A “very rare” English Civil War sword, which belonged to one of the royalist leaders at the Siege of Colchester in the summer of 1648, is set to fetch about £5,000 at auction.

East Anglian Daily Times: The civil war sword used in the Siege of Colchester. Picture: CARL PERSSONThe civil war sword used in the Siege of Colchester. Picture: CARL PERSSON (Image: Archant)

The basket-hilted sword was once owned by Lord Capel – after whom Capel Road, Colchester, is named – and he may have had the sword with him during the Siege of Colchester.

Capel was beheaded in 1649 – the year after the Siege – and, on the eve of his execution, gave the sword to his friend Sir John Owen.

Etched on the sword are the words: “Lord Capel the day before his execution presented the sword to Sir John Owen by whom he said he was convinced it would be worn with honour.”

Now, 368 years later, Lord Capel’s sword is up for sale and it is expected to fetch between £5,000 and £7,000 at Bonhams in London on Wednesday (March 29).

East Anglian Daily Times: The civil war sword used in the Siege of Colchester. Picture: CARL PERSSONThe civil war sword used in the Siege of Colchester. Picture: CARL PERSSON (Image: Archant)

Auctioneers Bonhams say that the sword is “very rare”.

Arthur Capel, who later became Lord Capel, was born in Hertfordshire on February 20, 1608, and was 41 when he was executed in Old Palace Yard at the Palace of Westminster on March 9, 1649, the year after taking part in the Siege of Colchester.

He, Sir Charles Lucas, Lord Norwich and Sir George Lisle were the Royalist leaders during the Siege of Colchester, during which more than 1,000 people were killed or wounded and which lasted for 11 weeks from June 12, 1648 until August 28, 1648.

In the summer of 1648, a royalist army on its way through East Anglia to raise support for King Charles I was attacked by Lord-General Thomas Fairfax at the head of a parliamentary force.

East Anglian Daily Times: Lord Harlech, 30, who is selling the English Civil War sword, which belonged to one of the royalist leaders at the Siege of Colchester. Picture: BONHAMSLord Harlech, 30, who is selling the English Civil War sword, which belonged to one of the royalist leaders at the Siege of Colchester. Picture: BONHAMS (Image: Dan Fontanelli)

The Parliamentarians’ initial attack forced the Royalist army to retreat behind Colchester’s town walls, but they were unable to secure victory, so settled down to a siege.

St Mary-at-the-Walls church, now Colchester Arts Centre, was gutted during the siege.

Royalist musket balls pockmarked the building, in East Street, Colchester, now known as the Siege House, and the marks are still visible, highlighted with red circles.

Eventually the royalists surrendered and two of their leaders, Lucas and Lisle, were promptly executed.