseech Heaven ne­ver to lay my bloud to their charge, but heartily prayes for their remorse, and that the Lord would not onely in hu­mility turne their hearts towards him­selfe, but likewise give them loyall hearts and stainlesse Affections to their just, lawfull, and naturall Prince, and unite both his and theirs to the highest, who is above all Kings and Monarchs: if I have spoak any thing ignorantly, I be­seech my Redeemer to forget and for­give that sin also, amongst the rest of my many haynous offences: And I implore the Father of mercies, that of his infinite goodnesse he would be plea­sed to restraine the Coaleblowers and hatchers of this unnaturall Warre, and grant that their power may prove ineffectuall for the time to come, from further shedding of innocent bloud, [Page 7] and tyrannicall oppressing and destroy­ing the Subject, and make them peni­tently sensible of their proceedings a­gainst both God and his Vicegerent.

My last service to those two invin­cible Noblemen HUNTLEY and MONTROSSE who have been most faithfull and true Subiects to their Ma­ster) my Cordiall respects to my Lord GORDON, my Parents, and him that should succeed me, I recommend to the Royall Protection of His Maiesty, to whom I have been ever Loyall, and for whom I lay down my head most hearti­ly to the Block: My Soule I bequeath to my Maker, through whose tender mercies, and the merits of my Saviour IESUS CHRIST I hope and am confident to enioy everlasting life.