Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editorial Note
- Preface
- I First Campaigns
- II The New Model
- III The Second Civil War
- IV Oxford to Aberdeen
- V Regimental Troubles
- VI Commonwealth and Protectorate
- VII Post Office Reform
- VIII Bedfordshire Affairs
- IX Republican Revival
- X Army and Commonwealth
- XI Prelude to The Restoration
- XII Exile
- XIII London
- XIV 19 April, 1662
- Appendix Two Contemporary Pamphlets Relating to the Execution of Okey, Barkstead and Corbet
- Pedigree of Okey Family
- Index
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editorial Note
- Preface
- I First Campaigns
- II The New Model
- III The Second Civil War
- IV Oxford to Aberdeen
- V Regimental Troubles
- VI Commonwealth and Protectorate
- VII Post Office Reform
- VIII Bedfordshire Affairs
- IX Republican Revival
- X Army and Commonwealth
- XI Prelude to The Restoration
- XII Exile
- XIII London
- XIV 19 April, 1662
- Appendix Two Contemporary Pamphlets Relating to the Execution of Okey, Barkstead and Corbet
- Pedigree of Okey Family
- Index
Summary
On Saturday, 19 April, the day of his execution, Okey was up early, and friends who visited him at six o’clock in the morning found him ready dressed, and he welcomed them cheerfully :
They asked him how he did? he said, Never better in his life, and had found the benefit of prayers, and it had been a sweet night unto him, being sweetly refreshed which also did much appear by his chearful and fresh countenance; for it was observed that he never looked better in all his dayes. He declared he had much quietness in his spirit and said, As for the loss of his Estate, it did not in the least trouble him: Then a friend hinted to him, the parting with his Wife and Relations: he answered she had been a very tender Wife to him and had exprest her abundant love and tenderness in this his distress; but he was not in the least troubled at their parting, being assured the Lord would be better to her, than he could be; And also said, that though his Wife had lost much since she knew him, as to outwards, yet she had gained much, as to the better concernments (for so his Wife had declared unto him) which doubtless, well considered, will outweigh all other losses.
Some of these Friends spent some time in prayer with him, also the Colonel himself went to prayer, and the Lord appeared very much in carrying forth his spirit to own his hand, and to see his goodness in all his dispensations, and to implore further assistance : and between the times of prayer, they had much sweet conference with him, in all which he manifested a very gracious and holy frame of spirit, and often declared, with great chearfulness, that he was ready to be offered up. He was heard often to ask whether his chariot was yet come, or no? and some Friends told him “Well, now the time draws nigh:” who answered “I am ready, I am ready.”
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- Colonel John Okey 1606-1662 , pp. 153 - 169Publisher: Boydell & BrewerFirst published in: 2023