By W. W. RavenliiU, Esq. 



183 



And Perfect Proceedings, of May 17 th, 1655 



"It is advertised from Salisbury that Lucas is beheaded and that hee was very- 

 faint long looking for a pardon or a reprieve from the Lord Protector, and was 

 still asking all that came to him, it* it was come. But when he knew he must 

 die he was exceedingly dejected, and so cast down that he was able to say very 

 little he prayed and spake some few mournful words, and then lay down upon 

 the scaffold and was beheaded." 



Faithful Scout, Friday, May 11th :— 



"The Lord Protector having taken into consideration the sentence of death 

 pronounced against many gentlemen in the West, orders were dispatched to 

 the sheriffs that the said sentence of drawing and quartering be altered, and 

 the execution of such as are to die to be by beheading or hanging. And accor- 

 dingly, orders were issued for execution of those condemned at the several places • 

 viz. yesterday being Thursday at Salisbury where Mr. John Lucas, Mr. Dean, 

 and Mr. Kinsey were all executed ; who deported themselves with singular con- 

 stancy, and steadfastness, and seemed to be indued with sundry admirable com- 

 forts, addressing themselves to the people as followeth. 



Mr. John Lucas his speech. 

 Gentlemen and Friends 



I am this day come hither by the goodwill and pleasure of Almighty 

 God to pay that last dett I owe to sin, which is death ; and by the blessing of 

 that God to rise again through the merits of Jesus Christ to righteousness and 

 life eternal ; I come not here to justifie myself, but shall rather confess as the 

 poor publican did, God be merciful to me a sinner. I desire your prayers to 

 God for me, and I pray God for you, that no one drop of my blood may be re- 

 quired at any mans hands. I forgive all the world, with as full and free a heart 

 as mortal man can ; and I beseech the most high and eternal God in heaven to 

 forgive me mine, the omnipotent Jehovah of heaven and Earth, that seeth, 

 heareth, and beholdeth, knows that I lie not, I have desired with unfained 

 desire and hearty affection to be dissolved and to be with Christ, knowing that 

 it shall be better for me, being assured thereby to be freed from the miseries of 

 sin, and enter into a life of eternal peace and happiness. 



As for my accusers I pity them, and desire they may be so happy as to be 

 taken up betimes, before they have drunk up more blood of Christian men, 

 possibly less deserving than myself. And as for the cause in which I began to 

 wade [warre] I must needs say it lay no scruple on my conscience, it was on 

 principle of liberty and Freedom ; and I bless God I find no blackness upon my 

 conscience, for pursuing those wayes, nor have I put it into the bedroll of my 

 sins. 



I desire God to houour himself, in prospering that side that hath right with 

 it, and that you may enjoy peace and plenty, when I shall enjoy peace and 

 plenty, beyond all you possess here. For the business of death, it is a. sad 

 sentence in itself, if men consult with flesh and blood; but truly without 

 boasting, I say it, or if I do boast I boast in the Lord, I have not to this minute 

 had one consultation with the flesh about the ladder; or one thought of the 

 Hope, more than as my passe port to Glory. T desire you now that you would 

 pray for me, and not give over praying for rue, till the hour of death, nor till 



