message persuasion signify lieutenant
apparel infirmity scaffold occasion
forehead infinite tyrant solemnity
It was very late in the night when the sentence was pronounced, and the
prisoner was asleep. The lieutenant was unwilling to disturb his rest for
that time, and so did not awaken him, but in the morning before five of
the clock he came to him in his chamber in the Bell Tower, and found him
yet asleep in his bed.
He awakened the good father, and explained that he was come to him on a
message from the king. Then, with some persuasion, he said that he should
remember himself to be an old man, and that he could not expect by course
of nature to live much longer. Finally he informed him that he was come to
signify unto him that the king’s pleasure was he should suffer death that
forenoon.
“Well,” answered this blessed father, “if this be your errand, you bring
me no great news. I have long expected this message. And I most humbly
thank the king’s majesty that it has pleased him to rid me from all this
worldly business, and I thank you also for your tidings. But I pray you,
Mr. Lieutenant, when is mine hour that I must go hence?”
“Your hour,” said the lieutenant, “must be nine of the clock.”
“And what hour is it now?” said he.
“It is now about five,” said the lieutenant.
“Well, then,” said he, “let me by your patience sleep an hour or two,
for I have slept very little this night. My rest has been very much
broken, not for any fear of death, I thank God, but by reason of my great
infirmity and weakness.”
“The king’s further pleasure is,” said the lieutenant, “that you should
not talk much. Especially you must not say anything touching his majesty,
whereby the people should have any cause to think ill of him or of his
proceedings.”
“For that,” said the father, “you shall see me order myself well. For, by
God’s grace, neither the king, nor any man else, shall have occasion to
mislike my words.”
The lieutenant then departed from him, and so the prisoner, falling again
to rest, slept soundly two hours and more.
After he was waked again he called to his man to help him up. Then he
commanded him to take away the shirt of hair (which he was accustomed to
wear on his back) and to convey it secretly out of the house. Then he bade
him bring a clean white shirt, and all the best apparel he had, as cleanly
bright as possible.
While he was dressing himself, he appeared to have more curiosity and care
for the fine and cleanly wearing of his apparel that day than had ever
been his wont before. His man asked him what this sudden change meant,
since he must know well enough that he must put off all again within two
hours and lose it.
“What of that?” said the father. “Dost thou not mark that this is our
wedding day, and that it is necessary for us to use more cleanliness for
solemnity of the marriage?”
About nine of the clock the lieutenant came again to his prison. Finding
him almost ready, he said that he was now come for him.
“I will wait upon you straight,” said the father, “as fast as this thin
body of mine will give me leave.” Then he turned to his man and said,
“Reach me my fur cape to put about my neck.”
“Oh, my lord,” said the lieutenant, “why need you be so careful for your
health for this little while? Your lordship knoweth that it is not much
above an hour.”
“I think no otherwise,” said this blessed father. “But in the meantime I
will keep myself as well as I can, till the very time of my execution.
I have, I thank our Lord, a very good desire and willing mind to die at
this present time, and so trust of His infinite mercy and goodness He will
continue this desire. Nevertheless, I will not willingly hinder my health
for one minute of an hour. Indeed, I will prolong the same as long as I
can by such reasonable ways and means as Almighty God hath provided for
me.”
Then, taking a little book in his hand, which was a New Testament lying
by him, he made a cross on his forehead and went out of his prison door
with the lieutenant. He was so weak that he was scarce able to go down the
stairs, and at the stairs-foot he was taken up in a chair between two of
the lieutenant’s men. These carried him to the Tower gate to be delivered
to the sheriffs of London for execution.
When they were come to the farthest wall of the Tower, they rested there
with him a space; and an officer was sent on before to know in what
readiness the sheriffs were to receive him. As they were resting here, the
father rose out of his chair, and stood on his feet, leaning his shoulder
to the wall. Then, lifting his eyes towards heaven, he opened his little
book in his hand, and said, “O Lord, this is the last time that ever
I shall open this book; let some comfortable place now chance unto me
whereby I thy poor servant may glorify Thee in this my last hour.”
Then he opened the book, and the first thing that came to his sight were
these words: “This is life everlasting, that they may know Thee the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee upon
earth, I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do.” Having read these
words, he shut the book together and said, “Here is even learning enough
for me to my life’s end.”
The sheriff was now ready for him. So he was taken up again by certain of
the sheriff’s men, and, guarded by many armed men, he was carried to the
scaffold on Tower Hill, otherwise called East Smithfield. He was seen to
be praying all the way, and pondering upon the words that he had read.
When he was come to the foot of the scaffold, they that carried him
offered to help him up the stairs; but he said, “Nay, masters, since I
have come so far let me alone, and you shall see me shift for myself well
enough.” So he went up the stairs without any help, so lively that it was
a marvel to them that knew before of his weakness. As he was mounting up
the stairs, the southeast sun shined very bright in his face. Observing
this, he said to himself these words, lifting up his hands, “Come ye to
Him and be enlightened; and your faces shall not be confounded.”
By the time he was on the scaffold, it was about ten of the clock. The
executioner, being ready to do his office, kneeled down to him (as the
fashion is) and asked his forgiveness.
“I forgive thee,” said the father, “with all my heart, and I trust thou
shalt see me overcome this storm lustily.”
Then was his gown and fur cape taken from him, and he stood in his doublet
and hose, in sight of all the people. There was to be seen a long, lean,
and slender body, having on it little other substance besides the skin
and bones. Indeed, so thin and emaciated was he that those who beheld him
marveled much to see a living man so far consumed. Therefore, it appeared
monstrous that the king could be so cruel as to put such a man to death as
he was, even though he had been a real offender against the law.
If he had been in the Turk’s dominion, and there found guilty of some
great offense, yet methinks the Turk would never have put him to death
being already so near death. For it is an horrible and exceeding cruelty
to kill that thing which is presently dying, except it be for pity’s sake
to rid it from longer pain. Therefore, it may be thought that the cruelty
and hard heart of King Henry in this point passed all the Turks and
tyrants that ever have been heard or read of.
After speaking a few words the father kneeled down on his knees and said
certain prayers. Then came the executioner and bound a handkerchief about
his eyes. This holy father, lifting up his hands and heart to heaven, said
a few other prayers, which were not long but fervent and devout, which
being ended, he laid his holy head down over the midst of a little block.…
And so his immortal soul mounted to the blissful joys of Heaven.
--THE REV. T. E. BRIDGETT, C. SS. R.