complain of want of pay of the neglect of Church-Government and the Covenant The Parliament answered That in two years space they had received above two hundred thousand pounds for pay besides a vast sum of money which had been extorted from the weeping Inhabitants of the Northern Counties and that their Army had not answered expectation lying idle the best time of the year and if they were so precise in observation of the Covenant why contrary thereto had they put Garrisons into Newcastle Tinmouth and Carlisle Neither ought they to mention Religion being unsettled since the Parliament were consulting about it being a matter which requires time and mature deliberation From these dissentions the King expected some advantage but yet Oxford was already block'd up by Fleetwood and Ireton and Fairfax was daily expected to come and turn it into a close siege therefore before this should happen the King resolved to go out of the City and consulting with some of his inward Councellors it was concluded he should go to the Scots Camp then lying before Newark the King sent Montruel the French Ambassador before and himself soon after as Coll. Ashburnhams man who had a pass from Fairfax to go out of Oxford about some private business with a Cloak-bag behind him escaped unknown and came to Newark which when the besieged Newarkers had notice of being in great streights they upon conditions surrendred the Town The Scots seemed amazed at the Kings unexpected coming to them and so signified the matter to the English Commissioners then on the place Letters were instantly written to London and Edinburgh and the Parliament at Westminster required the Scots to detain the King at Southwell near Newark but contrary to this Order they carried him to Kelham where a greater part of their Army lay and soon after without further Order removed their Camp Northward and carried him away to Newcastle with them excusing their departure by alledging Newark being yielded no work was left for them but that as the King came to them of his own accord unexpected so he followed their Army neither being intreated nor forbidden by them but they seemed to hasten their departure by reason of a rumour that Cromwel with all his Horse was marching toward them This action much offended the English Parliament and they complain'd both of the Scots and the King In the beginning of May General Fairfax with his whole Army came before Oxford the City was very strong having been fortified according to the most exact rules of Art to make it Impregnable invironed with regular Forts and provided with a potent Garrison of five thousand valiant Souldiers having great stores of all manner of provisions and the Governour Sir Tho. Glemham a person who had sufficiently demonstrated his courage and conduct in holding out York and Carlisle to the last extremity The General disposing his Quarters round about the City summoned the Governour to surrender who returned That he would send to know the Kings mind and then act accordingly This answer was not satisfactory yet Fairfax and his Commanders doubting it would be a tedious Siege were put in hopes by some spies that it could not hold out long by reason of the divisions between the Nobility and Souldiers the first being for treating now and so obtain honourable conditions which they did accordingly and the Parliament decreed That the besieged should have the best conditions rather than waste their Army which might be more useful elsewhere for they designed to send them into Ireland against the Rebels there Thus was Oxford surrendred and the Garrison marched out in sight of Fairfax's Army with great quiet and modesty on both sides The D. of York was honourably conducted to London where two of the Kings Children remained thither also went all the Noble-men neither were any of the besieged denied to go to London but the Princes Rupert and Maurice who being commanded to go out of England prepared for their departure Prince Charles about this time sailed from Scilly with a few of his inward Counsellors to Jersey in order to go to his Mother in France which the King having advice of sent him this short Letter from Newcastle Charles I write to you only that you should know what I am and that I am in health not to direct you at this time in any thing for what I would have you do I have already written to your Mother to whom I would have you obedient in all things except Religion about which I know she will not trouble you and go no whether without her or my command Write often to me God bless you Your loving Father C. R. Soon after the surrender of Oxford followed the end of this fierce War for Worcester Wallingford Pendennis and Ragland yielded to the Victors Peace now seemed to be restored to England but they had no security the Parliament being grievously troubled with factions among themselves and divided under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants not only in matters of Church-Government but often in their Votes and in transacting almost all other business and this humour spread it self into the City Country and Camp and the Parliament doubting Coll. Masseys Forces might muriny upon that account sent Fairfax to Disband them being two thousand five hundred Horse which was quietly done in eight days time though they did not then receive their pay The Scots as you have heard carrying the King into the North the parliament Voted That the person of the King should be disposed of by the Authority of both Houses of the parliament of England But the Scots denied to deliver him up alledging That he was no less King of England than Scotland which caused great dissention between the two Nations But at length upon paying the Scots two hundred thousand pounds they agreed to deliver up Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle to the parliament of England and the Kings person also to the English Commissioners to be carried into the South who was received with great respect and honour by the Earls of Pembroke and Denbigh and the other Commissioners and by them waited on with much observance and an honourable Guard to his palace at Holmby in Northampton-shire But the Civil Wars being ended a dissention more than Civil arose among the Conquerors which still increased under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants and extreamly imbittered the minds of men against each other one party complaining That the Covenant was broken The other That it was not rightly Interpreted by them And on both sides were men of Reputation and several petitions were drawn up against the Army lately so much admired as maintainers of the Independent party who then lay about Saffron-Walden in Essex Yea it was debated in parliament whether they should be Disbanded or not which Cromwel who sided with the Independents having notice of he thereupon with Ireton insinuated into the common Souldiers That the parliament intended to Disband them without their Arrears or else to
