The daily office of a Christian being the devotions of the most Reverend Father in God Dr. William Laud, late archbishop of Canterbury : wherein several catechetical paraphrases ...

His Grace's Speech, according to the O∣riginal, written with his own hand, and delivered by him upon the Scaf∣fold on Tower-hill, Jan. 10. 1644. to his Chaplain Dr. Sterne, after Lord Archbishop of York.

Good People,

THis is an uncomfortable time to preach; yet I shall begin with a Text of Scripture, Heb. 12. 2. Let us run with patience that race which is set before us: Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before him, en∣dured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I have been long in my Race, and how I have looked unto Jesus the Au∣thor and Finisher of my Faith, he best knows. I am now come to the end of my Race, and here I find the Cross, a death of shame. But the shame

must be despised, or no coming to the right hand of God. Jesus despised the shame for me, and God forbid that I should not despise the shame for Him.

I am going apace (as you see) to∣wards the Red Sea, and my feet are upon the very brink of it: An argu∣ment (I hope) that God is bringing me into the Land of Promise; for that was the way through which he led his People.

But before they came to it, he in∣stituted a Passeover for them. A Lamb it was, but it must be eaten with sowre herbs, Exod. 12. 8. I shall obey, and labour to digest the sowre herbs, as well as the Lamb: And I shall remember it is the Lords Passe∣over. I shall not think of the herbs, nor be angry with the hands that ga∣thered them; but look up onely to him who instituted that, and governs these. For men can have no more power over me than what is given them from above, S. John 19.11.

I am not in love with this passage through the Red Sea, for I have the weakness and infirmity of flesh and bloud plentifully in me. And I have prayed with my Saviour, Vt transiret calix iste, that this Cup of red Wine might pass from me, S. Luke 22.42. But if not, Gods will, not mine, be done. And I shall most willingly drink of this Cup as deep as he plea∣ses, and enter into this Sea, yea, and pass through it in the way that he shall lead me.

But I would have it remembred (good People) that when Gods ser∣vants were in this boisterous Sea, and Aaron among them, the Egyptians which persecuted them, and did in a manner drive them into that Sea, were drowned in the same waters, while they were in pursuit of them.

I know my God, whom I serve, is as able to deliver me from this Sea of bloud, as he was to deliver the three Children from the Furnace, Dan. 3. And (I most humbly thank my Sa∣viour

for it) my resolution is as theirs was: They would not worship the Image which the King had set up, nor will I the Imaginations which the People are setting up. Nor will I forsake the Temple and the Truth of God, to follow the bleating of Jero∣boam's Calves in Dan and in Bethel.

And as for this People, they are at this day miserably misled: God of his mercie open their eyes, that they may see the right way. For at this day the blind lead the blind; and if they go on, both will certainly into the ditch, S. Luke 6. 39.

For my self, I am (and I acknow∣ledge it in all humility) a most grie∣vous sinner many ways, by thought, word, and deed: And yet I can∣not doubt but that God hath mercy in store for me a poor penitent, as well as for other sinners. I have now upon this sad occasion ransacked eve∣ry corner of my heart; and yet I thank God I have not found among the many, any one sin which deserves

death by any known Law of this Kingdom.

And yet hereby I charge nothing upon my Judges: for if they proceed upon proof by valuable Witnesses, I or any other Innocent may be justly condemned. And I thank God, though the weight of the Sentence lie heavie upon me, I am as quiet within as ever I was in my life.

And though I am not onely the first Archbishop, but the first man that ever died by an Ordinance in Parliament, yet some of my Prede∣cessors have gone this way, though not by this means. For Elphegus was hurried away and lost his head by the Danes; Simon Sudbury in the fury of Wat Tyler and his fellows. Before these, S. John Baptist had his head dan∣ced off by a lewd woman: And St. Cyprian Archbishop of Carthage sub∣mitted his head to a persecuting sword. Many examples great and good; and they teach me patience. For I hope my Cause in Heaven will look of a∣nother

dye, than the colour that is put upon it here.

