The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 64
Chap. LXIIII.
Caspar Kaplirz of Sulewitz, a Knight
86 yeares of age.
I. VVHen Rosacius the Minister of the Word came to visit him after his condemnation, he received him with tears in his eyes, but with a merry heart, with these words; Behold me a miserable old man, who have often intreated my God, that hee would have compassion on me, and take me out of this life, but I have not obtained it; For God hath reserved me to be a spectacle in the world, and a sacrifice to himself. Let Gods will be done. My death indeed is disgracefull in the eyes of men, but glorious in the light of God: for God will account that death precious in his sight, which I suffer for his glory and truth. And when the Minister would have comforted him, he desired him to heare his confession, and to pronounce his absolution, and to have that faith and hope which he had in God strengthened by the Lords Supper. Having therefore confessed himselfe a sinner, but especially that in his youth he committed something according to the custome of that age, to please the world he praysed God that had not suffered him to be swallowed up, but had called him to a more holy and upright course of life.
2. At length he said, [Through the mercy of my God I have preserved my trust and conscience, both to God, my King and Country. I have faithfully served four Emperours, and that now such a reward should be given unto me, I leave to God the just Judge, who knowes that I sought not either honour or riches, by any thing which I did in this businesse. But I could not winke at the oppression of liberty and Religion: and because wee saw our selves circumvented by subtilty, wee thought something was to bee done; and would rather lose our lives, rather than by a dull silence yeeld to the yoke, and betray posterity. I acknowledg that it was the will of God that we should outwardly fall, who hath chosen me and my beloved fellowes in this last age to honour the truth by our bloud, and to make it glorious by our constancy. And although the flesh began to tremble at the hearing the sentence of death, yet now by the goodnesse of God, I feel no feare of it.
3. When the Minister often interrupted him, perswading him not to hang his salvation upon a good Conscience, but upon the mercy of God thiough Christ, the pious old man continued on his speech. [Yeſterday it was told me from my Aunt Pruskovia, that if I would petition to Prince Lichtenstein, I might have a grant of my life, but so as to remain in prison all the days of my life. To which I answered, that such a grant would be both unprofitable and inconvenient. For if I should desire pardon, I should give an occasion to some, to suspect that I had committed some crime, and had deserved death, which I have not deserved. Tell her therefore, that I will desire pardon of him against whom I have committed many sinnes all my life: but I never offended the Prince. But if they should of their owne accord offer me a prison instead of death, such a change would be very troublesome. I am a decrepit old man, and have lived long enough; for when I cannot distinguish the tasts of meats, or relish the sweetneffe of drinke, when it is tedious to sit long, and irkesome to lye, when I cannot walk unlesse I lean on a staffe or be moved to and fro in others hands; what profit (I pray you ) would such a life be to me? And if I can hardly endure it while it is free, how shall I be able to suffer imprisonment? God forbid that I should be pulled from this holy company of Martyrs.
4. The next day (being the Lords day) having received the Lords Supper. he said, [Behold now being reconciled to my God through Christ, I have peace, neither doe I feare man. I will confidently say with David, Let my flesh and my body be consumed, but God is the rocke of my heart, and my portion for ever. Now there is nothing that may stay my thoughts on the earth, besides my Nephewes, for whem (O servant of Christ) I intreat you, that you would as much as you can, exhort them without intermission to piety, and to imitate that constancy whereof they see an example in me: although I know that you who are the fathers and shepheards of our souls are not without danger. We go before, but you wil follow: but God keep you for his own glory, and let him not suffer his Church to be wholly trampled on by the Babilonish beast.
5. On the day of execution, when the Minister of the word came to him, hee said: I had laid this miserable body upon a bed; but what sleep could I have? Yet I did sleep, and saw two Angels comming to me, who wiped my face with fine linnen, and exhorted me to be ready to goe along with them. But trust in my God that J have these Angels present with me, not by a dream, but in truth, which minister to me while I live; and shall carry my soule from death into Abrahams bosome. For although I am a sinner, yet I am purged by the bloud of my Redeemer, who was made a Propitiation for our sinness. Therefore let the houre of Death come, I am prepared.
6. Having put on his clothes he comanded that a garment of the finest linnen,which hung down to his heels should be put over him and then said to M. Lippuch, Behold I put on my wedding garment. To which the other answered. The garment of Christs righteousnesse adorns more gloriously within. He answered again, I know it but yet I desire to be adorned without for the nour of my Bride-groom. At last hee put on a velvet Cloak, and being called out, he answered: In the name of God; for I did even now expect it. And then being helped by his servants, hee arose and bid farewell to all, and went away with a slow pace, by reason of the weaknesse of age. Being to go down by certain steps to the scaffold, he sayd. Oh my God strengthen me lest I fall down and become a matter of scorn to the enemies.
7. When he came to the appointed place, he had much ado to kneele downe, being half crooked. Hee desired that that the Executioner might be advised to strike as soon as ever hee should see him lie down, lest hee might happen to fall by faintnesse. But the Executioner seeing him so crooked, and to hang down his head so much would not strike him. Therefore the Minister Rosacius by the appointment of the Sheriffs, said to him. My Noble Lord, as you have commended your soul unto Christ, so now offer up your hoary head cheerefully to God, and lift up your self towards heaven. In the name of God answered hee, and so lifting up his head as well as hee could, saith, Lord Jesus into thy hands I commend my spirit; and then his head being cut off hee fell down.