pleased to be so God be with Thee my most virtuous Wife God multiply many comforts to Thee and my Children is the fervent Prayer of Thy c. A Letter to Mr. E. S. from a Reverend and Grave Divine SIR I Hope this Paper will find you upon your Recovery You have my daily and hearty Prayers for it not so much for your own sake for I doubt not but it would be much better for you in regard of your self to be dissolved and be with Christ but in the behalf of the Church your Friends and poor Family to which notwithstanding be assured God will be merciful howsoever he disposeth of you either for this Life or for a better But if you live as I pray and hope you will you shall do very well to write the Life and Death of that Noble Lord and Blessed Martyr who professed at his Death That he died for the Fifth Commandment And to die in the Defence and for the Testimony of any Divine Truth is truly and properly to be a Martyr That which I can contribute towards this Work is to communicate some few Observations I made of him and from him before and after his Condemnation I was several times with him and always found him in a very chearful and well-composed Temper of Mind proceeding from true Christian Grounds and not from a Roman Resolution only as his Enemies are pleased to speak of him He told me often It was the Good God he served and the Good Cause he had served for that made him not to fear Death Adding He had never had the Temptation of so much as a thought to check him for his Engagement in this Quarrel for he took it for his Crown and Glory and wished he had a greater Ability and better Fortune to engage in it After his Condemnation and the Afternoon before his suffering we were a great while in private together when bewailing with that Sense which became a true and not despairing Penitent the sins of his Life past the greatest he could remember was his Voting my Lord of Strafford's Death which though as he said he did without any Malice at all yet he confessed it to be a very great sin and that he had done it out of a base Fear they were his own words of a prevailing party Adding That he had very often and very heartily repented of it and was confident of God's Pardon for it Then he told me He had a great desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament so he called it before he died the next Morning asking What Divine of the King's Party I would recommend to him I replied That though many were more worthy yet none would be more willing to do him that Service than my self Which he accepting very kindly told me He durst not desire it for fear it might be some danger to me After this and some Conference in order to his preparation both for his Viaticum and his Voyage the Sacrament and his Death he desired me to pray with him Which after I had performed and promised to be with him by seven the next Morning I left him for that time to his own Devotions The next Day I was there at the time assigned and after some short Conference in order to the present Occasion he desired me to hear him pray which he did for half an hour in an excellent Method very apt Expressions and most strong hearty and passionate Affections First Confessing and bewailing his sins with strong Cries and Tears Then humbly and most earnestly desiring God's Mercy through the Merits of Christ only Secondly For his dear Wife and Children with some passion but for her especially with most ardent Affections recommending them to the Divine Providence with great Confidence and Assurance and desiring for them rather the Blessings of a Better Life than of This. Thirdly For the King Church and State And lastly For his Enemies with almost the same Ardour and Affection After this sending for my Lord of Norwich and Sir John Owen I read the whole Office of the Church for Good Friday and then after a short Homily I used for the present Occasion we received the Sacrament In which Action he behaved himself with great Humility Zeal and Devotion And being demanded after we had done how he found himself he replied Very much better stronger and cheerfuller for that Heavenly Repast and that he doubted not to walk like a Christian through the Vale of Death in the Strength of it But he was to have an Agony before his Passion and that was the parting with his Wife Eldest Son Son-in-Law two of his Vncles and Sir T. C. especially the parting with his most dear Lady which indeed was the saddest spectacle that ever I beheld In which Occasion he could not chuse but confess a little of Humane Frailty yet even then he did not forget both to comfort and counsel her and the rest of his Friends particularly in blessing the young Lord he commanded him never to revenge his Death though it should be in his Power The like he said unto his Lady He told his Son He would leave him a Legacy out of David's Psalms and that was this Lord lead me in a plain Path. For Boy said he I would have you a plain honest Man and hate Dissimulation After this with much adoe I perswaded his Wife and the rest to be gone and then being all alone with me he said Doctor the hardest part of my Work in this World is now past meaning the parting with his Wife Then he desired me to pray preparatively to his Death that in the last Action he might so behave himself as might be most for God's Glory for the endearing of his Dead Master's Memory his Present Master's Service and that he might avoid the doing or saying of any thing which might favour either of vanity or sullenness This being done they were all carried to Sir Robert Cotton's House where I was with him till he was called unto the Scaffold and would have gone up with him but the Guard of Souldiers would not suffer me AT the same time with the Lord Capel there suffered as is aforementioned James Hamilton who was likewise Earl of Cambridge and Henry Earl of Holland who were both condemned by the same pretended High Court of Justice together with George Lord Goring and Sir John Owen who were pardoned The Names of which pretended High Court were as followeth A List of the Names of the Judges of the High Court of Justice for the Tryal of James Earl of Cambridge Henry Earl of Holland George Lord Goring Arthur Lord Capel and Sir John Owen Knight Appointed by an Act of the Commons of England in Parliament Assembled IOhn Bradshaw Serj. at Law Rich. Keable Serj. at Law Jo. Pulliston Serj. at Law Matthew Shepheard Will. Underwood Jo. Hayes Geo. Langham George Manley Jo. Langley Sam. Moys Morris Tompson Richard Shute Mark Hildersley Thomas Allen. Daniel Taylor Edmund Warring
