which is still in the hands of his
descendants, was written by Lord Kenmure the night before his
execution:--

"It having pleased the Almighty God to call me now to suffer a
violent death, I adore the Divine Majesty, and cheerfully resign my
soul and body to His hands, whose mercy is over all His works. It is
my very great comfort that He has enabled me to hope, through the
merits and by the blood of Jesus Christ, He will so purifie me how
that I perish not eternally. I die a Protestant of the Church of
England, and do from my heart forgive all my enemies. I thank God I
cannot accuse my selfe of the sin of rebellion, however some people
may by a mistaken notion think me guilty of it for all I did upon a
laite occasione; and my only desire ever was to contribute my small
endeavour towards the re-establishing my rightfull Sovereigne and
the constitutione of my countrie to ther divine rights and loyall
setlment; and by pleading guilty I meant no more then ane
acknowledgment of my having been in armes, and (not being bred to
the law) had no notion of my therby giving my assent to any other
thing contained in that charge. I take God to wittnes, before whom I
am very soon to apear, that I never had any desire to favour or to
introduce Popery, and I have been all along fully satisfied that the
King has given all the morall security for the Church of England
that is possible for him in his circumstances. I owne I submitted
myselfe to the Duck of Brunswick, justly expecting that humantity
would have induced him to give me my life, which if he had done I
was resolved for the future to have lived peaceably, and to have
still reteaned a greatfull remembrance of so greatt a favour, and I
am satisfied the King would never have desired me to have been in
action for him after; but the caice is otherways. I pray God forgive
those who thirst after blood. Had we been all putt to the sword
immediatly upon our surrender, that might have born the construction
of being don in the heatt and fury of passion; but now I am to die
in cold blood, I pray God it be not imputed to them. May Almighty
God restore injured right, and peace, and truth, and may He in mercy
receave my soull.

Kenmure."[40]

It was decreed that the Earl of Derwentwater and the Viscount Kenmure