THE Archbishop OF Canterbury HIS SPEECH OR His funeral Sermon:  
Preached by himself on the Scaffold on Tower-hill, on Friday the tenth of January, 1645. Upon Hebrews 12. 1, 2.  
Also, the Prayers which he used at the same time and place before his Execution.  
All Faithfully written by John hind, whom the Archbishop beseeched that he would not let any wrong be done him by any phrase in false Copies.  
LONDON Printed with licence, and entered according to Order.   

THE Archbishop OF Canterbury HIS funeral Sermon, Preached by himself on the Scaffold on Tower-hill. Upon Heb. 12. 1, 2.  Let us run with patience that race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despiside the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God. 
Good people,  
YOu'll pardon my old memory, and upon so sad occasions as I am come to this place, to make use of my Papers, I dare not trust myself otherwise.  
Good people,  
This is a very uncomfortable place to preach in, and yet I shall begin with a Text of Scripture, in the twelfth of the Hebrews, Let us run with patience that race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our fait●, &c.  
I have been long in my race, and how I have looked unto Jesus the Author and finisher of my faith, is best known to him: I am now come to the end of my race and here I find the cross, a death of shame, but the shame must be despised, or there is no coming to the right hand of God; Jesus despised the shame for me, and God-forebid but I should despise the shame, for him; I am going apace, as you see towards the Red-sea, and my feet are upon the very brinks of it, an Argument, I hope that God is bringing me to the Land of promise, for that was the way by which of old he led his people: But before they came to the Sea, he instituted a passover for them, a Lamb it was to be eaten with very sour Herbs, as in the twelfe of Exodus.  
I shall obey, and labour to digest the sour Herbs, as well as the Lamb, and I shall remember that it is the Lord's Passeover; I shall not think of the Herbs, nor be angry with the hands which gathered them, but look up only to him who instituted the one, and governeth the other: For men can have no more power over me, then that which is given them from above; I am not in love with this passage through the Red-sea, for I have the weakness and infirmity of flesh and blood in me, and I have prayed as my Saviour taught me, and exampled me Vt tansiret calix ista.  
That this Cup of red Wine might pass away from me, but since it is not that my will may, his will be done; and I shall most willingly drink of this Cup as deep as he pleases, and enter into this Sea, I and pass through it, in the way that he shall be pleased to lead me.  
And yet (Good people,) it would be remembered, That when the servants of God, old Israel, were in this boisterous Sea, and Aaron with them, the Egyptians which persecuted them, and did in a manner drive them into that Sea, were drowned in the same waters, while they were in pursuit of them: I know my God whom I serve, is as able to deliver me from this Sea of blood as he was to deliver the three Children from the furnace Daniel 3.  
And I must humbly thank my Saviour for it, my Resolution is now, as theirs was then: their Resolution was, They would not worship the Image which the King had set up: nor shall I the Imaginations which the people are setting up, nor will I forsake the Temple, and the truth of GOD, to follow the Bleating of jeroboam's Calves in Dan and in Bethel.  
