The manner of the BEHEADING OF Duke Hambleton, the Earle of Holland, and the Lord Capell, in the Pallace yard at Westminster, on Friday the 9th of March 1648 WITH The Substance of their several Speeches upon the Scaffold, immediately before they were Beheaded.
March 9. 1648. Imprimatur Theodore Jennings▪
Printed at London for Robert Ibbitson.
THE Manner of the Beheading of Duke Hambleton, the Earl of Holland, and the Lord Capel, March 9. 1648.
ON Friday March 9. 1648. Duke Hamilton, (Earle of Cambridge) The Earle of Holland, and the Lord Capell were beheaded in the Pallace Yard at Westminster Hall gate, in the middle of the Pallace yard, toward the old Standard, at that end of the Pallace yard towards the water-side, The manner was thus.
There were a great Guard of Souldiers both horse and foot, and many thousands of people. There were many Scaffolds made about the Pallace Yard, and they were very full, insomuch that divers Scaffolds broke, and some people fell down. The windowes and tops of houses were all full.
First Duke Hamilton (the Earle of Cambridge) was brought upon the Scaffold, There came along with him, Lieut. Col. Beecher (who had the charge of them all, as well the Lord Goring, and Sir John Owen, who [Page 2] are reprieved as these three who are this day beheaded) Also Dr. Sibbols the Minister came upon the Scaffold with him, and a Gentleman of his own retinue with some other Officers, and Gentlemen, but very few were admitted to be there.
Duke Hamilton was upon the Scaffold above an hour, before his head was cut off.
Some part of the time was spent in a speech to the people, other part of the time was spent in speaking to those on the Scaffold; he had much conference with Dr. Sybolls. And prayed very humbly (and with a deale of reverence) to God, both with the Minister, and with himselfe, some times he prayed aloud, and other times he prayed to himselfe.
Duke Hamilton was in a blacke Suite with a Silver Star upon his cloake.
The h [...]adsman came to him, and asked him forgivnesse which he said he did.
Putting on a white Satten Cap, he sitted himselfe to lye downe, imbraced his servants, and Doctor Sibbols, and took his leave of, them and then he pray [...] at the Blocke.
He gave advertisment to the Executioner, that when he spread forth his armes he should do his Office.
A peece of red silk was spread upon the block, and when he was to die, and also to receive his head when it was cut off.
He having put off his Doublet was in his shirt and prepared himselfe to dye, and lying down prayed a little upon the block, and then stretching forth his arme, the executioner strucke off his head at one [Page 3] stroak, which was wrapt in the red Silke that was laid down for receiving of it, and his Coffin being brought upon the Scaffold, his body and his head was put into the said Coffin, and carried away. And a Chyrurgeon (appointed for the purpose) sewed on the head again to the body, in an house in Westminster, to which he was carried in the Coffiin.
The Substance of Duke Hamiltons Speech.
That he was a Protestant by Religion, that he had justly deserved to dye, but at this time, in this way he left it to God, That he was sent into England by the Parliament of Scotland, that he had no thought of hurt to the Parliament of England, that he had his hopes in heaven, & found peace in his conscience with God, desired them to pray for him, and prayed the Lord to have mercy upon him, and save his soule. He imbraced the blocke in his armes and cryed out, ‘Lord Jesus receive my Soule to thy Mercy.’
Next to him, the Lord of Holland was brought upon the Scaffold, where were Lieut. Col. Beecher, Dr. Sybals and most of those Gentlemen, save (onely two or three of the Dukes attendants) that were upon the Scaffold with the Duke.
There came with the Earl of Holland Mr. Hodges, and Mr. Knight two Ministers, a Gentleman of his, and some others, who were upon the Scaffold, besides Dr. Sybals Lieut. Col. Beecher, and the rest.
The Earle of Holland came in a long gown of silk, lined with fur (that he wore at his Tryall) of a brownish colour, he was upon the Scaffold nigh an houre before he was beheaded.
When the Earl of Holland was come upon the Scaffold, he first went to that side next the water-side, and shewed himself to the people, but presently turned his face inward to the Scaffold again, and had some discourse with those Gentlemen that were on the Scaffold.
[Page 4]Afterwards he went to the end of the Scaffold against Westminster Hall gate, and there put off his hat to the people, and leaning upon the raile, with his hat off, and in his hand, he made a speech to them.
He had conference then with the Ministers, and went to the other side of the Scaffold towards the gate going into Kings-street.
He had a great deal of conference with Mr. Knight the Minister, and all the while carried himselfe very humbly, and with a great deal of devotion and reverence; he took much delight in those things that Mr. Knight spake, and heard him a great while with much reverence.
Mr Hodges turned to the other side of the Scaffold and wept, and so also did another Gentleman that did belong to him.
The Earl of Holland having put off his gown and his doublet, he had a white satten wastcoat on, and after that he spent some time in prayer, and prayed at the Block also.
He had on the same white satten Cap, with silver lace, that he wore at his Tryall.
He took his leave of Li [...]ut. Col. Beecher, and the Ministers, and his servants, and the rest.
The Executioner having asked and had forgivenesse, and received the sign of spreading out his arms, the Earl of Holland lay down upon the block, and then prayed a while, and then giving the sign, the Executioner cut his head off at one stroke.
His head and body were wrapped in a sheet, and put into a Coffin brought upon the Scaffold for that purpose, and he was carried away, and his head was after sewed to his body by a Chirurgion,
[Page 5] The substance of the Earl of Hollands Speech.
Last of all the Lord Capell was brought upon the Scaffold; he had no Minister at all with him, nor had he any shew of sence of death approaching,
He was in a sad coloured Suit and Cloake, and white Gloves, without his Perrewig, and came with his Hat cockt and his Cloak thrown under one arme, outfacing death with a great deale of carelesnesse, as one notably resolved.
When he came first upon the Stage he looked towards the people, put off his Hat, as at a salute, and then cockt it, and strutted about the Scaffold in a carelesse posture.
He had a little discourse with the Gentlemen upon the Scaffold, where he stayed very little between the time he went upon it, and the cutting off of his head, in all a little above a quarter of an houre.
He went to the raile of the Scaffold on that end towards [Page] Westminster-Hall gate, and made a Speech, leaning over to the People, which Speech took up most part of the time he was upon the Scaffold: He put off his Hat during the time that he spake, and his Speech was made with much earnestnesse, as if a Minister had been in a Pulpit rather then like a man dying. After that Speech he said little, some small discourse he had with the Gentlemen upon the Scaffold, and the ceremonies about the Executioner, in all which he was very short.
He then took off his Cloake and laid it upon the raile towards the waterside, and his man took out a linnen Cap and gave him, which he put on, delivering away his Hat, and then he put off his Dublet and was in his Shirt.
Then kneeling down before the Block he lifted up his hands and eyes towards heaven a very little while, and then lay down, but his shirt coller being too high he rose up againe and had it helped, (for though he was tall yet he had but a short neck.)
He prayed a while lying on the Block (to himselfe) lfiting up his right hand from the boards of the Scaffold, and then stretching forth his arme the Executioner cut off his head.
A Coffin and Sheet being ready his Corps was carried away, and his head after sewed on.
It was a very faire bright Sunshine day.