Memoires of the lives, actions, sufferings & deaths of those noble, reverend and excellent personages that suffered by death, sequestration, decimation, or otherwise, for the Protestant religion and the great principle thereof, allegiance to their soveraigne, in our late intestine wars, from the year 1637 to the year 1660, and from thence continued to 1666 with the life and martyrdom of King Charles I / by Da. Lloyd ...

THE Life and Death OF ARTHUR Lord CAPEL, Father to the Right Honorable, ARTHUR Earl of ESSEX.

HIS privacy before the War was passed with as much po∣pularity in the Country, as his more publick appearance in it, was with Valor and Fidelity in the Field. In our too happy time of Peace, none more Pious, Charitable, and Munificent. In these more unhappy of our 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 sent for him as one of his Peers in Parliament, wherein the King and People agreed in no one thing, save a just kindness to my Lord Capel; who was one of those Ex∣cellent 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 the importu∣nities of the People, to what was just, than what was safe, save on∣ly in the Earl of Straffords Case, wherein he yielded to the publick necessity with his Royal Master, but repented with him too, seal∣ing his Contrition for that miscarriage with his blood, when he was more troubled for his forced Consent to that brave Persons Death, than for loosing his own Life, which he ventured through the

firsta 1.1 War, and by his Engagement in the second. For after the Surrender of Oxford, he retired to his own house, but could not rest there, until the King was brought home to his, which all Eng∣land endeavouring as one man, my Lord adventured himself at Colchester to extremity, yielding himself upon condition of Quar∣ter, which he urged by the Law of Armes, That Law that (as he said on the Scaffold) governeth the World, and against the Law of God and Man (they are his own words) for keeping theb 1.2 Fifth Com∣mandement, dying on the Scaffold at Westminster, with a courage that became a clear conscience, and a resolution befiting a good Christian, expressing that judicious piety in the Chamber of Me∣ditation at his Death, that he did in his Book of Meditations in his Life; a piety, that (as it appeared by his dismission of his Chap∣lain, and the formalities of that times Devotion, before he came to the Scaffold) was rather his inward frame and habit, than outward ostentation or pomp; from the noble Sentiments whereof (as the Poet (not unhappily alluding to his Arms. A Lion Rampant, in Field Gules, between three Crosses) 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 be∣ing very observable, that a learned Doctor of Physick, present at the Opening and Embalming of this Lord, and the Duke Hamilton, delivered at a publick Lecture; That the Lord Capel's was the least heart, and the Duke the greatest that ever he saw, agreeable to the observation in Philosophy, that the spirits contracted within the least compass, are the cause of the greatest courage.

Three things are considerable in this incomparable person.

1. His un-interrupted Loyalty, keeping pace with his life; for his last breath was spent in proclaiming King Charles the Second in the very face of his enemies, as known to him to be Virtuous, Noble, Gentle, Just, and a great Prince; A perfect Englishman in his Inclina∣tion.

2. His great merit and modesty, whereof King Charles the First writes thus to his Excellent Queen; There is one that doth not yet pretend, that deserves as well as any, I mean Capel; Therefore I desire Thy assistance to finde out something for him before he ask.

3. The blessing ofc 1.3 God upon his Noble but Suffering Fami∣ly, who was a Husband to his excellent Widow, and a Father to his hopeful Children, whom not so much their Birth, Beauty, and Por∣tion (though they were eminent for these) as their Virtues, Mar∣ried to the best Blood and Estates in the Land, even when they and the Cause they suffered for were at the lowest. Its the happiness of good men, though themselves mis••rable, that their Seed shall be Mighty, and their Generation Blessed.