of all just power and that the Commons of England being the peoples Representative have the supream Authority and what they Enact has the force of a Law though the House of Lords do not consent thereto Upon these and several other new political principles they proceed to Try Judge Condemn and Execute the King before his own palace-gate at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. But having already published a Book called The Wars of England Scotland and Ireland wherein is an exact relation of the Kings Tryal with the Reasons he would have offered against the pretended Jurisdiction of their Court of Justice and his last speech at the time of his suffering I shall refer the Reader to that and wholly omit it here The fatal blow being given the remainder of the House of Commons and the Army made it evident that they were not only for cutting off the King but Kingship it self and thereupon the House Voted That Kingly Government is unnecessary burdensome and dangerous and that whereas several pretences might be made to the Crown that any person who should proclaim Charles Stewart Son of the late King or any other King of England should suffer as in case of High Treason And soon after the House of Lords was likewise Vored useless and dangerous at which the Lords were so highly Incensed that a Declaration was suddenly published in the Name of all the Peers and Barons of England against the proceedings of the Commons and in definance of all Votes Acts and Orders to the contrary Charles the second was proclaimed King in the Name of all the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom but they still proceed assuming new Ensigns of Soveraignty and cancelling the old causing all Writs Commissions c. to issue out under a new style and title that is The Keepers of the Liberties of England by the authority of parliament causing the old Great Seal to be broken and a new one made with this Inscription In the fifth year of freedom by Gods blessing restored And soon after they pulled down the Kings Arms in all places and his Statue at Guild Hall and the Royal Exchange A Council of State was constituted of forty and Bradshaw made president and the Council of Adjutators of the Army who had been so Instrumental in the late Revolutions was now dissolved who soon after petitioned the Lord Fairfax but those that subscribed it were by a Council of War Ordered to ride with their faâ—es to the Horses Tails before their Regiments with their crimes on their breasts to have their swords broken over their heads and to be cashier'd the army which much provoked their fellow souldiers so that a while after the Army Rendevouzing at Ware several Regiments in persuance of the former petition wherein they complain of erecting Illegal Courts of Justice and trying the free people of England by Martial Law with divers other grievances wore white colours in their Haâ—s to distinguish themselves among whom was Cromwels own Regiment of Horse who having notice of it ordered two other Regiments from remote Quarters to be there who knew nothing of the Intrigue and being all drawn up in Battalia Cromwel with a frowning countenance rides round and suddenly commands those two Regiments to surround a Regiment of Foot and then calls four men by their Names out of the body and with his own hands put them in custody of the Marshal instantly summoning a Council of War while their adherents secretly put their white colours in their pockets and were astonished at the action These four were tryed and found guilty but had the favour to cast lots for their lives whereby the two principal Mutineers escaped and the two ignorant fellows were shot to death upon the place in the view of the whole Army These now had the Name of Levellers given them and one Lockier was afterward shot to death for promoting a paper called The Ingagement and Agreement of the people c. in St. Pauls Church-yard and his Funeral was attended by above one thousand of the Lilburnian Faction all wearing black and Sea-green Ribbons the Army being now in a violent ferment and even ready to destroy one another which humour was cherished by John Lilburn not without incouragement from the Royal party who from their divisions hoped to reap advantage In persuance hereof Collonel Scroops Regiment of Horse dismissed their Officers at Salisbury and with colours flying marched to join Harrisons Iretons and Skippons Regiments who by the contrivance of the Agitators were all ingaged in the same designs This defection seeming of very dangerous consequence Gen. Fairfax and Cromwel with his own Regiment marched to Alton and had advice the Mutineers were gone to Abington after whom Cromwel made such haste that in one day he marched forty miles and having met with them he politickly proposed a Treaty before Harrisons Regiment should join them wherein all parties should receive satisfaction and that neither of them should keep at ten miles distance upon which the Levellers went to Burford and being opposed by the Souldiery at New-bridge to prevent Quarrels they went a little lower not doubting but they should all join upon Treaty and then put most of their Horses to grass they being in all above nine hundred consisting of twelve Troops entire of the best in the Army and leaving a guard of about sixty men some of their companions who were brought over to Cromwel giving Intelligence of their posture Coll. Reynolds about midnight rusht into their Quarters they â—â—ttâ—e expecting such rough treatment and seizing the Guards took the greatest part of the rest either asleep or drinking together with nine hundred Horse and four hundred prisoners whereof Thompson and two more only were Executed Cornet Don declaring such sorrow that he was reprieved at the place of Execution which their fellows beheld from the Leads of the Church and were told That every tenth man of them should die but Cromwel proposed the pardoning of them which was agreed to and they sent to their own Houses This proved the utter suppression of that Faction and rendred the Army wholly at the devotion of Cromwel About this time another illegal High Court of Justice was erected wherein Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Lord Capel and Lord Goring were brought to their Trial the three first were condemned and beheaded at the Palace-yard in Westâ—minster and a proclamation was published declaring the Kingdom of England to be a free State and Alderman Reynoldson was commanded to proclaim it in the City which he refusing was committed to the Tower and a new Lord Mayor was chosen by a â—ommon Hall who attended with several other Aldermen of the same temper readily proclaimed the Edicts of this new Republick in several places in the City England being thus subjected to the power of the House of Commons and the Army and Scotland not yet ripe for Invasion and the Nation full of Souldiers who having for so long a time led
