# The Last Speech, and Dying Testimony, of the Noble Marquiss of Argyle

THE
LAST SPEECH
AND
DYING TESTIMONY,
OF THE NOBLE
Marquiss of Argyle,
Who suffered Martyrdom at the Cross of Edinburgh, on the 27th of May 1661, in defence of, and in the hononrable cause of, Religion.
To which is Added,
A noble Epitaph on the Martyr's Tomb, in the Gray-Friar’s Church-yard in
Edinburgh; done by a masterly Hand, in Memory of the Martyrs who suffered in those dark and gloomy Times.
[This Testimony is reprinted from the original Copy in Nephtali, at the desire of several Gentlemen, in memory of that noble Martyr.]
Edinburgh; Printed in Niddery’s Wynd
[Price, ONE PENNY.]
The Last SPEECH of the
MARQUISS of ARGYLE,
Many will expect that I speak many things, and according to their several opinions and dispositions so will their expectations be from me and constructions of me; but I resolve to disappoint many, for I come not hither to justify myself but the Lord; who is holy in all His ways and righteous in all His works; holy and blessed is His name: neither come I to condemn others. I know that many will expect I will speak against the hardness of the sentence pronounced against me; but I will say nothing to it. I bless the Lord, I pardon all men, as I desire to be pardoned of the Lord myself. Let the will of the Lord be done. That is all that I desire.
I hope that ye will have more charity to me now than ye would have had at an other time, seeing I speak before the Lord, before whom I must give an account very shortly. I know very well that my words have had but very little weight with many; and that many have mistaken my words and actings both. Many have thought me to be a great enemy to these great works that have of late been brought to pass: but do not mistake me, good people, I speak it in the presence of the Lord, I entered not upon the work of reformation with any design of advantage to myself, or prejudice to the king and his go​vernment; as my latter will, which was written in 1655. and thereafter delivered to a friend (in whose hands it still remaineth) can show. As for these calumnies that have gone abroad of me, I bless God I know them to be no more; and as I go to make a reckoning to my God, I am free as to any of these, concerning the king's person or government. I was real and cordial in my desires to bring the king home, and in my endeavours for him when he was at home; and I had no correspondence with the adversaries army, nor any of them, in the time when his Majesty was in Scotland. Nor had I any accession to his late Majesty's horrid and execrable murder, by counsel or knowledge of it, or any other manner of way—This is a truth, as I shall answer to my Judge. And all the time his Majesty was in Scotland, I was still endeavouring his advantage, my conscience beareth me witness to it. So much to that particular. And (turning about he said) I hope, gentlemen, you will remember these.
I confess, many look on my condition as a suffering condition; but I bless the Lord, that he who hath gone before me hath trod the wine press, of his Father's wrath; by whose sufferings I hope that my sufferings shall not be eternal. I bless Him who hath taken away the sting of my sufferings I must say that my charter was sealed to day; for the Lord hath said to me, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are freely forgiven thee: And so I hope my sufferings shall be very easy. And ye know the scripture faith, the Captain of our salvation was made perfect by suffering.
I shall not speak much to these things for which I am condemned, lest I seem to condemn others; it is well known it's only for compliance, which was the epidemical fault of the nation: I wish the Lord to pardon them. I say no more.
​There was an expression in these papers presented by me to the parliament, of the contagion of these times, which may by some be misconstructed, as if I intended to lay an imputation upon the work of reformation: but I intended no such thing, but only related to the corruptions and failings of men, occasioned by the prevailing of the usurping powers.—[At this he turned and took them all witnesses.]
Now, gentlemen, concerning the nation, I think there are three sorts of people that take up much of the world, and of this nation; there is, 1, the openly prophane: and truely I may say, though I have been a prisoner, I have not had my ears shut; I hear assuredly that drinking, swearing and whoring, were never more common, never more countenanced than now they are. Truly if magistrates were here, I would say to them, if they lay forth their power for glorifying of God, by restraining this, they would fare the better; if they continue in not restraining, they shall fare the worse: I say no more, but either let people shun prophanity and magistrates restrain it, or assuredly the wrath of God will follow on it. 2, Others are not openly prophane (everyone will not allow that) but yet they are Gallio’s in the matter, if matters go well as to their private interest, they care not whether the church of God sink or swim: But whatever they think, God hath laid engagements upon Scotland; we are tied by covenants to religion and reformation. These that were then unborn are yet engaged; and in our baptism we are engaged to it; and it passeth the power of all the magistrates under heaven to absolve them from the oath of God. They deceive themselves, and it may be, would deceive others, that think otherwise: but I would caveat this, people will be ready to think this a kind of instigation to rebellion in me; but they are very far wrong that think ​religion and loyalty are not well consistent. Who-ever they be that separates them, religion is not to be blamed but they. It's true it's the duty of every Christian to be loyal; yet I think the order of things are to be observed as well as their natures; the order of religion as well as the nature of it. Religion must not be the cock boat, it must be the ship: God must have what is His, as well as Cæsar what is his; and these are the best subjects that are the best Christians. And that I am looked on as a friend to reformation in my glory.