Christ that justifies And therefore look now upon this My Lord upon this Christ upon this Christ that justifies Hell Death Sin Satan nothing shall be able to condemn It is Christ that justifies you Holland Indeed if Christ justifie no Body can condemn and I trust in God in his Justification Though there is a Confusion here without us and though there are Wonders and Staring that now disquiet yet I trust that I shall be carried into that Mercy that God will receive my Soul Bolton I doubt not my Lord but as you are a Spectacles of Pity here so you are an Object of God's Mercy above Holland Then the Earl of Holland looking over among the People pointing to a Souldier said This honest Man took me a Prisoner You little thought I should have been brought to this when I delivered my self to you upon Conditions And espying Captain Watson on Horse-back putting off his Hat said to him God be with you Sir God reward you Sir Bolton My Lord Throw your self into the Arms of Mercy and say There I will anchor and there I will die He is a Saviour for us in all Conditions Whither should we go He hath the Words of Eternal Life And upon Him do you rest wait while you live and even trust in Death Holland Here must now be my Anchor a great Storm makes me find my Anchor and but in Storms no Body trusts to his Anchor And therefore I must trust upon my Anchor Vpon that God said Mr. Bolton upon whom your Anchor trusts Yea God I hope will anchor my Soul fast upon Christ Jesus And if I die not with that Clearness and that Heartiness that you speak of truly I will trust in God though he kill me I will rely upon Him and in the Mercy of my Saviour Bolton There is Mercy enough my Lord and to spare you shall not need to doubt they shall never go begging to another Door My Lord that come to Him Then the Earl of Holland speaking to Mr. Hodges said I pray God reward you for all your Kindness and pray as you have done instruct my Family that they may serve God with Faithfulness and Holiness with more Diligence than truly I have been careful to press them unto You have the Charge of the same Place you may do much for them and I recommend them to your Kindness and the Goodness of your Conscience Dr. Sibbald standing upon the Scaffold in his Passage to Collonel Beecher expressed himself thus to his Lordship Dr. Sibbald The Lord lift up the Light of his Countenance upon you and you shall be safe Holland Then the Earl of Holland embraced Lieutenant Collonel Beecher and took his Leave of him After which he came to Mr. Bolton and having embraced him and returned him many Thanks for his great Pains and Affections to his Soul desiring God to reward him and return his Love into his Bosom Mr. Bolton said to him The Lord God support you and be seen in this great Extremity The Lord reveal and discover himself to you and make your Death the Passage unto Eternal Life Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner said Here my Friend let my Cloaths and my Body alone there is Ten Pounds for thee that is better than my Cloaths I am sure of it Executioner Will your Lordship please to give me a Sign when I shall strike And then his Lordship said You have Room enough here have you not And the Executioner said Yes Bolton The Lord be your Strength there is Riches in him The Lord of Heaven impart himself to you he is able to save to the uttermost We cannot fall so low as to fall below the everlasting Arms of God and therefore the Lord be a Support and Stay to you in your low Condition that he will be pleased to make this an Advantage to that Life and Glory that will make amends for all Holland Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner said Friend do you hear me If you take up my Head do not take off my Cap. Then turning to his Servants he said to one Fare you well thou art an Honest Fellow and to another God be with thee thou art an Honest Man And then said Stay I will kneel down and ask God Forgiveness And then prayed for a pretty space with seeming Earnestness Bolton The Lord grant you may find Life in Death Holland Which is the way of lying which they shewed him And then going to the Front of the Scaffold he said to the People God bless you all and God deliver you from any such Accident as may bring you to any such Death as is violent either by War or by these Accidents but that there may be Peace among you and you may find that these Accidents that have happened to us may be the last that may happen in this Kingdom It is that I desire it is that I beg of God next the saving of my Soul I pray God give all Happiness to this Kingdom to this People and this Nation And then turning to the Executioner said How must I lie I know not Executioner Lie down flat upon your Belly And then having laid himself down he said Must I lie closer Executioner Yes and backwarder Holland I will tell you when you shall strike And then as he lay seemed to pray with much Affection for a short space and then lifting up his Head said Where is the Man And seeing the Executioner by him he said Stay while I give the Sign And presently after stretching out his Hand and the Executioner being not fully ready he said Now now And just as the Words were coming out of his Mouth the Executioner at one Blow severed his Head from his Body Arthur Lord Capel his Speech on the Scaffold immediately before his Death March 9. 1649. The Execution of the Lord of Holland being thus performed the Lord Capel was brought to the Scaffold as the former and in the way to the Scaffold he put off his Hat to the People on both sides looking very austerely about him And being come upon the Scaffold Lieutenant Collonel Beecher said to him Is your Chaplain here Capel NO I have taken my Leave of him And perceiving some of his Servants to weep he said Gentlemen refrain your selves refrain your selves And turning to Lieutenant Collonel Beecher he said What did the Lords speak with their Hats off or no Coll. Beech. With their Hats off And then coming to the Front of the Scaffold he said I shall hardly be understood here I think And then began his Speech as followeth Capel The Conclusion that I made with those that sent me hither and are the Cause of this violent Death of mine shall be the Beginning of what I shall say to you When I made an Address to them which was the last I told them with much Sincerity That I would pray to the God of all Mercies that they might be Partakers of his inestimable
EXCELLENT Contemplations Divine and Moral Written by the Magnanimous and truly Loyal Arthur Lord Capel Baron of Hadham Together with some Account of his Life and his Letters to several Persons whilst he was Prisoner in the Tower vigorously asserting the Royal Cause against all the Enemies thereof Likewise his Affectionate Letters to his Lady the Day before his Death and his Couragious Behaviour and last Speech at his Suffering March 9. 1648. With his Pious Advice to his Son the late Earl of ESSEX LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside 1683. Some Account of the Life of the Pious and Virtuous Arthur Lord Capel Baron of Hadham THis Honourable Person ought to be eternized for his Endeavours Constancy and Perseverance in the Royal Cause first to the parting with his vast Estate being sequestred for his Loyalty and afterward with his life so that he may be rightly termed The Flower of English Fidelity and his name ought to be ever honourably mentioned according to that of the Psalmist Psalm 112. 6. The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance He was Son and Heir to Sir Arthur Capel of Hadham Hall in Hertfordshire a Gentleman of a great Estate one who followed the Old Mode of our Nation kept a bountiful house and shewed forth his Faith by his works extending his charity in such abundant manner to the poor that he was bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty eyes to the blind and legs to the lame and might be justly stiled Great Almoner to the King of Kings Concerning the humility of this worthy Knight though it be too sudden a diversion I shall presume to insert a story which I have heard delivered by some well acquainted with his Worship that he being one time at his Gate all alone in a plain but decent habit a Serving-man who had plumed himself with his Masters cast Feathers came riding to him asked him if Sir Arthur Capel were within Sir replied the knight he was there not long ago and if you please to walk in you may hear further of his Servants Old Father said the Serving-man here take my horse and walk him and therewithal gave him a small peice of Silver it being the first money he ever received in that kind Sir Arthur agreed to the motion and with a smile received from him a single penny took his horse and walkt him whilst the finical spruce Serving-man