Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/493

"The Ende of the Lady Jane Dudley, Doughter to the Duke of Suffolke upon the Scaffolde, at the houre of her death, being the 12 day of February.

Fyrst, whan she was mounted on the scaffolde, she sayd to the people standinge thereabout, Good people, I com hether to die, and by a lawe I am condemned to the same. The facte, indede, against the queenes highnes was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me, but touching the procurement and desyre therof by me, or on my halfe, I doo wash my handes thereof in innocencie, before God and the face of you good christian people this day, and therwith she wrong her handes in which she had her booke. Then she sayd, I pray you all good christian people to bere me wytnes that I dye a true christian woman, and that I looke to be saved by none other mene but only by the mercy of God, in the merites of the bloud of his onlye sonne Jefus Chrifte, and I confesse when I dyd know the word of God, I neglected the same and loved myselfe and the world, and therefore this plage or punyshment is happely and worthely happened unto me for my sinnes. And yet I thanke God of his goodnes that he hath thus geven me a tyme and respet to repent. And now good people while I am alyve I pray you to assyst me with your prayers. And then me knelyng downe, she turned to Fecknam, saying, Shall I say this Psalm? and he said yea. Then she said the Psalm of Misereri Mei Deus in English in most devout maner to thende. Then me stode up and gave her mayde Mistres Tylney her gloves and handkercher, and her booke to Maistre Thomas Brydges, the lyvetenantes brother. Forthwith she untyed her gowne. The hangman went to her to have helped her of therwith, then she desyred him to let her alone, turning towardes hertwo