the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and other persons of Quality all expressing the sence of their obligations Soon after he took his place in parliament and received the thanks of the House from the Speaker and then gave them a full account of the present condition of Ireland At this time Virginia and the Caribbee Islands revolt from the parliament and cry up the Monarchy and Liturgy who thereupon prohibit all Nations to Trade with them and in a few months they are wholly subdued by a Fleet sent thither under Sir G. Ayscough Prince Rupert infests the English Coasts from Scilly Jersey Ireland and France with the States revolted Ships to the great loss of the Merchants whereupon a Fleet well equipt is set forth against him who block him up in Kinsale which Town being taken by Cromwel they were forced to hasten away leaving three Ships behind and sailed to Lisbon where they were protected by the King of Portugal which caused a difference between that King and the English Republick About the same time that is May 3. 1649. Dr. Dorislaus who drew up the charge against King Charleâ— being sent as an Envoy to the States of Holland was treacherously murdered at the Hague by persons in disguise that broke into his Lodgings and afterward made their escape And not long after Mr. Anthony Ascham the English Agent in Spain was stabâ—d in his Inn in his way to Madrid and the murderers taking sanctuary in a church the King of Spain by all his authority could not bring them to Justice But the greatest danger to this new Common-wealth though victorious in Ireland seemed to be from Scotland for King Charles II. being in the Isle of Jersey and having notice of the great factions and differences in that Kingdom between the Covenanters and the Royalists he gives a commission to the Marquess of Montross who in the year 1645. was so successful for a time that the whole Kingdom of Scotland may be said to have been won and lost in one month by which commission he was to raise Forces in Holland and other parts wherewith if possible to abate the power of the Covenanters so that the King might be able to treat with them upon better terms He accordingly in a short time sends some Forces into the Isles of Orkney and a few more under Sir James Mongomery to the North of Scotland These the Committee of Estates resolve to oppose though raised for the Kings service and send propositions to him to Jersey which being granted they would enter into a Treaty to restore him to that Kingdom the substance whereof were That he would sign the solemn league and covenant and oblige all persons to take it To confirm all Acts of parliament in the two last Sessions and to have no Negative voice in their parliament and would appoint some place about Holland to treat in The King consented and promised in the word of a Prince to perform them and Breda a Town in Holland belonging to the Prince of Orange was the place appointed where the Scots Commissioners meet him and the Treaty in a short time was fully concluded wherein one Article was That the Marquess of Montross and his adherents be prohibited access into that Kingdom During this Treaty Montross being commissioned by the King fearing he should have an express command to desist and himself be banish'd his country landed as you heard at Orkney and in the North with some inconsiderable supplies of men and money against whom the parliament then sitting send an Army of seven thousand Foot and three Troops of Horse who utterly defeat his Forces which were only twelve hundred of whom two hundred were slain and all the rest taken except one hundred who made their escape and Montross himself who being three or four days in the open Fields without meat or drink with only one man discovered himself to the L. Aston but the pronused reward or fear of concealing him caused this Lord to send him to Edenburgh and he was soon after condemned and hanged upon a Gallows thirty foot from the ground and a few days after Sir John Urrey Sir Francis Hay Collonel Sâ—bald and Collonel Spotswood were beheaded for the same cause the last at his death confessing he was an actor in the death of Dr. Doritâ—aâ—s The King was somewhat startled at these proceedings but the Scots Commissioners desired him nor to stumble at these matters since they were all designed to promote his Interests so that finding it could not be redressed he was forced to conceal his resentments and the Treaty being finished the King prepared for his Voyage to Scotland The parliament of England having exact Intelligence of all these proceedings it was debated whether the War which was inevitable between them and the Scots should be Offensive or Defensive at length being sensible what desolations they brought along with them when they came in as Friends and afterwards as Enemies in Duke Hamiltons Invasion it was concluded to make Scotland the seat of the War and accordingly they Order the Army to march Northward but General Fairfax as well as some others being dissatisfied about the obligation of the National Covenant entred into between both Kingdoms which he conceived would not permit us to make War on Scotland desired to be excused and delivered up his commission which at first was a little startling but the parliament soon found another General of whose valour and conduct they had large experience which was Cromwel who accepted of the charge and had a commission to be General of all the Forces that now were or hereafter should be raised by the Common-wealth of England and all commissions formerly granted to Sir Tho. Fairfax were made void June 28. 1650. Cromwel with his Army marched toward Scotland and was received at York by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with great respect The report of his coming surprized the Committee of Estates who sent a Letter to the Parliament That they admired the English should advance toward them and that many of their Ships were seized contrary to the Act of pacification which allowed three months warning and that the Forces they had raised were only in their own defence defiring to know whether those of the English were designed to guard their own borders or to invade Scotland The parliament by their Declaration declare the reasons of their proceeding and among others That the Scots endeavour to seduce the people of the Common-wealth of England from their affection and duty to the parliament and to promote the laterest of the late King under pretence of the Covenant and though they could claim no authority or dominion over us yet in Scotland they proclaimed Charles Stewart to be King of England and Ireland and since that promised to assist him against the Common-wealth and had declared against the English parliament and Army ranking them with malignants and papists These with many others were such intolerable provocations and no satisfaction being
