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A Genealogical Account of Capel, Earl of Effex.

THIS noble family is defcended from Sir Richard Capel, lord-juftice of Ireland, in the reign of Henry III. in 1261, whofe anceftors were lords of the manor of Capel, in the county of Suffolk, for many ages. But the greatest hero of this family was Arthur earl Efex, who was advanced to that dignity on the 6th of Auguft 1541. And on the breaking out of the unhappy civil war, he raised, at his own expence, fome troops of horfe in defence of the king and his country, at the head of whom he marched in person, and fought valiantly in many battles and skirmishes, and continued to adhere faithfully to his majefty, till his armies were totally difperfed, his garrifons loft, and his royal perfon imprisoned, when he made his compofition with the victorious party, and retired to his manor of Hadham in Hertfordshire. But perceiving the cruel ufage of the king, and foreseeing the mife. ries that afterwards befel his royal perfon, he could not reft there; he ventured again with all the force he could raise, to rescue his majesty from his enemies; and joining his forces with thofe of Lucas, and having undergone the greatest hardfhips in the fiege of Colchefter, they furrendered the town upon articles; yet he was condemned by the Rebels, and beheaded on the 9th of March 1648. Lord Clarendon, who knew him well, declares, "He was a man, that, whoever after him fhould deferve best of the English nation, Dec. 1763.

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could never think himself undervalued, when he should hear, that his courage, virtue, and fidelity, were laid in the balance with, and compared to, that of the lord Capel."

His fon Arthur, who fucceeded him, was, foon after the restoration, created vifcount Malden, and earl of the county of Effex. In the year 1670, he was fent ambaffador to the king of Denmark, and at his return, fworn of the privy-council, and made lord-lieutenant of Ireland. But, notwithstanding all his loyalty, he was accufed with lord Ruffel, of being concerned in the fanatick plot, and fent prifoner to the Tower, where he was found on the 13th of July 1683, with his throat cut. Soon after the revolution, a committee of noblemen were appointed by the House of Peers to enquire into his death; but made no report to the house, it being faid, that on the examination, it appeared fo black on king James, that queen Mary requested, that the whole might be buried in oblivion. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Algernon Piercy, earl of Northumberland, by whom he had fix fons and two daughters.

He was fucceeded in his honours and eftates by his fen Algernon, who married the lady Mary Bentinck, eldest daughter of William earl of Portland, by whom he had one fon and two daughters, and died on the 9th of January 1710. William, his fon, fucceeded him in

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in his titles and eftates, and on the 27th of November 1718, married the lady jane Hyde, daughter of Henry earl of Clarendon, and Rochester, and by that lady, who died on the 3d of January 1724, he had iffue four daughters. On the ad of February 1726, his lordfhip married to his fecond wife the lady Elizabeth Ruffel, youngest daughter of Wriothefly, father of the late and prefent dukes of Bedford, by whom he had two fons and three daughters; and died on the 8th of January 1743.

He was fucceeded in his titles and eftates by his fon John-WilliamAnne-Hollis Capel, the prefent earl, born on the 7th of October 1732. This nobleman, on the 1ft of Aug. 1742, married Mifs Charlotte,

daughter of Sir Hanbury Williams, knight of the Bath; by whom he has a daughter named Elizabeth, born Aug. 10, 1755, a fon born Nov. 13, 1757, and a daughter born July 14, 1759. The counters their mother died on the 19th of July 1759. Armorial Bearings.] Gules, a lion rampant between three cross croflets, fitchy, or.

Creft.] On a wreath, a demilion rampant, ouped, or, holding in his paws a crofler, fitchy, gules.

Supporters.] Two lions, or, ducally crowned, gules.

Motto.] Fide et fortitudine. By fidelity and courage. Chief Seats.] At Cafhioberry in Hertfordshire ; and Grofvenorfquare, London.

The following Papers contain an authentic Account of a late Attempt on Mr. Wilkes's Life in his own Houfe.

