CAPEL, ARTHUR, LORD, was born at tha commencement of the 17th century. He was returned as M.P. for Hertfordshire to the par liament which assembled Nov. 3,1640. At first he seemed disposed to adopt the principles held by the great majority of the members, but soon changed his opinions, and devoted himself to the cause of Charles I., who created him Baron Capel of Hadham in Hertfordshire. He assembled troops in Wales aud the adjoining counties, and in 1645, when Charles, Prince of Wales, was named generalissimo, Lord Capel was directed by the king, together with Sir Edward Hyde and Lord Colchester, to accompany the prince to the western counties, and direct everything in his name. In 1648 he joined the fume under Sir Charles Lucas in Essex with a troop of cavaliers from Hertfordshire, and ou the 12th of June they marched together to Colchester, intending to remain there only a day or two, and then advance into Seffulk and Norfolk ; but on the 18th Fairfax appeared before the walls, and the town was imme diately invested. After two months of the most obstinate resistance,
they were compelled by famine and aeditiou to surrender uncondi tionally, August 27. Sir Charles Lucas, Sir George Lisle, aud Sir Bernard Gascoign, the three principal leaders, were immediately shot. Lord Capel was conducted as a prisoner to Windsor Castle, aud thence conveyed to the Tower of London. He made his escape from the Tower, but was eoon retaken, and was condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. This severe sentence however was commuted, and on the 9th of March 1649 he was beheaded in front of Westminster Hall. His eon ARTHUR, born in 1635, was created Earl of Essex by Charles II. He was accused of being concerned in the Rye-House Plot, and was sent prisoner to the Tower, where he was found dead come days afterwards, his throat having been severed by a razor.