a Military life could hardly be reduced to their former Imployments Our new States-men to prevent any ill humours that might gather among them resolved to make them serviceable to their Country in the reduction of Ireland all that Kingdom except Dublin and London-derry being in possession of the Irish which neither were able to hold out without speedy assistance from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody that ever happened upon earth acted by Devils in humane shape rather than men butchering two hundred thousand protestants in eight weeks space without the least offence or provocation given or without sparing of age or sex was perpetrated Oct. 23. 1641. and though contrived so secretly and acted so furiously yet was Dublin wonderfully preserved to be a refuge to those poor protestants who escaped the rage of their bloody persecutors Many of them fled to England but found little relief for here all things seemed to forebode the re-acting the same Tragedy yet in the midst of the differences between the King and parliament it was agreed to send some Regiments thither if possible to hinder the progress of those Assassines but this relief was so small that it had no effect for the King finding the parliament prevail against him recalled those Troops from Ireland many of the Rebels coming along with them to his assistance so that this Kingdom lay more exposed to these bloody Wolves than ever and thus they continued for some years But this new state having renounced Monarchy and Episcopacy resolve now to use the same Instruments to recover Ireland and to that end they ordered an Army to be sent thither The Marquess of Ormond was made Lord-Lieutenant by the late King and the Rebels had made a confederacy among themselves and upon condition to have the free Exercise of their Religion and divers other ample priviledges and advantages which the necessity of affairs obliged him to yield to they joined their Forces to his being also assisted by a considerable number of others raised by the Earls of Castlehaven Clanâ—ickand and the Lord Inchiquin so that they were the greatest united strength in that Kingdom but the confederates having broken their Articles with the Lieutenant and being ready to besiege Dublin which he was not able to defend rather than it should fall into the hands of the Irish papists he surrendred it to Collonel Jones for the parliament and came over to the King who was then carried from one place to another by the Army and from thence he went over to Prince Charles then at Paris But the Confederates surprized at the great preparations made against them in England sent Letters to the Prince humbly intreating him to send back the Marquess of Ormond with an absolute promise to submit entirely to the Kings Authority and to obey his Lieutenant At their request he returned into Ireland about a year before Cromwel came over and with their united Forces they had reduced the whole Country except London-derry commanded by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the principal City wherein was Collonel Jones with no great strength and who was very jealous of the sidelity of his own men that often deserted and went over to the other party The Irish confederates with an Army of twenty two thousand men lay under the very Walls of Dublin and sent divers threatning summons into it requiring a speedy surrender but they had no effect upon the valiant Governour Jones who yet not insensible of the great danger he was in sent many earnest Messages to the parliament of England to aid him with all speed with Men and Ammunition or else all would be quickly lost and they knowing the difficulties of his condition hasten their assistance to him gave order for sending thither Iretons Scroops Hortons and Lamberts Regiments of Horse with Hewsons Deans Ewers and Cooks Regiments of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old tried Souldiers that feared no Enemy and led by victorious commanders with some other Regiments new listed to make a number sufficient to effect the business Nothing was now wanting but a General to command this gallant Army which the parliament being sensible of Cromwels conduct and fitness desired him to accept which he readily did declaring at the same time That he did not doubt but God would use him as an Instrument to execute his vengeance upon the bloody Irish with which answer the parliament were so pleased that instantly they give him a commission to be General of all their Forces and Lord Governour both in the Civil and Military affairs of Ireland and Collonel Jones was made Lieutenant-General of the Horse After which they march to their Rendevouz at Milford in Wales and July 10. 1649. Cromwel set forward from London in a Coach and six Horses attended with many of the House of commons council of State and principal Officers of the Army with a Life-Guard of fourscore who had been lately commanders very gallantly accoutred In this state he march'd to Brainford where these Gentlemen took their leaves with wishes for his happy success from thence he rides post to Bristol to put his men and Train of Artillery into the Transport-ships and afterwards goes into Wales having sent Reynolds Regiment of Horse and Venables and Monks Regiments of Foot before from Chester who with a fair wind soon arrived at Dublin to the great joy of the Inhabitants being about three thousand in all who were very careful to recover them from the fatigues of the Sea in hopes by their means to recover their Liberties And in this they found themselves not mistaken for Collonel Jones much animated with these recruits resolved to attack the besiegers with the first opportunity and accordingly Aug. 2 when the Irish with a strong party of Horse and Foot marched with much assurance to Baggor-field a little way Eastward from the city toward the Sea from whence they designed to run their Trenches towards the Works of the city to prevent the landing any more supplies from England the besieged sound a necessity to prevent them and with twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot fell upon the Enemies new Works and rout their Horse at the first encounter most of the Foot being also either kill'd or slain consisting of fifteen hundred besides their Horse which so incouraged the English that they pursued their victory to Rathunines where the Marquess of Ormond with his whole Army of nineteen thousand men were Incamped who hearing of it wished they would come that he might have some sport with them he soon had his wish but the sport was somewhat rude for in a short time his Army was utterly put to the rout four thousand being slain upon the spot and in the pursuit and two thousand five hundred and seventeen prisoners most persons of Quality with the Marquesses own brother all their Cannon and Ammunition with a wealthy Camp became the reward of the conquering Souldiers who made themselves Gentlemen with the spoils of the