strutted with convenient boldness into the house But being informed by the Servants that their Master was at the Gate he replying that he was not there one of them to justify himself went with him to the Gate to see where they found Sir Arthur very industrious in his Imployment the Serving-man very much ashamed of his mistake craved pardon and with humble obeisance with his hat in his hand with many cringes would have received the horse from the knight Nay stay says Sir Arthur you paid me my hire get up as soon as you will for I am resolved to see you on Horse-back Then the old Knight putting his hand into his purse gave him half a piece which he said was for taking so much care of his Masters Horse being purposely thus liberal to incourage his own Servants to imitate his careful example But to return to his son he was very well educated attaining to some perfection in learning his Father dying as he inherited his Estate so he did his virtues The Privacy of this noble Lord before the war was passed with as much popularity in the Country as his more publick appearance in it was with valour and Fidelity in the Field In our too happy time of peace none was more Pious Charitable and Munificent In our unhappy differences none more resolved Loyal and active The People loved him so well that they chose him one of their Representatives and the King esteemed him so much that he made him one of his Peers in Parliament the King and People agreeing in this one thing to have a just kindness for the Lord Capel He was one of those excellent Gentlemen whose gravity and discretion the King said He hoped would allay and fix the faction to a due Temperament guiding some mens well meaning zeal by such rules of Moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health of all States and kingdoms keeping to the dictates of his Conscience rather than yielding to the importunities of the People to what was just rather than what was safe save only in the Earl of Straffords case wherein he yielded to the publick necessity with his Royal Master but repented with him too sealing his Contrition for that miscarriage with his blood when he was more troubled for his forced consent to that brave Persons death than for losing his own life he ventured through the first war and by his Ingagement in the second for after the surender of Oxford he retired to his own house but could not rest there until the King was brought home to his which all England endeavouring as one man my Lord adventured himself at Colchester to Extremity yeilding himself upon Condition of Quarter which he urged by the Law of Arms that Law that governeth the World Yet as he said against the Law of God man for keeping the first Commandment he was sacrificed on a Scaffold at Westminster with a courage that became a clear Conscience and a resolution befitting a good Christian expressing that same Judicious Piety at his death which he did in this Incomparable Book of his Meditations in his life A Piety that as it appeared by his dismission of his Chaplains and the formalities of that times Devotions before he came to the Scaffold was rather his inward frame and habit than outward Ostentation or Pomp from the Noble sentiment whereof the Poet not unhappily alluding to his Arms A Lyon Rampant in Field Gules between two Crosses thus expresseth it Our Lyon-like Capel undaunted stood Beset with Crosses in a Field of Blood As one that affrighted death rather than affrighted by it It being very observable That a learned Dr. of Physick present at the opening and Embalming of this Lord and the Duke Hamilton delivered at a publick Lecture That the Lord Capels was the least heart and the Dukes the greatest that ever he saw Agreeable to that Observation in Philosophy That the Spirits contracted within the least compass are the cause of the greatest courage Two things are considerable in this Incomparable Person 1. His uninterrupted Loyalty keeping pace with his life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 last breath was spent in proclaiming K. Charles the second in the very face of his Enemies as known to him to be Virtuous Noble Gentle Just and a great Prince 2 His Great merit and modesty whereof King Charles the first writes thus to her Majesty the Queen There is one that doth not yet pretend who deserves as well as any I mean Capel Therefore I desire thy assistance to find out
something for him before he ask He was a Religious man who used to say that when he had kept the Sabbath well he found the greater blessing upon all he did afterward He was as good in all his private Relations as in his several publick Capacities especially in that of a husband of which State he saith that it doubled his joys divided his grief and created new and unthought of Contentment A Sober man who loved not to hear a man talk of things irrationally He used Recreations only for refreshing his Body and mind He made his Servants and Dependants almost as familiar as his friends none was more strict in the Discipline of his Family nor more obliging in the sweetness of his converse He said he observed that the disobedience of man to us was no other then the punishment of our disobedience to God He was the meekest man living that had the Art as well as the grace by yielding to pacify wrath He was a discreet Person who would not suffer the Infelicity of one of his affairs to distemper him so as to lose all Consideration to guide him in the rest always retaining the decency of his own natural evenness saying That he was a wise man that was able to make wise men his Instruments He was a good Father that to procure a Blessing in the Education of his Children dayly offered up Prayers for them He was a good Christian that set apart half an hour every day for his retirement to think of Eternity He was a Nobleman that resolved to be happy in two things A moderate using of the present and an indifferent expectation of what is to come He had a good expression and elegant stile as his own Letters here inserted do be s â— delineate In those great differences betwixt the King and Parliament he constantly and faithfully adhered to his Majesty contributing very much to his aid both in Purse and Person and declaring openly in the House of Lords That the Kings Majesty had granted so much for the security and Peace of the Kingdom that they who asked more intended the disturbance of it He followed His Majesty to York and with other Lords attested the Integrity of his Majesties Proceedings there in order to Peace and promising to asist him with his life and Fortunes against all other pretended Authority in case it came to a War notwithstanding he had a Summons from Westminster to which he and others made a civil return And likewise an Impeachment of High Treason for going from Westminster to York at the Kings command whereof he took no notice setling his Estate in Sir Edward Capel and other Trustees who I find compounded for 4706l 7s 11d He advanced to his Majesty between eight and nine hundred Horse and Twelve Thousand pound in money and Plate and if he had had the happiness of being imployed in his own Countrey the fatal Error of that time as he was in the borders of Wales we had heard more of him However we find him subscribing the Declaration of the Parliament at Oxford in 1643. and the Messages of Peace from the Army in the Field attending his present Majesty to Cornwal where he was hurt in two or three several Ingagements once ventring himself very far to save the Foot In 1644. he was nominated one of the Commissioners for his Majesty to manage the Treaty at Uxbridge corresponding with the Members at Westm in order