Former Ages Never Heard of, Floating text 13 – Letter 6
The Speech of the Lord Capel upon the Scaffold.
THe Conclusion that I made with those that sent me hither, and are the cause of this violent death of mine, shall be the beginning of what I shall say to you: When I made an Address to them, (which was the last) I told them with much sincerity, That I would pray to the God of all mercies, that they might be partakes of his inestimable and boundlesse mercy in Jesus Christ, and truly I shall pray that prayer, and I beseech the God of Heaven forgive any injury they have done to me, from my soule I wish it. And truly, this I tell you as a Christian, to let you see I am a Christian: But it is necessary I should tell you somewhat more, That I am a Protestant, and truly I am a Protestant, and very much in love with the profession of it, after the manner as it wa… established in England by the thirty nine Article…, a blessed way of profession, and such a one, as truly, I never knew none so good: I am so far from being a Papist, which some body have (truly) very unwo…thily at some time charged me withall, that truly I professe to you, that though I love Good Works, and commend Good Works, yet I hold, they have nothing at all to doe in the matter of Salvation; my Anchor-hold is this, That Christ loved me, and gave himselfe for me, that is it that I rest upon. And truly something I shall say to you as a Citizen of the whole world, and in that consideration I am here condemned to dye: truly, contrary to the Law that Governs all the world, that is, The Law of the Sword, I had the protection of that for my life, and honour of it; but truly I will not trouble you much with that, because in another place I have spoken very largely and liberall about it, I believe you will hear by other means what arguments I used in that case: But truly, that that is stranger, you that are English men, behold here an English man now before you, and acknowledged a Peer, not condemned to dye by any Law of Engl. not by any Law of England; nay shall I tell you (which is strangest of all) contrary to all the Lawes of Engl: that I know of. And truly I will tell you, in the matter of the civill part of my death, and the Cause I have maintained, I dye (I take it) for maintaining the fifth Commandement, enjoyned by God himselfe, which enjoynes reverence and obedience to Parents: All Divines on all hands, though they contradict one another in many severall opinions, yet all Divines on all hands, doe acknowledge that here is intended Magistracy and Order, and certainly I have obeyed that Magistracy and the Order under which I have lived, which I was bound to obey; and truly, I doe say very confidently that I do dye here for keeping, for obeying that fifth Commandement given by God himselfe, and written with his own finger.
And now Gentlemen, I will take this opportunity to tell you, that I can not imitate a better nor a greater ingenuity then his, that said of himselfe, For suffering an unjust judgement upon another, himselfe was brought to suffer by an unjust judgement. Truly Gentlemen, that God may be glorified, that all men that are concerned in it, may take the occasion of it, of humble repentance to God Almighty for it, I do here professe to you, that truly I did give my Vote to that Bill of the E. of Strafford, I doubt not but God Almighty hath washed that away with a more precious blood, and that is, with the blood of his own Son, and my dear Saviour Jesus Christ, and I hope he will wash it away from all those that are g…ilty of it: Truly this I may say, I had not the least part nor the least degree of malice in the doing of it: but I must confesse again to Gods glory, and the accusation of mine own frailty, and the trailty of my nature, that truly it was an unworthy Cowardize, not to resist so great a torrent as carried that businesse at that time. And truly, this I think I am most guilty of, of not courage enough in it, but malice I had none; but whatsoever it was, God I am sure hath pardoned it, hath given me the assurance of it, that Christ Jesus his blood hath washed it away; and truly, I doe from my soule wish, that all men that have any stain by it, may seriously repent, and receive a remission and pardon from God for it. And now Gentlemen, we have had an occasion by this intimation to remember his Majesty, our King that last was, and I cannot speak of him, nor think of it, but truly I must needs say, that in my opinion that have had time to consider all the Images of all the greatest and vertuousest Princes in the world, and truly in my opinion there was not a more vertuous, and more sufficient Prince known in the world, then our gracious King Charls that dyed last; God Almighty preserve our King that now is, his Son, God send him more fortunate, and longer dayes; God almighty so assist him, that he may exceed both the vertues and sufficiencies of his Father: For certainly, I that have been a Councellour to him, and have lived long with him, and in a time when discovery is easily enough made, for he was young (he was about thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, or sixteen yeers of age) those years I was with him, truly I never saw greater hopes of vertue in any young person, then in him; great Judgment, great Understanding, great Apprehension, much Honour in his Nature, and truly a very perfect English-man in his Inclination; and I pray God restore him to this Kingdome, and unite the Kingdomes one unto another, and send a happinesse both to you and to him, that he may long live and Reign among you, and that that Family may Reign till thy Kingdome come, that is, while all Temporall Power is consuminated: I beseech God of his mercy, give much happinesse to this your KING, and to you that in it shall be his Subjects, by the grace of Jesus Christ.