A Religious man thata 1.4 used to say (as his Tutor Dr. Pashe, un∣der whom he was bred at Clare-hall in Cambridge) That when he had kept the Sabbath well, he found the greater blessing upon all he did af∣terwards; that 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 joyes, divided his grief, and created new and unthought of contentments: A sober Gentleman that loved not to hear a man talk a greater variety of things than he could rationally discourse, and used only those Recreation•• of which he could give a Philosophical account how they ref••e••hed b 1.5 his minde, or recovered his body; so good natured, that he would have all his Servants and Dependants his Friends; none stricter in the Discipline of his Family, none more obliging in the sweetness of his converse; Who would say he observed, that the diso∣bedience of men to us, was no other than the punishment of our disobe∣dience to God. The meekest man living that had the ar•• as well as the grace, by yielding to pacifie wrath. Of an happy mean and tem∣perament between the too thin and open, and the too close, ha∣ting a troublesome nature as bad as an Infection. A diserect per∣son that would not suffer the infelicity of one of his Affairs to di∣stemper him so, as to loose all consideration to guide him in the rest, that had alwaysc 1.6 a friend to advise, and an example to imitate, retaining the decency of his own natural evenness; saying, That he was a wise-man that was able to make wise-men his instruments.

A good Father, that expected so much blessing in the Education of his Children, as he made prayers for them. Possin•••••• ••o•• Lachri∣marum Liberi perire: A good Christian that set apart half an hour every day of his retirement to think of Eternity, a good temper that wouldd 1.7 fairly guide and not directly contradict any man•• little regarding applause, knowing (as he would say notably) that the vulgar are easily tired with constant vertue, and as easily taken with a started novelty, and living not to various opinion, or favor, but conscience and wisdom; one that hated the flatte∣rer, who would say, struck him before, and the ly••r that hit him be∣hind, both in s••nsibly, both dangerously. A Nobleman that resolved to be happy by two things.e 1.8 1. A moderate using of the present, and 2. An indifferent expectation of what is to come, and thought him a great Crafts-master that could shadow the opposition that businesses have one with another; that esteemed that only his that he had Li∣berally or Charitably given, that observed it was not expence•• but a carelesseness how and what we spend that ruineth an Estate: that desired to gain respect, not by little observances, but by a constant fair carriage, that entertained reports always with Quae∣ries, and a temperate Belief; that would say that every action of his that was unhappy, precipitated, and rash, that made his afflicti∣ons tolerable, by making his desires moderate: that used to say, that he scarce knew a man capable of a true friend. That writes of the most exalted fortune, that it hath little contentment without some popular good will, and therefore he advised the greatest

man to be careful how he gave a publick disgrace to the meanest person; He would say that there are so many circumstances in the way to an Estate or Greatness, that a peremptory man that went alone seldom attained either; that no man is so unhappy as that he must lye to live, and that there was a civil art to be free inf 1.9 courtesie, lo∣ving in Society, and heedful in observation.

This excellent Personage 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; following his Majesty to York, and with other Lords attest∣ing the integrity of his Majesties Proceedings there in order to Peace; and promising to assist him with his Life and Fortune a∣gainst all other pretended Authority, in case it came to a War, notwithstanding a summons from Westminster, to which he and o∣thers made a civil return; and an impeachment of High-Treason for going from Westminster to York at the Kings Command, where∣of he took no notice, settling his Estate in Sir Edward Capell and other Trustees, who I finde compounded for 4706l. 07s. IId. Advanced his Majesty between eight and nine hundred Horse, and 12000 l. in Money and Plate; and if he had had the happy∣ness of being imployed in his own Country, the fatal error of that time, as he was far off in the borders of Wales, we had heard more of him; however we finde him subscribing the Declarati∣ons of the Parliament at Oxford 1643. and the Messages for Peace from the Army in the field; attending his present Majesty to corn∣wall, where he was hurt in two or three several Engagements, once venturing himself very far to save the Foot: managing the Correspondence between him and the Members at Westminster, in order to an accommodation with great Caution against their sub∣tile design, who would divide the Princes Interest and his Fa∣thers; following him to Scilly, Iersey, and the Fleet then falling to him; whence he betakes himself home to form the design 1647, 1648. that was then brewing in the three Kingdoms for the safety and liberty of the Kings Majesty, offering among others this consideration to a very eminent Person, viz. That this great truth (that the imprisoning, killing, or deposing of any Supream Governor who is Gods Minister in a Nation, is against the Will and Word of God) should be offered by the Clergy of England to be proved by Scripture; and (if not regarded) to be sealed with their bloud, and with the Joynt-attestation of all Protestant Churches and Universities, as the great principle of Christian Doctrine about the Peace and Government of Kingdoms and Nations. And as he saith in his Letter, Feb. 11. 1647. thinking of little else in this world than what he should do for the preservati∣on of his Sacred Majesty (than whose sufferings there was nothing greater, he said, except his vertues) as a Christian, a Subject, an Englishman, a Nobleman, and an obliged Servant; he caused a Rumor to be spread of his design, which put the General upon calling him in from his Parole, and upon his frank appearance he was dimissed till the Parliament should send for him; so being

free from his engagement (which was as sacred to him as his Al∣legiance) he went to Colchester with all the Horse he had, and there incouraged the Souldiers by his own example, going with an Halberd on his shoulder to the watch and 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 a•• Head-gate (where the Enemy was most pressing) with a Pike, till the gate could be shut; which at last was but pinned with his Cane: and after the Murther of Sir Charles Lucas, and Sir George Lisle, when Whaley and Ewres were sent to tell him and the rest of the Lords and Gentlemen, that they should have quarter as Priso∣ners, answering them himself, That since the condition of those two Gentlemen, and theirs in reference to that service, were alike, they wished they had all run one hazard; and they had thanked the General more for saving the Lives of the two Knights, whom they had already executed, than for the grant of their own.

From Colchester, my Lord was sent to the remotest Prison they could imagine from his own Countrey; and thence fetched up to the Tower, where (after a handsome escape over the water to Lambeth (wherein he was betrayed by the wretched Water-man that carryed him over, who discovered him by his munificence, the Gold he gave him) he spent not his time in thoughts for his own Life, but for that of his Majesties, conjuring a Lord then sit∣ting, to second their Vote against the Ordinance for Tryal of his Majesty, with a resolute Declaration to all Kings, Princes, States, Potentates, and Nobility, to be signed by all the Lords, Judges, Lawyers, Divines, Gentry, and people of England; and this he pressed with most pathetick Arguments, whereof one was very remarkable, viz. That he understood by his dear-bought ex∣perience of those men of the Enthusiasm, that let them but meet a well-grounded and justificable Zeal, Courage, and Resolution, greater than their misguided fury to stemme the Torrent of it, they would recollect, and as he said, observing some hesitation in their proceedings, who found it easier to Conquer a people, than to govern them against their Interest by a small part of themselves; it being easier to overthrow another Government, than to settle their own) in an excellent Letter from the Tower, Ian. 9. 1648. full of a Noble and Heroick Spirit, which he con∣cludes with this expression, That it grieved him that he could do no∣thing else but rub his fingers upon Paper, an imployment that fitted not his Genius. Give (saith he) but the people an honorable example, they will follow you, and vindicate both you and themselves from being as such a silly Generation, that they should suffer themselves to be cozened out of their good, known, and established Laws; and in the place of them be imposed upon by Imaginations and Dreams: to which he added another Letter, Ian. 15. to a very great man in the Army, every line whereof runs with this vigor, against their proceedings.

YOur Party is small and giddy, the thing its self is mon∣strous; the Lords and Commons under whom you fought are against you, all Princes and Protestants will abhor you, Scot∣land will be dis-united from England, Ireland will be lost, Trade will be stopped by all Kings and States with people of so dange∣rous principles: all Nations will be ready to invade us, many of the Judges to sit upon the King will leave you, the Empire of the Sea will be lost, the Nation will be infamous to Posterity, the Protestant, yea, Christian Religion will receive a deadly blow to be revenged by all people that profess it: no man is sure of his life or any thing he hath, the most prudent Form of Rules the world hath known will be overthrown; a vast number of people are concerned in those Rules, no example will be-friend you, all Potentates will be against you, and the Prince to be mur∣thered, so excellent and knowing in the Art of Government, so loved, reverenced, and desired, that of all the Princes that that ever ruled the people, that were so happy in the first six∣teen years of his Reign, were they to chuse, would pitch upon him; and which is more, the only person in whom his enemies may finde security, being otherwise like to be torn to pieces by their Fellow-subjects upon the least change; the express word of the great God in whose hands you are, is against you (Prov. 8. 15. 1 Sam 24, 5, 6. Prov. 24. 21, 22. Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. &c.) the Laws of the Land, your own Judges; yea, your own Oaths, Prote∣stations, Covenants, Promises, and Pretences all along fly in your faces: the Prince, the two Dukes, and the numerous Royal issue should deter you; the Precipice of endless Wars and Desolati∣ons you are at the brink of, should affright you. Words big with his heart (which you may see at large at the end of his in∣comparable Book of Meditations) as appears by this close. I would to God my life could be a sacrifice to preserve his, could you make it an expedient to serve that end; truly I would pay you more thanks for it, than you will allow your self for all your other Merits; from those you have most obliged, and dye

Your most Affectionate Friend.