And I pray God bless all this people, and open their eyes, that they may see the right way: For if it fall out that the blind lead the blind, doubtless they will both into the ditch: For myself, I am,) and I acknowledge it in all humility) a most grievous sinner many ways, by thought, word and deed, and therefore I cannot doubt but that God hath mercy in store for me a poor penitent, as well as for other sinners: I have upon this sad occasion, ransacked every corner of my heart, and yet I thank God, I have not found any of my sins that are there, any sins now deserving death by any known law of this kingdom: and yet thereby I charge nothing upon my Judges (I humbly beseech you I may be rightly understood, I charge nothing in the least degree upon my Judges) for they are to proceed by proof, by valuable Witnesses, and in that way I or any innocent in the world may justly be condemned: And I thank God, though the weight of the Sentence Jye very heavy upon me, yet I am as quiet within, as (I thank Christ for it) I ever was in my life: And though I am not only the first Archbishop, but the first man that died in this way, yet some of my predecessors have gone this way, though not by this means: For Elfegus was hurried away and lost his head by the Dans; and Simon Sudbury in the fury of Wat Tyler and his fellows: And long before these Saint John Baptist had his head danced of by a lewd woman, and Saint Cyprian Archbishop of Carthage submitting his head to a persecuting sword. Many examples great and good, and they teach me patience, for I hope my cause in Heaven will look of another dye then the colours, that is put upon it here upon earth, and some comfort it is to me, not only that I go the way of these great men in their several generations, but also that my charge (if I may not be partial) looks somewhat like that against S. Paul in the 25. of the Acts, for he was accused for the Law and the Temple, that is the Law and Religion: and like that of S. Stephen in the sixth of the Acts, for breaking the Ordinances which Moses gave us, which Ordinances were Law and Religion; but you'll say, do I then compare myself with the integrity of Saint Paul and Saint Stephen: no, God forbid, far be it from me: I only raise a comfort to myself that these great Saints and servants of God were thus laid up in their several times: And it is very memorable that Saint Paul who was one of them, and a great one, that helped on the accusation against Saint Stephen, fell afterwards into the self same accusation himself, yet both of them great Saints and servants of God, I but perhaps a great clamour there is, that I would have brought in popery, I shall answer that more fully by and by, in the mean time, you know what the Pharisees said against Christ himself in the eleventh of John, If ye let him alone, all men will believe on him Et veninnt Romani, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our Nation. Here was a causeless cry against Christ that the Romans would come, and see how just the Judgement of God was, they crucified Chriss for fear lest the Romans should come, and his death was that that brought in the Romans upon them, God punishing them with that which they most feared: and I pray God this clamour of veniunt Romani (of which I have given to my knowledge no just cause) help not to bring him in: for the Pope never had such a Harvest in England since the Reformation, as he hath now upon the Sects and divisions that are amongst us: in the mean time, by honour and dishonour, by good report and evil report, as a deceiver, and yet true, am I now passing out of this world.  
Some particulars also I think not amiss to speak of, and first this I shall be bold to speak of the King, our gracious sovereign, He hath been much traduced by some for labouring to bring in popery, but upon my conscience (of which I am now going to give God a present account) I know him to be as free from this Charge I think as any man living, and I hold him to be as sound a Protestant, according to the Religion by Law established as any man in this kingdom, and that he will venture his Life as far and as freely for it: and I think I do or should know both his affections to Religion, and His grounds upon which that affection is built, as fully as any man in England  
The second particular is concerning this great and populous City, which God bless: here hath been of late a fashion to gather bands, and then go to the Honourable and great Court of the kingdom, the Parliament, & clamour for Justice, as if that great & wise Court, (before whom the causes come which are unknown to many:) could not or would not do Justice, but at their call and appointment: a way which may endanger many innocent man, and pluck innocent blood upon their own heads, and perhaps upon this city also, which God forbid: and this hath been lately practised against myself, God forgive the setters of this, with all my heart I beg it, but many well meaning people are caught by it: In S. Stephen's case, when nothing else would serve, they stirred up the people against him, Acts 6. and Herod went just the self same way, for when he had killed Saint James, he would not venture upon S. Peter too, till he saw how the people took it, and were pleased with it, in the 12 of the Acts. But take heed of having your hands full of blood, in the first of Isaiah, for there is a time best known to himself, when God amongst other sins makes inquisition for blood: and when inquisition is on foot, Psalmest tells us, Psal. 9 that God remembers, that is not all, that God remembers and forgets not (saith the Prophet) the complaint of the poor, and he tells you what poor they are in the ninth verse, the poor whose blood is shed by such kind of means: Take heed of this, It is a fearful thing (at any time) to fall into the hands of the living God, in the 12. of the Hebrews: but it is fearful indeed, and then especially, when he is making his Inquisition for blood, and therefore with prayer to advert the prophecy from the city, let me desire that this my cup would remember the prophecy that is expressed, Ier. 26. 15  
The third particular, is this poor Church of England, that hath flourished and been a shelter to other neighbouring Churches, when storms have driven on them, but, alas, now it is in a storm itself, and God knows whether, or how it shall get out; and which is worse than a storm from without, it is become like an oak cleft to shivers with wedges made out of its own body, and that in every cleft profaneness and irreligion is creeping in apace: while as Prosper saith, Men that introduce, profaneness are cloacked with a name of imaginary religion: for we have in a manner almost lost the substance, and dwell much, nay too much a great deal in opinion: and that Church which all the Jesuits machinations in these parts of Christendom could not ruin, is now fallen into a great deal of danger by her own.  