Truly, I like my beginning so well, that I will make my conclusion with it, that is, That God Almighty would confer of his infinite and inestimable grace and mercy, to those that are the causers of my coming hither, I pray God give them as much mercy as their owne hearts can wish; and truly for my part I will not accuse any of them of malice, truly I will not, nay, I will not think there was any malice in them; what other ends there are, I know not, nor I will not examine, but let it be what it will, from my very soule I forgive them every one: And so, the Lord of Heaven blesse you all, God Almighty be infinite in goodnesse and mercy to you, and direct you in those wayes of obedience to his Commands to his Majesty, that this Kingdome may be a happy and glorious Nation again, & that your King may be a happy King in so good and so obedient people. God Almighty keep you all, God Almighty preserve this Kingdome. God Almighty preserve you all.
Then turning about, and looking for the Executioner (who was gone off the Scaffold) said, Which is the Gentleman? Which is the man? Answer was made, he is coming, he then said, stay, I must pull off my Doublet first and my Wastcoat: And then the Executioner being come upon the Scaffold, the Lord Capel said, O friend, prethee come hither: Then the Executioner kneeling down, the Lord Capel said, I forgive thee from my soul, and not only forgive thee, but I shall pray to God to give thee all grace for a better life: There is five pounds for thee, and truly for my Cloaths and those things, if there be any thing due to you for it, you shall be very fully recompenced, but I desire my body may not be stripped here, and no body to take no…ce of my body but my own Servants: Look you Friend, this I shall desire of you, that when I lye down, you would give me a time for a particular short prayer.
Liev. Col. Beecher, Make your owne signe my Lord.
Capel. Stay a little, which side doe you stand upon (speaking to the Executioner) stay I think I should lay my hands forward that way (pointing fore right) and answer being made yet, he stood still a little while, and then said, God Almighty blesse all this people; God Almighty stench this blood, God Almighty stench, stench, this issue of blood, this will not doe the businesse, God Almighty find out another way to do it.
And then turning to one of his Servants, said, Baldwin, I cannot see any thing that belongs to my wife, but I must desire thee to beseech her to rest wholly upon Jesus Christ, and be contented and fully satisfied: And then speaking to his Servants he said, God keep you, and Gentlemen, let me now doe a businesse quickly, privately, and pray let me have your Prayers at the moment of death, that God would receive my soul.
Capel. Pray at the moment of striking, joyne your prayers, but make no noise (turning to his Servants) that is inconvenient at this time.
Servant. My Lord, put on your Cap.
Capel. Should I, what will that doe me good? stay a little, is it well as it is now? And then turning to the Executioner, he said, Honest man, I have forgiven thee, therefore strike boldly, from my soule I doe it.
Then a Gentleman speaking to him, he said, Nay, prethee be contented, be quiet good Mr— be quiet.
Then turning to the Executioner, he said, Well, you are ready when I am ready, are you not? And stretching out his hand…, he said, then pray stand off Gentlemen, then going to the front of the Scaffold, he said to the people, Gentlemen, though I doubt not of it, yet I think it convenient to ask it of you, that you would all joyne in prayers with me, that God would mercifully receive my soule, and that for his alone mercies in Christ Jesus.
Execut. My Lord, shall I put up your Haire?
