Sir Charles Lucas HIS LAST SPEECH At the place of Execution, where he was shot to Death. Dept the 7th London Printed for R. Smithurst, near Pie-corner, 1648. HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms THE SUBSTANCE Of the first Speech by Sir Charles Lucas, After notice was given Him that he must be shot to death. gentlemans Soldiers. AS I am a freeborn Englishman, I desire that I may have the benefit of the Laws of the Land: That I may see my accusers, and plead face to face: and have liberty to put in my Answer, and be tried by indifferent Judges. Was it ever known that a man did suffer in this kind in cold blood, by such an order as this, after a surrender by Treaty, upon terms of Mercy, Oh what mercy can there be in death, save only that one kind is not so bitter as another. I do humbly desire this favour (if it may be) that I may have the liberty to speak with the Lord General, by whose power I am thus condemned to suffer death: I have something which I would impart unto His Excellency, that I hope may give him such satisfaction, as may cause this bloody cloud to be removed from over my head. Sir Charles Lucases last speech which He made at the place of Execution. Good people, I Am now to pay that debt which we all own, every man must die, that is most certain, but how, or when is not known to any, It is my chance now, (though unhappily in blood) none of you know when it may be any of your turns. As for my offence it is (you all know) for maintaining His Majesty's Cause, which hath been according to my judgement, and I believe that I went the right way, And I am sure I was firm to that Cause I undertook. But seeing I must die, and that there is no way to obtain mercy, but that I must now finish my course in this way, to which I beseech Almighty God to assist me, to die with comfort in my Saviour. I bequeath my soul into the hands of my Maker, God the Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost, three Persons, and one God; Oh! do thou my Lord God almighty (for my blessed Saviour the Lord Jesus sake) receive my soul to eternal glory. I have lived a Protestant and a Protestant here I die, in the faith of the Church of England, that hath been established so many years. As for my body, I do desire you that it may be decently carried to my own house, and that my friends my have liberty to inter it with my Ancestors, and set it in the vault of the Church where they were laid before me; And in the interim, that there be no incivility offered to my body here, when I am dead, and that my corpse may remain quiet without molestation when it is carried away. As for these Soldiers who stand ready to shoot me, I yield my life to their hands, and I pray God to forgive them, I do freely from my heart forgive them. And so to thee O Lord I commend my soul, Lord Jesus receive my spirit, Oh Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, receive my soul to thy mercy, Come Lord Jesus receive my soul. (And so being shot, he fell down and died.) A Speech made by C. R. one of the Lord General's Officers, in answer to Sir Charles Lucas his first speech Sir Charles, You have surrendered this Garrison upon mercy, which word mercy you desired might be explained, which was accordingly by your Commissioners and ours, the explanation you well know was, that you should be rendered to us with certain assurance of Quarter, so as the Lord General may be free, to put some immediately to the sword, (if we see Cause) And do you now dispute the case against yourself, and your own Act. His Excellency (you know) may execute you all (all the chief Officers among you) And that he saves any it is mercy. Now that he causeth you, and some few others to be executed, and saves all the rest, how can you call it cruelty? A second Speech, Spoken by a private Soldier. Sir Charles, DO you not remember, that when we delivered up Froome Garrison (as I take it) to yourself, upon fair Quarter, you notwithstanding killed two of us with your own hand, and of forty hanged fourteen more of us afterwards, notwithstanding the surrender, and your engagement to give Quarter. FINIS.