Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-01-30
A Long Prayer
[Original.l

[Originall
One evening soon after the accession
of King Charles ii. of England young
girl called at the palace of Whitehall
and begged to see the sovereign. she
would not have succeeded had 1t not
been that he was leaving to go to the
rooms of his mistress, Lady Castle
maine. Charles. passing the girl, who
was evidently suffering from some
great mental strain. asked her what
she wanted.
"Oh. sire. give me the life Of my
brother. Arthur Hewer, who Is to. be
executed tomorrow on Tower hill"
Hewer had fought OH the side OF the
parliament. and upon the restoration
certain parties high In power deemed
It expedient that he should be put to
death. The king was not a blood
thirsty man. but a great admirer OF
beautiful women. Mary Hewer, who
was beautiful. gained from him
promise that her brother should be
pardoned. Then the king passed Oh.
Mary. delighted. was about to hurry
away when courtier, young Sir Rich
ard vyner. called to her.
You do not know the king" he said.
His majesty intends to grant the par
don he has promised. but he has gone
to visit Lady Castlemalne, and heaven
knows when he will come away from
her. II may be too late to keep MS
promise or he may forget 1t. l Will do
what can for you by reminding him
of It as soon us he comes again."
Mary Hewer was greatly cast down
Mt this information. but gained hope at
the young mans promise. The next
morning she received message from
him saying that the king had not re-
turned to the palace. and he feared ne
would not return In time to order the
pardon sent to the Tower before the
hour of execution.
Hewer was to be executed at y
o'clock In the afternoon. In those DAYS
all people. the highest and the lowest,
attended these executions, for WHICH
places were engaged ahead. In diary
of a prominent man who then -four
ished Is an entry. Engaged a place
for nv wife to see the execution, then
went to the Office" When the hour
for the tragedy came the prisoner was
conducted to the scaffold. from whence
he looked down upon q sea OF upturned
hnkno makers
and tallow chambers.
A few minutes before 3 the Tower
chaplain offered short prayer for the
prisoners soul. Then as the execu-
TONER stepped forward a young man
In the canonicals Of the Church OF
England produced all order from
James. duke of York 1.-THE kings
younger brother). that he should be
permitted to pray for the condemned
man SO long as he desired. The young
clergyman then knelt and began to
pray.
A half hour passed. when the lieu
tenant OF the Tower interrupted the
clergyman. reminding him that the
spectators were getting impatient for
the execution. The young man drew
the dukes order and pointed to the
wc-1s las long as he desires" The
kings brother was too high a person
age for his order to be disobeyed. SO
the lieutenant stepped back. ana the
clergyman went OH with his prayer.
But the clamor became so great that
the lieutenant again interrupted, beg
ging the clergyman to desist. Inns
time the young man paid no attention
to the request He was kneeling, WITH
one hand on the block, his head sink
Ing lower and lower, his voice becom
Ing fainter and fainter. For nearly
two hours he prayed. Then there was
a clatter Of horses hoofs heard coming
up from the city. and rider was seer
dashing toward the Tower holding alof'
a paper. He was Sir Richard Vynel
and bore n pardon from the king AS
he threw himself from his horse anc
elbowed his way through the crowd tC
the scafrold the words died on the
clergyman's lips and he sank IN
swoon.
Both the prisoner-now by the KING
order free man-and Sir Richard
leaving the crowd to mingie shouts o.
dsapproval or approval turned neil
attention to the young clergyman
whose extraordinary effort at prayer
had saved the formers life. Since ~
| could not be ut once revived they sen
for a coaeh "rd. putting him In II, go
in themsetve; and drove away 10 th'
home OF the relea sed man. Before the!
reached 1t the clergyman opened oil
| eyes and. seeing Hewer beside mn
threw his arms about his neck
| Arthur
| "Maryw
Mary Hewer during the morning DC
fore the execution had conceived ID
plan, If delay should be necessary, o
achieving It by spending time In pray
err She had sent to Sir Richard Vyne
asking II he could get her permissio
for a clergyman to do, so, and III
knight, finding the DUKE, of York, VIII
whom he was a favcrite. prevailed o
him to give him the'oriler. 1t was ser
to Mary Hewer az the. Tower, who, Oil
guised, had made the prayer.
Then Mary turned from her brothe
to Sir Richard, took his hand IN hef
and, bringing. to her lips, kissed II.
"Tell me. L heseech you" she san
"somethisg. Eean do for you. Nothin
can requIte, such service. but ma
show ay gratitude"
Nothing now" he replied. I'm tim
may, ask an inestimable BOOM
'sBut why have you done so much f1
IaeE"
II saw you at window long az
when the king returned and receive
bis welcome from the people. ! sa'
you again Mt the coronation. Ineed
see you no more to know that you nj
come down from heaven"
Arthur Hewer became prominent