Capel. I, I, prethee doe; and then as he stood, lifting up his hands and eyes, he said, O God, I doe with a perfect and a willing heart submit to thy will, O God, I doe most willingly humble my selfe: then kneeling down, said, I will try first how I can lye, and laying his head over the block, said, Am I well now?
Execut. Yes.
And then as he lay with both his hands stretched out, he said to the Executioner, Here lye both my hands out, when I lift up my hand thus, then you may strike.
And then after he had said a short prayer, he lifted up his right hand, and the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body, which was taken up by his Servants, and put (with his Body) into a Coffin, as the former.
March 19. 1648. An Act for Abolishing the House of Peers.
THe Commons of England Assembled in Parl finding by too long experience that the House of Lords is uselesse and dangerous to the people of England to be continued, have thought fit to Ordain and Enact, and be it Ordained and Enacted by the present Parliam: and by the Authority of the same, That from henceforth the House of Lords in Par. shall be, and is hereby wholly abolished and taken away; and that the Lords shall not from henceforth meet or sit in the said House of Lords, nor shall Sit, Vote, Advise, Adjudge or Determine of any matter or thing whatsoever, as a House of Lds in Parl. Neverthelesse it is hereby Declared, That neither such Lords as have demeaned themselves with Honour, Courage, and Fidelity to the Common-wealth, their Posterities who shall continue so, shall not be excluded from the Publick Councels of the Nation, but shall be admitted thereunto, and have their free Vote in Parl: if they shall be thereunto Elected, as other persons of interest Elected and Qualified thereunto ought to have: And be it further Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Peer of this Land, not being Elected, Qualified, and sitting in Parl. as aforesaid, shall claim, have, or make use of any Priviledge of Parl. either in relation to his Person, Quality, or Estate, any Law, Vsage, or Custome to the contrary notwithstanding.
Hen: Scobel, Cler: Parl.
On Thursday, July 25. 1650. The General and Army Marched from Mordington to Coppersmith, Col. Hackers Regiment being drawn up in the way, his Excellency made a Speech to satisfie them concerning Capt. Ogles Troop being sent back into Northumberland, in regard of his interest in that County, & that Cap. Greenwoods Troop appointed for Berwick should March with the Regiment in the stead thereof, which gave great satisfaction. Col. Bright's Regiment being drawn up; Maj. Gen. Lambert appointed Collonel thereof, coming to the head of the Regiment, was received with great Acclamations.
A List of the Regiments of Horse and Foot Randezvouzed and Marched with the Lord Gen: Cromwell, into Scotland.
Eight Regiments of Horse.
THe Lord Generals, in number 663
Maj. Gen. in number 663
Col. Fleetwoods in number 663
Col. Whalies in number 663
Col. Twisden in number 663
Col. Lilburn in number 663
Col. Hackers in number 663
Col. Okey in number 744
Consisting with Officers, in all 5450
Ten Regiments of Foot.
THe Lord Generals, in number 1307
Col. Pride 1307
Col. Bright 1307
Col. Maliveryr 1307
Col. Ch: Fairfax 1307
Col. Cocks 1307
Col. Dunell 1307
Col. Sir Arthur Hasterigs 5 Companies 550
Col. Fenwicks 5 Companies 555
Consisting with Officers, in all 10249
The Traine 690
The whole thus:
The Traine 690
The Horse 5450
The Foot 10249
The Totall 16354
A Letter from Liev: Gen: David Lesley, to the Lord Gen: Cromwell.
My Lord;
I Am Commanded by the Committee of Estates of this Kingdome, and desired by the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly, to send unto your Excellency this inclosed Declaration, as that which containeth the State of the Quarrell: wherein we are resolved, by the Lords assistance, to fight your Army, when the Lord shall please to call us thereunto. And as you have professed you will not conceal any of our Papers, I doe desire that this Declaration may be made known to all the Officers of your Army; And so I rest,
Bruchton, 13 Aug. 1650. Your Excell: most humble Servant, DAVID LESLEY.
For his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell.