that they
withdrew, declaring to one another, that they would have nothing to do
with the blood of this righteous man. But his judges were determined to
proceed, and accordingly his indictment was found relevant. Bp.
Burnet[109] says, "The earl of Tweeddale was the only man that moved
against putting him to death; he said, Banishment had hitherto been the
severest censure laid upon preachers for their opinions,--yet he was
condemned to die." The day of his execution was not named till the 28th
of May, when the parliament ordered him and William Govan to be hanged
at the cross of Edinburgh, on the first of June, and Mr. Guthrie's head
to be fixed on the Nether-bow, his estate to be confiscated, and his
arms torn; and the head of the other upon the west-port of Edinburgh.

And thus a sentence of death was passed upon Mr. Guthrie, for his
accession to the causes of God's wrath, his writing the petition last
year, and the protestation above-mentioned; matters done a good many
years ago, and every way agreeable and conform to the word of God, the
principles and practice of this and other churches and the laws of the
kingdom. After he received his sentence, he accosted the parliament
thus, "My lords, let never this sentence affect you more than it does
me, and let never my blood be required of the king's family."

Thus it was resolved that this excellent man should fall a sacrifice to
private and personal pique, as the marquis's was said to be to a more
exalted revenge; and it is said, that the managers had no small debate
what his sentence should be, for he was dealt with by some of them to
retract what he had done and written, and join with the present
measures, and he was even offered a bishopric. The other side were in no
hazard in making the experiment, for they might be assured of his
firmness in his principles. A bishopric was a very small temptation to
him, and the commissioner improved his inflexibility to have his life
taken away, to be a terror to others, that they might have the less
opposition in establishing prelacy.

Betwixt Mr. Guthrie's sentence and his execution, he was in perfect
composure and serenity of spirit, and wrote a great many excellent
letters to his friends and acquaintances. In this interval, he uttered
several prophetical expressions, which, together with the foresaid
religious letters, could they now be recovered, might be of no small use
in this apostate and backslidden age. June 1st, the