The true Speeches of COLONEL JOHN PENRUDDUCK, AND HUGH GROVE: Delivered on the Scaffold at Exeter Castle, May the 17.th, 1655.  
Wretched Man that I am; who shall deliver me from this body of Death?  
Gentlemen, it hath been the custom of all Prisoners, when they come to Die, to discharge themselves, in order, to the satisfaction of the World; whether, they are guilty of the Fact, they stand charged of, or no? The crime for which I am to Die; it is high Treason (as they say.) I must confess I was at South-molton in this County: But whether my being there, or my actions there, do amount to so high a crime, as high Treason: I leave to the world to judge? If I were guilty to myself, of any base end, I had in these my Undertake; I would not be so injurious to my own soul, or so disingenuous to you, as, not to make a public acknowledgement thereof: I believe, divers persons, as they are biased by their several Interests, and relations, will give their opinions to the world concerning me: As it is therefore as impossible to express myself in these particulars, as not to expose, both my judgement, and reputation to others, without a breach of charity concerning myself, or my Actions: I thought fit, to decline all discourses, which may give them, a capacity; either to injure myself, or my cause: My trial was Public, Honourable, and eminent? My several Examinations (I believe) will be produced when I am in the Grave: I will refer you therefore to my first Trial, which (I am sure) some of you, in good time may see: Had Captain Crook done himself, and us, that right which a Gentleman and a Soldier ought to have done; I had now enjoyed my own, and not been here this Day: I forgive the man with all my heart; But truly, He did us an injury by enforcing those Articles upon us, when his own Conscience told him, he had no intention to perform them: And indeed (his protesting against those Articles) which He himself with so many Protestations had forced upon us, hath drawn so much dishonour, and blood, upon his head, that (I leer) some heavy judgement will pursue him, 'cause He hath been so false to Us: I pray God I prove not a true Prophet to him; yet, I am glad that some of our Party, have enjoyed the benefit of his Articles; though I myself were deprived of them: Yet I drew them with my own hand: This I'll say for the honour of my Soldiers; that they have been so fare from breaking any Articles given to others; that they have rather bettered them, than otherwise. But I will not load the Protector with this dishonour; For, I have heard He would have made our Conditions good, if Crook that gave them had not abjured them: But this is not a time for me to enlarge myself upon any subject, when I (my self) am become the subject of Death: But whereas I said, I drew them with my own hand; I thought I was obliged to a particular vindication of them. I could tell you of some of Crookes Soldiers, that were turned out of his Troop, for defending those Conditions of ours; but let that pass: But howsoever henceforward, in stead of Life, Liberty, and Estate, which we should have had, by our Articles; let Hanging, Drawing, and Quartering, be the denomination of Captain Crookes Articles. However, I thank the Protector that he hath indulged me so fare, as to let me have the Honour, as to have my Head severed from my Body.  
I should now, (Gentlemen) give you an account of my Faith; But this Nation is rend into so many several Opinions, that it is impossible, for me to give you mine own, without displeasing some, or others of you; yet, if any be so critical, as, to inquire of what Faith I died: It is the same of the Apostles, and Athanasius Creed, without which no man can be saved: I have subscribed, and do own the 39 Articles of the Church of England: If this will not satisfy them; I refer them to the reverend Dr. Short, to whom I have unbosomed myself, as, to the particulars of my Religion.  
And now (Gentlemen) having given you account of myself: I hold myself obliged, to give you some account (too) of my Friends (I mean) as, to some persons of Honour; who upon my Examination I was charged to have correspondency with, (concerning this business:) The Lord Marquis of Hartford; the Marquis of Winchester; the Lord of Pembroke: These were the Persons denominated to me, whom I did then acquit, and do now second it, with this Protestation, that I had never any correspondence with either of them, in relation to this particular Business, or any other that concerns the Protector, or his Government: As for the Marquis of Winton, I saw him Twelve years ago, and not since; and if I should see him here presently. I should not know him: As for the Lord of Pembroke, he was not a man likely to whom I should discover my thoughts; because I never knew how he stood affected: I was likewise Examined concerning my Cousin Freak, my Cousin Hastings, and my Cousin Dallington: they are men of great Estates (I confess) which may make them liable to this Inquisition, and endeavour, to be brought into my condition: but I do so fare acquit them, that I give the world this further Protestation of them, that as fare as I know, I am confident, They are as innocent as any Child here.  
