6 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 
I cannot say in whose handwriting either are. First let us peruse 
that which relates to Penruddock :— 
«« The Speech of the Honourable Colonell Penruddock, the greatest part 
wherof he delivered upon the Scaffold in Exon Castle the 16 day of May, 1655, 
the whole he left with a Gent, and friend of his, written with his own hand: 
which is as followeth. 
Together with the manner of his being beheaded. As he was ascending the 
Scaffold, baring bis knees and humbly bowing himself he used these words ‘ This 
I hope will’prove to be like Jacob’s ladder: though the feet of it rest on Earth, 
yet I doubt not but the top of it reacheth to Heaven.’ 
When he came upon the scaffold, he said Oh! wretched man that I am who 
shall deliver mee from this body of death. 
I thanke God who giveth mee the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 
(The pamphlet of July 2nd, 1655, here inserts :— 
“Then with abundance of Christian chearfulnesse he spake to the people as 
followeth :—) 
Gentlemen, It is the comon custome of all Psons. that come to dye to give 
some satisfacton to the spectators whether they be guilty of the ffact of which 
they stand chrg’d* Truly if I were conscious to myselfe of any base ends that 
I had in this undertaking I would not be soe injurious to my owne soule or 
disingenions to you as not to make a public acknowledgem*. thereof, I suppose 
that divers psons. as they are byased by their sevrall interests and relatons give 
their opinions to the world concerning us: I conceaye it impossible therefore to 
expresse myselfe in this particular as not to expose both my judgem*. and repu- 
tation to the censure of many which I shall leave behind mee because I will not 
quitt others therefore upon a breach of charity concerning mee or my actons. 
I have thought fitt to decline all discourses which may give them a capacity 
either to injure themselves or mee: My triall was publique and my sevrall ex- 
aminatons I beleeve wilbe pduced when I am in my grave. J will referre you 
therefore to the first which I am sure some of you heard and to the latter which 
many of you in good time may see; Had Captain Crooke done himself and us 
that right which a gent and a souldier ought to have done I had not beene now 
here, The man I forgive with all my heart but truly (Gentlemen) his ptesting. 
against those Articles which he himselfe with so many ptestations. and impor- 
tunity putt upon us, hath drawne so much dishonour and blood upon his head 
that I feare some weary judgem*. will pursue him, though he hath beene false 
to us I pray God I doe not prove a true Prophett to him. + 

*The pamphlet of July 2nd, 1655, inserts after “‘ charged’? ‘‘ The crime for which I am now to die 
is Loyalty, but in this age called High Treason. I cannot deny but I was at South Moulton in this 
County: but whether my being there or my actions there amount to so high a crime as high Treason 
I leave to the world and to the Law to judge.” 
+The pamphlet inserts after ‘“‘ Prophet to him ” ‘‘ Nay Imust say more that coming on the road to 
Exon, he the said Captain Crook told me ‘ Sir Joseph Wagstaff was a gallant gentleman, and that he 
was sorry he was not taken with us; that then he might have had the benefit of our articles; but 
now (said he) I have beset all the country for him, so that he cannot escape but must be hanged, 
