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
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
that waits upon every condition whether publick or private in every station and calling there are several miseries and troubles that are inseparable from them therefore what a blessed thing it is to have a speedy and comfortable passage out of this raging Sea into the Port of Everlasting Happiness We must pass through a Sea but it is the Sea of Christ's Blood in which never Soul suffered Shipwreck in which we must be blown with Winds and Tempests but they are the gales of Gods Spirit upon us which blow away all contrary Winds of diffidence in his mercy Here one acquainting the Earl his Servant was coming he answered So Sir And turning to the under-Sheriffs Son said Cambridge Sir you have a Warrant here Sheriff Yes My Lord we have a Command Cambridge A Command I take this time Sir of staying in regard of the Earl of Denbighs sending to speak with me I know not for what it is he desires me to stay Dr. Sibbald I presume Mr. Sheriff will not grudge your Lordship a few minutes time when so great a work as this is in hand His Lordships Servant being returned and having delivered his message to the Earl of Cambridge privately he said So it is done now and then turning to the front of the Scaffold before which as in all the rest of the places there was a great concourse of people he said Cambridg I think it is truly not very necessary for me to speak much there are many Gentlemen and Souldiers there that see me but my voice truly is so weak so low that they cannot hear me neither truly was I ever at any time so much in love with speaking or with any thing I had to express that I took delight in it yet this being the last time that I am to do so by a divine Providence of Almighty God who hath brought me to this end justly for my sins I shall to you Sir Mr. Sheriff declare thus much as to the matter that I am now to suffer for which is as being a Traytor to the Kingdom of England Truly Sir it was a Country that I equally loved with my own I made no difference I never intended either the generality of its prejudice or any particular mans in it what I did was by the Comand of the Parliament of the Country where I was born whose Commands I could not disobey without running into the same hazard there of that condition that I am now in The ends Sir of that Engagement is publick they are in Print and so I shall not need to specifie them Dr. Sibbald The Sun perhaps will be too much in your Lordships face as you speak Cambridge No Sir it will not burn it I hope I shall see a brighter Sun than this Sir very speedily Dr. Sibbald The Sun of Righteousness my Lord. Cambridg But to that which I was saying Sir It pleased God so to dispose that Army under my Command as it was ruined and I as their General clothed with a Commission stand here now ready to dye I shall not trouble you with repeating of my Plea what I said in my own Defence at the Court of JVSTICE my self being satisfied with the Commands that is laid upon me and they satisfied with the Justness of their procedure according to the Laws of this Land God is just and howsoever I shall not say any thing as to the mater of the sentence but that I do willingly submit to his Divine Providence and I acknowledge that very many ways I deserve even a worldly punishment as well as hereafter for we are all sinful Sir and I a great one yet for my comfort I know there is a God in Heaven that is exceeding merciful I know my Redeemer sits at his Right Hand and am confident clapping his hand to his Breast is Mediating for me at this instant I am hopeful through his Free-Grace and all-sufficient merits to be pardoned of my sins and to be received into his mercy upon that I rely trusting to nothing but the Free Grace of God through Jesus Christ I have not been tainted with my Religion I thank God for it since my infancy it hath been such as hath been profest in the Land and established and now 't is not this Religion or that Religion or this or that Fancy of men that is to be built upon 't is but one that 's right one that 's sure and that comes from God Sir and in the Free Grace of our Saviour Sir there is truly something that had I thought my Speech would have been thus taken I would have digested it into some better method than now I can and shall desire these Gentlemen that do write it that they will not wrong me in it and that it may not in this manner be published to my disadvantage for truly I did not intend to have spoken thus when I came here There is sirs terrible aspersions has been laid upon my self truly such as I thank God I am very free from as if my actions and intentions had not been such as they were pretended for but that notwithstanding what I pretended it was for the King there was nothing less intended than to serve him in it I was bred with him for many years I was his Domestick Servant and there was nothing declar'd by the Parliament that was not really intended by me and truly in it I ventured my Life one