to an Accommodation with great caution against their subtle design who would divide the Princes Interest and his Fathers writing a Letter in December 1645 in answer to that of Sir Tho. Fairfax to the Prince signifying the Princes desires of Peace but that he would not quit his Piety and Loyalty to the King In March 1645. The Prince the Lord Capel and others put to sea in three Ships from Pendennis Castle In April 1646. The Prince sent a Trumpet with an Answer to the Parliaments incitation of him desiring a pass for the Lord Capel to go to the King to make him some overtures from the Prince and that the Lord Primate of Armagh might come to him In September following the Estates of the Lord Capel Lord Cottington Marquess of Winchester Earl of Worcester and Sir Charles Smith were by the Members at Westminster voted to be sold to raise money for Ireland In 1648. when the King was secured in the Isle of Wight some hopes being given of his Restoration to his former Dignity by the coming in of Duke Hamiliton from Scotland with a potent Army as also of Langhorns Powels and Poyers declaring themselves for his Majesty together with the rising of the Counties in several places to the same purpose the Lord Capel with a selected number of his Friends Associats and servants joined himself with the Lord Goring Sr. Charles Lucas and others who with a great Party were up in Arms in Essex and having valiantly defended Colchester for the space of three months against a potent enemy flusht with success were at length for want of Provisions having eaten all the Horses Dogs Cats and whatsoever was most reluctant to Nature were forced to yield both it and themselves the Superiour Officers to mercy the common Souldiers with the loss of their flying Garments In this Siege the Lord Capel wonderfully encouraged the Souldiers by his own Example going with an Hâ—lbert on his shoulder to the Watch keeping Guard in his turn paying six pence or twelve pence a shot for all the Enemies Bullets the Souldiers could pick up charging the first day of the Siege at Headgate where the Enemy was most pressing with a Pike till the Gate could be shut which at last was but pinned with his Cane By the Articles of Agreement with the General Fairfax the Royalists could not but imagine but that they had ascertained their Lives yet Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisk were shot to death which to all discerning men must seem strange and unusual The Lord Capel Lord Goring and others were sent to the Tower and taking notice soon after of an Order of the House of Commons for Impeaching them of High Treason they sent Letters to inform them that Quarter was given them by the General who had writ to the House to that purpose whereupon the General explained himself That the Quarter given did not extend to any other but the Military Power and that they were notwithstanding liable to Tryal and Judgment by the Civil Power But of this Learning and mischievous distinction I hope none of this Nation will ever have use hereafter After this a pretended High Court of Justice was erected where the Lord Capel among others was brought but he never minded nor looked upon the Court but cast an austere look upon the People on all sides pleading That he was a Prisoner to the Lord General and had Conditions given him and his life promised him that if all the Magistrates in Christendom were combined together they could not call
our persons and estates shall suffer much and our affection enjoy but a momentary satisfaction Neither doth affection alwaies press us peremptorily by absolute command but often adventures to attach our reason by discourse as it were rationally but yet subtilly Therefore by our selves we may easily conceive how advantagious a circumstance it is to gain their affection with whom we have or may have business CLXXXVI There is a base-conditioned sort of creatures whose affections are bought and sold by Hopes CLXXXVII It is an example of a deplorable nature and of the worst aspect both in a publick state and private family to see detestable faults not only not punished but the perpetrating persons grow greater in favour and more insolent in conditions CLXXXVIII A condemned person not legally put to death is murthered not executed and to judge ill of any unheard is not bare injury but high injustice CLXXXIX Fowlers set not the same sort of grinsfor the same kinds of fowls at all seasonsof the year but vary neither do the crafts-masters of subtility deceive though the most ignorant Gulls by one only trick For a very dogg will abhor that room whence he is often beaten CXC Guicâ—iardin incites his countrey-men to their pristine vertue by remembring them That to be a Roman is a most glorious name if accompanied with vertue and their shame is doubled if they forget the honour and renown of their Ancestours But Christians have more reasons to enflame their hearts to zeal and piety since their comportment is not only exposed to the view of men and Angels but to almost pure essence and strict observer God himself And what profession was ever honoured with better examples then ours Christ and his Apostles CXCI. That Master is never well served that doth not carry an esteem with his servants who should be readier to believe their masters commandments are wise than dispute it amongst themselves And above all things a master must be carefull that his servants be not eye-witnesses of any base or absurd action CXCII Pleasures moderately used are pleasant but immodestly and too frequently prove scurrilous and nauseous So while we too greedily pursue them we over-run and lose them CXCIII What is the advantage of men greatly learned they labour to be unsatisfied to know how ignorant they are and increase of knowledge is but increase of appetite to have more CXCIV Rely not upon men whose predominant humour is covetousness For they love nothing so well as wealth nor fear nothing so much as poverty Therefore if their gain and your good be opposed and they have power to make choice of either imagine the sequel though against their promise to you and your former obligations upon them Either choose a man that loves you above all things or which is better Honesty CXCV. The same shoe fits not all mens feet nor the same reason weighs with every man CXCVI. He is far from a wise man that the many examples of this age have not tutoured to a safe and wary carriage in his speech CXCVII Often to consider that Christ by his passion hath not only gained remission of our sins and absolved our great debt to God and his Law but hath purchased all our right to our worldly blessings and to heaven itself will make our hearts tender and pliable not only to forgive our brethren but to behave our selves with all Christian bounty toward them CXCVIII. Him that is a Baud to ones lust we account base and why not as well him that Flatters For this incites the mind to ill that but the body and therefore this the worse CXCIX The froward peevish disposition is like the wind no man knows whence the cause of it is nor whither it goes nor how long it will last but while it is all are troubled with the fearful noise and rumbling it makes CC. Though in a necessary denial yet I would express a grief to be unable rather than an unwillingness to satisfy except it be to those that are importune and impudent and their resolute answers should rid me of further trouble CCI. Those that are wise neglect not to weigh old and common precepts and to govern themselves by them whilst Novelists reject them as thred-bare and looking for fresher accept of worser CCII. To judge a man without anger because we never saw