How readily he would have dyed for him, we may see in his chearfulness to dye with him; for being brought before an High Court of Justice (as it was called) within a moneth after, having offered brave Arguments from the Law of the Land, the Govern∣ment of the Nation, the nullity of their Court, the benefit of his Peerage, and the Law that governed the world, meaning the Sword by which he was promised quarter for life; he heard the Villains ridiculous Sentence with a nobler spirit than they pro∣nounced it; telling them, That they needed not have used those formalities to murther him. And March the ninth, the day appointed for the Assassination, having conjured his Lady in two Letters, That as she had always hearkned to his advice, so she would then for his sake, and for his dear Childrens

sake especially, to moderate her sorrows and apprehensions for him; I beseech thee (saith the excellent Person) take care of thy health, sorrow not unsoberly, unusually, but preserve thy self for the benefit of our dear Children; to whom the occasion of my death will be as much honor, as my death its self is now sadness. He kept himself in a very chearful and well-composed temper of minde, till his parting with his dear Lady, which indeed was the saddest spectacle, writes a Reverend man, 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, whom he commanded not to revenge his death, though it should be in his power, intreating the like of his Lady; adding to his Son a Legacy out of Davids Psalms, viz. Lord lead me in a plain path, for Boy (said he) I would have you aa 2.1 plain ho∣nest man, and hate dissimulation.

This being over, which he said was the hardest part of his life in this world; he dealt seriously with a Reverend Minister about his heart and his sins, reflecting much upon his Cowardly compliance with (as he called it) and fear of a prevailing party, his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my Lord of Straffords death, and then addressed himself to the blessed Sa∣crament (as he would call it emphatically) (after a private prayer of half an hour long, in an excellent method, very apt expressi∣ons, and a most strong, hearty, and passionate affections for his Sins, for his Relations, for the King, Church, and State, and for his Enemies) with great Humility, Zeal, and Devotion, confessing himself much better, stronger, and ••hearfuller for that heavenly re∣past: and after that, he desired the Reverend Person that admi∣nistred, to pray preparatively to his death, that in the last action he might behave himself as might be most for Gods glory, for the indearing of his dead Masters Memory, and for the advancing of his present Masters Service; and that he might avoid the say∣ing or doing any thing which might savor either of vanity or sul∣lenness.

Whence ascending the Scaffold in the Pallace-yard Westminster, and forbidding all Effeminate tears about him, he very Christianly forgave his Enemies and Executioner; very resolutely declared his Faith (dying in the blessed Profession as he called it, of the Church of England) and his hope, professing that he loved good works well, for which he had been suspected a Papist, but his An∣chor-hold, which was Jesus, loved him, and gave himself for him He very couragiously owned his late Masters Cause and Person, whom he declared there (after a consideration he had, being a very ex∣cellent Scholar,) of all the Images of Princes that ever were, that he was the most vertuous and sufficient Prince known in the world; very heartily prayed for the Restauration of his then So∣veraign, his people, and the peoples Obedience, Peace, and Pro∣sperity under him, and very solemnly desiring the peoples ear∣nest, but secret prayer (with holy Ejaculations, that God Al∣mighty would stench that issue of Blood; adding, This will not do

the business, God Almighty finde some way to do it:) And encoura∣ging the Executioner to strike boldly, with noble expressions and a generous reward, having ordered his body to be delivered to his Servant, unstripped, he dyed with one blow, the great Pat∣tern of true Christian Nobility, doing his Majesty much service in his exemplary life, and like Sampson, more in his Heroick death. The blond of Holy Martyrs is the seed of their Cause.