Protector All the great Offices of the Common-wealth such as Chancellor Keeper of the Seal Governor of Ireland Admiral c. if they become void in parhament time to be supplied by their approbation or in intervals of parliament with the approbation of the Council The Christian Religion as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures to be the publick profession of the Nation and those that administer it to be maintained by the publick but by some way more convenient and less liable to envy than Tythes None are to be compelled to consent to the publick profession by fine or any punishment ever but only by perswasion and arguments None that profess Faith in Jesus Christ are to be prohibited the exercise of their Religion provided he do not quarrel with nor disturb others except the papists and prelatists who are debarr'd that License All Sales of Estates made by parliament to stand good All Articles of War to be made good And lastly the protector and his successor upon entring that charge to swear to procure by all means the peace quiet and welfare of the Common-wealth to observe these Articles and to administer all things in his power according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of England After this Dec. 16. 1653. the protector came from White-Hall to the Chancery Court at Westminster attended by the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England the Barons of the Exchequer and Judges in their Robes the Council of the Common-wealth the L. Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of London in their scarlet Gowns and many of the chief Officers of the Army A Chair of State being set the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered till the Instrument was read which he subscribed in the face of the Court and then swore to perform as follows I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding will govern these Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs and to seek their peace and cause Justice and Law to be equally administred Hereupon he sate down covered in the Chair the Lords Commissioners then delivered him the Great Seal of England and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Can of maintenance which he instantly returned Then the Court rose and the Protector was attended back as before to the Banquetting House at White-Hall the Lord Mayor bare headed carrying the Sword before him where an exhortation being made by Mr. Nicholas Lockier one of his Chaplains the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed And thus was the Protector confirmed in this high Dignity tho' many of his Officers and former admirers were much discontented thereat but to command obedience the Council emitted the following Proclamation which was published in England Scotland and Ireland Whereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigned their powers and Authorities the Government by a Lord Protector and successive elective parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel Captain General of all the Forces of this Common-wealth is declared Lord protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make publication of the premises and strictly to charge and command all and every person and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations totake notice hereof and to conform and subject themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this proclamation to the end that none may have cause to pretend Ignorance in this behalf The Protector began his reign with seeming serenity and when the different parties in Religion made their complaints to him against each other he usually told them That his power was no greater in the Nation than a Constables which was to keep peace and quietness among all parties And persuant to the power given him by the new Instrument he supplies the several Courts at Westminster with the ablest Judges and Lawyers and the City of London to shew their concurrence to this great change invite the Protector to Dinner at Grocers-Hall Feb. 8. being Ashwednesday the Streets were railed to Temple-bar the Livery men standing in their Gowns he was met at Temple-bar by Alderman Vyner Lord Mayor who delivered him the Sword and receiving it again bore it on Horseback bare-headed before him all the way After a Noble enterrainment he was served with a Banquet in the conclusion whereof he Knighted Sir Tho. Vyner and would have done the same to the Recorder Steel but he declined it The Hollanders being weary of the Wars which they had maintained with such little success and so great cost send commissioners to treat with the pretector for a peace between both Nations which at length was concluded both with the King of Denmark and the Dutch who were to pay the charge of the War money being very necessary in his new Government and in April following it was proclaimed with great solemnity in London the two Dutch Ambassadors making magnificent Treatments and Fire-works to demonstrate their satisfaction therein The Protector now sends his eldest Son Henry into Ireland of which he was made Lord Deputy soon after and General Monk was sent into Scotland Likewise the Lord Whitlock who was sent Ambassador by the last parliament to the Q. of Sweden had now a new commission sent him from the Lord protector in whose Name he continued the Treaty with that Crown and afterward finished it In March following Monsieur Bordeux was sent Ambassador to England from the French King and Sir Anthony Ashly Cooper Coll. Sydenham and Mr. Strickland were appointed Commissioners by the protector to treat with him so that he was owned abroad as well as at home King Charles was then in the French Court who finding that notwithstanding his own and his Mothers endeavours to the contrary the Treaty between France and England was vigorously prosecuted by Cardinal Mazarine and foreseeing that if the peace were concluded he and his party must be obliged to depart France he thought it more Honourable voluntarily to leave that Kingdom than to stay till he were forced out by a complement so the King with his Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward retired to Chattillon a House of the Prince of Condes from whence soon after the King and Prince Rupert went into Germany and indeed it happened as they suspected for one of the Articles of the French King with the protector was That none of the Royal Family of England should reside in the Dominions of France In Feb. 1654. several persons were committed to the Tower about a conspiracy against the protector the chief whereof Sir Gilbert Gerrard Coll. John Gerrard his brother the E. of Oxford Mr. Philip Porter Mr. Vowell a School-master at Islington and in June following an High Court