way and now I lose it another way and that was one of the ends as to the King I speak only of that because the rest has many particulars and to clear my self from so horrid an aspersion as is laid upon me neither was there any other design known to me by the incoming of the Army then what is really in the Declaration published His person I do profess I had reason to love as he was my King and as he had been my Master it has pleased God now to dispose of him so as it cannot be thought flattery to have said this or any end in me for the saying of it but to free my self from that calumny which lay upon me I cannot gain by it yet Truth is that which we shall gain by for ever There hath been much spoken Sir of an invitation into this Kingdom it 's mentioned in that Declaration and truly to that I did and do remit my self and I have been very much laboured for discoveries of these Inviters 'T is no time to dissemble How willingly I was to have served this Nation in any thing that was in my power is known to very many honest pious and religious men and how ready I would have been to have done what I could to have served them if it had pleased them to have preserved my Life in whose hands there was a power They have not thought it fit and so I am become unuseful in that which willingly I would have done As I said at first Sir so I say now concerning that point I
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
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
him in Question After a short formal Tryal he was condemned he only saying That however he was dealt with here he hoped for a better resurrection hereafter March 9. 1648. was the fatal day appointed for the Execution of the sentence of death upon Duke Hamilton Earl of Cambridg the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel where this Lord behaved himself like a stout Roman with that Courage and resolution as was to be admired But as to his Carriage and Speech and likewise how excellently he bestowed his time in the Tower imploying his thoughts more for the safety of his Majesties life than his own the following Contemplations and Letters published by a Reverend Divine intimately conversant with him and with whom he spent his last hours do sufficiently demonstrate EXCELLENT Meditations Divine and Moral I. IF we religiously observe the Sabbath unto God we may with assured hope expect a plentiful increase by our honest labour to our ensuing enterprises II. If Man in innocency needed a help solace and comfort and Marriage was all these how deficient were our now miserable lives without it For besides that it doubles joys and divides griefs it creates new and unthought of contentments And yet I have observed many that unwisely lose the blessings of wedlock nay worse that of good Wine have made the sharpest Vinegar Not much unlike an ignorant Artificer that having a most curious piece of marble to work on yet through unskilfulness hath framed so mishapen a statue that himself loathed the sight of it whereas a good Artist would out of materials not altogether so compleat frame a work not unpleasant III. Garrulity is so irksome to society that we seldom find it welcomed For as it betrays the parties weakness who cannot possibly strongly ratiocinate such variety of propositions so he cannot but many times fall into those discourses which mens particular affairs or studies indear them to or upon those persons though absent whom the present company are interested in either by affinity or which is more by Amity IV. There is no difficulty greater than to remove another mans affections from those persons that either his present use or a crafty dissimulation of goodness hath gained For if his present use had caused it then they think those that disswade would perswade their prejudice If a subtile counterfeiting of Vertue then the more honest the party is that is to be disswaded the adventure of effecting it will be the greater and the more hazard of losing your own reputation with him For so the opinion he hath of the others goodness will endanger in him a suspect of your malice and therefore in this must be used great circumspection V. Recreations have their due place in our life and not without good profit both to the mind and body To the body for health to the mind for refreshing Yet we may observe many that perpetually live in them not using but serving them and so over-mastered by them that their best fortunes are not employed so willingly to the advantage of any necessary or good occasion as to be ingulfed in idle pastime This is too frequent a vanity VI. In a State necessitous and hungry those men are happiest that content themselves with a moderate wealth For the fattest Deer are most shot at and the leanest live longest VII In Oeconomical Government as it is discretion in the master of a Family not to neglect severe discipline toward the insolent and wilful faults of his Servants so it is not less wisdom favourably to receive an ingenuous acknowledgment from them of those slips which humane