In the King's} JOHN Wilkes, of deponent further faith, That about

Aylesbury, in the county of Bucks, Efq; Matthew Brown, fervant to the faid Mr. Wilkes; and Matthias Darly, of the parish of St. Ann, Soho, in the liherty of Weftminster, engraver, feverally make oath; and firft, the faid John Wilkes for himself faith, That he, this deponent, verily beJieves that he is in danger of his life, from the wicked, malicious, revengeful, and unprovoked menaces of one Alexander Dun, who (this deponent is informed) is a Scotch officer, and between eleven and twelve of the clock laft Tuesday evening demanded entrance into this deponent's house in Great GeorgeStreet, Weftminster, and threatened violence to his perfon; and this

nine of the clock this morning he received the letter hereunto annexed, marked (A) which this deponent is informed, and verily believes, is of the hand-writing of the faid Alexander Dun. And this deponent, Matthew Brown, for himself faith, That he faw a person at the time firft above-mentioned make feveral very rude and violent endeavours to come into the houfe of the faid Mr. Wilkes; and upon his being refufed by this deponent, threatened revenge to Mr. Wilkes, and alfo to this deponent; and by the best defcription and information which this deponent has been able to collect, he believes the faid perfon's name is "Alexander Dun. And this deponent, Matthias Darly, fer himself

faith, That he, this deponent, did yesterday write to Mr. Wilkes the letter thereunto annexed (B) the contents of which are true, and that the Scotch officer therein alluded to is the faid Alexander Dun; and this deponent further faith, That he is not moved by any malice or refentment against the said Alexander Dun, but thought it his duty, as a member of fociety, to make the above intimations to Mr. Wilkes, in order that he might concert the neceffary measures for his perfonal fafety. And therefore the faid John Wilkes craves fureties of the Peace agaainft the faid Alexander Dun, not out of hatred or ma

lice, but merely for the prefervation of his life and perfon from danger.

John Wilkes, Matthew Brown. Matthias Darly. The deponent, John Wilkes, fworn at his house in Great Georgestreet, Westminster, he being indifpofed, the 8th day of December, 1763, before me,

Dragoons, who is now in Scotland,
defires his compliments to you for
the many civilities fhewn him when
he was quartered near your country.
feat; you may be affured that many
of the Scots have fill a regard for
you, and none of them more fo
than your humble and obedient fer-
vant,
ALEX. DUN..

Direct to me at Mr. Whyte's, peruke-maker, lieutenant of Ma-. rines.

To John Wilkes, Efq.
(A)

SIR,

London, Dec. 7, 1763.. I Should not do my duty if I did,

not acquaint you that the young Scotch officer, that wanted entrance at your houfe, is a villain, and his intentions are of blackish dye. I have been in his company for near four hours. That part of our converfation that relates to you, consisted chiefly of his intentions of maflacreing you the first opportunity, and that there was thirteen more gentlemen of Scotland of the fame refolution, and confederates of his, who were refolved to do it, or die in the attempt. Last night, when your trial was over, the gentlemen at the coffee-houfe quitted the room that I was in (on account of the fhouts in the hall) and left the London, Dec. 8, 1763. Scotch hero and I together, but I

W.MAPELSDEN, by Commiffion. Matthew Brown and Mathias Darly, fworn in Great Ormond-ftreet, the 8th day of December, 1763, before

SIR,

E. WILMOT.

AS I have fomething of confequence to communicate to you, I should be glad to know what time would be moft convenient for me to call upon you this day. I called once before, and was refufed adimittance. Be fo good as fend me an answer by my fervant, who will wait for it. Lieutenant Orchat of

abruptly left the room, and went after the people to Great Georgestreet, and on hearing a noife at your door, I went up, and, to my great furprize, faw the Scotchman a-trying for entrance; I knocked and had admittance, which enraged the hero fo much, that he swore revenge against the fervant, and was 4 M 2

very

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