B;i Rev. Chr. Wonhworth, M.A. 249 



On Thursday, May 21st, he began the return journey, and had 

 two days of ilhiess at Lady Stapleton's, at Lacock. 



"Most of his 'talk was of his phisick; or repeatinge of sentences and 

 prayers out of the Book of Common Praj'er.' lie expressed his thankfuhiess 

 that Christ had left the power of absolution. 



"On Saturdaie, May 23rd, we went to Marlburie, wheare my lord was 

 very ill, and ready to fainte ; in the chamber wee had prayers. My lord was 

 dressed,' went to bed, and slept ill." 



" Sunday, May 24th, The lords [i.e., the Earl of Salisbury and Lord Hay, 

 who with Sir John Holies were in his company] commanded me to preach 

 at the chui'ch. [The definite article, of course, points to St. Peter's.] After 

 sermon, we came into his chamber; wheare we found him vearie weak, and 

 no posture could give him ease. Wee went to prayer. And though my lords 

 weakness was verie much, yet, with a devout gesture standing uppon his 

 crutches, he, with affection repeated the materiall partes and passages of the 

 prayer. And all the rest of the tyme, till we went to dynner, all his speech 

 was nothing but ' Jesus ! ' ' sweet Jesus ! ' and such short ejaculation, as 

 the weakness of his body did give him leave. After dj'nner. Doctor Poe did 

 rise, and I came unto him. My lords head laye uppon two pillowes uppon 

 Mr. Townsend's lapp. Eaphe Jackson was mending the swinge which 

 supported him. ' Soe,' saith he, ' lifte mee upp but this once.' Then he 

 called to Doctor Poe for his hand, which havinge, he griped some what hard, 



and his eyes began to settle. When he cried ' Lord ' and so sincked 



downe, without groane or sighe, or struggling. At the same instant I joj-ned 

 in prayer with him, ' that God would receave his soule and spiritt.' "Which 

 short wordes being sodainely spoken by me, he was cleane gone, and noe 

 breath or motion in him. 



" This was the manner, and theis weare the circumstances, — my lords 

 journey to the Bathe ; and from thence to Marleburie : wheare he died the 

 24. of Maye [1612], beiiige the sabath daye. And I doubt not but it was the 

 passage of one sabath to another; unto his eternal rest and quietnes,'' &c., 

 (Peck, Desid. Curiosa, i.. 204—11.) 



Mr. Bowles' statement about Cecil's remembrance of the poor 

 in the places through which he passed receives confirmation from 



' "Dressed," I suppose, means made ready for bed. According to Wynken 

 de Worde's Soke of Keruynge, 1508, &c., the chamberlain is to "put his 

 kercher and his bonet" on his " soverayne," after undressing him by the 

 fire. Hugh Rhodes {cir. 1530) in the Boke of Nurture, says, " warm his 

 night kercheife," as J. Russell had been instructed when usher to Duke 

 Humphrey {cir. 1440) : — 



" Youre sovereynes hed ye kembe. 

 But furst ye knele to ground : 

 The kerchief and cappe on his hed, 

 It wolde be warmely wounde." 

 Dr. Furnivall's Mmh and Manners (E. E. T. S.), pp. 69, 131, 283- 



