The last Speeches AND CONFESSION OF THE Lord Maguire: The Irish REBEL, that was Hanged at Tyburn, and Drawn, and Quartered on Thursday last, the 20th. of February, 1644. With all the Questions that were put to him, and his several Answers. And the Copies of those Letters, and other Papers which he then had in his hands and made use of, that were afterwards delivered to Sheriff Gibbs. And his Directory from the Romish Priests that gave him notice by the said papers to know them, in passing to Tyburn with him; Also his several Absolutions secretly given him, and all other passages at his death. Printed and Published according to Order. Imprinted at London, by jane Coe. The last speeches, and confession of the Lord Maguire the Irish Rebel. On Thursday, Feb. 20. the Lord Maguire was drawn upon a sledge from the Tower of London, through the city unto Tyburn which being c●●●e and the cart set ready he kneeled upon the sledge and prayed for sometime after which the Sheriff spoke to him as followeth. viz. Sheriff Gibs. MY Lord Maguire; It is now the last Declaration you are like to make in this world; Here you stand justly condemned to be executed for a very heinous crime, as is not paralleled by any History that was ever mentioned in the Christian world, taking all circumstances and their manner of proceed, if you have done this, that you have done without any confession, why then certainly you have much innocent blood lies upon you, and much to answer for at the judgement Seat of God: It is one of the ten Commandments. Thou shalt not kill. There are many thousands, yea I may say hundred of thousands whose blood you & your complices have taken away: Men, and women, and children, such as you never saw, such as never did you any injury, and not only so, but they were your fellow Subjects, and were of the same cohabitation with you: you have now to answer for all this, as 'twas a confederacy wherein you were engaged, My Lord, you have been an ingenious man as I have been told: you have been bred in Magdalene College in Oxford, where you took the oath of Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord the King: contrary to this oath; you took upon you to surprise His Castles and slay his subjects without any Commission as you declare yourself, therefore now make some acknowledgement, and give us the best satisfaction that you can that you do hold it a very grievous sin, and that you are hearty sorry for it. Maguire. God Almighty forgive me. Sher. Sir we desire you before this people here to express your sense of those horrid actions. Maguire. I desire Almighty God to forgive me my fi●●●. Sheriff Gibs. Do you believe you did well in those wicked actions. Mag. I have but a short time do not trouble me. Sher. Gibs. Sir, It is just I should trouble you, that you may not be troubled for ever. Mag. I beseech you Sir, trouble me not I have but a little time to spend. Sher. Gibs. Sir, I shall give you as much time after as you shall spend to give satisfaction to the people: I do require you as an instrument set in God's stead here to make an acknowledgement to the people, whether you are sorry for what you have done or no? Whether it be good or no? Maguire. I beseech you, do not trouble me. Sheriff. I have told you, I would give you as much time afterward as I shall take up. Mag. I am not disposed to give you any Account. Doctor Sibbalds'. If the blood of one Man, of Abel, cried to heaven for vengeance, how much more shall the blood of many thousands: Oh give glory to God by confession of your sins, never any perished for want of mercy: Christ Jesus is full of mercy. Make a faithful and humble confession, and there is pardon with God: God pardoned Manasseh the greatest Idolater that ever was; the sea of his Mercy is bottomless. Mag. Pray give me leave to pray. Doctor Sibbalds'. Give glory to God that your soul may not be presented to God with the blood of so many thousand people. Sheriff. You are either to go to heaven or hell, if you not make an ingenious confession, your case is desperate. Had you any commission or no. Mag. I tell you that there was no Commission that ever I saw. Doctor Sib. How then do you think to escape the judgement of the great God, when you shall live, and die in such an outrageous sin as this is; Sher. Who were actors or plotters with you, or gave you any Commission? Mag. For God sake give me leave that I may departed in p●●ce. D. Sib. There is no dissembling now: you are with in a few min●●s to be presented before the Tribu●●●ll of that great Judge who will reward every man according to their deeds. There is mercy with God, the penitent received mercy at the hour of death. Christ Jesus Arms are still open with mercy for the penitent. Sher. Had you not some pardon or Bull from the Pope for what you did? I desire you as a Minister of God to declare the truth? Mag. I am not of the same Religion with you. Doct. Sib. All your Religions agree in that: without confession there is no salvation. Alder. Bunch. My Lord, Be pleased to remember that text in the Revelation of the souls that lie under the Altar crying for God to avenge their blood; those souls that are in heaven