The last particular (for I am not willing to be tedious, I shall hasten to go out of this miserable world) is myself, and I beseech you; as many as are within hearing, observe me: I was borne and baptised in the bosom of the Church of England, as it stands yet established by Law, in that profession I have ever since lived, and in that profession of the Protestant Religion here established I come now to die: this is no time to dissemble with God, lest of all in matter of Religion; and therefore I desire it may be remembered: I have always lived in the Protestant Religion established in England, and in that I come now to die: what clamours and Slanders I have endured labouring to keep an uniformity in the external service of God, according to the Doctrine and Discipline of this Church, all men knows, & I have abundantly felt: Now at last I am accused of high Treason in Parliament, a crime which my soul ever abhorred: This Treason was charged upon me to consist of two parts: An endeavour to subvert the Law of the realm, and a like to overthrow the true Protestant Religion established by those laws, Besides my answers which I gave to the several Charges, I protested my innocency in both Houses: It was said, Prisoners Protestations at the bar must not be taken de ipso: I can bring no witness of my heart, and the intentions thereof, therefore I must come to my Protestation, not at the bar, but to my Protestation at this hour and instant of death, in which (as I said before) I hope all men will be such charitable Christians as not to think I would die, and dissemble my Religion, I do therefore here, with that caution that I delivered before, without all prejudice in the world to my Judges, that are to proceed secundum allegata & probata, and so to be understood, I die in the presence of Almighty God, and all his holy and blessed Angels; and I take it now on my death, that I never endeavoured the subversion of the Laws of the realm, nor never any change of the Protestant Religion into Popish superstition, and I desire you all to remember this Protest of mine, for my innocency in these, and from all manner of Treasons whatsomever.  
I have been accused likewise as an enemy to Parliaments, no, God forbid, I understood them, and the benefits that comes by them, a great deal too well to be so; but I did indeed dislike some misgovernments (as I conceived) of some few one or two Parliaments: And I did conceive humbly that I might have reason for it; for corruptio optimi est pessima: There is no corruption in the world so bad, as that which is in the best thing itself, for the better the thing is in nature, the worse it is corrupted: And this being the highest and greatest Court, over which none other can have the jurisdiction in the kingdom, if any way a misgovernment (which God forbid) should any ways fall upon it, the subjects of this kingdom are left without all manner of remedy, and therefore God preserve them, bless them, and direct them, that there may be no misconceit, much less misgovernment amongst them. I will not enlarge myself any further, I have done, I forgive all the world, all and every of those bitter enemies, or others whatsoever they have been, which any wise prosecuted me in this kind, and I humbly desire to be forgiven first of God, and then of every man, whether I have offended him or no, if he do but conceive that I have, Lord do thou forgive me, and I beg forgiveness of him, and so I heartily desire you to join with me in prayer.  

The Bishop of Canterbury's first Praye● on the Scaffold.  
