The true and perfect SPEECHES Of Colonel JOHN GERHARD UPON The Scaffold at Tower-hill, on Monday last, and Mr. Peter Vowel at Charing-Cross, on Monday last, being ●he 11 of this instant July, 1654.  
With their Declarations to the People touching the 〈◊〉 of ●ts▪ their Protestations sealed with their blood; and their praȳe●s immediately before the fatal stroke of Death was struck.  
Likewise, the Speech of the Portugal Ambassadors Brother upon the Scaffold, his acknowledgement and Confession; And the g●●a● and wonderful Miracle that happened upon the putting of Mr. Gerard into the C●ffin.  
Taken by an Ear witness, and impartially communicated for general satisfaction.  
Imprinted at London for C. Horton, 1654.   

The true and perfect Speeches of Master Vowel Col. Gerard, and the Lord Ambassadors brother, at the places of Execution on Monday last, at Charing-Cross, and at Tower-Hill.  
Gentlemen,  
I Am this day brought hither to suffer as a traitor, upon an Impeachment of high Treason, a thing which I was never guilty of, and in the presence of God I here speak it, never did my thoughts in the least ever centre upon any such thing; though the High Court of Justice were pleased to affirm, that I had endeavoured to make the Lord Protector odious to the people, in turning the Design unto him by a libel, which was scattered up and down London, that his Highness and the Army had a design to massacre all but their friends in all parts of England; and for endeavouring to bring in my master the King, for whose Ca●se I am here brought to the place of execution, to s●ffer upon the Cross, as my blessed Lord and Saviou● hath done before me. And truly Gentlemen, though my Death be an untimely and ignominious Death, yet it seems not in the least either dreadful or terrible; for, blessed be the Name of the Lord, that hath taken away the sting thereof, and ind●ed me with his holy and divine Spirit, whereby I am supported with those inward Comforts, that so soon a● I have submitted my neck to the Rope, and received the fatal Turn, I shall then arrive at the Haven of Happiness, there to participate of those eternal felicities, prepared for all those that live and die in Christ Jesus, through whose merits, and by whose passion, I do absolutely believe to have a general remission of all my sins and transg●essions.  
As for those things laid to my charge before the High Court of Justice, I do utterly protest against them, having not in the least acted any thing, and withal being de●ied that which every freeborn Englishman may claim as his sole and only birth right, that is,  
Magna Charta.  
So that being over awed by my Judges, I here die innocently before my Equals, being leer and free from the guilt of any Treason in the least.  
And I do her● protest in the presence of Almighty God, that it is for no other thing that they thirst after my blood, but my Loyalty to the King, (as it appears to me) whom the great J●h●vah preserve, keep, and d●fend And truly Gentlemen soldiers, to you I now speak, that I can do no loss then tell you, that you are all deluded, misled, and blinded;—  
but being interrupted by the Sheriff, he was not permitted to speak any further in that particular.  
Well then, I have done, 'tis for my Royal sovereign that I am h●●e to sacrifice my life, therefore I beseech you G●●tlemen le● no man be d●nted or dismayed at my death; for I bless God I have not the least fear of terror within, but am confident that I shall have a smile in heaven, when some may receive a frown: And so the Lord bless, keep, and preserve you in the pure and unspotted bonds of true friendship and Loyalty  
After which, the Executioner put the Rope about his neck, and prayers being ended, he did his office.  
And when he had hung about the space of half an hour, he was then cut down, and carried to the sign of the Bell, where many friends met him, and from thence carried him in a Co●ch likewise to Islington, where a great funeral is prepared for him.  
His death is much lamented by any, being a Gentleman of exquisite parts, and of singular knowledge, more fit indeed for a councillor, than a War●ike Officer.   

About five of the clock in the Afternoon, Col. Gerard was guarded from the Tower to the Scaffold on Tower-hill, being accompanied by the Lieutenant, and divers other Gentlemen; but coming to the stairs, he nimbly ran up, and smiling saluted Col. Barkstead with a cup of Sack, and then walked up and down the scaffold with an undauted spirit. After which, he called the Executioner to him, desiring to see the block, which he took in his hand, and saluted it: Then he went to the head of the Scaffold, and putting off his hat to the Auditors spoke as followeth:  
GENTLEMEN,  
PRovidence having allotted me the time of my death, the manner of my death, and the hour of my death, I am bound out of Christian Duty, and a Loyal Conscience, to acknowledge these singular favours, and to return all due honour and praise for these his great mercies; but for what I stand impeached for by my Judges, in reference to high Treason, my innocency therein does justly acquit me of the guilt thereof; so that I cannot but make this inference and construction upon the judgement passed against me in Court, that I was not thought worthy to live, because I lived to love the King my Master. And thus much I do here ingenuously declare, that if I had as many lives as hairs upon my head, willingly should I sacrifice them in his Cause; and under his Banner, my Loyalty shall now issue forth with streams of blood, being assured, that after my passing through the violent Billows of this raging sea, I shall then arrive at the eternal Haven of happiness, and there sing hallelujah with my glorious father in heaven, who is the most high and omnipotent Protector, of all the low and inferior Protectors here on Earth. And after some conference and prayer with the Minister, with an affable countenance, he cast off his Doublet, and putting on a white waistcoat, and a linen Cap, he then went to prayers, where immediately after taking leave of his friends, he prostraced himself before the block; and laying his head down, rose up again, and said, Gentlemen, when I am dead and gone, rememmber you have a Royal sovereign; and the Lord unite your hearts and affections unto him After which, he willingly submitted himself to the block, and the Executioner coming to him, to ask forgiveness, and know the sign; He replied, the Lord forgive thee for I cannot. But when I lift up my right hand, do thy office;  
and accordingly the sign b●●●g given, the Executioner did his office, and at one blow severed his head from his shoulders; which being done, the head and the body were both put into a Coffin, & so carried off the Scaffold.  
Then the Portugal Ambassadors brother was guarded up to the Scaffold, being extremely dejected in spirit, and in a mourning Gown, where he endeavoured (by way of speech) to plead innocency; and then by his Interpreter to impute the chief Cause of the Riot and Murder to the English; but this was only grounded by the way of excuse; so that such circumstances proved superfluous; and after his Confession to the Priest, the absolving him of his sins, and the resigning up of the Crucifix, he likewise submitted to the block, & at two blows, and a race, his head was severed from his shoulders.  
One thing more is observable, that these two Gentlemen, which this day underwent the fatal stroke, were the first that began the d●spute at the Exchange; and moreover, that Mr. Gerard's hands when he was in the Coffin, were seen to move, and lift up the Lid thereof.   
FINIS.