Capel. No, I have taken my leave of him. And perceiving some of his servants to weep, he said, Gentlemen, refrain yourselves, refrain yourselves. And turning to Colonel Beecher, he said, What! did the lords speak with their hats off, or no? Col. Beecher. 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 : "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 Vol. I. No. 6. Gg partakers of his inestimable and boundless mercies in Jesus Christ; and truly I still pray that prayer; and I beseech the God of heaven forgive any injury they have done to me, from my soul I wish it and this I tell you as a Christian, to let you see I am a Christian. But it is necessary I should tell you somewhat more, that I am a Protestant; and truly I am a Protestant, and very much in love with the profession of it, after the manner as it was established in England by the thirty-nine articles; a blessed way of profession, and such an one as truly I never knew any so good. I am so far from being a Papist, which somebody has very unworthily at some time charged me withal, that truly I profess to you, that though I love good works, and commend good works, yet I hold they have nothing at all to do in the matter of salvation; my anchor-hold is this, That Christ loved me, and gave himself for me this is that that I rest upon. "And truly something I shall say to you as a citizen of the whole world, and in that con sideration I am here condemned to die, contrary to the law that governs all the world, that is, the law of the sword; I had the protection of that for my life, and the honour of it; but I will not trouble you much with that, because in another place I have spoken very largely and liberally about it. I believe you will hear by other means what arguments I used in that case: but truly that which is stranger, you that are Englishmen, behold here an Englishman before you, and acknowledged a peer, not condemned to die by any law of England, not by any law of England; and, shall I tell you more? (which is strangest of all) contrary to all the laws of England that I know of. And truly I will tell you, in the matter of the civil part of my death, and the cause that I have maintained, I die (I take it) for maintaining the fifth commandment, enjoined by God himself, which enjoins reverence and obedience to parents. divines on all hands, though they contradict one another in many several opinions, yet all divines on all hands do acknowledge, that here is intended magistracy and order; and certainly I have obeyed that magistracy and that order under which I have lived, which I was bound to obey; and truly, I can say it very confidently, that I do die here for keeping, for obeying that fifth commandment given by God himself, and written with his own finger and now, Gentlemen, I will take this opportunity to tell you, that I cannot imitate a better nor a greater ingenuous ness than his, that said of himself, for suffering an unjust judgment upon another, himself was All brought to suffer by an unjust judgment. Truly, Gentlemen, that God may be glorified, that all men that are concerned in it may take the occasion of it, of humble repentance to God Almighty for it: I do here profess to you, that I did give my vote to that bill against the Earl of Strafford; I doubt not but God Almighty hath washed that away with a more precious blood, the blood of his own Son, and my dear Saviour Jesus Christ; and I hope he will wash it away from all those that are guilty of it. Truly, this I may say, I had not the least part nor degree of malice in doing of it; but I must confess again to God's glory, and the accusation of mine own frailty, and the frailty of my nature, that it was unworthy cowardice not to resist so great a torrent as carried that business at that time. And truly, this, I think, I am most guilty of, of not courage enough in it, but malice I had none; but whatsoever it was, God, I am sure, hath pardoned it, hath given me the assurance of it, that Christ Jesus his blood hath washed it away; and truly, I do from my soul' wish, that all men that have any stain by it may seriously repent, and receive a remission and pardon from God for it. And now, Gentlemen, we have an occasion from this intimation to remember his Majesty our king that last was; and I cannot speak of him, nor think of it, but I must needs say, that in my opinion, who have had time to consider all the images of the greatest and virtuousest princes in the world; and, in my opinion, there was not a more virtuous and more sufficient prince known in the world than our gracious all; God Almighty preserve this kingdom; God Almighty preserve you all." Then turning about, and looking for the executioner, (who was gone off the scaffold) he said, "Which is the gentleman ? Which is the man?" Answer was made, he is coming he then said, "Stay, I must pull off my doubiet first, and my waistcoat." And then the executioner being come upon the scaffold, the Lord Capel said, "O friend, prithee come hither." Then the executioner kneeling down, the Lord Capel said, "I forgive thee from my soul, and not only for King Charles that died last: God Almighty preserve our king that now is, his son; God send him more fortune and longer days; God Almighty so assist him, that he may exceed both the virtues and sufficiencies of his father. I pray God restore him to this kingdom, and unite the kingdoms one to another, and send a great happiness both to you and to him, that he may long live and reign among you, and that that family may reign till thy kingdom come, that is, while all temporal power is consummated: I beseech God of his mercy give much happi-give