now, where your soul must go or else go to hell. Pray therefore, That God would give you a real and unfeigned repentance for all your sins: Believe that there is a God will bring vengeance upon you if you confess not; Do you know of any Bull or pardon. Mag. I saw none of it. All that I knew of I delivered in my examinations. Sher. Have you any pardon from the Pope. Mag. I saw none. Doct. Sib. I beseech you my Lord in the name of God to discover the truth. Mag. What will you have me to speak? Sher. What inducements moved you to it? Mag. All that I said in my examinations are true, all that I said is right. I beseech you. Let me departed in peace. Sher. What grounds moved you first to attempt this? Mag. I have delivered all this in my examination; Gentlemen I beseech you to let me departed in peace. Sher. Whither was that a sin or not to shed so much innocent blood. Mag. For God's sake Gentlemen I have— Sher. Sir will you die like a stock, will you go to hell without mercy, and not acknowledge your sorrowfulness for that foul crime? D. Sib. Do you think a Jesuit will pardon you when you will not confess: The question is, whether your Honour do think you did well or ill in this bloody Act? Here he answered not but continued mumbling over a paper as he had done from his coming; whereupon it being asked what the paper was. Sher. It is a Directory for his Devotion. D. Sib. You are going to hell or heaven; oh discharge your conscience: Do you know any plot or any thing is prejudicial to the State of England, Discover it now. Mag. I know nothing indeed. Sher. Do you know any thing that is hurtful to the Parliament 〈◊〉 State? Mag. I know nothing, I have been a close prisoner. Sher. I but since you were abroad, since you broke prison. Mag. Truly I know nothing of it. D. Sib. His crime is blood especially the blood of so many thousand souls. He makes use of his paper to poor on, It's a dead letter unless you read it. Sher. Search his pockets whether he hath no Bull or pardon. Here his pockets were searched where they found some Beads and a Crucifix which were taken from him. D. Sib. Come my Lord, Leave those and acknowledge your offence to God and the world: one drop of the blood of jesus Christ is able to purge away all the heavy load of blood that is upon you. Sher. You do not desire such favour from our hands, unless you were more ingenious than you are. D. Sib. My Lord, no more of these it is not your Ave-maries' not these things will do you any good but it is Agnus Dei qui tollit pe●●a●● mundi. Then the L. Maguire read out of a paper as followeth. Mag. Since I am here to die I desire to departed with a quiet mind; and with the marks of a good Christian, that is, ask forgiveness, first of God, and next of the world. And I do forgive (from the bottom of my heart) all my enemies, and Offenders even those that have a hand in my death I die a Roman Catholic, and although I have been a great sinner yet am I now by God grace hearty sorry for all my sins, and I do most confidently trust to be saved (not by my own works but only by the Passion, Merits, and mercy, of my dear Saviour Jesus Christ Into whose hands I commend my soul. I beseech you Gentlemen let me have a little time to say my prayers. Sher. Sir, if you will answer ingeniously to those questions we shall ask you, you shall have time afterwards: Whether do you account the shedding of the protestants blood to be a sin or not? And whether do you desire pardon of God for that sin. Mag. I do desire pardon of God for all my sins. I cannot resolve you in any thing for my part. Sher. You can tell what your conscience Dictates to you; Do you think it was a sin or not; Declare it, and when you have dealt ingeniously and faithfully with us, we will deal well with you. Mag. For my part I cannot determine it. Sher. Then now it seems nothing to you to kill so many. Mag. How do you mean killing of them? To tell you my mind directly for the kill I do not know that, but I think the Irish had a just cause for their Wars. Sher. Was there any assault made upon you, had you not entered into a Covenant; had you not engaged by oath yourself to your King? Mag. For jesus Christ I beseech you to give me a little time to prepare myself. Sher. Have pity upon your own Soul. Mag. For God sake have pity upon me and let me say my prayers. Sher. I say the like to you, in relation to your own Soul; whether do you think the massacre of so many 1000 Protestants was a good act, for jesus Christ's sake have pity upon your own soul. Mag. Pray let me have a little time to say my prayers. Sher. So much good blood spilt and spent by you, and yet no remorse? Hear one of the Sheriffs demanding his paper which he had in his hand, he threw it down and thereupon it was taken up and given to the Sheriff. D. Sib. Acknowledge your own crimes and bloodshed; is it a sin or not that massacre that hath been committed? Mag. I told you my opinion that I thought the Irish had just cause for the War, in what they had done, Sher. Ch. You that have murdered so many as you have done with your own hands, and no more penitent? D. Sib. No, he was taken before he could act his designs, he was a prime engine