him moved is to say the flint is without fire which indeed struck against wood or many other things discovers not its property but against steel shews its nature And no man is tempered against all occasions though against many and it may be most CCIII The Indies have not made the Spaniard rich neither is any man made wealthy by abundant comings in but by the few occasions of spending CCIV. In Physick the relapse into a former disease is cured by the same medicines that were first used yet because the relapse is more dangerous and difficult there is added to the former medicines more operative vertue and oftener application Contrition and Confession are the medicines of a sick sinfull soul and for a relapse into a former sin we must use these medicines both with more fervency and frequency CCV Observe we those that are cleanly and neat yet without curiosity and commonly they are thriving for with it there goes a disposition of industry Whereas those that are slovenly are commonly lazy and that is the road to poverty CCVI. Vnkindness among friends is like a brack in a garment unless timely stopt ravels from top to bottom CCVII. As the Soul is the form and excellency of every creature so is modesty the very life and being of a beautiful womans commendation CCVIII A wise parent more patiently suffers the death of his children than their wicked or debauched actions CCIX. Those whose dispositions are retired are commonly wiser than those that are jovial The reason is excess of joy dilates the spirits whereas the other disposition unites them and adapts for consideration which is the parent of wisdom CCX There is an odious spirit in many men who are better pleased to detect a fault than commend a vertue CCXI. Those trees that grow wild in our fields we neglect but for those that grow in our garden we observe the due times of pruning and cutting If we be planted in Gods Garden we shall be cut and pruned by afflictions For God chastiseth every Son whom he loveth CCXII. These four are the chief ways of perpetuating our memory Books which require a good Head Valiant acts which require a couragious Heart Children which require an ability of Body and Building which requires a replenished Purse CCXIII. Such a man is to be imitated and admired that had rather suffer injury than do it that not out of a sluggishness and dulness of nature but out of good moralityand strong oppositions against affections CCXIV. How agreeable are those courtesies which we wished and are conferred upon us before we could ask CCXV There are a sort of men that
wish the Kingdoms happiness I wish it peace and truly Sir I wish that this blood of mine may be the last that is drawn and howsoever I may perhaps have some reluctancy with my self as to the matter of my Fact for my suffering for my Fact yet I freely forgive all Sir I earry no rancour along with me to my Grave His Will be done that has created both Heaven and Earth and me a poor miserable sinful Creature now speaking before him For me to speak Sir to you of State-business and the Government of the Kingdom or my opinion in that or for any thing in that nature truly it is to no end it contributes nothing My own inclination hath been to peace from the beginning and it is known to many that I never was an ill instrument betwixt the King and his people I never acted to the prejudice of the Parliament I bore no Arms I medled not with it I was not wanting by my Prayers to God Almighty for the Happiness of the King and truly I shall pray still that God may so direct him as that may be done which shall tend to his Glory and the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom I have not much more to say that I remember of I think I have spoken of my Religion D. Sibbald Your Lordship has not so fully said it Camb. Truly I do believe I did say something D. Sibbald I know you did it is pleasing to hear it from your Lordship again Camb. Truly Sir for the profession of my Religion that which I said was the established Religion and that which I have practiced in my own Kingdom where I was born and bred my Tenents they need not to be exprest they are known to all and I am not of a rigid Opinion many Godly men there is that may have scruples which do not concern me at all at no time they may differ in Opinion and now more than at any time differing in Opinion does not move me not any mans my own is clear Sir The Lord forgive me my sins and I forgive freely all those that even I might as a worldly man have the greatest animosity against We are bidden to forgive Sir 'T is a command laid upon us and there mentioned Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us D. Sibbald 'T is our Saviours rule Love your Enemies Bless them that curse you pray for them that persecute you do good to them that despightfully use you Camb. Sir it is high time for me to make an end of this and truly I remember no more that I have to say but to pray to God Almighty a few words and then I have done Then kneeling down with D. Sibbald he prayed thus MOst Blessed Lord I thy poor and most unworthy servant come unto thee presuming in thy infinite Mercy and the Merits of Jesus Christ who sits upon the Throne I come flying from that of Justice to that of Mercy and Tenderness for his sake which shed his Blood for sinners that he would take compassion upon me that he would look upon me as one that graciously hears me that he would look upon me as one that hath Redeemed me that he would look upon me as one that hath shed his Blood for me that he would look upon me as one who now calls and hopes to be saved by his all-sufficient merits For his sake glorious God have compassion upon me in the freeness of thy infinite mercy that when this sinful soul of mine shall depart out of this frail carcass of clay I may be carryed into thy Everlasting Glory O Lord by thy free Grace and out of thy infinite mercy hear me and look down and have compassion upon me and thou Lord Jesus thou my Lord and thou my God and thou my Redeemer hear me take pity upon me take pity upon me Gracious God and so deal with my soul that by thy precious merits I may attain to thy joy and bliss O Lord remember me so miserable and sinful a Creature now thou O Lord thou O Lord that dyedst for me receive me and receive me into thine own bound of mercy O Lord I trust in thee suffer me not now to be confounded Satan has had too long possession of this soul O let him not now prevail against it but let me O Lord from henceforth dwell with thee for evermore Now Lord it is thy time to hear me hear me Gracious Jesus even for thy own Goodness Mercy and Truth O Glorious God O Blessed Father O Holy Redeemer O Gracious Comforter O Holy and Blessed Trinity I do render up my soul into thy hands and commit it with the Mediation of my Redeemer Praising thee for all thy Dispensation that it has pleased thee to confer upon me and even for this Praise and Honour and Thanks from this time forth for evermore D. Sibbald My Lord I trust you now behold with the Eye of Faith the Son of Righteousness shining upon your Soul and will cheerfully submit unto Him who hath Redeemed us through his Blood even the Blood of Jesus Christ that you may appear at the Tribunal of God cloathed with the White Robe of his Unspotted Righteousness The Lord grant that with the Eye of Faith you may now see the Heavens opened and Jesus Christ standing at the Right Hand of God ready to receive you into his Arms of Mercy Camb. Then the Earl turning to the Executioner said Shall I put on another Cap Must this Hair be turned up from my Neck There are Three of my Servants to give Satisfaction D. Sibbald My Lord I hope you are