3. There is another sort that are truly godly, and to them I must say what I fear, and every one hath reason to fear (it's good to fear evil), it's true the Lord may prevent it; but if he do not, and truly I cannot foresee any probability of it) times are like either to be very sinning or very suffering times; and let Christians make their choice. There is a sad dilemma in the business, sin or suffer; and surely, he that would choose the better part will choose to suffer. Others that will choose to sin, shall not escape suffering. They shall suffer, but it may be, not as I do [turning about and pointing to the Maiden] but worse: Mine is but temporal, theirs shall be eternal; when I shall be singing they shall be howling Be-ware therefore of sin, whatever you are aware of, especially in such times.
Yet I cannot say of my own condition, but that the Lord in his providence hath mind of mercy to me, even in this world; for if I had been more favourable dealt with, I fear I might have been over-come with temptations, as many others are, and many more, I fear, will be; and so should have gone out of the world with a more polluted conscience than, through the mercy of God, now I have. And hence my condition is such now as when I am gone, will be seen not to have been such as many imagined. ​It is fit God take me away, before I fall into these temptations that I see others falling into, and many others, I fear, will fall: I wish the Lord may pre-vent it. Yet blessed be his name, that I am keeped both from present evils and evils to come. [Here he turned about a little, and spake some words to Mr Hutchison, when turning again to the people, he spake as followeth] Some may expect I will regret my own condition; but truly I neither grudge nor repine, nor desire any revenge. And I declare I do not repent my last going up to London; for I had always rather have suffered any thing than ly under reproaches as I did. I desire not that the Lord should judge any man, nor do I judge any man but myself: I wish, as the Lord bath pardoned me, so he may pardon them for this and other things; and what they have done to me may never meet them in their accounts. I have no more to say, but to beg the Lord that when I go away, he would bless every one that stayeth behind.
His last words immediately before he laid his head on the block after his doublet was off, were these: I desire you, gentlemen, all that hear me this day, to take notice (and I wish that all who see me might hear me) that now when I am entering into eternity, and am to appear before my judge; and as I desire salvation, and do expect eternal salvation and happiness from him, from my birth to my scaffold, I am free from any accession by my knowledge, concerning counsel or any other way, to his late Majesty's death; and I pray the Lord preserve his Majesty, and pour his best blessings on his person and government; and the Lord give him good and faithful counsellors.
Turning about to his friends, he said, Many Christians may stumble at this, and my friends may be discontented: but when things are rightly considered ​any friends have no discredit of me, nor Christians no stumbling block, but rather an encouragement.
Upon the head of the Tomb there's the Effigies of an open Bible drawn with these scripture citations. Rev. vi. 9, 10, 11. 'And when he had opened the first seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them which were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost though not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Rev. vii. 24. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'
Follows the Verse.
Halt Passenger, take heed what you do see, This Tomb doth shew for what some Men did die, Here lies interr'd the Dust of those who stood 'Gainst Perjury, resisting unto blood; Adhering to the Covenants and Laws, Establishing the same; which was the cause Their Lives were sacrific'd unto the lust Of Prelatists abjur'd. Tho' here their Dust Lies mixt with Murderers and other Crew, Whom Justice justly did to death pursue;
But as for this, no cause in them was found Worthy of death, but only they were found Constant and stedfast, zealous, witnessing, For the prerogatives of Christ their King. Which truths were seal'd by famous Guthrie's head, And all along to Mr Renwick's blood, They did endure the wrath of Enemies, Reproaches, Torments, Deaths, and Injuries; But yet they're those who from such troubles came, And now triumph in glory with the Lamb.
Thereafter follows this Prose.
From May 27, 1661, that the noble Marquiss of Argyle suffered, to the 17th of February, 1688, that Mr James Renwick suffered, were execute at Edinburgh, about one hundred of Noblemen, Gentlemen, Ministers, and others, noble Martyrs for Jesus Christ. The most part of them lies here.
Upon the foot of the Monument stands a Crown, with this Inscription, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Upon the Grave stone of David Steel, in the Church yard of Leshmahego, is this Motto.
{D{uc|a}}vid, a Shepherd first, and then Advanced to be King of men, Had of his Graces in this quarter This heir, a Wand'rer, now a Martyr, Who for his Constancy and Zeal, Still to the back did prove good Steel. Who for Christ's royal Truths and Laws, And for the Covenanted Cause Of Scotland's famous Reformation, Declining Tyrant's usurpation; By cruel Chrichton murder'd lies, Whose Blood to Heav'n for vengeance cries.
FINIS
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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