548 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

516 %. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

THE EXECUTION.

On May 16th, 1691, Leisler, with his son-in-law, Milborne,
was led to the gallows. Parting with his wife Alice, and his
numerous family, he met his death with fortitude, and as be-
came a christian. After praise to God, he expressed hia sense
of his dying state and submitted himself before a just God
with humility and hope. He avowed that, at the request of
& committee, chosen by the major part of the inhabitants of
the province, he had taken upon him, ‘“‘to the great grief of
relations to be left behind,’’ weighty matters of state, ‘‘re-
quiring a more wise, cunning, and powerful pilot to gov-
ern;’’ an undertaking for which his motives were the protest-
ant interest, and the establishment of the government of
William and Mary. It was true, he said, that in this en-
deavor for the public good, several enormities had been com-
mitted against his will He had longed to see a governor
rent, to put & period to the disorders existing; some of which,
on his part, were committed through ignorance, some through
jealous fear, some through misinformation and misconstruc-
tion, and some through rashness or passion. For all hia of-
fenses, he asked pardon of God, and of all persons offended.
His enemies he forgave, and prayed that all malice might be
buried in the grave.

He enjoined upon his friends to forget any injury done to
him. He prayed for the good of the province, and, as his
last words, declared, that, as to the matter for which he was
condemned, his purpose was for the good of his fellaw crea-
tures, according to the understanding ‘and ability which he
possessed, by preventing popery and upholding the govern-

- ment of William and Mary. He concluded a prayer for all
in authority, by one for comfort to his own afflicted family;
and he asked for them the charity of all, and their prayers
for himself.

Being asked by the sheriff ‘‘if he was readyf” he said
“‘yes,”’ and requested that his body might be delivered to his
wife; and, as his family had been educated as christians, he