The King and Hendersonâ— argue about Church matters Mr. Hudson conveyed the King from Oxford The City congratulatocy Petitions to the Parliament The Kings former letters to Ormond of April the thirteenth discovered The Kings Warrant to disband his forces Scots Armies letter to the Parliament The Kings letter to the Prince Hudson examined his confessions The Kings command to Ormond not to treat with the Irish Rebels The State of the Propositions of Peace Prosecution of the Propositions of Peace The Declaration against the Scots Papers Propositions sent to the King The Kings Message to the Parliament French Ambassadour Extraordinary hath Audience Parliaments Answer Propositions presented to the King The Kings Answer to the Propositions 〈…〉 The Scots offer to be gon with the rest of their demands The Kings Answer to the Scots Petition and Remonstrance The Propositions are urged to the King Debate how to dispose of the King Letters complaining of the Scots Army General Fairfax comes to London English Army mutiny for money The taking Covenant with exceptions Tender Consciences taken up Dispute about diposing the Kings person argued The Scots Answer One years account of the Scots Army Earl of Essex his Life and Death 〈…〉 Sir Io. Stowel Prisoner The Scots Papers concerning the dispose of the King Scots Argument Ready money for the Scots Army Sums of money disposed of to certain Members The Kings Message for a Treaty near London The King voted to Holmby The Parliament of Scotland's Queries Ministers of the Assembly answer The Parliament of Scotlands result concerning the King The Kings queries to thâ— Scots Army Scots Answer The Kings Reply The Scots Declaration concerning the King Commissioners to receive the Kings Person Scots Army depart Newcastle The King desires two of his Chaplains to be with him Serjeant Glanvile released upon Bail The King writes again for his Chaplains Eikon â—as page 106. Chap. 24 The Army Model City of London Petition Prince of Orange dies Of the Presbysâ—rial Government Tyranny and Power Practise of the Presbytery Of the persons authorized Their power how exercised Affairs of Ireland The Kings Letters to the Lord General of Ireland In vita Iulii Agricolae The Commons vote the Government of Ireland Dublin besieged by the Rebels Continuation of the Kings affairs under Montrose in Scotland David Lesly comes with Horse from the Scots Army in England Defeats Montroses Forces Surrender of Dunkirk to the Frencâ— 1647. A summary or entrance to this year 1647 Anno 1647. Prince Elector Palatine a Member of the Assembly of Divines The King contemplates his Captivity at Holmby Eikon Bas. cap. 23. Judg Ienkins refuses to be examined Army modelled Petition from the Army Rosvil in secret gives Letters to the King The Kings Answer to the former Propositions The Army discontent The City Petition burned Commissioners of the Parliament and of the Army treat The King taken into the Armies power The Army draws towards London The Armies Representation The Charge against eleven Members Their persons to be suspended Votes in Parliament concerning the 11. Members Answered by the Army Eikon Bas. cap. 26. The Kings desire to see his children retarded The Generals letter in the Kings behalf and herein the case of the Army in reference to the King The eleven Members have leave to navel Result of the difference between the Parliament and Army Both Speakers and some Members fly to the Army The General resents the outrage of the City Theâ— Cities Declaration against the Army The City in some disorder submit And treat with the Army The Army Bâ—igades come to Southwark The Kings Letter to the Gâ—neral for Protection The absent Members are setled again The Army marches in State to Westminster and in Triumph through the City The forced Acts of Parliament made null The late force of Parliament debated Armies Remonstrancâ— hereupon Six of the 11. Members surprized at Sea Sir Philip Stapleton died of the Plague Excise continued by ordinance of Parliament King at Hampton Court Scots Commissioners Sundry secret Petitions of mixed natures Divers Members condemned for Actors in the late Tumult Desires of the Army Propositions sent to the King and his Answer The Kings Message in Answer to the Propositions Debaâ—es hereupon Agitators of the Army present Agâ—tators send Letters to the General and Army The Generals Answer Scots Commissioners Letter to the Speaker The effects of the Kings Answer The Letter of Inteligence The King escapes from the Court Lieutenant Colonel Cromwels Letter to the Parliament The Kings Letter to Col. Whaley The Letter to the Lord Mountague The Letter to the Parliament The Generals Letter to the Speaker Death for any to conceal the King Col. Hamonds Letter to the Parliament Votes to secure the King The Kings Message to the Parliament from Carisbroke Castle Which Hamond refuses in his Letter to the Parliament The Kings Message to the Parliament for an Answer to his last from Carisbroke Castle Four Bills offered to the King with the Proposals The Scots Commissioners dissent Answer to the Bills and Propositions The Kings Servants dismissed Votes of no further adress to the King The Parliaments Declaration concerning those Votes An Answer to the Parliaments Declaration Mutinies about keeping Christmas The Kings Dâ—claration to his people after the Vote of no address The Kings Title altered in things Army Modelled Continuation of Military Actions under Montrose Ogleby escapes Gordon and Spotswood executed Gutlery Murrey Middleton comes from the Scots Army in England with Forces Montrose commanded by the King to lay dowâ— Arms. His Answer sent to the King Montrose disbandeth his Forces and takes leave of â— Scotlâ—nd The affairs of Ireland in chief Munster Treaty concluded Anno. 1648. Summary of the affairs of this year Vniversity of Oxford refuses to be visited by the Parliaments Ordinance Exceptions a the gainst Ordinance of Parliament Concerning the Covenant Negâ—tive Oath Earl of Pembroke Chancellor His Visitation of Oxford Col. Poycâ— revolts in Wales Major General Laughorn joyns with him and surprize Tenby Mutiny in London dispersed City consult and crave pardon Poyers power at Pembroke defeats the Parliaments forces Chepstow Castle taken Poyers party defeated and how Anno 1647. Laughorn escapes to Poyer Tenby surrendâ—ed Pembroke besieged Surrendred upon Aâ—ticles Anno 1648. The Prince writes in the Prisoners behalf Votes concerning the King and Government Duke of York escapes beyond Seas to Holland Petition of Essex for a Treaty with the King Surrey Petition very high gâ—d quarâ—el City petition to this purpose Prisoners of Tumult released Kent insurrection The Geneâ—als Letter in Answer to theirs They reply and fight Maidstone fight Votes against the eleven Members Lords and Aldermen are discharged Kentish men come to Black Heath and Disband The Generals Summons Rumour of impoisoning the King Insurrection of the Earl of Holland They write to the City for assistance Engage in â—ight Earl of Holland taken prisoner The Estates of Scotland disagree Scots protestation Committee of danger in Scotland
after or both together that cried up both him and all the Kings well-affected for Papists and Proselytes who were the most orthodox of any other The Proeme in brief from this Year to the end of this History The state of this Monarchy by ancient Laws and Customs flourished for many Ages heretofore happy at home and renowned abroad untill too much Felicity introduced Luxury and a Colluvies of Vices Pride Ambition Contempt of things divine and humane whence proceeded mutual Emulation and Envy and to trample under foot Religion Laws and Sovereignty and all The seeds of Commotion sowed by certain Members of the House of Commons hence grew mutual suspitions 'twixt the King and Parliament two of them he had dissolved sooner than many men could have wished nor was he forward to summon another without good Reasons inviting which occasioned Provocations of the Populacy against the King nevertheless the Kingdom continued most flourishing inabling him to wage unhappily Wars abroad and to impose Taxes at home The pregnancy of the Bishops renewing ancient Ceremonies aggrieved the scrupulous which Laud Arch-bishop of Canterbury indeavours to put upon the Scots Nation together with the English Liturgy and this had inflamed them to mutiny which to repress the King summons a Parliament to begin the third of November 1640. wherein he indulged more to them than all his Ancestours had done but by so much the more as hereafter follows he sharpens the appetite and boldness of the Innovatours who under other Pretexts had Designs to dethrone Sovereignty and wrest the Government to themselves which being discovered they stir up the Populacy by their Emissaries and under colour of Petitioning they outrage upon the other Members and some of the Nobility and then on the King himself which to prevent he accuses the Leaders of this Sedition and goes to the Parliament in person to demand them but they timely withdrew and this being concluded a high breach of Privilege he very often acknowledged that Errour which not satisfactory the people are stirred up to convert the Kingdom into a flame The accused Members take Sanctuary in the City of London and so return to the Parliament guarded by Forces for that purpose which continued in Arms enforcing the King for security to withdraw his Court into the Countrey sending Messages of Pacification to the Parliament and to have it expressed in writing what the Houses should desire which they drew up into Complaints of infringing their Liberties and demand the power of the Militia he stoutly denying it they wrest it from him and from hence followed the publick Misery He to maintain his Right They to snatch it from him The matter is skirmished a good while with Apologies wherein the King managing his part with a better Pen they fall to Hostility and an opportunity fitted for the Faction to make a War with several Pretexts for defence of the People against evil Counsellours about the King And these formal Delusions drew in the Presbyterian Preachers and such like of the people with large Contributions first to raise an Army to seize the Kings Navy to ravage the Goods of the Nobility and Gentry who favoured the Kings party The King retires to the North and raises an Army likewise And whilest these clouds overcast the Heaven of our happiness at home the Irish Rebellion began which I refer to the story of its proper place by it self But we go on Civil War increased between the King and Parliament raging with Skirmishes Battels and Sieges Fuel of a lasting evil by sâ—ow burning for these different Forces a long time with various success the Parliament apparantly failing at the first many of their Partizans deserting them they set on work their Engines to win to their side the staggering people as if the King mediated an absolute Tyranny over all and therefore some signal Victims they sacrifice to Iustice some for Treason others for Treachery in War and also to the fire and martyrdom all things superstitious or used for Ornaments onely and these made way for their invitation of the Scoâ—s who are called hither with an Army upon Articles capitulated and consented unto by a national League and Covenant to defend the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland and to reform England and Ireland also These Covenanters call themselves Presbyterians raging against such as dissented whence followed strange effects and fruits of that Covenant Fathers Sons Wives Husbands Servants and Masters dissenting to the death and so Pens and Tongues were set on work to bandy these Differences till the power of Imprisonment and Ruine proselyted many weak people to the Parliaments party But then the Scots rushâ— into England against which storm the King provides and tranfers the Parliament to Oxford whither repaired his own party and forthwith the House of Peers from Westminster with two hundred part of the Parliament of the House of Commons The King writes to the Scots with admonitions not to invade this Kingdom Pronounces the Members at Westminster guilty of High Treason The King sends the Marquesse Hamilton to retrive the Scots but being deluded by him he sends the Earl Montrosse and not prevailing the Scots defeat the Kings party in the North by which also the Parliament prevails and the King in the brink of destruction Delivers himself into the hands of the Scots army And now the bickering betwixt the Scots and a new facton of Innovators stiled Independents to whom also the former Presbyterians incline with much alteration of the Scots who receiving money are thereby hired to render up the King to the Parliament And so occasion both factions Presbyter and Independent to disagree with several sects and practises of mixed Aristocracy and Monarchy Oligarchy and Democracy with such like strange Engines and Acts of confounding things Some excite the War oppose the means of peace by cunning practises and so convert the war to their own profits which increased their unwearied diligence in Parliament by private Meetings And having obtained the Power they arrogate the title of Independents as not depending upon the arbitrement of any National Church or Civil State but order all things within their private congregation and so opening a large Door for all sects to enter in Besides accommodating themselves to the dispositions of all men pursue the obstinate patronize the obsequious and under pretext of their self-Denying Ordinance they eluded the Presbyterian beguiling them of their questuary and military offices whereinto they thrust themselves and Partizans Henceforth new Commanders General Essex turn'd out and General Fairfax in his place Colonels and Captains of another minde and the whole Army of a New Model with great diligence such new men are promoted Members of Parliament and by publick fame fall upon the Presbyter publishing their disgraces remove them from Governments of Cities disbanding them and dismissing the Scots Army But to return to the story The King in possession of the Parliament the Presbyterian as yet
