Blessed be God's glorious name for ever and ever. Amen. Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen. And then lifting up his hands, was ready to give up the ghost, but the executioner, not well observing, was too slow. So his Lordship rose again, saying (to the headsman) "What have I done that I die not? Why do not you your work? Well, I will lay myself down once again in peace, and I hope I shall enjoy everlasting peace." So he laid himself down again, with his neck to the block, and his arms stretched out, saying the same words: Blessed be God's glorious name for ever and ever. Amen. Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen. And then lifting up his hands, the executioner did his work, and no manner of noise was then heard, but sighs and sobs." "The Earl of Derby," says Clarendon, " was a man of unquestionable loyalty to the late King, and gave clear testimony of it before he received any obligations from the court, and when he thought himself disobliged by it. This King in his first year sent him the Garter; which, in many respects, he had expected from the last. And the sense of that honour made him so readily comply with the King's command in attending him, when he had no confidence in the undertaking, nor any inclination to the Scots; who, he thought, had too much guilt upon them in having depressed the crown to be made instruments of repairing and restoring it. He was a man of great honour, and clear courage; and all his defects and misfortunes proceeded from his having lived so little time among his equals, that he knew not how to treat his inferiors, which was the source of all the ill that befell him having thereby drawn such prejudice against him from persons of inferior quality, who yet thought themselves too good to be contemned, that they pursued him to death." ; |