two hours fight by another as big the first of which she sunk presently after and yet was also possest by the Dutch The Sampson was boarded by young Rere Admiral Trump on one side and a Fireship on the other and so was soon burnt The loss of these five Ships was the greatest damage the English sustained since the War began and was done in the sight of Captain Boddily and nine English frigates who did not in the least assist them for which they were branded with Cowardice and Treachery At this time the King of Portugal unable to resist the power of the English at Sea sent over an Extraordinary Ambassador to conclude a peace and to give satisfaction for the Merchants losses An Agent was likewise sent from the French King desiring the release of his Ships taken going for the relief of Dunkirk and to have a right understanding between the two Republicks And on the other side four Deputies were sent from the Prince of Conde to crave aid against Cardinal Mazarine and his party who had strictly besieged the City of Bordeaux but all mediation proved ineffectual the breach being too great between the two States to be easily cemented Other Nations likewise endeavoured to be Mediators between England and Holland as the Queen of Sweden the Cantons of Switzerland the Imperial Cities of Lubeck and Hamburgh but all was fruitless This was the posture of the Civil and Military affairs of this Nation when General Cromwel with Major General Lambert Harrison and seven or eight Officers more came to the House of Commons April 23. 1653. with about twelve fouldiers whom he ordered to wait at the door and being entred spake to this purpose You have sufficiently deluded the people and provided for your own and your Relations benefits possessing these seats under a pretence of forming a Common-wealth of reforming the Laws and promâ—â—ing the publick Good whereby you have imposed upon the Kingdom whilst in the mean time you have only Invaded the goods of the Common-wealth have thrust your selves and Relations into the gainfullest and most honourable Offices only to nourish Luxury and Impiety Then stamping on the ground which was a sign to the souldiers at the door For shame says he rise quickly hence and give place to those that are honester and will better perform their Trusts Upon which they all began to move some by force or fear others murmuring but the Speaker not rising readily out of the Chair Major General Harrison lent him his hand and gently listed him out General Cromwel also commanded that bauble as he called the Mace to be taken away When the Members were all departed the doors were lock'd up and Guards set upon them and all the Avenues of the House And thus was this mighty parliament dissolved or dismissed after near twelve years sitting and after having transacted so many great affairs and this without opposition or disturbance their powers transferred into the hands of the Souldiery and their Names reprogched and vilified by the common people But to satisfie the Nation General Cromwel and his Officers published a Declaration which they had prepared the day before of the Reasons of their proceedings as followeth Our intention is not at this time to give an account of the grounds which first moved us to take up Arms and ingage our lives and all that was dear unto us in this Cause nor to mind in this Declaration the various dispensations through which Divine Providence hath led us or the Witness the Lord hath born and the many signal Testimonies he hath given to the sincere endeavours of his unworthy Servants whilst they were contesting with many and great difficulties as well in the Wars as other Transactions in the three Nations being necessitated in the defence of the same Cause they first asserted to have recourse unto extraordinary actions the same being evident by former Declarations published on that behalf And after God was pleased not only to reduce Ireland and give in Scotland but so marvelously to appear for his people at Worcester that these Nations were reduced to a degree of peace and England to perfect quiet whereby the parliament had opportunity to give the people the Harvest of all their labour blood and treasure and to settle a due liberty in reference to Civil and Spiritual things whereunto they were obliged by their duty and ingagements and those great and wonderful things God hath wrought for them yet they made so little progress therein that it was a matter of much grief to the good people of the Land who thereupon applied themselves to the Army who though unwilling to meddle with the Civil Authority agreed that such Officers as were Members of Parliament should move them to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amiss in the Common-wealth and in settling it upon a foundation of Justice and Righteousness Which being done it was hoped the Parliament would have answered their expectations But finding the contrary they renewed their desires in an humble Petition in August 1652. which produced no considerable effect nor was any such progress made therein as might imply their real intentions to accomplish what was Petitioned for but rather an averseness to the things themselves with much bitterness and opposition to the people of God and his spirit acting in them insomuch that the Godly party in Parliament were rendred of no further use than to countenance the ends of a corrupt party for effecting the desire they had of perpetuating themselves in the Supream Government For which purpose the said party long opposed and frequently declared themselves against having a new Representative and when they saw themselves necessitated to take this Bill into consideration they resolved to make use of it to recruit the House with persons of the same spirit and temper thereby to perpetuate their owe sitting which intention divers of the activest among them did manifest labouring to perswade others to a consent therein and the better to effect this divers petitions preparing from several Counties for the continuance of this Parliament were incouraged if not set on foot by many of them For obviating these evils the Officers of the Army obtained several meetings with some of the Parliament to consider what remedy might be applied to prevent the same but such endeavours proving ineffectual it became evident that this Parliament through the corruption of some the jealousie of others and the non-attendance of many would never answer those ends which God his people and the whole Nation expected from them but that this Cause which God had so greatly blessed must needs languish under their hands and by degrees be lost and the lives liberties and comforts of his people be delivered into their enemies hands All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest people of the Nation as well as by the Army it seemed a duty incumbent upon us who had seen so much of the power and presence of God to consider of