and confederate amongst them. Sher. If this be all we can get of you, you must stand or fall to your own master. Hear he expected to be suddenly turned off, and thereupon fell to his prayers: uttering the word Jesus about 20. or 30. times together Sher. My Lord before you die, we desire but one question and that is this: whether there were not some Agreement made by the Commissioners that came over out of Ireland before the Rebellion first broke out with the Recusants here in England and whether they did not come back for further advice. Mag. I take it upon my death I do not know that any man knew of it. Sh. Then you cake it upon your death you do not remember it. Mag. Of this fact wherein I am in barqued, in that I am brought into this trouble for, for which I was taken in Dublyn; to my best memory or remembrance there was never a one in England, either Catholic or Protestant but one, and he was an Irish man and a Protestant. Sher. Where is he now, is he in England? Mag. I know not where he is, but he was in this Town. D. Sib. Do you not know of any English man or Sc●tch man that did know of it? you will do very well to declare it. Sher. It was one of your Country men that was in this Town your Conscience doth make you intimate thus much that he is in England, tell us his name and where he is. Mac. Nay in that excuse me Sher. Is he a Lord or what is he? Mag. He is but a Gentleman, a Gentleman. Sher. Where does he lie, or what manner of man is he? discover, discharge your Conscience and then you will die with more mercy and comfort I hope. Sher. Ch. My Lord, will you declare that Gentleman's name? Mag. You must excuse me, I will accuse no man; he was never any man that came to know of it but by chance, not as he was an Actor in it. Shr. Will you go to Hell for him and yourself, he may live to do more mischief, prepare yourself for death. Mag. I do beseech all the Catholics that are here to pray for me, I beseech God to have mercy upon my Soul. Here when the Cart was going away, notice was given him of a Lord who was there. Ald. Bunch. Hear is a Baron of Ireland, a Lord of Jreland that sat in Parliament with your Honour, if you have any thing to say to him, or will discover any thing to him. Mag. I have nothing to say to him. After this the Executioner did his office A copy of the Papers which the L. Macquire carried in his hand to the place of execution, which were delivered to the Sheriff. A Letter of some of the friends of the L. Macguire, who (it seems) intended to attend him to the place of Execution. Most loving Sir, MY Master his Coach shall wait on you infallibly. That day your friend William shall go by the Coach all the way, upon a red horse, with a white hat, and in a grey jacket, We may see what need there is that the Officers of Prisons (that look to the Prisons) be purged. and then you cannot choose (by the grace of God) but to know the Coach, of two whitish grey horses, and then you may do or show that token only, as to lift up to your face your hand, nodding (or inclining down) your head, and there shall go two or three (divers) Coaches for the same purpose, and be sure to have plenary Physic as you desire. I send you this holy stone, by the virtue whereof you may gain a plenary Physic, in saying any certain prayer, I beseech you dear Sir, be of good courage, for you shall not want any thing, for that happy journey, and offer you yourself wholly for him, who did the same for you. Pray earnestly for your Country, and for your own sons, that God may prosper them, I do humbly entreat you to pray for me. Yours own poor afflicted servant. Your poor Grace. This was in the margin of the Letter, as it were a postscript. You shall do well to send your letters to morrow to that young man that comes to me, and the wooden Cross that I have sent there of late, I beseech you send me word, whether the Reliquary that came along with those two Crosses was your or your companions * Macmohan- Hugh. These words following were in an Irish Character. more mhile beannacht chugad a mhic mhanma. In English, My thousand blessings unto you, son of my soul. This following was in a paper in Latin, (being, as it seems, the advice of his Confessor to him) which is here translated. BEloved son in Christ, believe, almighty God, who governs all the world by his eternal providence, hath appointed this way to thy salvation, and this manner of death, though he could have brought thee to the land of bless by another way, knew this to be more expedient. Therefore (my son) thou shouldest suffer this glorious kind of death which thy God hath ordained for thee, with an elevated mind, yea thou shouldest desire it certainly this kind of death is a great mercy of God. Is it not a special gift of God, to have a certain time of sorrow and repentance for offences committed? O with how great a desire did the Kingly Prophet David wish, that he might know the length of his days! expostulating thus with God, Make me O Lord to know my end and the number of my days. This kind of death is granted to many, Psal. 36. who rather with a perverse mind with an improvident death fault to suffer everlasting punishment. David being