rule as King I was alwaies bred to more modest and I think more pious Principles The consciousnesse to my Spiritual defects makes me more prize and desire those pious assistances which holy and good Ministers either Bishops or Presbyters may afford me especially in these extremities to which God hath been pleased to suffer some of my Subjects to reduce me so as to leave them nothing more but my Life to take from me and to leave me nothing to desire which I thought might lesse provoke their jealousie and offence to deny me then this of having some means afforded me for my Souls comfort and support To which end I made choice of men as no way that I know scandalous so every way eminent for their Learning and Piety no lesse then for their Loialty Nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against them but only this That they may seem too able and too wel-affected toward me and my service But this is not the first service as I count it the best in which they have forced me to serve my self though I must confesse I bear with more grief and impatience the want of my Chaplains then of any other my servants and next if not beyond in some things to the being sequestred from my Wife and Children since from these indeed more of humane and temporary affections but from those more of heavenly and eternal improvements may be expected My comfort is that in the enforced not neglected want of ordinarie means God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his gifts and graces If his Spirit will teach me and help my infirmities in praier reading and meditation as I hope he will I shall need no other either Orator or Instructer The general inquirie was whether now we shall have Peace or a new War Most men imagine the old quarrel at an end but another between Presbyters and Independent We will have Uniformity saies the one and all to submit to the Covenant Liberty of Conscience saies the other and that in his sense is agreeable to the Covenant and Gods Word to back is But as the Quarrel grew high Pamphlets were published for either party Another to settle the brains of either of them or any besides offers the Reconciliation in his advice Intituled The Temple measured wherein are discussed the Questions about Constitution and Government of the visible Church the solution of such questions which he propounds and numbers them all the Objections against the Model of Ecclesiastical policie and particularly there is debated the unity of the Church the Members thereof the form of the Church and Church Government the power of the Church the Officers of the Church and their power The powers of Magistrates about the Church some Church Acts as admission of Members c. Tedious enough and all this set out for the final satisfaction of all differences by that Orthodox Divine the Lecturer at Newbery in New-England Mr. Noyes What a pretty pass we were come unto to fetch our Church-government from the West Indies And although Mr. Symson was silenced by Order of Parliament for dissenting from the Assembly of Divines it was now held fit to Null that Order and Symson admitted and why for his zeal it is said to the glory of God and edification of his Church and so upon this general ground he and others of any strain became admitted to the Pulpit We grow near an end of this year now the 19. of Mar. he Parliament Voting the Modeling of the Army into less Many Garisons dismantled some Forces Disbanded rather to be rid of the men than to spare the expences Much muttering there had been by the Officers and Souldiers very high in the esteem of their own power which increased as the Parliament lessened And therefore the Forces at their own dispose draw near together towards the City of London and Westminster which put the Citizens to advise at their Guid-hall and the whole number in Common Councel conclude of a Petition to either House but both alike To settle the Affairs of this long distracted Kingdom That his Majesty being come nearer in person to his Parliament they hope he will come home to their desires in the Propositions National and solemn League and Covenant That Malignants may be removed out of the City And here say they we should have ceased but that the Army which they hoped ere this should have been disbanded is now drawn so suddenly and quartered neer the Parliament and this City Besides that in this same juncture of time a most dangerous and seditious Petition is set on foot to be presented to this Parliament the Copy thereof is annexed which doth exact this addition from the Petitioners And pray That the Parliament would give command that the Army be forthwith removed and after with all speed to be disbanded the annexed Petition suppressed and that the City may make annual Election of the Members of their own Militia Soft and fair the Citizens ride post 'T is true the Petitioners had thanks of both Houses but they reckon without their Host the Army which we shall hear of to another tune The old Prince Henry of Orange died the 14. of March of a Fever sixty three years of age the most approved Commander in the Christian world and answerable in wisdom for State Government of an infirme body with the disease of the Gout the pain whereof increasing he fell into a Fever His only Son succeeded General and Admiral of the Forces of the united Provinces A faithful friend he had been in the assistance of the King contracted in the Mariage of his Son with the Kings Eldest Daughter and great sums of money and Ammunition had been sent to him in these Civil Wars of England and when he sees the King undone he dies deplored of all leaving his Son the hopefull Issue of such a Father And so we end this year 1646. The Scots Army is gone and left us the Bone to gnaw their Ecclesiastical Presbytery to which Reformation we were forward in forming of our selves This Discipline of Government in the Scotish Kirk had been long time a framing in Scotland according to the Tenets of the Church of Geneva and devised and setled there as afterwards in Scotland by treasonable practices against the power of Magistracie and Soveraignty The Prerogative of a King and the liberty of Subjects are consistent and dependent the one from the other Certainly the Kings power is primarily derived from God for the Subject He to establish good Lawes for Church and State they to obey them And it is true too that the chief of the Church Bishop or Presbyter have a power which the Supream Power hath not in Spiritualibus resting only in their persons But the King is in the External Affairs of the Church to call Synods Assemble Divines for ordering of the Church by Canons and Edicts and he hath a power also to punish the Ministers offending
be desired to repair to the Army Which he did some weeks after viz. the twentieth of May. For the Army was in Mutiny against the Members and were not appeased until the Parliaments Declaration against the Army was rased out of the Journal Books of both the Houses seizing their Monies and Carriages as they passed for several Garisons and shared it as they thought good And the Reformado's and Souldiers about London flocked to the Parliament and for two hours blocked up the door of the Commons not suffering any to passe out or come in till their desires were granted And being in this fearful case the Commons vote concerning their self-denying Ordinance which upon such desperate distempers they would often debate and vote but never observe as now That such Members as have any Place Office or Sequestration granted to them be void and the benefit which they have received since the Ordinance be payed to the Common-wealth That the Members Lands be liable to their debts And freedom of Petitions against any Member That no Member receive any reparations for Damages by these times till the publick debts of the Kingdom be satisfied For indeed so many Members pretended damages that the poor Cavaliers Estates for private satisfactions were not able to compound for their Delinquency And the Commons of London were drawn to side with the Parliament and the multitude made a Petition in the name of many thousands well affected in the City of London which was canvased in the House of Commons and laid aside untill the Petitioners came flocking for Answer who were advised to depute a small Number to attend and they waited so long that some one of them was snap't for prating at the Parliament door which he justified at their Bar and was only bidden to return home and be Mannerly but the Petition was burnt several Copies at Wâ—stminster others at the Exchange London 22. May. But the Army is a powerfull party that must be otherwise handled and therefore the Parliament order Commissioners of their own to Treat with the Armies Commissioners The Parliaments Men were the Earl of Nottingham Lord Wharton Field Marshal Skippon Sir Henry Vane Jun. Sir Thomas Widrington Colonel White Mr. Scawen and Mr. Pory For the Army Commissioners General Ireton Sir Hardresse Waller Colonel Rich Colonel Lambert and Major Desbrough And their first mâ—eting was at Wickham the second of Iuly Little being as yet effected in relation to former desires of the Army they told them that they had several things of weight to be added which may very much conduce to the peace and safety of the Kingdom the preventing of a new War and to the sendâ—ng of some relief to Ireland which they will offer at the next meeting The King at Holmby with his Guardians and the Parliament and Army in distemper the Army thought it their Advantage to seize the King into their custody and accordingly the third of Iune a party of Horse under command of Coronet Ioice and sent from the Committee of Troopers in the Army came to Holmby where after they had secured their Guards demanded the King of the Commissioners who in a maze asked for his Warrant whose Answer That it was the sense of the Armie The same he said to the King promising security of his Majesties person and so the next Day after Dinner the Troop carried him and the Commissioners who would not leave him towards the Army of which the King sends word to the Parliament by the Earl of Dunferling That the King was unwillingly taken away by a part of the Armie five hundred Troopers that he desired the Parliament to maintain the Laws of the Land and that though he might sign to many things being in this condition yet not to be believed till further notice to the Houses This was strange and uncouth to the Parliament and therefore they order to sit again to morrow though Sunday and Mr. Marshal is voted to pray for them for the Army was in Rendezvouz near Kenford six Miles from Bury and the King in his way to them and so to Newmarket all the people in the High-way strewing the Streets with Flowers and Boughs and crying out Hosanna and therefore the Army conveyed him not through Cambridg but by Trumpington to Newmarket But the Generals Letter to the Parliament says That the Souldiers at Holmby had brought the King thence by consent and lay at Colonel Mountagues the next Night and would be at Newmarket the next Day the ground whereof was from an apprehension of some strength gathered to force the King from them thereupon I sent says he Colonel Whaley with his Regiment to meet the King and the Commissioners and to return them back again but they refused and were come to Sir John Cuts near Cambridg The General professing that this Remove was without his consent or his Officers about him or the Bodie of the Armie or without their desire or privitie and whose person he will secure from danger And assures the Parliament that the whole Armie endeavours Peace and are clear from opposing Presbyterie or to affect Independencie or to hold a licentious Freedom in Religion or Interest in any particular partie but to leave all to the Parliament Then on the sudden comes three Colonels Reformadoes and Actours at London with News to the Parliament That a Major of the Armie gave them assurance that the Armie was marching and would be with the Parliament by Noon next Day advising the Colonels to return with him to the Armie where they should be included within the Capitulation for their Arrears This strook the Parliament into a panick fear the Committee of Safety are sent unto to sit all Night The Sheriffs and Common Council of London present a Letter to them from the Army to that purpose of coming to the City A Massage presently is voted to the General to desire him not to come within five and twenty Miles of London and order ten thousand pounds more for the Army the Head Quarters being at Roiston Iune 11. And as the City moved for the Parliament so Petitions came from the Counties praying the Army not to disband ere all things were setled and so they come to St. Albans Then the Trained Bands are drawn out upon pain of Death and on the sudden all sent home again onely the Passes are strongly guarded about the Line of Communication then the Shops are shut up such clattering of Doors and Windows such Fears and Jealousies indeed as men would imagine the City were mad who send a Committee of their Common Council to the General And he returns Answer That the Armie was come thither ere the Parliaments Desires came to his hands and prays the House to send a Moneths Pay speedily to the Army which was done very dutifully And yet they vote That the General be required to deliver the person of the King to the former Commissioners to come to Richmond to the intent that
supposed to be framed before their dissolution Wee have been Ingenuous and clear in the particulars of Buckingham and Bristow in which the Historian may be susspected partially affected with his distinctions though he seems in his Paragraph of reference to his former Story to vindicate the King and Buckingham as if he meant to forestall the Readers judgement with his own opinion such presumption not consisting with the duty of a just Relator And he will seem to intimate that by this sudden Rupture of the Parliament the Duke scap'd a scouring And because Bristow may be thought to have hard measure now imprisoned at the Kings mercy where he lodged under the Notion of a high Delinquent to the King and State for his former mis-actions in Spain but time wrought upon his discretion and by his private means and submission he was afterwards reprived to his Countrey House Sherbourn and after taken into favour and became a faithfull servant to his Master But to cleer this story the passages are heretofore sufficiently laid open in the History of King Iames their proper place where both in Germany and Spain He and others acted so much in the Match to which I refer the Reader We shall onely conclude That he was no sooner returned home but brought under strict Examination of twenty Interrogatories full and home to which he gave Answer in writing to King Iames long and tedious in twenty sheets of paper And by that Narration the several Treaties of the whole Match from first to last are amply opened and may hereafter see light by it self By which it is apparent that when able and prudent men come to act their own parts they are then mostly not of the clearest sight and commonly commit such errours as are both discernable and avoidable even by men of mean abilities And it was thereupon considered whether the tendring him any further Charge unto which he might be able to frame a probable satisfactory Answer would not then rather serve to declare his Innocency than to prepare his Condemnation and so instead of pressure upon him reflect back with disadvantage upon the proceedings against him which were intended by Star Chamber Whether it were not better to desist from further questioning him without blemish to the Princes honour or prejudice to the service And though Bristol in sundry places of that his intended Answer seems diversly to violate the Rule of the provident Mariner who in foul weather and storm to prevent Shipwrack rather puts down than sets up his sailes Yet it was considered either to have him quick and roundly put to it or to proceed slowly and moderately permitting him for a time to remain where he was reprieved to his own house laid aside and in the way to be forgotten a state of being no doubt by his complexion and so apprehended by himself equivalent to the severest and sharpest censure that could be possibly afflicted on him And in this condition he found means from the Parliament to set upon the Duke to prevent the Kings design who first by his Attorney accused Bristol of Treason And thus much of their quarrel which ended with this Parliament And happy it was for Bristol to end so for though it is supposed That he had the better head-piece and the other only the better back Certainly the Dukes head was too hard for him and his brains more quick and nimble Besides other advantages for Bristow's own