And some comfort it is to me, not onely that I go the way of these great men in their several Generations, but also that my Charge, as soul as it is made, looks like that of the Jews a∣gainst S. Paul, Acts 25. 8. for he was accused for the Law and the Temple, i. e. Religion. And like that of St. Stephen, Acts 6. 14. for breaking the Ordinances which Moses gave, i. e. Law and Religion, the Holy Place and the Law, ver. 13.

But you will say, Do I then com∣pare my self with the integrity of St. Paul and St. Stephen? No, far be that from me. I onely raise a comfort to my self, that these great Saints and Servants of God were laid at in their times as I am now. And it is me∣morable that St. Paul, who helped on this Accusation against St. Stephen, did after fall under the very same him∣self.

Yea, but here's a great clamour

that I would have brought in Popery. I shall answer that more fully by and by. In the mean time you know what the Pharisees laid against Christ himself, St. John 11. 48. If we let him alone, all men will believe on him: Et venient Romani, and the Romans will come, and take away both our Place and the Nation. Here was a causeless cry against Christ, that the Romans would come. And see how just the Judge∣ment of God was. They crucified Christ for fear lest the Romans should come; and his death was it which brought in the Romans upon them; God punishing them with that which they most feared. And I pray God this clamour of Venient Romani, of which I have given no cause, help not to bring them in. For the Pope never had such a Harvest in England since the Reformation, as he hath now up∣on the Sects and Divisions that are a∣mongst us. In the mean time, by honour and dishonour, by good report and evil report, as a deceiver and yet true,

am I passing through this world, 2 Cor. 6. 8.

Some particulars also I think it not amiss to speak of.

1. And first, this I shall be bold to speak of the King our gracious Sove∣raign: He hath been much traduced also for bringing in of Popery. But on my Conscience (of which I shall give God a present account) I know him to be as free from this Charge as any man living: And I hold him to be as sound a Protestant according to the Religion by Law established, as any man in his Kingdom; and that he will venture his life as far and as freely for it. And I think I do or should know both his affection to Re∣ligion, and his grounds for it, as fully as any man in England.

2. The second particular is concer∣ning this great and populous City (which God bless.) Here hath been of late a fashion taken up to gather hands, and then go to the great Court of the Kingdom, the Parliament, and

clamour for Justice; as if that great and wise Court, before whom the Causes come which are unknown to the Many, could not or would not do Justice but at their appointment: a way which may endanger many an innocent man, and pluck his bloud upon their own heads, and perhaps upon the Cities also.

And this hath been lately practised against my self: the Magistrates stan∣ding still and suffering them openly to proceed from Parish to Parish with∣out check. God forgive the setters of this, with all my heart I beg it; but many well-meaning people are caught by it.

In St. Stephen's case, when nothing else would serve, they stirred up the people against him, Acts 6. 12. And Herod went the same way; when he had killed St. James, yet he would not venture upon St. Peter, till he found how the other pleased the peo∣ple, Acts 12. 3.

But take heed of having your hands

full of bloud, Esai. 1. 15. for there is a time best known to himself, when God above other sins makes Inquisi∣tion for bloud. And when that In∣quisition is on foot, the Psalmist tells us, Psal. 9. 12. that God remembers; but that's not all, he remembers, and forgets not the complaint of the poor, i. e. whose bloud is shed by Oppres∣sion, ver. 9.

Take heed of this: 'Tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. 12. but then especially, when he is making Inquisition for bloud.

And with my Prayers to avert it, I do heartily desire this City to remem∣ber the Prophecy that is expressed Jer. 26. 15.

3. The third particular is the poor Church of England. It hath flourish∣ed, and been a shelter to other neigh∣bouring Churches, when storms have driven upon them: but alas now it is in a storm it self, and God onely knows whether or how it shall get out. And

which is worse than a storm from without, it is become like an Oak cleft to shivers with wedges made out of its own body; and at every cleft profaneness and irreligion is entering in; While (as * 1.1 Prosper speaks) men that intro∣duce prophaneness are cloaked over with the name Religionis Imaginariae, of Imaginary Religion: for we have lost the Substance, and dwell too much in Opinion. And that Church, which all the Jesuits Machinations could not ruine, is fallen into danger by her own.

