Mr. LOVE his Funeral Sermon, or an abstract of his last words upon the Scaffold on Tower Hill immediately before his Execution on Friday the twenty two of Au∣gust, 1651.
Beloved,
BEfore I lay my Neck upon the Block, I shall say some thing concerning the occasion of my coming hither as you see this day. Then he said he should divide that which he had to declare into three parts.
Page 3 First, touching the matter for which he suffer∣ed.
Secondly, the cleering of himself.
And thirdly, The discharging of himself of all kind of ranker or hatred against any; with some Exhortations to the people.
He persisted in the same way as he was in dure∣ing his Tryall, taking God to record, That he wrote no Letters, or gave direction for any to be written; Yet it was proved, and acknowledged by himself, That he did see Letters written, and was privy to their sending away.
He likewise called God to Record, That he collected no money for the Scots design; yet was there money collected and laid down before him, and afterwards sent away: and if this kind of equivocating can cleer him of the guilt, let any indifferent man judge; yet he said there was not any one thing prooved against him which was capital.
He instanced many Scriptures, and com∣pared himself by way of Innocency, to Ie∣remiah, saying, That he was as guiltlesse as that Prophet who was charged (though in another case) with Conspirancy. He said it had been the lot of many of the Saints of God to be beheaded, and freely forgave all his prosecutors, saying, That the worst he wisht to any of them, was, That their soules might meet him in heaven.
Page 4 Mr, Love also said that the Scaffold was the best Pulpit that ever he preached in, in all his life; for that from thence he should not descend but ascend and mount up into heaven.
One thing more very observable is that although he denied compliancy with the Scots by writing or supply of money; yet he confessed that he had both written to Major Gen. Massey, and sent money to him.
He exhorts the people in a general way, to the service of God, and so concluded with this prayer. Mr. Love having ended his speech or ser∣mon, began his prayer standing at the rail thus.
Much more to this effect was uttered by him; and his prayer being ended, he imme∣diately began t• unbutton the collor of his Doublet, and turning about, came to the Sheriff, bowed very low to him, and shaking him by the hand, took his leave of him: He then laid his hand, upon the Executioner, saying, Friend, I forgive thee. Then his Doublet being off, he put up his hair under his Cap, and at once settling himself down on the Block, he presently (without raising himself again) gave the signal, with which the Executioner severed his head from his body at one blow.
His body was presently taken up, and put into a Coffin ready prepared, and carried to his own house: Mr. Dun the Chirurgian went with it, and afterwards sowed the Head to the body.
After th•s Mr. Gibbons was brought upon the Scaffold, he was about four or fi•ve and twenty years of age, and he for∣merly Page 6had been servant to Mr. Hollis, he made a speech to the people confessing and saying, that he had been misled by wicked councellors, and seemed very pen∣nitent and sorrowful that he had falsly be∣trayed his trust; he made many stops, the tears trickling down his c•eek•, he made this confession of his henious crime and guilt, (as he said) to clear his conscience, and to the end that the world might take notice thereof, and take warning, and that no aspersion fall on himself or or others after his death. He took notice of Mr. Loves being executed before him, and said, that he was confident he was with his Saviour, with whom he had sure and con∣fident hopes to be within few minuits: Yet towards the conclusion of his speech, some words passed from him which sa∣vored of ranckor, for which he was gent∣ly admonished by the Shreiff, and when had made an end of his speech he made a short prayer, recommending his soul into the hands of Jesus Christ and so commit∣ted himself to the block.