Creatures stole his papers into copies from time to time which were communicated to the Duke who had he lived would have undone the Earl Lewis of France some years since having a designe against Italy and the Valtoline and upon that score obtained of King Iames the loan of a gallant ship of his Navy-Royal the Vantguard and the Merchants consent for six of their own ships to joyn with that But in the Interim before they was fitted for that purpose K. Iames dies He dead and Lewis finding the cause of the Hugonots too strong and violent to be mitigated by Treaty and the Card. Duke Richlieu intent to bring them under by success of former designs plotted his main force against those of Rochel a strong maritain city in France forâ— countenanced into a firm revolt by the practice of Count Subize upon Sundry Overtures heretofore and now waxed formidable and fit for subjection But this violent resolution had been palliated by Embassies of King Iames and very lately by two more of King Charles the Earl of Holland and Sir Dudley Carlton his Assistant in Commission who pacified that high difference upon which the power and design of the Hugonotes depended And gave a real resolution for Lewes to advance greater forces against the Valtoline then very hotly pursued by advantage of Confederation with England in enmity against Spain also and gave the suddain occasion to hasten those former ships lent to the French in that design and Sir Iohn Pennington a Gallant Sea Commander intrusted Admiral over them Subiâ—e an Out-lodger in Revolt had gotten together a scattered number of small Ships which unawares surprized the Isle of 〈◊〉 and some Ships in that Harbour even at the instant when the French Army was ready to March into the Valtoline But the Duke of Vendosm not far off with Forces of the French King got thither some Troops and prevented of the seisure of the Fort Lewes neer Rochel And now not trusting to any Overtures evermore counterfeit from that City for the time only to palliate their Rebellion All possible speed was resolved upon to bring them under by power and to turn the present Design for Italy upon Rochel And first Lewes finds means to him shipping of the Dutch pretended for the Valtoline demanding of Pennington now in the French Port The delivery of those Ships agreeable to former promise which he utterly refused But was ready to receive a Commander in Chief and a competent number of Land Men not exceeding the English and so to be imployed in the French Kings service Nor could he be courted from this into any other conditions of yielding up his Masters Ships though he did at last which was urged against the Duke of Buckingham as a great crime by his permission But the passages we discover from Penningtons own Letters to the Duke from Stokes-Bay and afterwards at Diep in answer to Letters sent Express to him by his own Secretary Nicholas peremptorily to deliver these six Ships to the hands of the French Kings Command and according to his Masters pleasure signified by Secretary Conway and to take security of the French for their valuation dated 21. Iuly 1625. And at that time a Letter from the French King to receive his Cousin the Duke of Momorancy and his Souldiers aboard to join with his great Fleet against his rebellious subjects and to have possession that night Pennington offered to accept of all particulars but not to quit his Ships and dispossess himself of their Command T is true
scarce one of theirs from the lodging in our durance but escaped Our Reformado's eager to fight used this Strategem to draw them out The low ditch neer the Tower where the Besieged came often for water was of more strength then they could well maintain and to impoyson that water they came forth with three Companies Sanigur a French Baron leading the way and meeting fought gallantly on both sides and mutually withdrew amonâ—st whom Shugburn an English Captain having his arm broken died four dayes after a more cruell terrible fight had seldom been seen done upon Emulation of either gallantry Then another French fleet well appointed with provisions made stay a while at the mouth of the River Tramba but the English ships being prepared to oppose them they kept aloof anâ— for that time this succour made unserviceable Lingeadi returned out of Spain assures the French that fourty great ships and eighteen severall vessels were ready to set to Sea for their aid which made Buckingham say That since he had Authority to war against Spanish and French and whether by an honourable Sea-sight against both or by land or either he wisht the decision of the Warre and glory And yet the distance of ships were so apart that we could hardly joyn our Sea forces together as Is nard confesses pa. 99. The siege is now become more hot being a Moneth old a fight happened neer the fortresse Antioch with some slaughter but not notable The news of the besieged are sent to their husbands either into the Castle or to the Main a milde and gentle way of Buckingham though Isnard is angry and counts it upon the score of the English as Tyrannous because by chance one of them was killed with their own shot which had been but Tyranny if we had done so by them all A Letter of Toras to Bellimount was intercepted which saies That the Mills could not long stand all their Corn spent inforced the souldier to feed on their store of Bisket not lasting above tenne dayes which is confest to put them in great fear Whereupon Command is sent to the Duke of Angolesme Marrillac Bellimount to help Toras and Belcebate a Captain is commanded forthwith to conduct Ten well appointed ships elected out of their whole number to the relief of the besieged and so to make a cleer passage for those sent before which were an hundred and nine ships All the care of France was not to put us to flight but to assist the Castle which they attempted by an hundred wayes but all against the Art Military and therefore they bid adieu to all hopes since no Age ever knew a lesse Army of English nor a greater of French They consisting of thirty thousand sufficient to beat the other and closely to besiege Rochell as by their very large Trench and strong Forts almost inclosing that City The Garrison secured with these the rest might privily have been sent unto the Isle of Rea exceeding the English by Ten parts The Emulation also of a famous victory not long since gotten and hope of booty might invite forth supplies of English probable enough for there was a rumour in England thereupon to sent Colonies thither to plant Before therefore this should happen It was necessary that from the Continent and Isles of Oleron and some eruption from the Castle at the same time must prevent Nor could our Naval forces be any obstacle for the large compasse of the Island did enforce our ships far assunder and no winde assisting us besides the night and that space denied us sufficient time to perfect that work and advised the Enemy to recollect their Courages their repaired Army could not have been broken by any supplies out of England if the Reformed had time to take Arms and to joyn in league with the English This was gallantly considered and souldier-like levelled but not fit to be told abroad for such a fear possest the French that they attempted nothing till our departure and the hoysing our great Artillery into our ships Those delayes thus joyning together They kept themselves unexampled in any age three Moneth within their skonces let their own Heroes which envy not our glory speak the truth About this time came the Duke of Orleans the Kings onely brother to lead over thirty thousand from the Isles Oleron yet nothing done for help of the Castle But why nothing done Ask the Honour of France Yet the King writes to Toras with wonderfull comfort to incourage the besieged Mean time the Bishop of Nants brother to Toras finding Bellimount too slow to send succours induced Desplane with money in hand to relieve Toras He writ also to Bellicabe a famous Sea-man with promise of a mighty reward to convoy victualls into the Island And the same day the Cardinal sent a bond obligatory and signed with his Sâ—al to pay ten thousand pounds sterling to any that would passe over to release the besieged Nor were these the first for sundry letters had pasâ—ed before with Prayers and Menaces which it seems were not of value till gain should hire them yet nought prevailed Harvest now at hand frequent Rains steeped the earth the souldiers on all sides drowned in dirt which yet the besieged prevented in some sort with coverings of Planks and Pavilions but the English suffered all hazzards Open air mirey dirt bred into sicknesses of severall diseases Catarrhes short breath feavors ending in incurable distempers of bloody-flux Our number diminished not to be recruited from England and Ireland England so abounding with all Necessaries either by nature or by purchace that our fresh water souldiers all these were no other warring in another soyl do ill brook the Inconveniences of a stranger Nation the true cause of our Army mouldring away not by their sallies which were often for we fought them within our Munition Nor did it please their King that those within the Castle more than a well compacted Number should be too much wasted with hunger being feazable to overcharge us on a sudden we not exceeding the half of those besieged besides their advantage of having Meden-Castle at our backs and the very Islands forced to our sides unfaithful entrapping us on all sides which takes off the mighty glory that the French assume to themselves to be the Kill-Cows of all others Otherwise they might be ashamed after but five weeks hard siege to rely upon Treachery to hire a Cuthberte to stab Buckingham which though the French fail to mention yet the truth is justified by the fellows confession under his hand shewing the Duke the very knife which clears the story to be true We lodge it not upon Toras though the villain confest that too He scaped that fate then which followed and fell upon him after by one of our own Three Souldiers perswaded by Toras to swim over that Narrow Sea to the Main with Intelligence from him One of them failing fell into our hands A second prevented in the
prevailing lessen the Army the souldiers mutiny by under hand applaud of their Commanders who being â—nabled openly appear Cashiering such as were too much Parliamentary an hundred Officers and more assisted by two in every Regiment selected Agitators forâ— the rest who intend a Democracy These seize the King indulge him with specious promises and frame propositions as to provide for the King and themselves and the Commonwealth which mollifies them into the Kings favour Taking boldnesse to declare envies on the Parliament accusing divers Members of High Treason endeavouring to dissolve them in seeming shew to Act for the Kings Interests The Army rises against the Parliament and both the Speakers fly to the Camp the City and Parliament prepare for defence but flagging their tail they deliver up themselves to the discretion of the Army and the Speakers are restored some members the Major and his Aldermen are imprisoned for High Treason but are dismissed impune A new Lieutenant set over the Tower of London a new model of the Militia and admiralty Thanks and payment voted for the Army but whether the Acts of the Camp or Ordinances of Parliament should be most prevalent holds a long debate which puts some Members to flight And most men at a gaze whether to elect Oligarchy or Democracy alike against the Presbytery Aristocracy and also against Monarchy and the King However Proposals are sent to the King in pretence of peace but in earnest to insnare him which he answers cautelously as referring rather to the Armies advice from whom He was forthwith aliened by impressions of fear from the Agitators in the Army and so cheated into a flight from Hampton Court to the Isle of Wighâ— designed so by his greatest enemies from whence He sends Concessions to the Parliament upon which he desires to treat but is brought to such extream overtures as that the Scots Commissioners at London absolutely oppose and so he was straitned struggling to satisfie discordant Interests and discovering his Inclination He was suddenly secured into close Imprisonment the Agitators are soon reduced into Order and the whole faction of Oligarchy railagainst the King in Parliament demand and obtain votes against any further commerce with him surreptitiously obtained of the Commons House but by menaces from the Lords not without Declarations of calumny upon the King published and preached to some Parishes and cunningly extort a few gratulatory Petitions of the people but coldly of all which notwithstanding the King is cleared by severall Apologies which wrought so as that the people began universally to resent the indignities done to the King and petition to settle again on foot the treaty with him over reasoning the mindes of the most Parliament Members And first Petitions from the County of Essex then from Surry and at last for the most of the other without prevailing some begin to Arm and in their Ensignes to be read in Capital the Liberty of King and People The Navy revolts to the Prince now beyond the Seas The Scots resent the Kings durance and make an Invasion by the Marquess Hamilton who is taken prisoner and their Army defeated and pursued home where in the midst of Domestick forâ—es raised against them by Argyle and the English Army also their foraign enemy that poor Nation was fain to submit to mercy and to the future effects of this conjoyned power Some other Insurrections also here at home not lasting out their besiegers were reduced which successes falling out thus on land the former Ships revolt from the Prince yet the Parliament now at liberty by the Armies Imployment abroad repeal the former votes of Non-address to the King and resolve to treat again with him at Newport in the Isle of Wight and necessary servants sent to him and some assistance of Councel but such was his admired wisdom and eloquence He alone discussed all Arguments And in the midst of the Treaâ—y the Parliament demand Ormonds Commission the Kings Deputy in Ireland to be recalled carping at the Kings answers though he grants many things unexpected and demands somewhat for himself easie enough for honest men to condescend unto which introduced great hopes of an happy issue but is choaked by the wilful faction pretending to joyne in their Desires until they had incited the Common Souldier against the peace and to demand the King to punishment And thereupon rendevouz near Londonâ— and Remonstrate against the peace and approved in a Council of war and exhibited to the Parliament but the Commons house incline to the Kings concessions which put the Army to a suddain seizure of the Kings person and bring him prisoner to London and enquarter round about the Parliament who yet debate concerning the King and vote that the Kings Concessions are a good foundation for setling a peace some principal Commanders herewith displeased beleaguer the houses of Parliament and Imprison certain Members and others are driven a way and the rest of the members now in power wrest Authority to themselves dependant on the Souldiery and determine publique affairs of punishing the King confirming the votes of no more address to him and anul such other and promise more reflecting on his life And erect a Tribunal of Subjects one hundred and fifty Iudges for that black deed to which the house of Lords dissent and reject the Commons vote which notwithstanding is confirmed and prosecuted for the Kings Tryal by a President oâ— an High Court of Iustice The Presbyterian Ministers declaim and the Scots protest against it The States of Holland Interpose The Lords offer themselves Pledges for the King The people murmur but in vain Mr. Peters in his pulpit animates the Iudges witnesses and Articles are publiquely cited against the King who is convented and accused he demurs to the authority of the Court which the president affirms to be denied from the people that chuse the King of England which the King denies He is convented the second and third time and reasoneth against the authority of the Court But he is prevented by the President with rebukes He is convented the fourth time and refuseth to submit to the Authority of the Court and craves leave to speak with the Members of both houses The President in a premeditated speech prepares to sentence of death which he commands to be read the Iudges rise up in approbation thereof Souldiers take him away and mock at him Inhumanely His behaviour magnanimous and prudent and prepares himself to undergo this bitter cup. The Iudges consult of the manner and time of his suffering whereto he is led forth His speech upon the Scaffoâ—d defends his Innocencie but submits to the justice of God pardons his Enemies pities the Kingdome points out the Errors of the factious shews them the way of peace professes to die a Protestant and is beheaded in monstrous manner they seize his writings Only his excellent Book is preserved to the Light The sadness of the people And ending in his Character He dead the
