rd. I have no more to say to you.' Then
he too went away.

It was all of no use. Richard had been sentenced by the Court Martial
to be hanged next morning, and hanged he must be.

Only Sir Edward--pleased perhaps at being told so often that he was a
merciful man, and willing to show that he had some small idea of what
mercy meant--'gave orders that any that had a mind to give me victuals
might; and that I might eat and drink with whom I pleased; and that
none should molest me that day. Then came the lieutenant and sat down
by me, whilst they were at their worship; and he would have given me
brandy, but I refused. Then the dinner came up to be served, and
several gave me victuals to eat, and I did eat freely, and was kindly
entertained that day. Night being come, a man kindly proffered me his
hammock to lie in that night, because I had lain long in irons; and I
accepted of his kindness, and laid me down, and I slept well that
night.'

'The next morning being come, it being the second day of the week, on
which I was to be executed, about eight o'clock in the morning, the
rope being reeved on the mizen-yard's arm; and the boy ready to turn
me off; and boats being come on board with captains from other ships,
that were of the council of war, who came on purpose to see me
executed; I was therefore called to come to be executed. Then, I
coming to the execution place, the Commander asked the council how
their judgment did stand now? So most of them did consent; and some
were silent. Then he desired me freely to speak my mind, if I had
anything to say, before I was executed. I told him I had little at
present to speak. So there came a man, and bid me to go forward to be
executed. So I stepped upon the gunwale, to go towards the rope. The
Commander bid me stop there, if I had anything to say. Then spake the
judge and said, "Sir Edward is a merciful man, that puts that heretic
to no worse death than hanging."'

The judge, the Governor of Dover Castle, was, as we have heard, a
Roman Catholic. To him Sir Edward and Richard Sellar were both alike
heretics, one not much worse than the other, since both were outside
what he believed to be the only true Church.[38] Sir Edward knew this.
Therefore on hearing the word 'heretic' he turned sharp round to the
judge, 'What sayest thou?' Apparently the judge felt that he had been
unwise to speak his candid thoughts, for he repeated the sentence,
leaving out the irritating word 'heretic':