frailty or inevitable chance may cast them upon For their Hire commands but the hands service but 't is gentle goodness invites the hearts affection And a wise man would willingly have his servants as I may call them his servile friends VIII The breach of a facile command doth most justly aggravate the punishment For Adams disobedience in Paradise was so much the more extreme as the precept was easie and therefore most justly rewarded with a weighty punishment For where the punishment of the breach of obedience was so great and the precept so easily kept who can at full relate the guilt of that sin that brake it standing neither in awe of the Commanders Majesty nor fear of the terrible affliction following the breach And we may very fitly observe that our disobedience to God is punished with disobedience For what is mans misery but his own disobedience to himself the Flesh daily warring against the Spirit and innumerable impossible desires daily fighting against Reason IX There are dispositions that will be displeased either for the omitting or acting the self same things If we be tyed to these either by natural or civil respects we must carry our selves with great caution And one of the best ways is if conveniently it may be done to pretend an ignorance of the thing or of their will If this fall not happily in our way then it is best to let them ventilate their own absurd humor without our contestation for Arguing kindles the fire more inward X. The assaults of impudent liars are frequent and endless and though most manifestly detected yet their shameless wickedness will seldom be quelled But yet we may often observe their contrary reports to fight one against another like Cadmus earth-bornchildren to their own destruction XI Few there are but do love knowledge but the reason why there are so few that are knowing is because the entrance of all Arts and Sciences is difficult and though most are delighted with the amiable parts of learning or wisdom in other men and desire to be like qualified yet they imitate not their indefatigable industry by which they ascended to that eminent height XII In presentments it is great Generosity to bestow that which will deserve acceptance But if friends desire those things which are of inferiour value then it is not unworthily done to satisfie them in those courtesies which we our selves would think too slight for them But I observe many of rich fortunes that with much circumlocution and instance will press poor and slender presents upon those that no whit affect them As if one should go into the fields and gather a handful of common flowers and with great formality and importunity should make present of them to one who hath a curious garden of Tulips XIII The conditions of men in society are divers but three are most observable The Open the Concealed lastly the Well-tempered betwixt these The first are of so thin a composition that a man may by a little converse see as easily through them as if they were made of glass for in every discourse they unlock to you their most inward secrets The second sort are so tenacious and closely moulded that they seem like those Coffers that are shut fast and no discovery can be made where they are to be opened These as they are of less delight for society so of
Nathanael Lacey Jo. Stone Cornelius Cook William Wybeard Jo. Blackwell Esq James Prince Nathanael Whettam Silvanus Taylor Thomas Ayres Edward Cresset William Penoyre Esq Sir Edward Barkham Barrester Ralph Harrison Maximillian Beard Sir William Roe Fra. Hacker Esq Jo. Whitby John Harrison Richard Downes Sparrow William Webb Thomas Cook Robert Titchbourn George Cooper Owen Roe Thomas Pride Jo. Huson Thomas Sanders Esq Thomas Titchbourn Esq Thomas Anarews Alderâ— William Spence Nicholas Martin Josias Barnars Hardwick Robert Norwood Stevin Estwick Thomas Nowell Thomas Arnold Thomas Browne Esq Thomas Ayre William Barlet Esq Sir Jo. Throughgood Kt. Vincent Potter William Parker Solomon Smith Hubberd Esq Sir Rich. Saltingstall Kt. Sampson Sheffeild Esq You and every of you are required to appear upon Monday the fifth of this instant Febr. in the morning by nine of the Clock in the Painted Chamber at Westminster for the putting into Execution an Act of Parliament for the erecting of an High Court of Justice for the trying and adjudging of James Earl of Cambridge Henry Earl of Holland George Lord Goring Arthur Lord Capel and Sir John Owen Knight Hereof the Subscribers are ordered to give notice and therefore desire you not to fail herein Given under our hands this third day of Feb. Anno Dom. 1648. Luke Robinson Nicho. Love J. Sarland The several Speeches of Duke Hamilton Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capell immediately before their Execution upon the Scaffold in the Palace-yard Westminster on Friday March 9. 