their practices provoking Aspersions upon the most gracious and best of Kings that he levels at none in particular let the faults lead to the men not to be exposed to irregular prejudices nor with-held from orderly justice Bodies natural to be effectually purged of Humours must be made moveable and fluid so of the Politick to be cleared of their Maladies by loosening and unsettling the evil Ministers and to be drawn into a Remonstrance and presented to a gracious Masters clear and excellent judgment And so he sat down This was held too courtly and which was suddenly laid hold on A forward young man well made up with Learning and by his Fathers fate kept aloof from the Beam of Sovereignty a little Sun-shine would enliven him some Marks of Majesty fell from the Queen which taken up tainted him presently after and in him his Father also now made Friends whom the King took also into favour The King to keep the City from Tumult and to prevent the Insolencies of busie and loose People had established a Constable of the Tower of London Supreme to the Lieutenant under command of the Lord Cottington enabling it with a Garrison also of four hundred Souldiers and with some shew of Fortification thereof at this very time when some publick notice was given to the Parliament of an extraordinary confluence of Popish Recusants in and about the City of London and Westminster and therefore to take away all Jealousies of conniving with them or other Fears of over-mastering the City he was pleased to send a Message to the Parliament that by Proclamation the Papists shall be instantly removed to their places of abode with prosecution also against their persons disarming their power according to Law And as for the Tower he erected the Government by a Constable and Garrison in favour to the peace of the City but is now resolved to leave the Tower to the command of a Lieutenant onely as hath been heretofore And in the afternoon came out an Order of the Commons House that all Projectours and unlawfull Monopolists that have or had lately any benefit from Monopolies or countenanced or issued out any Warrants in favour of them against Non-conformists to Proclamations or Commands concerning their Interests shall be disabled to sit in the House and Master Speaker is to issue out new Warrants for electing other Members in their places Whereupon it was notoriously observed how vacant their Rooms were upon the self-accusation of their own guilt who but lately framed speeches against others abroad who lodged under the Parliament lash for such Crimes The next day complaint was made to the Lords that their Privileges were infringed by the search of the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Brooks their Pockets Cabinets and Studies upon the Dissolution of the last Parliament And Sir William Beecher one of the Clerks of the Council being the Instrument alleged for his Excuse the command of the two Secretaries of State which could not protect him from Commitment to the Fleet Prison The Commons House intent upon publick justice sent Master Pym to the Lords with a Message the Impeachment of Thomas Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as guilty of High Treason Whereupon he was sequestred from the House and committed to the Usher of the Black Rod and Sir George Ratcliff his Confederate and supposed Criminary with him was two days after sent for out of Ireland by a Serjeant at Arms. And here we cannot pass by many wise mens opinions whether the Earl assumed his wonted judgment and courage when he came from the Army to this Parliament His wisdom could not chuse but know that the Scots and Scotizing English had infallibly resolved his destruction his innocency to be no Armour of Proof against Malice and Power why did he not rather keep under safeguard of the English Army at his command from which he had got much affection or have passed over into Ireland the Army there also at his devotion or in plain terms have taken Sanctuary into some foreign parts till fair weather might have invited him home whether it had been a betraying of his Innocency to decline the Trial where Partiality held the Beam of the Scales and self-ends backedâ— with power and made blinde with prejudice were like to over-ballance Justice that if Sentence should have passed against him for Non-appearance yet had he kept his Freedom till better times and have done his Master better service abroad than in Council at White-hall But on the other side it was said that all these Considerations had been pondered before he came from the Army even by the way where met him a Iunto of his confident Friends and then it was averred that he had gained in the North certain evidence that the Scots Army came in by Invitation a Confederacy between the Heads of the Covenanters and some of the English Parliament-members of both Houses his most deadly Enemies to subvert the Government of the Church and to innovate in that of the Civil State that therefore he himself had digested his Intelligence into the Form of an Impeachment which he intended to have offered to the House of Peers so soon as he had taken his place there There were his Reasons which he might have from Example of the Earl of Bristow who yet came too late to begin upon his grand Enemy the Duke of Buckingham in the like charge but then Bristow was ready at the instant to recriminate upon the Duke by an Impeachment of High Treason against him which took off the Dukes edg ever after But here Strafford was not so nimble as Master Pym who got the start and it seems the Earl failed of his former purpose which had he seconded by an after timely stroke and impeached them and prosecuted it in a reasonable pace and method as was afforded him it might have happened not so fatal to his utter ruine And the Commons speeding thus far it encouraged them no doubt to fall upon others in the same track with the Arch-bishop few Moneths after In this time the two Armies were heavy charge to the Counties where they quartered therefore the twelfth of November the Parliament borrow of the City of London an hundred thousand pounds upon interest and ingagement of the credit of some of the Members untill the Moneys might be levied upon Subsidies and so to repay them Munday the sixteenth of November upon the humble suit of the House of Lords to his Majesty the Lord Bishop of Lincoln was released out of the Tower and the next Day being assigned for Humiliation he was brought into the Abbey Church by four Bishops and did his Office as Dean of Westminster before the Lords Never wise-man so gulled into the false shew of true affection from Lords and Commons and so continued till their turns were served upon the Earl of Strafford and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury he became the spectacle of
with Mr. Hotham who was in ill case to continue but must be forced to retreat to Hull The Forces of the West in Cornwall for the King began to form into a Body near Pendennis Castle the Governour thereof Sir Nicholas Slaning a gallant Gentleman and assisted 〈…〉 others Sir Bevil Greenvile who possessed themselveâ—â—â—aunston the County Town of Cornwall but not long after Sir Ralph Hopton appears in chief command over the Cavaliers The Parliament had Plymouth the neighbour Port Town of Devonshire bordering Cornwall in the South and Sir George Chudly a Stickler for them for a time onely The Kings party increased in Mid-Wales and descending Southwards as he marches the Welch come to him from all parts of Hereford Monmouth mightily increasing by the power and industry of the Earl of Worcester their Brigades reaching to Oxford and round about where Prince Rupert commanded who took Powder and Match marching through Staffordshire to reprieve Manchester The Parliament party lay about Warwick Coventrie Worcester Buckingham and their Brigades round about even to Glocester Some Arms for the King are landed at Newcastle and ten thousand pounds in Money to raise Dragoons in Northumberland and to fall into Yorkshire which appeared for the King The King on his march from Wales descended Southward and now being near Stafford the Parliament order That the Citie of London be strongly guarded and Posts Bars and Chains be erected and set up in places and by-lanes of the Parishes of St. Margarets Westminster St. Martins in the Fields St. Clements Savoy Holborn St. Giles Covent-garden St. Johns Street â—lerkenwell Criplegate Shoreditch White-chapel Islington Mile-end Southwark Lambeth or any other places necessary at the charge of the Parish by equal Assesment Octob. 22. And the Parliament declare a solemn Protestation to all the world In the presence of Almightie God for the satisfaction of their Consciences and the Discharge of that great Trust which lies upon them That no private passion or respect no evil intention to his Majesties person no Design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authoritie engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms against the Authours of this War whereof the Kingdom is now inflamed And after they have by clearing themselves lodged the occasion upon the Contrivers Papists about the King for extirpation of the Protestant Religion wherein principally this Kingdom and Scotland are concerned as making the greatest Body of Reformation in Christendom they conclude For all which Reasons they are resolved to enter into a solemn Oath and Covenant with God to give up themselves lives and fortunes into his hands and defend this his cause with the hazzard of our lives against the Kings Armie according to a form agreed upon and to be subscribed and to associate and unite with all the well-affected of the Citie of London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions 〈…〉 expect their dear Brethren of Scotland that they will help and 〈◊〉 defence of this Cause which if the Popish partie prevail must needs involve Scotland in the like alteration of Religion and engage them also in a War against this Kingdom to defend their own Religion And this they do again they say protest before the everliving God to be the chief end of all their counsels and resolutions without any intention to injure his Majestie either in his person or just power Octob. 22. And the Battail of Edg-hill the next morning being Sunday After the Kings party had beat the Enemy at Worcester Fight the three and twentieth of September he joyns all his Brigades near hand and marches to meet General Essex hovering thereabout to watch the Kings Designs who lodged on Saturday night October 22. at Sir William Chancies six miles near Keinton and Essex at Keinton And early the next morning being Sunday the three and twentieth drew up into a Body near Keinton and ascending the top of Edg-hill with his Prospective Glass took view of Essex his Army in the Vale of the Red Horse about a Mile distant but before the King could draw into order he was saluted with three Pieces of Cannon from the other side with three Shouts of their Souldiers And being asked by his Officers what his Majesty meant to do To give him Battel said the King it is the first time I ever saw the Rebells in a Bodie God and good mens prayers to him assist the justice of my cause And instantly ordered the Fight by the return of two Shot of Cannon in answer to theirs about two of the clock after noon the Word was God and King Charls his greatest Body of Horse was on the right Wing and on the left some Horse and Dragoons The Parliaments Army was put into this order the Foot a good space behinde the Horse when the Charge began three Regiments of Horse on the right Wing the Generals Regiment commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Balfore's Regiment who was Lieutenant General of the Horse and the Lord Fielding's Regiment which stood behinde the other two as a Reserve Sir Iohn Meldrum had the Van with his Brigade Colonel Essex the middle the General 's Regiment the Lord Brook and Colonel Hollis had the Rear in the left Wing were twenty Troops commanded by Sir Iames Ramsey Commissary General And thus they stood The Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England was the Kings Captain General but the Fight was ordered by the Lord Ruthen since made Earl of Forth a Scotish man and the General lead on the main Body with a Pike in his hand it is said that General Essex lead on his Forces also but then it is confessed that he was advised to retire from Danger and so he escaped when the other was killed The Forlorn Hope was commanded by Major Baâ—stake and Captain Hamond both of them Officers in Sir Lewis Diveâ— Regiment of Foot and drawn down the Hill to the side of a Ditch lined with Musquetiers and both sides had no sooner fired but that the Kings Cannon followed and discharged six or seven Shot Prince Rupert General of the Horse commanding the right Wing routed their left Wing and followed them in chafe to Keinton Town and two Miles beyond killing all whom they overtook the Lord Ruthen ordered the left Wing of the Kings Horse with the Lord Wilmot both of them doing gallant service 't is true Prince Rupert presumed that he had left a sufficient Reserve of Horse behinde under command of the Earl of Carnarvan with some other Troops who seeing the Enemies Horse and Foot to run his spirit not accustomed to stand still followed too far and left their own Foot naked of Horse which Essex espying took the advantage and with his Horse fell upon the Foot including these Regiments the Lord Generals Colonel Fieldings and Colonel Bowels a Regiment raised by the Lord Paget and did much execution upon them this service being done by Colonel Hurry afterwards Major General for the Parliament The Lord General Lindsey