able to give all that are about you Satisfaction you are assured that God is reconciled unto you through the Blood of Christ Jesus and the Spirit of the Lord witnesseth to you that Christ is become now a Jesus unto you My Lord fasten the Eyes of your Faith upon Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Salvation who himself was brought to a violent Death for the Redemption of Mankind He chearfully submitted to his Father's good Pleasure in it and for us Blessed and Holy is he that hath part my Lord in the first Resurrection that is in the first Riser Jesus Christ who is both the Resurrection and the Life Over him the Second Death shall have no Power 'T is the unspeakable Joy of a Believer that at the Hour of Death his Soul hath an immediate Passage from this earthly Tabernacle to that Region of endless Glory yea to the Presence of God himself in whose Presence is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore Then the Earl of Cambridge turning to the Executioner said Which way is it that you would have me lie Sir Execut. The Executioner pointing to the Front of the Scaffold the Earl replied What my Head this way Then the Undersheriffs Son said My Lord the Order is That you should lay your Head towards the High Court
of Justice The Earl of Cambridge after a little Discourse in private with some of his Servants kneeled down on the Side of the Scaffold and prayed a while to himself When he had finisht his Prayer D. Sibbald spake to him thus My Lord I humbly beseech God that you may now with an Holy and Christian Courage give up your Soul to the Hand of your faithful Creator and gracious Redeemer and not be dismayed with any sad Apprehension of the Terrors of this Death And what a blessed and glorious Exchange you shall make within a very few Minutes Then with a cheefful and smiling Countenance the Earl embracing the Doctor in his Arms said Camb. Truly Sir I do take you in mine Arms and truly I bless God for it I do not fear I have an Assurance that is grounded here laying his Hand upon his Heart now that gives me more true Joy than ever I had I pass out of a miserable World to go into an Eternal and Glorious Kingdom And Sir though I have been a most sinful Creature yet God's Mercy I know is infinite and I bless my God for it I go with so clear a Conscience that I know not the Man that I have personally injured D. Sibbald My Lord it is a marvellous great Satisfaction that at this last Hour you can say so I beseech the Lord for his Eternal Mercy strengthen your Faith that in the very moment of your Dissolution you may see the Arms of the Lord Jesus stretched out ready to receive your Soul Then the Earl of Cambridge embracing those his Servants which were there present said to each of them You have been very faithful to me and the Lord bless you Camb. Then turning to the Executioner said I shall say a very short Prayer to my God while I lie down there and when I stretch out my Hand my Right Hand then Sir do your Duty And I do freely forgive you and so I do all the World D. Sibbald The Lord in great Mercy go along with You and bring You to the Possession of Everlasting Life strengthening Your Faith in Jesus Christ This is a Passage My Lord a short Passage unto Eternal Glory I hope through the Free Grace of Your gracious God You are now able to say O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory And to make this comfortable Answer Blessed be God blessed be God who hath given me an Assurance of Victory thro' Christ Jesus Then the Earl of Cambridge said to the Executioner Must I lie all along Execut. Yes and 't please your Lordship Camb. When I stretch out my Hands But I will fit my Head first tell me if I be right and how you would have me lie Execut. Your shirt must be pinn'd back for it lies too high upon your Shoulders Which was done accordingly D. Sibbald My Lord Now now lift up Your Eyes unto Jesus Christ and cast Your self now into the Everlasting Arms of Your gracious Redeemer Then the Earl having laid his Head over the Block said Is this right D. Sibbald Jesus the Son of David have Mercy upon You. Execut. Lie a little lower Sir Camb. Well Stay then till I give you the Sign And so having lain a short space devoutly praying to himself he stretched out his Right Hand whereupon the Executioner at one Blow severed his Head from his Body which was received by two of his Servants then kneeling by him into a Crimson Taffety Scarff and that with the Body immediately put into a Coffin brought upon the Scaffold for that purpose and from thence conveyed to the House that was Sir John Hamilton's at the Mews This Execution being done the Sheriffs Guard went immediately to meet the Earl of Holland which they did in the Mid-way between the Scaffold and Westminster-Hall and the Under-Sheriffs Son having received him into his Charge conducted him to the Scaffold he taking Mr. Balton all the way in his Hand passed all along to the Scaffold discoursing together Upon which being come observing his Voice would not reach to the People in regard the Guard compassed the Scaffold he said Henry Lord Rich Earl of Holland His Speech on the Scaffold immediately before his Death March 9. 1649. Holland IT is to no purpose I think to speak any thing here Which way must I speak And then being directed to the front of the Scaffold he leaning over the Rayls said I think it is fit to say something since God hath called me to this place The first thing which I must profess is what concerns my Religion and my Breeding which hath been in a good Family that hath ever been faithful to the true Protestant Religion in the which I have been bred in the which I have lived and in the which by Gods Grace and Mercy I shall dye I have not lived according to that Education I had in that Family where I was born and bred I hope God will forgive me my sins since I conceive it is very much his pleasure to bring me to this place for the sins that I have committed The cause that hath brought me hither I believe by many hath been much mistaken They have conceived that I have had ill Designs to the State and to the Kingdom Truly I look upon it as a Judgment and a just Judgment of God not but I have offended so much the State and the Kingdom and the Parliament as that I have had no extream vanity in serving them very extraordinarily For those Actions that I have done I think it is known they have been ever very faithful to the Publick and very particularly to Parliaments My Affections have been ever exprest truly and clearly to them The dispositions of Affairs now have put things in another posture than they were when I was engaged with the Parliament I have never gone off from those Principles that ever I have professed I have lived in them and by God's Grace will die in them There may be Alterations and Changes that may carry them further than I thought reasonable and truly there I left them But there hath been nothing that I have said or done or professed either by Covenant or Declaration which hath not been very constant and very clear upon the principles that I ever have gone upon which was to serve the King the Parliament Religion I should have said in the first place the Commonwealth and to seek the Peace of the Kingdom That made me think it no improper time being prest out by Accidents and Circumstances to seek the Peace of the Kingdom which I thought was proper since there was something then in Agitation but nothing agreed on for sending Propositions to the King that was the furthest aim that I had and truly beyond that I had no intention none at all And God be praised although my blood comes to be shed here there was I think scarce a drop of blood shed in that Action that I was ingaged in For the
