Chap. II. The HISTORY of the PuRITANS. general fent word in a private letter ~o one of his confid~~ts, that ?e ~as c;r:;_~~.ncontent that Mr. Lave lhould berepneved, and upon gtvz~g fecunty for r6sr. his future good beha viourpardoned; but that the pofi:-boy- bewg fl:opt upon~ the road by fame cavaliers belonging to the late king's army, they fearched his packet, and finding this letter of reprieve for Mr. Love, they tore it with indignation, as thinking him not worthy to live, who had been fuch a firebmnd at the treaty of Uxbridge. If this fl:ory be true, Mr.. Love fell a facrifice to the ungovernable rage of the cavaliers, as Dr. Doriflaus and Mr. Afcham had done before. . The mail arriving from Scotland and no letter from Cromwell in behalf Hzs [Peech en I ' d e-r h"// A the jcaffold of Mr. Ln;e, 1e was ordered to be execute upon 1 ower- 1 , ..aug. 22. ond execu.' the very day the king entered Worcefler at the head of hisfcots army.tion, Mr. Lovemounted theJcajjold with great intrepidity and refolution, and taking off his hat two feveral times to the people, made a long fpeech, wherein he declares the fatisfaction of his mind in the caufe for which he fuflered; and then adds, " I am for a regulated, mixed monarchy, which " I judge to be one of the bell: governments in the world. I oppofed in " my place, the forces of the late king, becaufe I am againfl: fcrewing up " monarchy into tyranny, as much as againfr thofe who would pull it down " into anarchy. I was never for putting the king to death, whofe perfon '' I did promife in my covenant to preferve; and I judge it an ill way of " curing the body politic, by cutting off the political head. I die with my "judgment againll: the engagement; J pray God forgive them that impofe " it, and them that take ir, and preferve them that refufe it. Neither " would I be looked upon as owning this prefent government; I die " with my judgment againfl: it. And lqflly, I die cleaving to all thofe " oaths, vows, covenants, and protei1ations, that were impofed by the " two houfes of parliament. I blefs God I have not the leafr trouble on " my fpirit, but I die with as much quietnefs of mind as if I was going to " lie down on my bed to refl:. I fee men thirfl: after my blood, which " will but hall:en my happinefs and their ruin; for though I am but of "' mean parentage, yet my blood is the blood of a chriilian, of a minifier, ''of an innocent man, and ([(peak it without vanity) of a martyr--I " conclude with the fpeech of the apofl:le, I am now ready to be qffered up, " and the time ifmy departure is at hand, but I have finijhed my courje, I :• have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid upfor me a crown o/ righteotff- ' nefi~andnotfor me only, but for all them that love the appearance of our " Lord Jefus Chrifl, through whofe blood I expeCt falvation, and remif– " fion of fins. And (o the Lord blefs you all." After this he prayed with an audible voice for himfelf and his fellow-fuf– rerer Mr. Gibbon, for the profperity of England, for hiscovenanting brethren rn Scotland, and for an happy union between the two nations, making no yoL.II. Ggg · mention
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