goodness of Almighty God Accusing that Malignant party to poison the hearts and corrupt the Allegeance of his Subjects by a false Imputation of his favouring Papists imploying them in his Army when he saith that numbers of Popish Commanders and others serve in the Army of the Earl of Essex being privately promised that if they would assist against the King all the Laws made in their prejudice should be repealed Another Scandal he mentioneth to be very senseless that the King should raise an Army against the Parliament to take away their priviledges when in truth it is raised to have some particular Members of this Parliament to be delivered up to Iustice. He being as tender of their priviledges and conform thereto which his Army never intends to violate That the Parliaments Army is raised to Murther and depose the King to alter the frame of Government and the established Laws of the Land That the greatest part of the Parliaments Members are driven away from their Houses by violence That the Book of Common Prayer is rejected and no countenance given but to Anabaptists Brownists and such Schismaticks That the contrivers hereof endeavour to raise an Implacable malice between the Gentry and the Commonalty of the Kingdome A common charge upon the King it had been and so continued to the end of his publique Actings That he favoured Papists and entertained them in his Army and so they were and might be in both subtilly and cunningly by practice on both sides conveyed thither under the masque and profession of Protestants which is a truth of no great wonder and yet in general those of Lancashire Recusants petition the King That being disarmed and so not able either to defend his Royal Person according to their duties nor to secure themselves and families they may be received into his gracious protection from violence being menaced by all kindes of people to whose malice they are subject and must submit And indeed great and heavy pressures were put upon them by both Armies notwithstanding Orders and Declarations to the contrary had been published by either Army And hereupon the King had given Warrant to Sir William Gerard Baronet Sir Cicil Trafford Knight Thomas Clifton Charls Townby Christopher Anderton and Io. Clumsfield c. Recusants in the County of Lancaster That although by Statutes all Recusants convict are to be disarmed to prevent danger in time of peace but now Armies being raised against the King and his Subjects are by them plundered and robbed and their Arms taken and used offensive against his Person His will and command therefore is and they are charged upon their Allegeance and as they tender the safetie of his Person and the peace of the Kingdom with all possible speed to provide Arms for themselves servants and Tenants during the time of open War raised against him and no longer to keep and use for his defence Yet the Parliament prepare Heads of an humble Address unto his Majesty for composing difference and â—â—â—ling a Peace but withall to prevent mis-constructions whereby their just defence may be hindered they do declare That their preparations of Forces for their defence shall be prosecuted with all violence And accordingly Letters are directed from the Lords To the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Faulkland principal Secretarie to his Majestie or in his absence for Mr. Secretarie Nicholas or any of the Lords or Peers attending the King Grey of Wark My Lord I am commanded by the Lords the Peers and Commons assembled in Parliament to address by you their humble desires to his Majestie that he would â—e pleased to grant his safe Conduct to the Commiâ—tee of Lords and Commons to pass and repass to his Majestie that are directed to attend him with an humble Petition from his Parliament This being all I have in Commission I rest Your assured Friend and Servant Grey of Wark Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore Westminster Nov. 3. 1642. Which is granted so as the said Committee consist not of persons either by name declared Traitors or otherwise in some of his Declarations or Proclamations excepted against by name as Traitors and so as they come not with more than thirty persons and give notice before hand upon signification they shall have safe conduct Your Lordships most humble Servant Edward Nicholas Reading Nov. 4. Hereupon these Names are sent Algernon Earl of Northumberland Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomerie and four Members of the Commons Mr. Perpoint the Lord Wainman Sir Iohn Evelin of Wilts and Sir Io. Hippislie being the Committee of both Houses and desire his Majesties Pass and Repass under his Royal Hand and Signet Nov. 5. The safe Conduct is inclosed for all but Sir Io Evelin who is excepted being proclamed Traitor at Oxford and that if the Houses will send any other person not so excepted in his place His Majesty commands all his Officers to suffer him to pass as if his Name had been particularly comprised herein Reading Nov. 6. To recruit the Parliaments Army it is declared That all Apprentices that will list themselves in their service for the publick cause shall be secured from indemnitie of their Masters during their service and their time included to go on towards their Freedom and all their respective Masters are to receive them again when they shall return This Liberty made Holy-day with the Prentices and they were listed thick and threefold and now spoiled for being Trades-men ever after But it is time to consider what out dear Brethren of Scotland intended to do in this Distraction and therefore they are put in minde by a fresh Declaration of the Parliament How and with what wisdom and publick affection our Brethren of Scotland did concur with the desires of this Kingdom in establishing a peace between both Nations and how lovingly they have since invited the Parliament into a nearer degree of union concerning Religion and Church-government wherefore as the Parliament did for them a year since in their Troubles so now the same obligation lies upon our Brethren by force of their Kingdom to assist us Telling them that Commissions are given by the King to divers Papists to compose an Armie in the North which is to joyn with foreign Forces to be transported hither for the destruction of this Parliament and of Religion and Liberties of the people That the Prelatical partie have raised another Armie which his Majestie doth conduct against the Parliament and Citie of London And hereupon this Parliament desire their Brethren of Scotland to raise Forces for securing their own Borders and to assist here against the Popish and Foreign Forces according to that Act agreed upon in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for the comfort and relief not onely of our selves but of all the Reformed Churches beyond Seas Nov. 7. 1642. The King as quick sends his Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland stating the condition between him and the
on to Warwick and there refreshed fell upon Strafford Avon commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Wagstaff Colonel Croker and Trist a Dutchman and some Companies of Foot with these they made good the Bridg faced the Enemy but not able to endure the Ordnance made a safe Retreat and left the Town to the Enemy who in fear of some stratagem made a hasty plunder and retreated to Warwick and so to Staffordshire where his Lordship by his Reputation and presence sought to dissolve the Association of the Gentry there and reduce the County to the Parliament Being come to Lichfield he gets into the Town indefencible and unarmed but those Forces that were there under the Earl of Chesterfield retired to the precincts of the Cathedral called A Close a place more tenable Brook being Master of the Town gave on upon the Enemy and whilest they fought he was got up into a chamber-window and peeping at a loop-hole of the Window received a fatal Shot upon the Ey-ball of which he instantly sunk down and died The remarkable passage is that the Lord Brook was shot in the eye on Saint Chad's day the first Bishop of the Mercians of that Church and that by the Son of a Clergy man the Enemy of the Church was killed The Assailants having lost their Leader retired for a while but came on again and took the Church together with the Earl of Chesterfield and all his Souldiers being many and some good Ordnance The Report was constant that the Lord Brook had ordered his Chaplain at his setting forth to this Encounter to preach upon this Text If I perish I perish Hest. c. 4. And himself prayed and used this Execration upon himself and Souldiers That if the cause he followed were not right and just he might be presently cut off and that he hoped to live to see the day when one stone of Saint Paul 's Church in London should not be left upon another Should be killed in the Eye and not the Lid touched He that disliked the Letany for the Prayer against sudden Death should die stone-dead But on Sunday afterwards March 22. the Commanders of the Kings Forces besiege Lichfield received intelligence that Sir Iohn Gell and Sir William Brereton for the Parliament with a Body of three thousand were coming to the Relief of the Besieged they drew out eight hundred Horse and three hundred Dragoons and came upon them unexpected and the Parliaments Horse not able to endure the Charge were put to flight and the Foot seeing themselves deserted forsook the Field leaving the Victory intire to the Kings party many killed and Prisoners taken with Ammunition and Baggage some Ordnance and four Drakes but all these were full dearly bought for though the King lost but few men he had it at no less price than the Earl of Northampton's life a gallant faithfull Lord who charging in the Head of his Troop was so-ingaged that his own Saddle-horse being shot and failing he was unfortunately slain and though he lost his life yet Victory attended him to his grave vanquishing those by whom he suffered and died a Protestant professour contrary to the feigned Report devised on him But afterwards Lichfield Close was gotten for the King by Prince Rupert the one and twentieth of April who having sprung his Mine made a reasonable Breach which assailing and at the same time others scaled the Walls both which failing and he sent for to Court gave them a fresh Attempt as a Farewell at which they yielded Lieutenant Colonel Russel commanding in chief to depart with fourscore Horse Men and Arms as many Musquetiers with Colours flying a free Pass and eleven Carts for their Baggage to Coventry and all Prisoners taken on either side since the Lord Brook came into the Countrey should be released It was on Saturday April 17. that the General Essex sate down before Reading and the next day made an Attempt thereon but was beaten off by Sir Arthur Aston the Governour an old Souldier bred up in the Wars of Germany from his youth A second Onset followed and entered upon one of the Out-works and repulsed with loss and for that good service the King sent them thanks with a Supply of seven hundred Musquetiers and sufficient Ammunition which was conveyed to Dorchester and so by a considerable strength of Horse to the water-side just against the Town by break of day and by Boats got in the Besiegers seeing it done but far off to hinder it But the place not able to indure the several Attempts of so great an Army daily supplied with fresh men the City of London Trained Bands and plenty of all provisions the last Encounter of the Besiegers with their great Ordnance shooting into the Town the Governour got a dangerous Bruise on the Head by the fall of some Brick-bats and in much danger the command devolved on Colonel Fielding and by him the Town was delivered up to their Enemy upon noble Conditions All the Forces to march out in warlike manner with free passage to Oxford with fifty Carts for Carriage the Town not to be plundered and such as will may remove from thence within six weeks and this was done on May day Of which sudden Surrender Fielding was questioned and committed at Oxford and by a Council of War sentenced to lose his head but left to the Kings mercy and by importunity of his Kindred the Villiers he had pardon And Sir Arthur Aston recovered of his Mischance to do the King good service for many years after In May the Overseers for demolishing all Pictures Crosses and what not that were so idolatrous abominable concluded their Reformation in that Monument of Adornment to the City Cheapside the great Cross after the Multitude had defaced the excellent Statues thereon of former Kings and Queens they pulled down the whole Fabrick to the ground in hate to Idolatry as was pretended but more certainly they made good use of the Gold and Lead which the pride of the City formerly had set out with much cost and now as forward to pull it down for the benefit of the State service And the next good Act they voted the Queen a Traitor for taking part with her Husband for now she was ready to march with good Forces towards the King Captain Hotham the Son being imprisoned by the Parliament made his Escape and sent to the Earl of Newcastle that he would cast himself into his arms and that Hull and Lincoln should be rendered to him and is now gone to his Father at Hull and both of them stand upon their guard The Queen now at Newark with some Forces intends to lie at Werton and thence to Ashby and there resolve what to do the Enemies Forces from Nottingham being gone to Leicester and Derby to intercept the Queens passage The Queen before she departed left for the safety of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire two thousand Foot and Arms for five hundred more and twenty
