"And thou, my soul, inspired with holy flame View and review, with most regardful eye, That holy cross, whence thy salvation came, On which thy Saviour and thy sin did die; For in that sacred object is much pleasure, And in that Saviour, is my life, my treasure. "To Thee, O Jesu, I direct my eye; To Thee my hands, to Thee my humble knees, To Thee my heart shall offer sacrifice,-- To Thee my thoughts, who my thoughts only sees; To Thee myself, myself and all, I give; To Thee I die, to Thee I only live." On October 29th, 1618, Sir Walter Raleigh was executed at Whitehall under a sentence which had hung over his head for fifteen years. [Illustration: AXE, BLOCK, AND EXECUTIONER'S MASK AT THE TOWER OF LONDON.] On May 12th, 1641, was executed Wentworth, Earl of Strafford; and on January 10th, 1644-5, was beheaded Archbishop Laud. William Howard, Viscount Stafford, a victim of Oates's perjury, was executed on December 29th, 1680. "Having embraced and taken leave of his friends," says Bell, "he knelt down and placed his head on the block: the executioner raised the axe high in the air, but then checking himself suddenly lowered it. Stafford raised his head and asked the reason of the delay. The executioner said he waited the signal. 'I shall make no sign,' he answered, 'take your own time.' The executioner asked his forgiveness. 'I do forgive you,' replied Stafford, and placing his head again in position, at one blow it was severed from his body."[25] A noted name in history comes next, the Duke of Monmouth. He was beheaded July 15th, 1685. "Here are six guineas for you," he said to the executioner, "and do not hack me as you did my Lord Russell. I have heard that you struck him three or four times. My servant will give you more gold if you do your work well." Then he undressed, felt the edge of the axe, and laid his head on the block. The executioner was unnerved, he raised his axe, but his arm trembled as it fell, and only a slight wound was inflicted. Several blows were given before the neck was severed. [Illustration: LORD LOVAT (_from a drawing by Hogarth_).]