THE SPEECH OF Major John Harris AT The place of Execution, near St. Mary Axe, on Monday the Third of September, 1660.  
With his Prayer immediately before his Death; And his Confession touching his appearing on the Scaffold before White-Hall, at the most horrid Murder of our late Gracious sovereign Lord King Charles.  
London, Printed for Nathaniel Bryan, 1660.   

THE SPEECH OF Maj. John Harris, AT The place of Execution, on Monday the Third of September, near St Mary Axe: With his Confession, touching his appearing on the Scaffold at the horrid and most detestable Murder of our late Gracious sovereign, &c.  
SInce the Exploit put upon the Ginny Mer-chant by Major John Harris; who counterfeiting the Hand and Seal of Cromwell the Tyrant, presumed to demand some hundreds of pounds from them, ●y a spec●ous pre●ence of Authority & Commission from the said Tyrant, which he obtained; And having something in Arrear, as he said, and falling into Poverty, Necessity invited him to use his Wits once more, (which proved his last;) For, upon his going to one Mr. De Noy a Merchant, with a Guard of soldiers, pretending the Lord chancellor's Warrant, he caused the doors to be broke open, entered the house, and carried away about 12. pounds in money. From thence he went to Capt. Halls at Redriff, about 2 or 3 of the clock in the morning and in like manner entered his house, carrying away a very considerable sum: Which being done, he gave the soldiers 30 shillings to drink, and dismissed them, immediately betaking himself to his house at Lambeth Marsh: But he was in few hours pursued, and by a Warrant apprehended, and committed to Newgate, where he remained till the last Sessions: At which being tried, he was found guilty of Burglary, and received Sentence of Death to be executed near St. Mary axe, not far from the place where the Merchant lived: Which accordingly on Monday the 3d instant, was put in execution, being carried from Newgate, with his Coffin, in a Cart; But before we proceed to his Speech, we shall only give a touch of his Confession; Which was, That he protested against the having any hand in the late King's Death, and that he was only upon the Scasfold with a half pike, being commanded thither by some Commission-Officers, &c. But the time of execution drawing nigh, he was required to hasten; & being come to the place where he was to breathe his last he addressed himself to the People (wringing his hands) as followeth:  

CHristian Friends, As my time in this world is very short, so is the breath of my Nostrils ready to depart; I am exceeding faint and weak the Lord (in mercy) enable me to undergo this bitter Cup; the Dregs, I confess, I deserve; but I hope God will forgive me my sins, since I conceive it is very much his pleasure to bring me to this place for the sins that I have committed. It is the Lord's affliction, blessed be his Name. And though I desire, as I am carnal, that this Cup may depart from me, yet not my will, but the Lords be done. Death brings unto the Godly an end of sinning, and of all miseries due unto sin, so that after death there shall be no more sorrow, nor cry, or pain, for God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; by death our souls shall be delivered from thraldom, and this corruptible body shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality. I beseech you pray for me, and join with me in this my last prayer.  

His Prayer a little before his Death.  
WElcome blessed hour, welcome Death, the period of my Pilgrim●ge, the term of my Bondage, the end of my Cares, the close of my sins, the bound of my Travels, the Gaol of my Race, and the Haven of my hopes; I have fought a long fight in much weakness, I have finished my course though in great faintness, and the Crown of my joy is, through the strength of Divine Grace, I have kept the true Faith: And now what is my hope? my hope Lord Jesus is even in thee, for I know that thou my Redeemer livest, and that thou wilt immediately receive my Soul, and raise up my body also at the last Day. And now, O Lord, let thy Spirit of Comfort help mine infirmities, and make supplication for me with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed; I submit myself wholly to thy Will, I commit my Soul to thee as my faithful Redeemer, who hast bought it with thy most precious blood. I confess, I know no name under heaven by which I may be saved▪ but thine my Jesus, my Saviour; I re●ounce all confidence in any merits save thine. I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I unfeignedly bewail all my sins, I stodfastly believe all thy promises, I heartily forgive all my Enemies, I willingly leave all my Friends, and I entirely long for thy coming. Come Lord Jesus come quickly; Lord Jesus receive my Spirit.  
Then pulling his Cap over his Eyes, he prayed again very fervently, putting up divers short E●aculations; As, Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit, for thou hast redeemed it; O God, thou God of Truth; Lord Jesus, receive my Soul; Sweet Saviour into thy hands I commit my Spirit; and so he yielded to Death.    
FINIS