come upon the Scaffold the Lord Capelsaid O Friend prethee come hither Then the Executioner kneeling down the Lord Capel said I forgive thee from my Soul and not only forgive thee but I shall pray to God to give all Grace for a better Life There is Five Pounds for thee and truly for my Cloaths and those things if there be any thing due to you for it you shall be fully recompensed But I desire my Body may not be stripped here and no Body to take notice of my Body but my own Servants Look you Friend this I shall desire of you That when I lie down you would give me a time for a particular short Prayer Lieut. Coll. Beecher Make your own Sign my Lord. Capel Stay a little which side do you stand upon speaking to the Executioner Stay I think I should lay my Hands forward that way pointing fore-right and Answer being made Yes he stood still a little while and then said God Almighty bless all this People God Almighty stench this Blood God Almighty stench stench stench this Issue of Blood This will not do the business God Almighty find out another way to do it And then turning to one of his Servants said Baldwin I cannot see any thing that belongs to my Wife but I must desire thee and beseech her to rest wholly upon Jesus Christ to be contented and fully satisfied And then speaking to his Servants he said God keep you and Gentlemen let me now do a Business quickly privately and pray let me have your Prayers at the moment of Death That God would receive my Soul Lieut. Coll. Beecher I wish it Capel Pray at the moment of striking joyn your Prayers but make no noise turning to his Servants it is inconvenient at this time Servant My Lord put on your Cap. Capel Should I what will that do me good Stay a little it is well as it is now As he was putting up his Hair And then turning to the Executioner he said Honest Man I have forgiven thee therefore strike boldly from my Soul I do it Then a Gentleman speaking to him he said Nay prethee be contented be quiet good Mr. be quiet Then turning to the Executioner he said Well you are ready when I am ready are you not And then stretching out his Hands he said Then pray stand off Gentlemen Then going to the Front of the Scaffold he said to the People Gentlemen though I doubt not of it yet I think it convenient to ask it of you That you would all joyn in Prayers with me ThatGod would mercifully receive my Soul and that for his alone Mercies in Christ Jesus God Almighty keep you all Executioner My Lord shall put up your Hair Capel I I prethee do And then as he stood lifting up his Hands and Eyes he said O God I do with a perfect and a willing Heart submit to thy Will O God I do most willingly humble my self And then kneeling down said I will try first how I can lie And laying his Head over the Block said Am I well now Executioner Yes And then as he lay with both his Hands stretched out he said to the Executioner Here lie both my Hands out when I lift up my Hands thus lifting up his Right Hand then you may strike And then after he had said a short Prayer he lifted up his Right Hand and the Executioner at one Blow severed his Head from his Body which was taken up by his Servants and put with his Body into a Coffin These following Epitaphs were written upon the Suffering of this Couragious and Noble LORD HEre Virtue Valour Charity and all Those rare Endowments we Celestial call Included are Nor wonder at the Story Capel lies here Loyalty's chiefest Glory Another DIsturb me not my Soul is mounting high To Pyramide great Capel's Memory I 'le range my Thoughts it is a World that shall be rul'd by Capel's Eccho hallow all Ye Sacred Muses and conspire to bring Materials for this Work and learn to sing For should you weep your Eyes might undertake To drown the World which I intend to make Forbear your Tears are useless you must now Gaze upon Earth with an undaunted Brow Capel hath taught us how to entertain The Pallid Looks of Fate by him we gain The Art of Dying and from him we have The Definition of a Deathless Grave Rare Soul I say thy ever Active Fame Shall build a World unto thy pregnant Name And every Letter of thy Stem shall raise A spacious Kingdom where thy ample Praise Shall be recorded Every list'ning Ear Shall prove Ambitious be intranc'd to hear 'T will be a Glory when the World shall say 'T was bravely done His Sovereign led the way And he as Valiant Souldiers ought to do March't boldly after and was always true To Sacred Majesty His Hero'd Breath Disdain'd to fear he rather courted Death Death added Life unto his Thoughts for he Contemn'd a Death he bought with Victory The very Birds shall learn to prate and sing How Capel suffered for his Royal King FINIS There are Lately Published Ten very useful pleasant and necessary Books all fold by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside I. TWO Journies to Jerusalem containing first A strange and True Account of the Travels of two English Pilgrims some years since and what Admirable Accidents befel them in their Journey to Jerusalem Grand Cairo Alexandria c. With the wonderful manner of hatching many Thousand Chickens at once in Ovens Secondly The Travels of Fourteen Englishmen in 1669 from Scandaroon to Tripoly Joppa Ramah Jerusalem Bethlehem Jericho the River Jordan the Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah and back again to Aleppo By T. B. With the rare Antiquities Monuments and memorable places and things mentioned in the Holy Scripture and an exact description of the Old and New Jerusalem to which is added a Relation of the great Council of the Jews Assembled in the Plains of Ajayday in Hungaria 1650. to examine the Scriptures concerning Christ By S. B. an Englishman there present With the notorious Delusion of the Jews by a Counterfeit Messiah or false Christ at Smyrna in 1666. and the Event thereof Lastly the fatal and final Extirpation and Destruction of the Jews throughout the Kingdom of Persia whereby many Thousands of all Qualities and Ages were cut off in 1666. and the Remarkable occasion thereof Beautified with Pictures Price One Shilling II. UNparrallel'd Varieties Or the Marchless Actions and Passions of Mankind Dispeyald in near four hundred notable instances and examples Discovering the transcendent effects 1. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude 2. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity 3. Of Chastity Temperance and Humility And on the contrary the Tremendous Consequences 4. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude 5. Of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery 6. Of unchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Proper Figures Price One Shilling III. SUrprising Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts containing 1. The
