didly remarks, "those who differ the most in political sentiments from lord Capel, should be ready to do justice to his integrity and fortitude 4." His lordship's literary remains were first printed in 1654, with the following title: 66 Daily Observations or Meditations; divine, morall. Written by a Person of Honour and Piety." To which are added, "Certain Letters written to several Persons," 4to. The volume was afterwards published in 12mo. and entitled, "Excellent Contemplations, &c. written by the magnanimous and truly loyal Arthur Lord Capel, Baron of Hadham; together with some Account of his Life." Many of lord Capel's moral axioms may even vie with the aphorisms of Lavater; and would license a more copious selection than is here given from this treasury of contemplative wisdom, if the book were of less frequent occurrence. : "Biting jests, the more truth they carry with them, the broader scarred memory they leave behind them many times they are like the wounds of chewed bullets, where the ruggedness causeth almost incurable hurts. "In this tempestuous world no line holds the anchor of contentment so fast as a good conscience: man's favour is but a fine thread, that will scarcely Biog. Brit. vol. iii. p. 226. hold one tug of a crafty tale-bearer: honour slips the noose, when vulgar breath, wearyed with constant vertue, is more affected to novelty riches are gnawn asunder by the greedy teeth of devouring leviathans : but this cable is so strong and compact, that when force is offered to it, the straining rather strengthens by uniting the parts more close. "The wearied man desires the bed; the discontented man, the grave both would fain be at rest. "In heat of argument men are commonly like those that are tyed back to back; close joined, and yet they cannot see one another. "Those that behave themselves with an uneven and captious conversation towards others, are but tell-tales of their own unpeaceable and miserable unsettled minds within themselves. "Sharp and bitter jests are blunted more by neglecting, than by responding, except they be suddenly and wittily retorted but it is no imputation to a man's wisdom to use a silent scorn. : "The idle man is more perplexed what to do, than the laborious in doing what he ought. "No decent fashion is unlawful: and if fashions be but a diversified decency, without question it is but a cynical singularity either to exclaim against, or not Sociably to use them. "Let our thoughts and actions towards God be pious; to our neighbour, charitable; toward our selves, sober; and our present life will be peaceable, our memory praised, and our happiness eternall." In the Gentleman's Magazine for Feb. 17575, were inserted "Stanzas by Lord Capel; written when he was a Prisoner in the Tower, during Cromwell's Usurpation ;" and though no authority was adduced to vouch for their genuineness, and the style has little that is obsolete, yet they bear such strong features of resemblance to the heroic temper of this lord, that they cannot be passed by without an extract. "Beat on, proud billows; Boreas, blow; Your incivilities do plainly show That innocence is tempest-proof: Though surly Nereus frowns, my thoughts are calm; "That which the world miscalls a jail, A private closet is to me; Whilst a good conscience is my bail, And innocence my liberty: Locks, bars, and solitude, together met, Make me no prisoner, but an anchoret. "I'm in this cabinet lock'd up, Like some high-prized margarite"; I'm cloister'd up from public sight: They were afterwards collected in the New Foundling Hospital for Wit, vol. iv. A pearl. Hence Drummond of Hawthornden writes, in an epitaph on one named Margaret: Retir'dness is a part of majesty, And thus, proud sultan, I'm as great as thee. "Have you not heard the nightingale, A prisoner close kept in a cage, In that her narrow hermitage? E'en then her melody doth plainly prove Her boughs are trees, her cage a pleasant grove. "I am that bird which they combine Thus to deprive of liberty; And though my corpse they can confine, Though I'm mew'd up, yet I can chirp and sing- "In shells and gold, pearls are not kept alone, A margaret that did excel in worth All those rich gems the Indies both send forth." Poems, 1656. This excellent old song, says Dr. Percy, is preserved in David Lloyd's Memoirs of those that suffered in the Cause of Charles the First; and he speaks of it as the composition of a worthy personage, who suffered deeply in those times, and was still living about 1668, with no other reward than the conscience of having suffered. The author's name he has not mentioned, but if tradition may be credited, this song was written by sir Roger l'Estrange. Reliques, vol. ii. p. 334. In Harl. MS. 3511 (which manuscript bears the autograph of Arthur Capell, as its former possessor) a copy of the above occurs, which is entitled "Mr. Le Strange his Verses in the prison at Linn;" so that lord Capel's slight pretensions to the composition seem to be annihilated. HENRY RICII, EARL OF HOLLAND, YOUNGER brother of Robert, second earl of Warwick, was created baron Kensington in 1622, and earl of Holland in 16242. He was captain of the king's guard, and much in favour with James the first, who made him a knight of the bath; and with Charles the first, who made him a knight of the garter 3. He commanded as general of the horse, under the earl of Arundel, in the expedition against the Scots in 1639; and made a rash and feeble effort for the king a little before he was beheaded; soon after which, he fell himself by the hand of the executioner, March 9, 1648-9, at the same time with lord Capel and the duke of Hamilton 4. The earl of Holland, says lord Clarendon, was a younger son of a noble house; but the reputation of his family gave him no great advantage in the world. • Bolton's Extinct Peerage, p. 147. 9 Granger speaks of him also as a distinguished favourite with Henrietta Maria, the queen of Charles the first, upon whose heart his handsome person, gallant behaviour, and courtly address, are thought to have made an early impression, when he was sent embassador to France, to negotiate the treaty of marriage for the king of England. • Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. ii. p. 132. A particular account of his speeches and conduct on the scaffold was printed with Lord Capel's Remains. |