I have no more to say, but that I am in Charity with all men; and I thank God I can forgive my greatest Persecuters; and can go upon my bare knees to my greatest Enemies to forgive them: and I forgive all those, that had any hand in my Death: I have offered the Protector as good Security for my future demeanour, as I suppose he could have expected, if he had thought fit to have given me my Life; certainly I should not have been so ungrateful as to have employed it against him. But I submit to God's pleasure, knowing that the issues of Life and Death are in the hands of God.  
My blood is but a small Sacrifice, if it had been saved, I am so much a Gentleman, as to have given him thanks, that had preserved it: and I am so much a Christian, as to forgive him, that takes it away.  
But since God by his providence hath called me, to lay down my Life; I do hearty submit to his will: Death is a debt, a due Debt, owing by all; it is terrible to Nature, but I look on it without terror. It hath pleased God to make me a good husband, to pay this Debt before my due.  
Gentlemen, I am not ashamed of the Cause for which I die: and I hope none of my alliance or Friends will ever be ashamed of it: I do not look upon it as a pulling down of my Family, but as the raising of it a story higher: yet I was not, so prodigal as to throw away my Life; for I used, all, yet none, but honest, and Honourable means to preserve it: but these unhappy times have been very fatal to my Family; two of my Brothers have been already slain, and I myself am now going to the slaughter.  
It is God's will, and I do submit to that Providence: I must render an acknowledgement of the great civilities I received from the City of Exon, and from some Persons of quality, for that plentiful provision made for the Prisoners: I thank this noble Sheriff, for his many favours, and courtesies towards us; and in particular to myself; and I desire the Sheriff to present my due respects to the Protector, that, though he had no mercy upon me (my self) yet, that, he would be pleased to have some, towards my Family.  
As for this business I now Dye for? I look upon it, as an Individium vagum: I know not how, they assert this to be Treason, unless they make it, to be like the Wind in the Gospel, To blow where it listeth; I know not, to what end, this may come; but I pray God, that my blood, and my Brothers, (that is to Suffer here with me) may be the last.  
I am now putting off my  to fight a duel with Death; for, (I conceive) no other Duels to be lawful? But my Saviour hath pulled out the Sting of this my enemy, he hath made himself a Sacrifice for me; I do not account that Man worthy of one drop of his Blood, that will not spend all for him in a good cause: As I now put off these garments of Cloth, so I hope I have put off my garments of Sin, and have put on the robes of CHRIST's Righteousness, which will bring me to his glorious Robes, anon.  
I desire to see the Axe, and he kissed it; and said, I am like to have a sharp passage of it; but my Saviour hath taken away the sting? and I hope he will sweeten it unto me.  
Thus I commit my soul to God my Creator and Redeemer: O Lord look upon me in my last gasping! O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me, and hear my Prayers! and the prayers of all good People for me. I will close up all with praying for the King, and his restoration,—  
I thank thee O God, for all thy dispensations towards me: Glory be to God on high; On earth Peace; goodwill towards Men.  
Gentlemen, if I would have been so unworthy, as others have been, I might for a Lie, have saved my Life? But I scorn to purchase it at such a rate? But deny all such temptations, and those that offer them.  
FIN.   

Mr. HUGH GROVES Speech on the Scaffold, at the same time and Place.  
GOod People? I was never guilty of much Rhetoric? Nor ever loved long Speeches in my life, Therefore you cannot expect either of them at my Death: All that I shall desire of you, besides your hearty Prayers for my Soul; is, that you would bear me witness, that I die, a true Son of the Church of England, as it was established, by King Edward the 6th, Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King Charles, of ever blessed memory? And that I die a Loyal subject to King Charles the 2. my undoubted Sovereign, and a lover of good old Laws of the land? The just privileges of Parliament? The rights and liberties of the People. For the re-establishing of all which, I undertook this Design? and for which, I am now ready to lay down my life: God forgive the judges and Council, for perverting the Law? And God forgive the bloody minded jury, and all those, that procured them? God forgive Crook, for denying and forswearing his Articles, so unworthily? And God forgive Mr. Dove, and the rest for swearing so falsely, and maliciously against me? And God forgive all mine Enemies; for I hearty forgive them.  
Now God bless the King, and all those that love him; and turn the hearts, of all those that hate him: God bless you all? And God be merciful unto you; and to my Soul, Amen.   

Printed to prevent false Copies, AN. DOM. 1655.