1649. Duke Hamilton Earl of Cambridge his Speech on the Scaffold March 9 1649. UPon Friday the ninth of this instant being the day appointed for the Execution of the sentence of Death upon the Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel about ten of the Clock that morning L. Col. Beecher came with his Order to the several Prisoners at St. James's requiring them to come away according to which Order they were carried in Sedans with a Guard to Sir Thomas Cottons House at Westminster where they continued about the space of two hours passing away most of that time in Religious and seasonable conferences with the Ministers there present with them After which being called away to the Scaffold it was desired that before they went they might have the opportunity of commending their Souls to God by prayer which being readily granted and the room voided Mr. Bolton was desired by the Lord of Holland to take that pains with them which was accordingly done with great appearance of solemn Affections among them Prayer being concluded and hearty thanks returned by them all to the Ministers who performed as also to the rest who were their Assistants in this sad time of trouble The Earl of Cambridge prepared first to go towards the place of Execution and after mutual Embraces and some short Ejaculatory Expressions to and for his fellow-Sufferers he took his leave of them all and went along with the Officers attended upon by Dr. Sibbald whom he had chosen for his Comforter in this his sad Condition The Scaffold being erected in the new Palace-yard at Westminster over against the great Hall-Gate in the sight of the place where the High-Court of Justice formerly sate the Hall-doors being open there was his excellencies Regiment of Horse commanded by Capt. Disher and several Companies of Col. Hewsons and Col. Prides Regiments of Foot drawn up in the place When the Earl came from Westminster Hall near the Scaffold he was met by the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex and a Guard of his Men who took the charge of him from Lient Col. Beecher and the Partizans that were his Guard The Sheriff of London being also according to command from the High Court of Justice present to see the Execution performed The Earl of Cambridge being come upon the Scaffold and two of his own Servants waiting upon him he first spake to the Doctor as followeth E. of Camb. Whether shall I pray first Dr. Sibbald As your Lordship pleases E. of Camb. My Lord of Denbigh has sent to speak with me I know not the fashion I may ask you Sir Do those Gentlemen expect I should say any thing to them or no They cannot hear Dr. Sibbald There will be a greater silence by and by It will not be amiss if your Lordship defer your speaking till you hear from his Lordship Camb. There is something in it He was with the House Dr. Sibbald I suppose he would give no interruption to your Lordship at this time were there not something of concernment in it Camb. He is my Brother and has been a very faithful Servant to the State and he was in great esteem and reputation with them He is in the Hall and sent to speak with a servant of mine to send something to me Sibbald It will not lengthen the time much if you stay while you have a return from him My Lord you should do well to bestow your time now in meditating upon and imploring of the free mercy of God in Christ for your Eternal Salvation and look upon that ever-streaming Fountain of his precious Blood that purgeth us from all our sins even the sins of the deepest die the Blood of Jesus Christ washes away all our sins and that Blood of Christ is poured forth upon all such as by a lively faith lay hold upon him God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son to the end that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life that is now my Lord the Rock upon which you must chiefly rest and labour to fix your self in the free mercy of God through Christ Jesus whose mercies are from Everlasting to Everlasting unto all such as with the eye of Faith behold him behold Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Salvation who hath satisfied the Justice of God by that all-sufficiency of his Sacrifice which once for all he offered upon the Cross for the sins of the whole world so that the sting of Death is taken away from all Believers and he hath sanctified it as a passage to Everlasting Blessedness It is true the Waters of Jordan run somewhat rough and surly betwixt the Wilderness and our passage into Canaan but let us rest upon the Ark my Lord the Ark Christ Jesus that will carry us through and above all those Waves to that Rock of Ages which no Floud nor Waves can reach unto and to him who is yesterday to day and the same for ever against whom the Powers and Principalities the Gates of Hell shall never be able to prevail lift up and fasten your eyes now upon Christ crucified and labour to behold Jesus stand at the right hand of his Father as the Protomartyr Stephen ready to receive your Soul when it shall be separated from this frail and mortal Body Alas no man would desire Life if he knew beforehand what it were to live it is nothing but sorrow vexation and trouble grief and discontent
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