O eternal God, and most merciful Father, look down upon me in mercy, in the riches and fullness of all thy mercies, look down upon me, but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the cross of Christ: look upon me, but not till thou hast bathed me in the blood of Christ: look upon me, but not till I have hid myself in the wounds of Christ, that so the punishment that is due to my sins may pass away and go over me: And since thou art pleased to try me to the uttermost, I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant, full patience, and proportionable comfort a heart ready to die for thine honour, and the King's happiness, and the church's preservation, and my zeal to these, (far from arrogancy be it spoken, and all the inhuman frailty excepted, and all incidents thereunto) which is yet unknown of me in this particular, for which I now come to suffer, I say in this particular of Treason, but otherwise my sins are many and great, Lord pardon them all, and these especially, whatsoever they be, which have drawn down this present judgement upon me, and when thou hast given me strength to bear it, then do with me as seems best in thine own eyes: And carry me through death, that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me, and that there may be a stop of this issue of blood in this more than miserable kingdom. I shall desire that I may pray for the people too, as well as for myself: O Lord, I beseech thee give grace of repentance unto all people, that have a thirst for blood, but if they will not repent, then scatter their devices so, and such as are, or shall be contrary to the glory of thy great Name, the Truth and sincerity of Religion, the establishment of the King, and his posterity after him, in their just Rights, and privileges, the honour and conservation of Parliaments in their ancient and just power, the preservation of this poor Church in her truth, peace and patrimony, and the settlement of this distracted and distressed people under their ancient laws, and in their native Liberties, and when thou hast done all this, in mere mercy for them, O Lord, fill their hearts with thankfulness, and with religious dutiful obedience to thee and thy commandments all their days: So Amen, Lord Jesus, And I beseech thee, receive my soul to mercy. Our Father which art in Heaven. Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: But deliver us from evil,  
Amen.   
When he had finished his prayer, he gave his paper to Doctor Stern, saying, Doctor, I give you this, that you may show it to your fellow Chaplains, that they see how I am gone out of the world, and God's blessing and his mercy be upon them.  
Then turning to Master Hind, he said, Friend, I beseech you here me, I cannot say I have spoken every word as it is in my Paper, but I have gone very near it, to help my memory as well as I could: but I beseech you let me have no wrong done me.  Hind. 
Sir, you shall not, if I do any wrong, let it fall on my own head, I pray God have mercy upon your soul.  Cant. 
I thank you: I did not speak with any jealousy, as if you would do so, but I spoke it only as a poor man going out of the world, it is not possible for me to keep to the words of my paper, and a phrase may do me wrong.  
I did think here would have been an empty Scaffold, that I might have had room to die: I beseech you let me have an end of this misery, for I have endured it long.  
When room was made, he spoke thus; I'll pull off my Doublet, and God's will be done, I am willing to go out of the world: no man can be more willing to send me out, than I am willing to be gone.  Sir John Clathworthy. 
What special Text of Scripture now is comfortable to a man in his departure?  Cant. 
Cupio dissolvi & esse cum Christo.  Sir Clothworthy. 
That is a good desire, but there must be a ●●undation for that desire, as assurance.  Cant. 
No man can express it, it is to be found within.  Sir John Clothworthy. 
It is founded upon a word though, and that word would be known.  Cant. 
That word is the knowledge of Jesus Christ and that alone.  
And turning to the Executioner, he gave him money, saying, here honest friend, God forgive thee, and do thy office upon me in mercy.  
The Executioner desiring him to give some sign when he should strike, he answered, Yes, I will, but let me fit myself first.  
Then kneeling down on his knees, he prayed thus:  

The Bishop of Canterbury's last prayer on the Scaffold.  
LORD, I am coming as fast as I can, I know I must pass through the shadow of death before I can come to see thee, but it is but umbra mortis, a mere shadow of death a little darkness upon nature, but thou by thy merits and passion hast broke through the jaws of death: So Lord, receive my soul, and have mercy upon me, and bless this Kingdom with peace and plenty, and with brotherly love and charity, that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood among them, for Jesus Christ's sake, if it be thy will.   
And when he had said, Lord receive my soul (which was his sign) the Executioner did his office.  
FINIS.