pretector might be desired to assume the stile of King as the most known and most agreeable Government This motion was seconded by several of the protectors Courtiers and April 9. the parliament having desired a meeting with him came to the Banquetting-house at White-Hall where-the speaker Sir Tho. Widdrington commended the Title and Office of a King as being settled in this Nation with Christianity it self approved by our Ancestors and consistent with our Laws and the temper of the people and then presented him the model of their humble petition and advice to that purpose His Highness in answer hereto said Mr. Speaker this is a weighty matter and therefore I desire space to seek God the charge that you would lay upon me being too heavy for me to bear without his assistance for the ENglish are the best people in the World and require all tenderness and consideration whatsoever to be used for preserving their liberties and properties The next day a Committee was appointed to wait upon him and receive his scruples and to offer reasons for his satisfaction The objections the protector made were First That the Title of a King is a Name of Office and any Name that may imply the supream magistrate hath the same signification and therefore there is no necessity of a change To this they reply That the Name of a King is only equal to and comprehensive of the Office of the supream magistrate It is a rule That the King of England cannot alter the Laws by reason of their Name and that there is no obligation upon any other that the very Title was declared necessary in the 9th of Edw. 4. in the controversie betwixt him and Hen. 7. and every action done by the King in possession was valid and that the Name King had beginning with our Laws and that new Laws must be made for settling the Government in a protector The other objection was the danger and difficulty of altering the same Government to a Common-wealth and the refusal of some Judges and acting of others upon that ground That another parliament might change those resolutions The dislike of the good people and Army that providence had laid aside the Title of King after seven years War and many of the chief of those who were Instrumental therein were dissatisfied These scruples the Committee endeavoured to remove by alledging That providence had now brought about affairs so that it seemed necessary for His Highness to comply with it and as for discontented persons they have been always found in the best of Governments But because this was a matter of consequence I shall repeat the speech made by the Lord Whitlock one of the Committee sent to the protector with his answer thereto who after several others had offered their sentiments summed up the most material reasons as followeth Sir I have but very little to trouble your Highness with so much hath been already spoken and so well that it will be hard for me or any other to undertake to add to it only the duty of my Imployment and something due to your Highness occasions me to speak a few words to acknowledge with very humble thanks the Honour and Right which you have done this Committee by the clear and free discourses and conferences which they have had with your Highness and for your frequent expressions and testimonies of affection and respect to the parliament whose-sense in this I may presume to speak That never any persons met their supream magistrate with more love duty and honour than the parliament have met your Highness with in their addresses which argument of love deserves that esteem and force which I doubt not but your Highness will put upon it I am fearful to be too tedious at any time especially at so late an hour and therefore shall speak but short to some things which I remember not to have been mentioned Your Highness was pleased at the last meeting to say That the original Institution of the Title King was by common consent and that the same common consent might institute any other Title and make it as effectual as that of King This must be acknowledged but withal you may be pleased to observe That the Title of King is not only by an original common consent but that consent also approved and confirmed and the Law fitted thereunto and that fitted to the Laws by the experience and industry of many Ages and many hundreds of years together whereas any other Title will be only by present common consent without that experience and approbation For that experience which your Highness mentioned to have been of other Titles and the due administration of Justice under them this experience is far short of the other and for the course of Justice we have cause to thank that care which placed so good Judges and Officers over us Yet give me leave to say That in private causes between party and party and in publick matters in nominal causes it was not easie to find Justice to be done by some Jurors and many questions have risen upon the occasion of those new Titles Concerning that tender point of good mens satisfaction I think it requires a very great regard from us and I doubt not but those good people will be fully satisfied if they consider the covenants promises and precepts which in the scripture are annex'd to the Name of King and although some have alledged that they belong to any chief magistrate as well as to King yet no man did ever read the original word translated otherwise than King Neither do I find the Title of Protector once mentioned in the holy Text. If the present Authority be a lawful Authority which I hope none of us will deny surely those good men who are so well principled in Godliness will not forget that precept of submission to Authority and to be satisfied with that which lawful Authority shall ordain their Rights and Liberties are the same with ours and the parliament cannot advise any thing for the preservation of the peoples Rights but these good men are included which I hope will be no dissatisfaction to them In all the changes which we have seen there hath been a dissatisfaction to some yet still the blessing of God hath gone a long through all these changes with those who carried on his Interest and the cause being the same the same mercies have been continued And I doubt not but if the intended change and restitution be made as I hope it will I doubt not but the same God will continue his blessings to that Good Old Cause wherein we are ingaged and that good men will receive satisfaction by it Your Highness hath been told That the Title of King is upon the foundation of Law and that a new Title must have a constitution to make the Laws relate unto it and that unto the Laws I shall only add this That a Title by Relation is not so certain and sale as a Title