thee, but I shall pray to ness to this your king, to you that shall be his faithful subjects by the grace of Jesus Christ, "Truly I like my beginning so well that I will make my conclusion with it; that is, that God Almighty would confer, of his infinite and inestimable grace and mercy, to those that are the cause of my coming hither, I pray God give them as much mercy as their hearts can wish; and for my part I will not accuse any one of them of malice, truly I will not, nay, I will not think there was any malice in them. What other end there is, I know not, nor will I examine; but let it be what it will, from my very soul I forgive them every one. And so the Lord of heaven bless you all, God Almighty be infinite in goodness and mercy to you, and direct you in those ways of obedience to his commands, to his Majesty, that this kingdom may be an happy and glorious nation again, and that your king may be an happy king in so good and so obedient people: God Almighty keep you God to give thee all grace for a better life. There is five pounds for thee; and truly, for my clothes, 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 nobody 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 time for a particular short prayer." L. Col. Beecher. own sign, my lord. Make your Capel. "Stay a little which side do you stand upon ?" (speak "Stay, ing to the executioner.) 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 stanch this blood; God Almighty stanch, stanch, stanch 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, he 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." L. Col. Beecher. I wish it. Capel. "Pray, at the moment of striking, join 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, prithee alone mercies in Christ Jesus. God Almighty keep you all." Execut. My lord, shall I put up your hair? Capel. "Ay, ay, prithee 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 myself." 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?" Execut. 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, as the for mer. be contented, be quieted, good THE NATURE AND EFFECTS Mr.- be quiet." Then turning to the executioner, he said, "Well, you are ready when I am ready, are you not?" And 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 join in prayers with me, that God would mercifully receive my soul, and that for his OF CHRISTIAN COURTESY (From the Christian Observer.) A SHORT time ago, I paid a visit to an old friend at his residence in a remote part of the kingdom, whom I had not seen for eighteen years, and I am disposed to think the narrative of the circumstances of that interview, and of the consequences attending it, will not be uninteresting to yourself or your readers. My acquaintance with The ophilus (for that is the title under which I shall conceal the name of my friend) began at the university, which we entered and quitted nearly at the same time; and it was improved into an intimacy by an occasional in, tercourse of several years. He was sensible, lively, affable, generous, and humane; but with these qualities he had one fault, which often made me tremble for its consequences, an impetuosity of temper, which ill brooked opposition or restraint. In 1785 I left England, under a promise of writing to Theophilus, which I never performed, although I always retained a sincere regard for him. I returned to my native country at the close of the last century, and inquiring after the companion of my youth, I learnt that, in 1787, he had succeeded to a large estate in -shire, and had eyer since lived in the country, visiting the metropolis only when called to it by business of importance. Intending to surprise him by an early visit, I forbore writing to him, but from circumstances which it is unnecessary to particularize, I had no opportunity of executing my intention before the beginning of last September, when, without any previous no-, tice, I repaired to his house. At the distance of three quarters of a mile from it, I passed through a village, which I was informed had been established by Theophilus; the neatness of the cot, tages, and the appearance of their inhabitants bespoke indus try, order, economy, and com, fort. My name, as that of a perfect stranger, was announced to him by a servant. I heard it repeated with a vivacity which convinced me that I was not for- The parties We had chatted more than an hour, with all the hilarity and interest which a renewed friendship, after long separation, inspires, when we were most disagreeably interrupted by rude. noises at the gate a servant entering announced the arrival of some clamorous complainants, who required the interposition of my friend as a magistrate. He immediately arose, apologised for the necessity of attending his du ty, and was preparing to leave the room, when I requested to accompany him. stated their complaints, which had arisen out of a drunken brawl, with the greatest vehe, mence, although they were so trifling and ridiculous, that I could not suppress my vexation at the ill-timed intrusion. My friend, however, heard them, not mere ly with patience, but with complacency, and I admired the dex terity with which he soothed and composed the enraged opponents, and the well-adapted impressive admonition with which he discharged, after having rec onciled, them. All this was done without any emotion, and with so much good humour, that I could not conceal my surprise. The ophilus, smiling, replied, "You knew me at a time when I should not have borne such a scene with so much composure; but since our separation I have been study ing morals and manners in that book, (pointing to one which I |