of answering these they ran quite away leaving the Field with five hundred Muskets fourteen Barrels of Pouder a whole Stand of Pikes with some Arms but their Cannon they got off This Fight lasted form two a clock afternoon till one the next morning These aforesaid we finde slain with eight Officers and some Gentlemen of note Mr. Leak Son to the Lord Daincourt found dead at day-light with his Enemies Colours about his arm Mr. Barker Lieutenant Colonel Wall Serjeant Major Lower Captain Iames Captain Chalwell and Mr. Bostard But then it is said that Waller's Foot were absolutely dispersed or cut off with great loss of Officers Horse and Foot modestly reported onely it is assured the Cavaliers kept the Field Arms and Pillage and such other signs of Victory And this was done the fifth of Iuly Whilest Waller fights their General Essex solicites the Parliament with Letters inclining to petition for a Peace which though it took well with some Lords yet being read to the Commons Mr. Vassal a London Burgess desired that their General should be pressed to speak more plainly and that if after the expence of two Millions of Treasure he had a minde to lay down Arms he should let them know it that as good a Souldier as he should take them up meaning Sir Will. Waller who was generally cried up by the City untill they heard of his Defeat near the Devises Round-way-down whither the King having sent some Troops of Horse towards the West which came within three Miles of the Devises were met with by Waller's Forces being on the Down between the Cavaliers and the Town to hinder their joyning with the rest of the Army Some Regiments of Horse on each side began the fight with equal success till Waller's Horse made â— Retreat to their Strength which lay on a Hill where he was and drew out his Foot and commanded the Onset but his Horse not enduring the hazzard left the Foot to their Enemies Sword or mercifull Quarter hundreds of them slain and more Prisoners taken four fair Brass Guns Ammunition and Baggage eight and twenty Colours and nine Corners I wonder at this Defeat for Sir William Waller had advantage of number in Men and Arms five Regiments of Foot six of Horse five hundred Dragoons eight Brass Guns It is confest that the Cavaliers were but fifteen hundred Horse additional to the other Forces with two small Pieces of Cannon And to adorn the Victory the Queen made her triumphant Entry into Oxford that day her Return from beyond Seas And on the other side to encourage Sir William Waller at this time when their Generalissimo was suspected the Parliament voted to make and confirm Leases of the Office of Botelier of England a Place of good profit and credit both The twelfth of August the Earl of Lindsey Great Chamberlain of England was welcomed to Oxford from his Restraint and Imprisonment since Edg-hill Fight being now received by the Queen Council and Court with all Expressions of Honour to him and more could not be done for the present in respect of the Kings absence at Gloâ—ester Siege The five and 20. of August the Earls of Bedford and Holland went from London towards Oxford and being gotten to Wallingford intrusted themselves with the Kings Forces untill their coming to submit to his Majesty in the mean time they are received by the Governour Colonel Blagge with honourable respect and so at last they were brought to the King professing their Duty and Allegeance and acknowledging their Errours this long time whom the King received with favour and forgiveness They held not out in this their Protestation but fled back again to the Parliament The Committees of Nottingham and Lincoln held intelligence with some Prisoners of theirs in the Marshals â—ustody at Newark whom they designed to blow up or to surprize the Magazine there whilest they had some favour and freedom of the Goaler their Letter conveyed to the Imprisoned discovers as much as will be necessary to know the men more than the matter Gentlemen and Prisoners for the Lord Jesus our long laboured Design is now ripe Your care is expected according to your faith and promise We doubt not but the opportunity of the Liberty afforded you may advance the good Cause The Magazine is near enough to you Give notice to our Brâ—thren under the Provost Marshall Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde so doing Matth. 24. 46. The appointed time holdeth which we hope to our hands Lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigh Luke 21. 28. Whereâ—ore comfort one another with these words 2. Thess. 4. 18. The rest will we set in order when we come 1 Cor. 11. 24. Greet all the Brethren 1 Thess. 5. 26. The Lord establish the Work of our hands upon us Work of our hands establish he it Psal. 90. is the Prayer of Yours in the Lord The Committee of Nottingham and Lincoln Scripture is often made use of by the Sectaries to factious and seditious ends and here to the hazzard of Murder the easiest terms I can afford them The Lecturers were the most busie meddling men even so as ever have been the Kiâ—kmen of Scotland and therefore Mr. Saltmarsh a seditious Minister contrived certain Propositions of Counsel which were read in the House amongst many were these 1. That all means should be used to keep the King and his People from sudden union 2. To cherish the War under the Notion of Popery as the surest means to engage the People 3. If the King would not grant their Demands then to root him out and the royal Line and collate the Crown upon some body else This last was too harsh to be swallowed by reasonable good men who excepted against it but Mr. Henry Martin said He saw no reason to condemn Mr. Saltmarsh adding That it were better one Family should be destroyed than many To which Mr. Nevil Pool replied That Mr. Martin might explain what One Family he meant Martin bold and beastly answers The King and his Children For which Speech before the time was ripe to discover that Secret he was voted a Prisoner to the Tower Mr. Pym himself urging upon him his extreme lewdness of life but this punishment was but to cool the heat of the House for that time for Martin was soon released upon the change of the Lieutenant of the Tower forthwith following The Recruits of the Army fell heavy upon the City of London who were caressed with all kindness to finish the Work and to set out Sir William Waller again and to win upon them Sir Edward Coniers was commanded to surrender his Lieutenancy of the Tower unto Pennington the Mayor of London and so Mistris Mayoress was quit with Mistris Ven that she should be Governess of Windsor Prison as she called it and thereby command over Souldiers which was a power she now might equal with hers
the River to joyn vvith the Worcester Forces and made Leaguer on the North-vvest side General Ruthen behinde the Priory of Lanthony on the South side Sir Iacob Ashley quartered in the East Suburbs The East and South ports dammed up and rammed vvith Earth Cannon-proof and the Walls from Port to Port lined to the Battlement vvhere the Tovvn expected the main shock Three days after Captain Grey vvith an hundred and fifty Musketiers sallied over the Works upon the Worcester Forces vvith vvhom the Welch vvere not come marching up to the Main Guard killed half a dozen Souldiers took five Prisoners burnt their Guard and retreated And not to be idle comes out Captain Maâ—lery with an hundred and fifty Musketiers to surprize some Ordnance which they supposed lay in some ground near North Gate but retired with loss The sixteenth of August Captain Crispe did as much on the East side â—allied out with loss on both sides the Cannon and Muskets playing to eithers detriment The Design of the Besiegers swift and serious yet hastened their Works effectual and certain for safeguard also not chusing the weaker side for Assault but the easier for their intentions on the South and East side raising their Works without trouble of the Springs and to make Battery within Pistol-shot of the Wall that wanted Flankers and being once entered might possess the highest part of the Town And now they plant three Pieces of Ordnance of fourteen and four and twenty pound Bullet on the South side and played upon the corner point of the Wall and a Brick house killing some men and so furiously also upon the Town Ordnance making a slight Breach which was soon made up with â—â—ool-packs and Cannon-Baskets And by this time had trenched near the Moaâ— making a Dâ—ain that sunk some of the Water but were beaten off Divers Granadoes shot out of Morter-pieces into the Town many brake and one had the Fuz quenched ere it fell and was weighed sixty pounds The Welch and Worcester Forces now come up four Pieces of Ordnanâ—e were placed before their Leaguer and one against the Avoâ— Gate to oppose them issues out at the North Gate some Force whilest their Lieutenant with fifty Shot was sent over the Worâ—â— to make the Allarm and so the greater party got behinde the Cannon fell upon their Main Guard and killed some wounded moe nailed the Cannon but lost many and some Prisoners The Besiegers had now planted three Pieces of Cannon against the Soth three on the East and two at the East Gate within Pistol-shâ— of the Wall with above an hundred and fifty Shot battering te corner point but being so near if the Bullet missed the Wall it â—ew quite over the Town or lighted at Randum but in the Interals the Muskets played from the Walls the Granadoes tearing th Houses with some execution on the people After tâ— days Siege two parties came out the one commanded by Sterinsâ— and More at the North Gate and to fall into their Trenches â—tere but by a Misguide they were carried round about to Sir Iacoâ—shley's Quarter took two Officers and so retreated two being kâ—ed three hurt and a Serjeant taken Prisoner The otheâ—arty of the Lord Stamford's Regiment commanded by Blunt and 〈◊〉 sallied down the River by Boat on the South part towards the Main Leaguer skirmished by the way but missing their other party who were misled and did not meet and by help of their Ordnance made a hard Retreat with many hurt By these means the Besiegers were kept awake with petty Allarms wâ—â—est the King prepared for a general Storm meanwhile wasting tâ—â—â—agazine within daily acting to the terrour of the Inhabitants 〈◊〉 Granadoes Fire-balls and such like confusion and had now planted a Battery on the South side Westward shooting into the lower part of the Town in one night twenty Fire melting-hot-iron Bullets of twenty pound weight flying in the air like the streaming of a Star playing their great Shot against the Walls filling the Moat with Fagots whereon they built a Gallery over the head of the Trench four a breast the shelter whereof they almost had wrought over the Moat and with a Mine under the East Gate which was countermined within but given over on both sides the Springs interrupting But to discover a Serjeant with five bold Fellows crept out at a Port hole in the Dungeon at the East Gate came up to the mouth of the Mine took off the Board that covered it and viewed the Miners and cast a Hand-Granado amongst them and so 〈◊〉 back again but with wondrous labour the Mine was wrought under the Gate and were heard to work and withall the Besiegers had planted store of Cannon-baskets within half Musket-shot of the East-gate point-blank intending a Battery there at the Spring of the Mine To oppose which the Town within made a very strong Work cross the Street with a large Trench before it filled vvith Water intending to raise it up to the Eaves of the Houses and to plant Cannon there A Sâ—once also vvas raised vvith four Pieces of Ordnance to vievv the out-Trenches to clear vvithin the Walls and scour the Flankâ— if in case they enter at the East Gate and to hinder their Galley they vvithin undermine a place to put forth a Piece of Ordnancâ— at the bottom to batter the Flank and vvhen all this Plot vvâ—â—ready and began to play they vvithout sunk a Piece against tâ—â— Port-hole of the others Mine and forced them vvithin to vvâ—hdravv that Design The King constantly residing a miles distance the â—lwness of whose design in this form of a Leaguer proceeded from prudent desire to save his foot with this presumption that thre was no power in being to raise the siege which confidence deceied him till too late wherefore besides the Mines Gallery and Baâ—eries there were framed sundry imperfect chargeable and troubleâ—m Engines to assault the lower part of the City they ran upon â—heels with Planks musket proof placed on the Axel-tree â—â—h holes for musket shot and a Bridge before it the end wherâ—f the wheelings falling into the ditch was to rest upon the â—emies breast-work They within from any relief or comfort of any intelligence by a straite siege Only two spies sent out long since returned from Warwick giving them news of the March of the Earl of Essex but was not assured he lodging then under a cloud of disgrace being beaten out of the West Sir William Waller the City of Londons favorite had not recruit sufficient Essex Army crumbled away the City of London mutining and insurrections in Kent distracted all and certainly the Kings wasting time at Glocester with the lingring hope of having one paltry Town lost him the means of gaining all had he but Marched up to London for the House of Lords had voted a Treaty of the King the House of Commons debated the matter the business of Glocester turned the stream of much concernment to
that Thirdly although somewhat may seem to be urged out of Scripture for the Scots Government with some shew of probability yet far from such evidence as may convince a mans conscience to swear it is agreeable to Gods word Next the Doctor excepted against that passage I shall endeavour the extirpationâ— of Prelacy in the Church of England c. I saith he dare not swear to that First In regard that I believe Episcopacy is an Apostolical Institution Secondly That the Church never so flourished as within five hundred years after Christ when it was governed by Bishops Thirdly That our English Episcopacy is justified by the prime Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas Fourthly That our English Bishops now and ever since the Reformation have disclaimed all Papal dependency Fifthly That the four General Councils confirmed in England by Act of Parliament 1 Eliz. assert Episcopacie And sixthly vvhich all men need to consider the Ministers of the Church of England ordained according to a Form confirmed by Act of Parliament at their Ordination take an Oath that they will reverendly obey their Ordinary and other chief Ministers of the Church and them to whom Government and charge is committed over them This Oath I and all Clergie men have taken and if we shall swear the Extirpation of Prelacie we shall swear to forswear our selves Lastly he excepted against that passage I will defend the Rights and Privileges of Parliament and defend his Majesties Person and Authoritie in defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom Here said he the Members are put before the Head the Parliaments Privileges before the Kings Prerogative and the restraint of defending the King onely in such and such cases seems to implie something which I fear may be drawn to an ill consequence The Doctor urged that the intent of this Covenant vvas to bring in the Scots and to continue this horrid War the taking up Arms against the King being a thing supposed vvhich must not be contradicted In the end of the Letter the Doctor subscribed tvvo Greek Letters for his Name Delta and Phi the phi vvritten within the Delta which troubled the Parliament to interpret till Sir Walter Earl told them that Phi Delta stood for Fidelity yet because Delta stood above Phi it signified Malignancy and so the Doctor was punished accordingly for being afterwards convened before the Committee where the Counsellour at Law Mr. White the others Kinsman was Chairman not much better at Bar than able to dispute Arguments with that excellent School Divine but Mr. White went another way to work down-right conclusion to the Doctors last words who said I am of this minde and unalterable herein To whom the Chairman said If you will not be of another you must suffer The Doctor modestly made Reply Sir I must give you an Answer out of St. Chrysostome upon the like Censure Nec mihi ignominiosum est pati quod passus est Christus Nec tibi gloriosum est facere quod fecit Iudas And so he was sent back to their Gaol when not long after the learned Synod at Westminster were put upon a piece of work somewhat difficult for them and therefore writ a courteous Letter to him beseeching his pains and sufficiency in that excellent Comment upon Paul's Epistles which at their instance and for their honour he admirably performed in Prison yet for that service to them and his excellent merit of our Church these men of Westminster never moved Tongue Pen or Hands to help him out of Prison there he sacrificed the remain of his days and died a Martyr upon that score of the Scots Covenant Sir Robert Harloe moved in the House that the Popes Bull to the Irish might forthwith be printed For said he it will draw on the Covenant A pretty Spectacle said another to see a Bull draw a Covenant The Covenant Money Money War War Liberty and Liberty Rebellion for such were the Links of this Chain the City making this Order for the speedy raising