A Brief Account of Captain WILLIAM GOVAN, His last Speech and Prayers, with a Miraculous Instance after his Death, Concerning the Bleeding of his Head.
IN the Year 1661, the now Deceast Earl of Midletoun, and Chancelour Cunningham and others, who then had the Government among their Hands, thinking to Ingratiat themselves in the Kings favours by Bloody Expiations; Several innocent Persons suffered by their cruelty, and particularly one Captain Govan then designed of Kirktounholme he and Mr. James Guthrie a Minister, were Execute at the Cross of Edinburgh both in one day. And it is recent in the Hearts & Minds of many Honest Hearted Christians yet Living how it was the common Talk then, of that Cruel Persecuting party, that there were a necessity for some of every one of thir three Stations and Qualities following to die, Viz. of the Nobility, Gentry and Clergy, Argile he behoved to die for the Nobility, Captain Govean and Swintoun of That Ilk, if he had not happily made his escape, for the Gentry, and Mr. James Guthrie for the Ministry. And it is very well Remembred by many, how that Captain Govan when he was upon the Ladder Speaking his last Words to the World, he Prayed Heartily for the King, and for the Church of Scotland, and that his Blood might not be on the Nation, nor on the City, and that GOD might preserve his Church and Hedge and Fence in his Vine Yard, from the Crafty Foxes and Distroying Boars of the Forrest, moreover he told the Spectators how that Midletoun and he had been fellow Souldiers, and that many a time both of them had equally Hazarded their Lives in the King's service, though now unequally Rewarded, the one with a Throne, being the Kings High Commissioner, and the other with a Rope, and Condemned to die an Ignominious Death. Yet You may tell Midletoun said he to the Spectators, that I will not (though it were in my offer) change my Rope for his Throne for I hope in GOD through the Merits of my Redeemer, to be in a better State within a few Minutes.
Nor was it any Fable, that there fell some Drops of Blood from his Head upon Chancelour Cunningham's Coach, who was the main Instrument of taking away his Life, which never could be Wip'd out, till they were forced to out away the Looder, Blood and all where it fell on. And these dropes of Blood, Droped from his Head or rather the Dry Bones, after the Head had been Bon'd, Oil'd, Dry'd and Parched with the Heat of the Sun, Wind and Weather a long time.
It is also to be Noted, that a great Deal of what he Prophesied hath already perfectly come to pass, as also those last Words and Prophesies of others who suffered for the same Cause, which he did, are now very much Accomplished, and part of them are yet to be Accomplished.
⟨Reverend Sir please Remember Capton Govans Daughters [...] to the Reverend Presbyterie of Edinburgh⟩