Arthurus Baro Capell Cui non tam hominis quam virtutis nomini assurgat quicquid est uspiam nobilioris ordinis, & exemplar legat potius quam Epitaphium, conscia simplicitas Recti, Sanctae Inscia fraudis Religio; cicur ac laxo loro Frenabile Ingenium, secure ••ides, amor acer; & amoris omina, cor Integrum; syncera lingua mentis purae Interpres vittata Pudici sensa exprimens animi: Nova Gratiarum spes Capellus ortu, vita, obitu Intra sidem, supra opinionem cui Pri••us labor Anglorum Libertatem rogare sed a tyrannis; frustra nimirum rogantur quibus aures in Oculis, manu igitur quam lingua facundior, ut aures audiant oculos terret. ut Populo Imperaret Deo Paruit, Alterno enim faedere, Religionem Princeps Religio principem servat, sacrae Militiae authoratus; Primus in procinctu martem 'Lacessit; non cessurus nisi victoria 'Receptui canat; quae precepit Incepit ipse 'Male Imperat, qui Imperat tantum & praepostere pugnatur; Cum dux ab Agmine ducitur, non agmen a duce: Pro religione Pugnavit religiosus Quam vel Amissam Generosos. In pectore invenisses miles sine militum vitiis; qui faediores ab intimis hostibus referunt plagas quam extimis Inferunt. Libertatem asseruit Dominus Populo nec servitutis Patiente, nec Libertatis Capaci; utpote qui rerum Ignarus in Libertate servitium amavit in servitio Libertatem. Instar Coeli motu firmissimus; Peripateticus plane Heros multum sapuit errando. Quanta virtute sola ferri sui aciea 2.2 aciem universam saepe tutatus primum in Adversos telum torsit,

emeritus consilio pugnavit utilius enim reguntur bella quam geruntur; calamo confodiens hostes quibus gladio cessit, in Pace pugnax in Pugna Pacates, oceumbendo vicit, vincendo occubit; Primus post obitum triumphavit Fortia moribundus facile dixit, vivus facilius fecit, omnium de••i{que} laudum compendium esto, quod fuerit omnium laudum compendium.

Richard Capel of Buck-fastley Devon Esq and Richard his Son, with 30l. per annum setled, Compounded for 1497l. 10s. 00

Notes

• a 1.1

  In the ex∣position where∣of (said be) Divines othe••∣wise dis••gre••∣ing among themselves, ••gre••, as to our obedience to the Supream Magistra••e, in obedience to whom I did what against the Law of England, and the world. I a man, an Eng∣lisheman, a Peer of the Realm, must ••ye fo••.
• b 1.2

  Which puts me in minde of one Master Whaley of Northamp∣ton, a great z••••lot in the Cause, who when some in Essex his Army began to ••••agger, would needs send them to Mr. Dod, just as he was a dying to be resolved, who telling, them, that he was not able to speak to them, and bid them look to what he had written upon the Fifth Commande∣ment, where he had made it clear f••om the Word of God, that it was damnable to raise Arne up••n any pre∣whatsoever against a Prince, in which opinion, he said, he would dye.
• c 1.3

  In answer to his Prayer of Faith in his Letter to his wife the day he died. God be unto thee better than an Husband, and to my Children better than a Father. I am sure ••e is able to be so, I am confident he is graciously pleased to be so.
• a 1.4

  H•• used to s••y, i•• he had been asked how many days in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈…〉〈…〉
• b 1.5

  〈…〉〈…〉
• c 1.6

  He would ha••e 〈…〉〈…〉
• d 1.7

  〈…〉〈…〉 ioyned, and cannot see one another.
• e 1.8

  And by prev••••ting in∣convenien••••s, with often thinking of the persons way and actions we love.
• f 1.9

  One of his sayings is, that a gentle accep∣tance of co••r∣••esies, is as ma∣terial to main∣tain friendly Neighborhood, as bountiful present••.
• a 2.1

  Such as all the ••am••ly were observed to be. Si•• Ar∣thu•• Capel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so plain •• man that a L••dsman co∣••ing to his 〈…〉〈…〉 been to h••ld h•••• h••••se untill he had wa••••ed upon Sir Arthur Capel•• as he d••d, till the Servants came out and disco¦vered to him his error.
• a 2.2

  At Tor∣ington where he sa∣ved the l••ves of above a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men by a gallant re∣t••eat, which ••st ••im s••••c∣••ainoun••s.