weary of the miseries and dangers of the present life, said, Woe is me, because my pilgrimage is prolonged, as if the time of his banishment seemed long; besides Paul says, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? Rom. 7. And out of a desire of living in the land of the living, he said, I desire to be dissolved, Plil. 1. and to be with Christ. Therefore (my Lord) bear this death which now hangs over your head, with a quiet mind●, for Christ died for you; therefore fervently meditate with the eyes of your heart, upon this bitter death of Christ, and his torments. See,— These Lines following were written on the backside of the paper, part of it being before come, and no more brought by him then what is here. — his kingdom shall move thee, and far, into thy hands I commend my spirit, Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth; Thou hast created me, oh my God, Thou hast redeemed me, O most holy Father I am all thine: let thy will be done in me; illuminate mine eyes that I may never sleep in death: Thou shalt invocate blessed Mary, for thy helper, saying: Marry the Mother of grace, the Mother of mercy; do thou protect us, from the enemy, and receive us in the hour of death, thou shalt invocate also Saint Michael, the Archangel, and the Angel thy keeper, and the holy Patrons. And lastly, all the Saints, that they may intercede for thee and help thee with their prayers and merits, thou shalt also recite these words: O Lord Jesus Christ, I believe, that thou art my God and my Redeemer; and I firmly believe whatsoever the holy catholic Church propounds to be believed, and profess that I will live and die in this faith. It grieves me that I have offended so great goodness, and it grieves me that I can grieve no more for my offences committed against thee, my Creator and Saviour, in thought, word and deed, and by omission: and I humbly beseech thee to pardon me by thy blood, which thou hast poured out for my salvation; and if I have forgot any thing which hath offended thy Majesty, or do not know it, I desire to know it, and repent of it. And in the mean time I ask forgiveness of all: and likewise for thy sake do from my heart pass by all offences whereby others have offended me: Also I pray them to forgive me, & if I have detained any thing from any man, my heirs shall make restitution to them, to whom ought is due. CRede (dilecte in Christo fili) Deum optimum maximum, qui mundum hunc universum aeterna quadam mentis provisione moderatur; hanc salutis turewam, & hunc modu moriendi statuisse: qui quidem quamvis te ad foelicitatis patriam alio tramite ducere potuisset, magis hoc tibi expedire praecognovit. Ergo (mi fili) hoc genus gloriosum mo●tis, quod Dominus Deus sic tibi ordinavit, erecto animo perferas, quinetiam cxoptes. Certe hujusmodi mors magnum Der beneficium est; nonne speciase donum Dei est, habere certum tempus dolendi & poenitendi de offensis commissis contra suam divinam Majestatem? O quanto desiderio expostulavit sibi dari certum & notum vitae suae. spatium regius Propheta David, expostulans a Deo sic! Notum fac mihi Domine finem meum, & numerum drerum meorum. Hoc genus mortis enim quamplurimis est concessum, qui perverso potius animo improvisa morte ceciderunt, poenas daturi sempiternas. David pertaesus miserias, & pericula praesentis vitae, dicebat, Heu mihi quia incolatus meus prolongatus est; quasi longum illi videretur tempus cxilii. Beatus Paulus dicebat, Infelix ego, quis me liberabit à corpore mortis hujus? Et ex desiderio vivendi in terra viventium, dicebat, Cupio dissolui, & esse cum Christo. Ideo (mi Domine) hanc mortem, quae tibi jam imminet, aquo animo pro Christo acerbiter pro te mortuo, seras. Hanc amariffimam Christi mortem, tormenta, & caeteras oculis tui cordis serventer meditare. Vide,— These Lines following were written on the backside of the paper, part of it being before come, and no more brought by him then what is here. — gni sui tepromovent, & dicas, In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum, redemisti me Domine Deus veritatis: Tu me creasti Deus meus, tu me redemisti: Pater sanctissime, totus sum tuus, fiat in me voluntas tua; illumina oculos meos, ne unquam obdormiam in morte. Beatam Mariam invoces in auxiliatricem, dicendo, Maria mater gratiae, mater misericordiae, tu nos ab hoste protege, & in hora mortis suscipe. Invoces etiam Sanctum Michaelem Archangelum, & Angelum custodem, & sanctos Patronos, & demum omnes Sanctos, ut intercedent prote, & adjuvent te suis suffragiis & meritis. Recites etiam haec verba: Domine Jesus Christ, credo quod Deus meus, & Redemptor meus es tu, & credo firmiter quicquid sancta Ecclesia catholica proponit credendum, & in hac protestor me velle vivere & mori. Domine Jesus, dolet mihi, quod tantam bonitatem offenderim, & dolet, quod amplius non doleo de offensis, contrate Creatorem & Salvatorem meum, cogitatione, verbo, & opere, & omissione perpetratis, & humiliter peto mihi condonari per sanguinem tuum quem pro mea salute profudisti. Et si quid oblitus sum, vel non cognosco quod Majestatem tuam offenderit, de eo illuminari cupio, & poenitere; & interim de omnibus veniam peto: omnibus