of Money for the sudden advancing of the Scotish Armie And together with the pretence of Religion and Liberty there is now added a more eminent Danger assuring the Citizens That unless they sent in Money not onely these Islands will be ruined but the true Religion will be destroyed in all Protestant Churches c. And therefore the Ministers and Lecturers are to stir up their Congregations thereunto and to subscribe their Sums of Money c. for which they shall have the Publick Faith of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland together with such other Securitie as shall give content to all true lovers of their Religion and Countrey These ways hastened on the Scots Army whilest they cunningly lingred for their Salary a good Sum of Money And to let you see what that was take the particles of this Speech Our Brethren of Scotland says one are now moving to relieve us out of captivitie That the Cities great Honours and Privileges were conferred by Parliament and not by the King That the Cities chiefest glorie had ever been to cleave to the Common-wealth when Kings were seduced c. That the Scots coming would regain Newcastle whereby they might set a Rate upon Coals and raise great Sumâ— of Money c. That the Scots did not value Money as the end of their coming because we owed to them above two hundred thousand pounds And so be that they might have but this one hundred thousand pounds the Sum proposed they would demand no more but will assist us with twenty thousand Horse and Foot to free us from that popish plundering Armie c. But the King to undeceive his people not to swear to be forsworn publishes his Proclamation against the Covenant That whereas there is a Printed Paper intituled A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland pretended to be ordered by the Commons in Parliament on the one and twentieth Day of September last to be printed and published which Covenant though it seems to make specious expressions of Pietie and Religion is in truth nothing else but a traiterous and seditious Combination against him and against the established Religion and Laws of this Kingdom in pursuance of a traiterous Design and Endeavour to bring in foreign Forces to invade this Kingdom His Majestie doth therefore straitly charge and command all his loving Subjects of what degree or qualitie soever upon their Allegeance that they presume not to take the said seditious and traiterous Covenant most straitly forbidding all his Subjects to tender the said Covenant as they will answer the contrary at their extremest peril Aâ—d this Proclamation came to the hands of the new Mayor of London Mr. Wollaston who succeeded Isaac Pennington and was sworn by Baron Trevor on Munday the last of October 1643. And yet that one of
Heels were their best Weapons of Defence which carried a few home again to their Quarters and others to Teuxbury now put under command of Sir Robert Cook by Commission from Waller The main Forces of the Kings party were drawn from these parts in Glocestershire towards Reading then besieged by the Earl of Essex and so Waller got freedom for a while and with some success without blows cried him up The Man of God and being now free not to defenâ— but to seek his Game he advances to Hereford with a thousand Horse and Dragoons assisted by Massie and the greatest part of the Lord Stamford's Regiment drew up before Bister's Gate on the North side of the Town aloof off and shot at Random untill Captain Grey with a party of Musketiers over the River towards Wye Bridg made shew there of an Assault and if need were to fall back to the Water side where Seconds stood to relieve them and it was time for the Town-horse â—allied out and drove them to a Church near Owen's Gate Massie this while draws up two Sakers against Wigmarâ—sh Gate the first shot pierced the Gate and strook off an Officers head behinde it and slew others following with other shot and scowring the Street they came to parley the whole day and the next to surrender the Prisoners were the Lord Scudamore Colonel Conesby and Sir William Crofts some Arms and Ammunition but the Souldiers this time of Parley got over Wye Bridg and went into Wales The Town compounded from Plunder and so deserted And so here as other where Waller seldom staid to endure any Siege of Surrender but with his Forces â—lew up and down no where to be found The next Attempt of these Forces thus combined flesh'd for any place came up before Worcester City viewed it for a day and a night but hastened away and some disorder at the noise of the Lord Capel's advance Then was Waller ordered to march to the West of England to prevent the joyning of Sir Hopton's Forces with the rest of the Kings Army and Sir Robert Cook was sent after him and Teuxbury slighted Massie in chief over Glocester who with an hundred and twenty Horse and Dragoons marched to Stow in the Wolds to beat up the Royalists Quarters and by break of day fell upon them took a Lieutenant and twelve Troopers Horse and Arms thence to Odington a Mile off and there surprized a Captain of a Troop with fourty Men and Horse but by this they were allarmed fell upon Massie's Rear near Slaughter with execution and having also Supply from Sudeley Castle charged Massie again at Andovers Ford which put him to dismount his Dragoons dividing his Men into three Bodies the Horse into the right and left Wing but looking back to bring them on he found them faced about and flying which put Massie to a pitifull shuffle amongst the Troops but came off with loss excusing that Design with the fault upon his new raised Forces Colonel Stephens with his Lieutenant and five and twenty Souldiers taken Prisoners and a dozen slain Stephens was forward enough but followed this Design unsent for and against Massie's desire who liked no partners in honour and so suffered him and his party to be led away Prisoners to Oxford where he died Sir Iohn Winter was now got up in good command for the King his House in the Forest of Dean in Glocestershire and of a sudden claps in a sufficient Strength of his own Confidents made it tenable and afterwards inaccessible as a Goad in the side of Glocester Garison and of terrour to all the Parliaments party thereabout for during this Sir William Waller in his March to the West was met with at the Devices and there defeated to the hazzard of his whole party casting these parts into a miserable plight the Parliament placing a great interest in the success of his Forces so that the King became Master of the Field and with his gallant Army came up to the Gates of Glocester Bristol yielded up the Earl of Essex's Army pined away Sir William Waller at London for fresh Forces the Earl of Stanford shut up within Exeter and now the Kings open Field had Campaigne from Cornwall to Scotland dividing his Army the one to besiege Exeter this other with himself come to Glocester The City and Castle of Bristol had been governed by Sir Thomas Essex for the Parliament against which Prince Rupert had made an Attempt but was called off upon other Designs Afterwards comes Col. Nathaniel Fines supplants Essex and hangs up several Citizens for intending to have delivered the same up to Prince Rupert But now the Prince at leisure sets down before it the twenty fourth of Iuly made some Attempt and had it surrendred after three days Siege It was in the very entrance of this War that the Parliaments Forces garisoned Coventry and had a squint eye upon such as were for the Commission of Aray Amongst many others Doctor Bird of the Civil Law was exposed to their scrutiny for his affection to the Kings Service and therefore the first man of note thereabout who under that score of Malignancy suffered the strange Justice by Plunder a new Name for a new Offence The Doctour took leave of his Habitation intending by the power of the Sword to repair his Losses and so soon as occasion offered he was intrusted with the garisoning of Ecclesâ—all Castle in Staffordshire belonging to Doctour Wright the Bishops See of Coventry and Lichfield with Commission to raise two hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse and to be Commander in chief there and the County adjacent subordinate to none but to the King and his Lieutenant General About April 1643. the More-landers Inhabitants so called from the low grounds in Staffordshire were got together into a Body not as yet for any cause and so not certain for any side untill Colonel Gell and others of his Faction took them up for the Parliaments Service and presently were called Gell's Brigade To suppress these the Garisons thereabout for the King drew out together viz. Colonel Bagot Governour of Lichfield Clâ—se Colonel Lane Commander of Stafford Garison and Captain Bird Governour of Eccleshall Castle and from each of these such â—en as could be spared met at a Rendezvouz four Miles from Stafford but their Enemy fled and these returned And that night was Stafford Town taken by treachery of one Stephens formerly Lieutenant Colonel under command of Colonel Cumâ—erford heretofore Governour of Stafford and high Sheriff of that County Stephens was now got to the Morelanders and being well acquainted with the Avenues into the Town surprized the place so suddenly that without any stroke of defence Lane and his Men as many as could escape by flight and others Gentlemen of good worth were seized and sent Prisoners to several places I shall not lodg any suspition or jealousie upon Lane because he saved himself and others suffered Stafford taken and
Lord and Commons do declare that all such persons as shall upon any pretence whatsoever assist his Majesty with Horse Arms Plate or Money are Traitours to the Parliament and shall be brought to condign punishment The French in publick appearing very sensible of the unchristian â—â—il War in this Nation had sent the Prince of Harcourt Extraordinary Ambassadour into England commissioned to mediate peace between the King and Parliament being received at London with all due respects but his Arrand was first to the King and therefore desires the Parliaments Pass and had it but notwithstanding at the out Fort at Hide Park corner was stopped the Guard having no such Warrant without searching his Coach and Train of Baggage which he highly resented as the greatest injury from any Nation but there he refused and staid untill some Members of the House were sent to relieve him with such publick scorns Libells and Pamphlets without President and knowing that he came to mediate the Parliament would not be backward upon that score and therefore voted Sir Henry Vane Mr. Saint Iohns with the Lord VVharton a Committee to relate to the City a great Plot discovered which was set forth to the Common Council on Munday the seventh of Ianuary still filling up the Periods of their Speeches with the Gun-powder Treason which they said was much like this Plot for a Peace It was frequent with the Armies whether necessity or special advantage to act extraordinary business on Sundays as Keinton Field Brainford Hopton-heath Leeds Chalgrove Field Basing The King had now large Territories for his Army to march in this Year set him up for on this Day Twelve-moneths past he had but one small County of all the West in Yorkshire but York City and Pomfret Castle and except Reading Wallingford Brill and Abington he had not a Souldier quartered out of Oxford when he had not one Ship nor any Port save Newcastle and Falmouth when the Parliament declared in print that he had not ten thousand Men. And yet the King hath now five small Armies better than Brigades and in all the Western Counties the Parliament hath not a Souldier but at Plymouth and Pool in Yorkshire none but Hull and in Cheshire onely Nantwich The last Battels if we may so call them were at Bodwin Tadcaster Hopton-heath Ancaster Middleton-cheany Stratton Bradford More Chalgrave Chuton Lands-down Round-way-down Auburn Newbury Leek Middlewich and if of some the King had the better of the rest not much to boast The remnant of South Wales is fully reduced and North Wales cleared the whole Principality Cavaliers The Parliament got from the King Strafford and Warrington but all these Towns were the Parliaments last Year which now the King hath viz. Saltash Cirencester Burningham Leege Lichfield Bradford Hallifax Wakefield Taunton Bristol Bath Dorchester Weymouth Biddeford Barnstable Appleford Tenby Haverford-west Pembroke Exeter The Marquess of Newcastle for the King in the Commission of Array was met at Chesterfield in Darbyshire with a vast concourse of people as a Novel to see and hear where he listed fifteen hundred Voluntiers assisted by Sir Iohn Gell his interest thereabout and Sir Iohn Harpers The Lord Byron had good success and took Crew House with all the Arms and Ammunition six Commanders an hundred threescore and five Souldiers as also he took Dodrington belonging to Sir Thomas Delves being a Garison and cleared many places Middlewich Beeston Castle Someback with sundry Prisoners his Brigade being now near seven thousand Horse and Foot Sir William Waller having besieged Arundel Castle in Sussex eight and twenty Days with the sacrifiâ—e of many men had it surrendered the Cavaliers at Oxford will not be perswaded but that it was not fairly delivered on their parts but rather by connivence if not for Reward and if we consult the strength of the place it self the Fortifications Men and Ammunition we may suspect no less not to credit the Purchasers for then it will seem true whose relations of the numbers of Men slain and strength of Ammunition surrendered as it is usual with all conquerours to account comes to a great Sum. This Service made Sir William Waller to fly high desiring the Parliaments Commission to him To place and displace all Governours of Towns and Castles within his Association But this took off the General Essex his Authority from whom all the military Commanders had Commissions And was occasioned through a late difference between Sir William and the Governour of Chichester who refused to admit Colonel Norton to enter his Garison being routed and pursued by the Lord Hopton which difference was by the Parliament referred to the General as it appears by his Letter to the House of Commons he tells them That in truth the Commission he sent to Sir William Waller was not so full as he usually grants and the Reasons why he was so limited are not to be discovered But tells them withall that he did no more than what he ought to do and that the charge he took upon him was not his own seeking though it was a great encouragement to him that the Houses thought him once worthy of the sole command which however lessened yet he will never desert the Cause as long as he hath any bloud in his veins till the Kingdom hath regained her Peace or an end made by the Sword But Sir VVilliam not well pleased with all this returned his Commission back to Mr. Nichâ—las with much regret as it appears by his Letters which accompanied this Surrender I have said he returned the Commission which is as good as nought The Counties of Devon and Cornwall Cavaliers for the King unanimously joyned in Association in these words VVhereas a few malevolent and ambitious persons in the name of two Houses of Parliament have by treasonable practices imbroiled this Kingdom in a Civil VVar pursued his Majesties person murdered his good Subjects some of them barbarously by the common Hangman against Law and Iustice others by hostile Assault brought a general devastation upon the whole Kingdom taking away all Liberty from the Members of both Houses by awing terrifying and assaulting them with Tumults and Arms usurping the Regal power counterfeiting a great Seal to shew their horrid intentions against the King Kingdom and Government and finding their Acts not likely to protect them from the punishment due to their merits have unnaturally invited the Scots to invade this Kingdom and in these Distractions to make a total Conquest of this Nation for Resistance whereof and preserving the common peace the Inhabitants of Devon and Cornvvall have united themselves and for continuance of which union this ensuing Protestation is to be taken I. A. B. do in the presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest with my utmost power to maintain and defend the true Reformed Protestant Religion established by Law in this Kingdom against all Popery popish and all other Innovations of Sectaries and Schismaticks as also his