of the Parliament presented to him several things that were laid on the Table which were a Robe of purple Velvet a Bible a Scepter and a Sword on each of which the Speaker made a short Comment as he delivered them 1. The Robe of purple This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice when you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem Amplectentem to Cherish and to Punish 2. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well versed This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ Veiled and Revealed It is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff to the weak and poor it is of ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah it was of the like use in other Kingdoms however the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of Defence than Offence not to defend your self only but your people also If I might presume to six a Motto upon this Sword as the Valiant Lord Talbot did upon his it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Lord Protectors to protect my people After this the Speaker returned again to the Chair and administred the Oath to the Protector in these following words I do in the presence and by the Name of Almighty God promise and swear that to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and incourage the profession and professors of the same And that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance and preservation of the peace and safety and Just Rights and Priviledges of the people thereof and shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the people of these Nations according to Law The Oath administred Dr. Manton made a Prayer and then an Herald stood up aloft giving signal to a Trumpet to sound three times after which he did by Authority and Direction of Parliament publish and proclaim his Highness Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland requiring all persons to yield him due obedience This Proclamation ended the Trumpets again sounded and some Souldiers and other cryed out God save the Lord Protector Then was he again proclaimed by an Officer at Arms standing on the Stairs The Ceremonies ended the Protector attended by all the Officers of State went into the Palace-Yard in his Robes where entring his Coach he returned in State to White-Hall This year an Insurrection was designed by those called Fifth Monarchy men who had divers meetings in an House in Shore-Ditch several of them being discontented persons who had been formerly of the Army they had appointed to have Rendevouzed on Mile-end-Green and so have marched into other Countries to augment their party At length they were seized and some Arms and Ammunition taken with them and a Standard with a Lyon Couchant with this Motro Who shall rouse him up The Men taken were Venner a Wine-Cooper with their Scribe Grey Goaler Hopkins Ashton and others About them was sound a Declaration in print called The principle of the Remnant they were committed to prison but after released without prosecution Likewise M. Gen. Harrison Vice-Admiral Lawson Coll. Rich and Coll. Danvers were secured as Discontents About this time the victorious General Blake returning from the Coasts of Spain fell sick of the Scurvy and Dropsie and dyed just entring into Plymouth Sound where he passionately inquired for Land he was buried with an handsome Funeral from Greenwich and interr'd in Hen. 7. Chappel at Westminster The Protector to keep the Spaniards imployed every where makes a private agreement with France to fend a Brigade of his best Infantry which the French extreamly wanted to Flanders consisting of 6000 men and about May 4. 1657. they arrived in Picardy and joined with those Forces commanded by the Marshal Turein to which the protector was the more induced because the K. of Spain had invited K. Charles into his Dominions fince the breach with England and he was then at Bruges full of expectation of being restored by the power of that King and the Marquess of Ormond the Lord Wilmot the Lords Gerrard and Wentworth the Lord Twaf and General Middleton had their several Regiments Quartered about the Sea coasts in order to a Descent and the Dukes of York and Glocester had likewise commands in Flanders Sir John Reynolds one of Cromwels Knights formerly Commissary General of the Army in Ireland was General of the English Forces and coll Morgan Major Gen. Before their embarquement they Rendevouzed at Black-Heath where Mr. Hugh Peters gave them a Sermon for incouragement and were shipped with a months pay in hand and all new red coats About the middle of September the French and English Forces advance into the Spanish Territories and according to agreement sate down before Mardike a strong Fortress and put themselves between it and Dunkirk General Montague riding before the Splinter with a Fleet of War it was not long before a continued Battery made the besieged quit the wooden Fort which so incommoded them when taken by the English that they were obliged to yield to mercy Turenne not allowing them better terms because they had refused his first offers Mardike was presently put into the hands of the English according to agreement in consideration of our assistance and coll Morgan took possession thereof with several Regiments whom the Spaniards soon after endeavoured to remove by a sudden and fierce assault after the Armies were drawn into Winter Quarters since being only two miles from Dunkirk they were very fearful it might indanger that Town also Whereupon Don John of Austria resolved to hazard a Scalado and Attack by Night the Duke of York and the Marquess of Caravene managed the business and K. Charles and the D. of Glocester had conveyed themselves into Dunkirk to observe the success of it Oct. 22. About 4000 English Scots Irish and some Spaniards about Ten a Clock at Night began the storming of Mardike with Hand-Granadoes and all other Engines proper for an assault and were got into the Trenches and had mounted the Scaling Ladders but the English within being ready to receive them commanded by Reynolds Morgan and Lillingstone who were