Miracles of Nature or the wonderful signs and Prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea With an account of the most famous Comets and other Prodigies since the Birth of our Blessed Saviour particularly the dreadful Apparitions before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple The terrible presages during the Wars and Desolations in Germany as several Suns appearing at once the water in Ponds and Conduits turned to blood and blood rained from Heaven Armies of Crows Dogs and other Creatures fighting and destroying each other Intermixt with Remarks on the Life of the renowned Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden Also a particular Description of the five Blazing Stars seen in England since 1663. A Relation of the burning of Mount Aetna with the horrid River of Fire and Brimstone which issued thence in 1669. burning near 20 Towns and Villages with abundance of other unaccountable Accidents and Productions of all kinds to 1682. Likewise a true Account of the Groaning Board II. The Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings and other curious Inventions in all Ages as the Seven Wonders of the World and many other excellent structures and rarities throughout the Earth Beautified with sculptures Price One Shilling IV. EXtraordinary Adveâ—â—â—â—â—â— of several Famous Men with the strange Events and signal Mutations and Changes in the Fortunes of divers Illustrious Places and Persons in all Ages Being an account of a Multitude of Sâ—upeâ—â—ious Revolutions Accidents and Observable 〈◊〉 in States and Provinces throughout the whole world Namely the Adventures of Christo Columbus and the manner of his Discovery of America or the New World The Cruelties used by the Turks upon the Christians at Argiers their manner of selling Slaves c. The dreadful Mutiny in the City of Naples in 1647. and how Massanello a Fisher-boy ruled there for 10 days with greater Power than any King or Emperour An Account of several Nations destroyed or driven from their Habitations by Gnats Moles Pismires Sparrows Locusts Hares Conies Fleas Frogs Mice Grashoppers Serpents Worms and other inconsiderable Creatures The Tragical Deaths of John and Cornelius de Wit at the Hague in Holland Remarks on the Life and Death of Sir W. Rawleigh with his last Speech and Behaviour on the Scaffold with Pictures Price One Shilling V. ADmirable curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland or an account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the Battles Sieges Prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fires Murders and other considerable occurences and accidents for many hundred years past and among others the Battle of Bosworth and the miserable death of Crookbackt Richard The beheading of the Lord Cromwel and the Earl of Essex with their last Speeches The Rebellion under Ket the Tanner and his Laws and Ordinances in the Oak of Reformation near Norwich The Lady riding naked through Coventry Together with the natural and artificial rarities in every County in England with several curious Sculptures Prince One Shilling VI. VVOnderful Prodigies of Judgment and Mercy discovered in above 300 memorable Histories containing 1. Dreadful judgments upon Atheists Blasphemers perjured Villains c. As of several forsworn wretches carried away by the Devil and how an horrid Blasphemer was turned into a black dog c. 2. The miserable ends of many Magitians Witches Conjurers c. with divers strange apparitions and illusions of the Devil 3. Remarkable predictions and presages of approaching death and how the event has been answerable 4. The wicked lives and woful deaths of several Popes with the manner how King Henry 2. was whipt by the Popes Order by the Monks of Canterbury and how the Queen of Bohemia was swallowed up in the Earth alive with all her followers c. 5. Fearful Judgments upon bloody Tyrants Murderers c. also how Popiel King of Polana a Cruel Tyrant his Queen and Children were devoured by Rats and how a Town near Tripoly in Barbary with the Men Women Children Beasts Trees Walls Rooms Cats Dogs Mice and all that belonged to the place were turn'd into perfect Stone to be seen at this day for the Horrid Crimes of the Inhabitants c. 6. Admirable Deliverances from imminent Dangers and Deplorable Distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divine Goodness to Penitents with the Dying Thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state after this Life Imbellished with divers Pictures Price One Shilling VII HIstorical Remarks and Observations of the Ancient and Present state of London and Westminster shewing the Foundations Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an account of the most remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other Occurrences for above Nine hundred years past in and about these Cities and among other particulars the Rebellion of Wat Tylor who was slain by the Lord Mayor in Smithfield and the Speech of Jack Straw at his Execution The Murder of King Hen. 6. and likewise of Edw. 5. and his Brother by Richard 3. called Crook-back The Insurrection in London in King Henry 8. time and how 411 Men and Women went through the City in their shifts and Ropes about their Necks to Westiminster-Halt where they were pardoned by the King with several other Remarks to this Year 1681. and a description of the manner of the Tryal of the late Lord Strafford in Westminster-Hall Illustrated with Pictures with the Arms of the 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating Prince One Shilling VIII THe Fourth Edition of the Wars in Engand Scotland and Ireland being near a third part enlarged with very considerable Additions containing an Impartial Account of all the Battles Sieges and other Remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which have happened from the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First 1625. to His Majesties Happy Restauration 1660. And among other particulars the Debates and Proceedings in the Four first Parliaments of King Charles 1. The Murder of the Duke of Buckingham by Felton The Tumults at Edenburgh in Scotland The Insurrection of the Apprentices and Seamen and their assaulting of A. B. Lauds House at Lambeth Remarks on the Life of the E. of Strafford and his last Speech The Death of Arch-Bishop Laud Duke Hamilton Lord Capel Mr. Love Dr. Hewet and others The illegal Tryal of King Charles â—â—at large with his last Speech at his Suffering And the most considerable matters which happened till 1660. with Pictures of several remarkable Accidents Price One Shilling IX THE Young Mans Calling or the whole Duty of Youth in a serious and compassionate Address to all young Persons to remember their Creator in the days of their Youth Together with Remarks upon the Lives of several excellent Young Persons of both Sexes as well ancient as modern who have been famous for Virtue and Piety in their Generations namely on the Lives of Isaac and Joseph in their youth On the Martyrdom of seven Sons and their Mother and of Romanus a young Nobleman with the invincible courage of a Child of seven years old who was martyred On the Martyrdom of divers holy Virgins and Martyrs On the Life of that blessed Prince King Edw. 6. with his ingenious Letter to his Godfather A. B. Cranmer when but 8 years old and his last words and Prayer On the Life and Death of Queen Jane as her learned Dispute with Fecknam a Priest about the Sacrament her Letters to her Father the Duke of Suffolk to her Sister and others On the Life of Queen Elizabeth in her Youth with her many Sufferings and Dangers from bloody Bonner and Gardiner and her joyful Reception to the Crown On the Religious Life and Death of the most Noble and Heroick Prince Henry eldest Son to King James And also of the young Lord Harrington c. with 12 curious Pictures illustrating the several Histories Price Eighteen Pence X. A Guide to Eternal Glory or brief Directons to all Christians how to attain Everlasting Salvation to which is added A Dialogue between a Divine and a Beggar Questions for dayly self-Examination Spiritual Hymns upon the Blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper Beams of the Spirit or Cordial Meditations enlivening and enlightning the Soul recommended by Joseph Caryl Price Six Pence All Ten sold by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside 1683. FINIS * Observing the Writers * Looking towards M. Bolton * Pointing to the Bl 〈…〉 k.