qui me offenderunt, ex corde meo, & similiter omnes offensas propter te dimitto, & si quem ego offendi, precor etiam veniam mihi dari, & si aliquid alicujus est apud me, volo satisfacere per haeredem meum, omnibus quibus debeo. The Copy of another paper, containing a direction for his devotion in his passage to, and at the place of execution, sent from his ghostly Father with the former. Jesus. IHS Maria. In your passage to execution remember as followeth. To think on our Lord carrying his Cross to Mount Calvarie. Or on the proper meditation against the devil's temptations. Think that the pain is short, the reward eternal and everlasting. Have mercy on me O God, etc. Miserere mei Deus, etc. Lord not in thy wrath. Domine ne in furore tuo. The first penitential Psalm. Our Father. Hail Mary. Pater noster. Ave Maria. In thee O Lord have I trusted, let me never be confounded in thy justice. In te Domine speravi, non confundar in aeternum in tua justitia. By the mystery of thy holy incarnation, O Lord deliver us. Per mysterium sanctae incarnationis tuae libera nos Domine. Sanctify me with the Spirit of Christ. Anima Christi sanctifica me Thou soughtest me being weary Quaerens me sedisti lassus. I humbly pray. Oro supplex. O holy Angels. Sancti Angeli. We fly to thee for aid, o holy Mother of God. Subatuum praesidium confugimus sancta Dei genet●●● Remember o maker of all things Memento rerum conditor. Remember the promises of God, That none shall be tempted, etc. Call upon me in the day of etc. Come to me all ye that be heavy, etc. It is very probable this paper might be sent to him from some of those Priests that are in Newgate. When you come to Newgate make your Token for an Absolution. When come to the place of Execution, do as followeth. O Lord Jesus Christ, I worship thee in the Cross etc. O Domine Jesus Christ, adoro to in Cruse, etc. Hail sweet Mother of Christ, etc. Ave dulcis Mater Christi, etc. O holy Lady Mary.— Domina mea Sancta Maria. Lord now let thy servant departed, etc. Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine. Miserere mei Deus. Have mere you me o God. Quaerens me sedisti lassus. Thou soughtest me being weary Oro supplex & acclivis. I humbly pray on my knees. Tu fons misericordia. Thou art the fountain of mercy This was written but crossed out again, and another paper pinned upon it, written in another manner, which also doth follow Pray for the Church of Ireland, M. Great, say, Jesus Maria three times for an Indulgence, also a Pater, and an Ave, and jesus Maria three times for the same end. Then make either of these tokens, stretch out your hands in form of a Cross, or (if you cannot) do so, join them together before your breast, with a handkerchief twisted about your hand, (with sorrow for your sins, and earnestly desiving absolution of the Church) and God will absolve you. Before you make this token, settle on your desire and say, I desire an absolution etc. and say, Confiteor Deo omnipotemi, I confess me to Almighty God, and then make your token etc. This paper was pinned upon that which was crossed out. Then say, O Amabilissima Bonitas! Confiteor Dea, with sorrow for your sins, and settle your heart earnestly to desire an absolution from the Church (and I desire an absolution) make your token (or mark) of lifting both your hands to your face, and letting fall your hand kerchief, God will absolve you. After that pray for you menemies and persecuters, and forgive them from the bottom of your heart. Then willingly resign yourself wholly to the B. will of God and trust only to be saved by the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Then say these words following (publicly) that you may be heard. Did not Canterbury die just in this manner? Since I am here to die, I desire to departed with a quiet mind, and with the marks of a good Christian, that is, ask forgiveness first of God, and next of the world. And I do forgive (from the bottom of my heart) all my enemies offenders, even those that have had a hand in my death. Say moreover. I die a Roman Catholic, and although I have been a great sinner, yet am I now (by God's grace) hearty sorry for all my sins. And I do most confidently trust to be saved not by any of my own works, but only by the passion merits and mercy of my dear Saviour Jesus Christ, into whose hands I commend my soul. Offer to God for your sins the merits of his Son Jesus. Offer all thy sufferings to our Saviour in union of what he suffered. Lastly say, O Lord jesus Christ. Domine Jesus Christ. For that bitterness. Propter illam amaritudinem. Thou soughtest me being weary Quaerens me sedisti lassus. I humbly pray on my knees. Oro supplex & acclivis. Thou art the fountain of mercy Tu fons misericordiae. It seems the Priest was in sight to give it him. Resign yourself willingly and wholly to God. Upon the ladder make your sign for an Absolution, and say, I desire with all my heart an absolution from my mother the Catholic Church for my sins. The whole Trial of the L. Macquire should have been published ere this, but it could not be ready so suddenly: this being of such concernment, is thought fit to be published in the interim. FINIS.