(> Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 



I cannot say in whose handwriting either are. First let us peruse j 

 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 his 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 ! wretehed 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 1 . 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 conceave 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. I 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 ts . will pursue him, though he hath beene false 

 to us I pray God I doe not prove a true Prophett to him. f 



* 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 I must 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. 