4. The last particular (for I am not willing to be too long) is my self. I was born and baptized in the bosome of the Church of E gland e∣stablished by Law. In that Pr fession I have ever since lived, and in that I come now to die.

What clamours and slanders I have endured for labouring to keep an U∣niformity in the external Service of God, according to the Doctrine and

Discipline of this Church, all men know, and I have abundantly felt. Now at last I am accused of High-Treason in Parliament, a Crime which my soul ever abhorred. This Trea∣son was charged to consist of two parts: An endeavour to subvert the Laws of the Land; and a like endea∣vour to overthrow the true Protestant Religion established by Law.

Besides my Answers to the several Charges, I protested mine innocency in both Houses. It was said Prisoners Protestations at the Bar must not be taken. I must therefore come now to it upon my death, being instantly to give God an account for the truth of it.

I do therefore here in the presence of God and his holy Angels, take it upon my death, that I never endea∣voured the Subversion either of Law or Religion. And I desire you all to remember this Protest of mine for my innocency in this, and from all Trea∣sons whatsoever.

I have been accused likewise as an Enemy to Parliaments: No, I under∣stand them, and the benefit that comes by them, too well to be so: But I did dislike the misgovernments of some Parliaments many ways, and I had good reason for it; for Corruptio optimi est pessima. And that being the high∣est Court, over which no other hath jurisdiction, when 'tis misinformed or misgoverned, the Subject is left with∣out all remedy.

But I have done. I forgive all the world, all and every of those bitter Enemies which have persecuted me; and humbly desire to be forgiven of God first, and then of every man.

And so I heartily desire you to joyn in prayer with me.

O Eternal God and merciful Fa∣ther, look down upon me in mercy, in the riches and fulness of all thy mercies. Look upon me, but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the Cross of Christ, not till thou hast

bathed me in the bloud of Christ, not till I have hid my self in the wounds of Christ; that so the punishment due unto my sins may pass over me. And since thou art pleased to try me to the uttermost, I most humbly beseech thee, give me now in this great in∣stant, full patience, proportionable comfort, and a heart ready to die for thine honour, the Kings happiness, and this Churches preservation. And my zeal to these (far from arrogancy be it spoken) is all the sin (humane frailty excepted, and all incidents thereto) which is yet known to me in this particular, for which I come now to suffer: I say in this particular of Treason. But otherwise my sins are many and great; Lord, pardon them all, and those especially (what∣ever they are) which have drawn down this present Judgment upon me. And when thou hast given me strength to bear it, do with me as seems best in thine own eyes. A∣men.

And that there may be a stop of this issue of bloud in this more than miserable Kingdom, O Lord, I beseech thee give grace of repentance to all Bloud-thirsty people. But if they will not repent, O Lord confound all their devices, defeat and frustrate all their designes and endeavours upon them, which are or shall be contrary to the glory of thy great Name, the truth and sincerity of Religion, the e∣stablishment of the King and his Po∣sterity after him in their just Rights and Priviledges, the honour and con∣servation of Parliaments in their just power, the preservation of this poor Church in her Truth, Peace, and Pa∣trimony, and the settlement of this distracted and distressed People under their ancient Laws, and in their na∣tive Liberties. And when thou hast done all this in meer mercy for them, O Lord, sill their hearts with thank∣fulness, and with religious dutiful o∣bedience to thee and thy Command∣ments all their days. So, Amen, Lord

Jesus, Amen. And receive my soul into thy bosom. Amen.

Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

The Lord Archbishop's Prayer as he kneeled by the Block.

LOrd, I am coming as fast as I can. I know I must pass through the shadow of death, before I can come to see thee. But it is but Vmbra mortis, a meer shadow of death, a little dark∣ness upon Nature: but thou by thy Merits and Passion hast broke through the jaws of death. So, Lord receive my soul, and have mercy upon me: and bless this Kingdom with peace and plenty, and with brotherly love and charity, that there may not be this effu∣sion of Christian bloud amongst them, for Jesus Christ his sake, if it be thy will.

Then he laid his head upon the Block, and after he had prayed to himself, said aloud, Lord receive my soul; which was the signal given to the Executioner.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 2. de vitae contempt. cap. 4.