at Burford where they both met what their Councels were we may imagine by the sequel In the mean time it was confidently affirmed that divers of Essex his Souldiers were weary of their marching and left him Buâ— here at Burford it was concluded that General Essex with his heavy Guns should march fair and softly to these Counties of the West Countries to reduce them to the Parliament and that Sir W. Waller with the lighter Field Pieces should joyn with Massey's Forces and pursue the King to which Waller seems unwilling for he was the rather for the West to recover his late misfortunes there until his friends advised him to his own game better to act at a distance from Essex that two Suns cannot shine in one Sphere So that Essex marches to Farindon and Sir William towards Glocester which design gave jealousie to the Members at Westminster who voted ten thousand pound a moneth from their General to Sir William of which the Earl complains to the Parliament in a Letter and subscribes Your innocent though suspected servant ESSEX The King marches from Bourton on the water with his Army to Pershore and on Tuesday to Worcester joyfully received by that Loyal City He sent out relief to Dudly Castle and afterwards hearing that Waller came nearer by tedious and hungry marches the King intended to tire him out and to that end advanced towards Bewdly Iune 12. where he stayed four dayes But then considering how maliciously he was traced by a contemptible Adversary the King turns back vvith resolution to be furnished vvith Amunition from Oxford and to give him Battel Some Troops of Horse vvere therefore ordered to shevv themselves along the Shore of Severn tovvards Bridgenorth as if he meant to march to Shrewsbury Waller at Brovesgrove hears of this and had quartered some of his Horse at Kiddermister vvithin tvvo miles of his Majesty and presently dislodged them and made vvhat haste he could to get before the King Knovving that having a full proportion of Pikes and Ordnance of which the King had none he might fight at great advantage But the King amazed him and with his Foot came before night to Worcester his Horse soon following leaving Waller to encounter with his shadow two daies march behind And the next day Iune 16. the King marches through Eversham to Bradway and the next day to Burford and there he was provided from Oxford to meet the expected Wallers coming and meant to fight him Aâ— Whitney 7. miles from Oxford the King staies where some Forces came and imbodied with his Army during those marches the Parliament heard thereof and of the Kings absence from Oxford they vote therefore that all the Horses about London should be taken up to scour the County of Oxford from victualling that City least they should they said be troubled with a winters siege and crosse the Proverb after the stable door is shut to steale the Horses But the King being at Buckingham and having intelligence that Waller was at Chipping-norton and the next day to Pillerton in Warwickshire His Majesty marches to Brackley 26. of Iune and Waller to his Rendezvouse in Keâ—nton Fields where his friends came to him from Coventry VVarwick and Kenelmworth Castle with these he ascends Edge-hill and so to Harley The King marches to Culworth and lay that night at Sir Samuel Danvers On Friday VValler gets to Hanwel and so to Croch-hill near Banbury hither was the King come into Grymsbury Fields facing his Enemies all that day and stayed all that night having sent 1000. well commanded men under Conduct of Colonel Thelwall to defend that side of Burley towards his Enemy and also Nethorp a Village adjoyning which was disputed with losse on both sides till night But so soon as the Sun VValler drew off and advanced to Burton Hill somewhat neerer Banbury and stood in Batalia upon advantage of ground nor could be drawn dovvn so that he marches to Daintry leaving a Guard of Dragoons at Copredy Bridge being the passe over Charwel betvvixt the tvvo Armies The Kings Van and main Body gon and the Reare only passing by and the Musquetiers at the Bridge gon off then VValler makes dovvn to the Bridge vvith 2000. Horse and 9000. Foot 14. Pieces already gon over the rest of his Army coming after sufficient he thought to distresse the Kings Rear consisting of the Earl of Northampton and the Earl of Clevelands Brigades of Horse and Sir Bernards Tertia of Foot These faced about tvvice charging through and through and were so vvell seconded that they routed Sir VVilliams Horse and Foot killed 150. took his Ordnance viz. five Sakers one tvvelve pound Piece one Demiculverin tvvo Minions and tvvo three pound Pieces vvith other Leather Guns made by VVeems a Scot the Kings svvorm Servant and Master Gunner of England for vvhich Gun he had received of the King 2000. l. and by his place had 300. l. per. an for all vvhich he vvas novv become General of VVallers Artillery and novv God put him a Prisoner to the Kings mercy vvith the vvork of his hands and being brought before the King he said good faith his heart was alwaies with his Majesty There vvere these Prisoners Lieutenant Col. Baker Lieutenant Col. Baines three Captains Ramsey VVort and Hill tvvo Lieutenants Perry and Goodwin four Coronets Camfield Nichols Linde and Blades vvith other Ensignes and Officers 188. Common Souldiers and five Gunners The King lost tvvo Noble Kentish Knights Sir VVilliam Boteleer and Sir VVilliam Clark divers hurt the Lord VVilmot Lieutenant General of the Horse he vvas tvvice prisoner but rescued by Sir Frederick Cornwallis and Mr. Robert Haward Knighted for that Action Colonel Nevil hurt and so vvas Capt. Hatcher Capt. Boswel tvvelve Coroners vvere taken four of Foot and eight of Horse Coronet Bruke sore hurt vvith many Common Souldiers and 20. slain and this Defeat vvas performed the 29. of Iune and the King marched to Eversham and so to the Bath from vvhence vve hear no more of Sir VVilliam VValler but at London vvhither he travelled for Recruits and met his Dear Lady at VVestminster vvho saluted him aloud thou man of God come kisse me And in earnest Sir VVilliam did not much more in this Journey in reference to his Errand vvhich vvas to cath the King from his evil Councellours Indeed he faced VVorcester but at the like distance as an other Army did at Oxford vvheeled off and vvent to Glocester in hope of some Recruit to joyn vvith his Forces vvherein he failed for I finde from the very beginning of his Successes he was cried up for the London Conquerour and so stole the glory from their General who was used but coursly in their Discourses somewhat more dishonourably than he deserved and so increased eâ—mity and neglect between these two great Commanders and their confidents Massey being one devoted to Essex The King marches to Bath 15. Iuly and so towards the West into Cornwal in pursuit of General Essex
Father and Son Vaughan Windebank Greenvile Hide Morley Cole Riddell Ware Strongways Culpeper Floyd Esquires Endimion Porter Henry Jermin Jo. Bodevile David Jenkins Sir George Strode Sir Alexander Carew With twice so many Earls Lords Bishops Knights and Gentlemen of Scotland All Papists that have are or shall be in Arms against either Parliaments or of the Rebellion in Ireland Then are excepted all those of the then Parliament of Oxford and all such of Scotland that have assisted the King there All such as have deserted either Parliaments of both Kingdoms The Estates of such unpardonable to pay publick Debts The tenth part of all other Delinquents within the joint Declaration Then follows other Acts which the Parliaments shall mannage For arming the Kingdoms setling the Admiralties to name Commissioners That all Honours and Titles given since the great Seal went to the King viz. May 21. 1642. or hereafter to be made shall be null Not to vote in Parliaments and so for Scotland since June 4. 1644. The Governours of Ireland and the great Officers of both Kingdoms be nominated by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms The like for Scotland The Kings Children to be governed and married The Prince Elector to be restored Peace and War 〈◊〉 of Oblivion Armies disbanded All these as the Parliaments of both Kingdoms shall order Thus much in general Now for the City of London Acts for them Their Charters Customs Liberties to be confirmed notwithstanding any Non-user Mis-user or Abuser The Militia of London and the Liberties The Tower of London to be in the Mayor and Common-Council The Citizens not to be drawn out of London to any service The Acts of the Mayor and Common Council heretofore and hereafter to confirm as if by Act of Parliaments And these being granted they will endeavour that the King shall live in splendour c. 'T is true that all the Kings party were impatient for Peace which obliged the King to shew his real Intentions being assured that if he could come to a fair Treaty the chief of the Parliaments party could not hinder the Peace first because themselves are weary of the War and next because of their Distractions Presbyterians against Independents in Religion and General against General in point of Command Upon these grounds the most probable means for the King to procure a Treaty was to be used and the noise was therefore published of the Kings return to London the best Rhetorick to please the Popular that thereupon a Treaty would be procured or if refused it would bring most prejudice to the Parliament and advantage to the King for although he offered fair Propositions yet they were mixed with such Conditions as might not easily be admitted and so the Kings offer did but amaze the people into a milder opinion of his proceedings These Propositions for the present were neglected as unlimited yet the King imagined that in a Treaty Commissioners might Argue them into Reason and so returns the Messengers that he will send to the Houses which he did forthwith by this Letter CHARLES REX The Propositions presented to his Majesty being very long which contain matters in themselves of gâ—â—at weight and importance as being in great part in alteration of the frame of Government both in Church and State And the Messengers who presented them declaring that they have no power to treat or consent to any alteration it cannot be expected that his Majesty shall return a Present Particular and Positive Answer But as he hath from his soul alwaies desired the setling of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace in this distracted Kingdom for that purpose hath from time to time tendred all possible Overtures in hope that all will work upon the hearts of all persons concerned That even this apprehension such as it is upon further thought and consideration may produce some good effect towards it to which his Majestie calls God to witness therein shall nothing be wanting on his part which is agreeable to Iustice Honour and Conscience and there shall all possible expedition be used in preparing his Majesties Answer yet â—e intends speedily to send by Messengers of his own and to that purpose that there may be no losse of time He desires safe conduct be speedily for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton with their attendance to bring up his Majesties said Answer And his Majesty doth heartily wish that God may so deal with him and his as he endeavours all just and lawful waies to restore this poor Kingdom to a lasting and happy peace G. Digby Secretary Oxford 27. Novem. 1644. The Parliament excepts against this Letter as directed to No body the Parliament not so much as named therein And it was remembred that the Lord Digby by his Letters told them long since That the Foundation upon which the King did build all his designs was never to acknowledge this a Parliament and that if he receded from that Maxim the King would undoe himself and all those that have appeared for him Yet after long debate it was resolved that their General Essex do forthwith return a Letter to Prince Rupert who in the absence of the Lord Brainford appears the Kings Lieutenant General That if his Majesty shall send to the Parliament of England Assembled at Westmin and to the Commissioners of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland they will with all readiness grant a safe conduct for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton and treat with them according to his Majesties desire Which was so acknowledged by Prince Rupert in his Majesties Name and directed to the Earl of Essex and so they were received into Somerset House with this Order That no Member visit or speak or send any Message to either of them during their stay here And had audience of a Committee of twenty four Lords and twenty eight Commons and the Scotish Comissioners in the Painted Chamber which was in effect only That the King designed a Treaty and time speedily to be fixed and to be certified by those Messengers but they had Answer of both Houses that they would hasten and so required them to return back Upon the rumour of this intended Treaty and hereafter of a peace the King was assured that the Parliaments chief Articles would be to continue the Irish Wars Indeed this Article of Ireland was a tender point and the King resolved not only not to break the Cessation but to make peace with the Rebels to which end he had promised the Queen in France of some favours to the Catholicks of Ireland And expressely a little before the Treaty he writes to the Marquesse of Ormond That he is sorry to finde the sad condition of his particular fortune for which saies he I cannot finde so good and speedy remedy as the peace of Ireland and to redresse most necessary affairs here Wherefore I command you to dispatch it out of hand with this Addition to my former dispatch And for Poinings Act I
himself from the Ladder without any remorse for his monstrous Crime And now being executed for his Villany it may merit the moving why he was refused his Trial by Peerage The King had a great desire to remove the Siege against Dennington Castle but were beaten off and therefore it was concluded by the Council of State that Essex's Forces should not draw out of Newbury into the Field lest the King should possess it for a Winter Quarter but that they should fight him at his Retreat but he retreated to Marlborough without opposition and the Parliaments Forces quit Newbury which the King possesses and reserves as a covert Quarter for his Army when the other lay in the open Fields and forced from Basing Siege withdrew to Reading Hereabout we finde the first appearance of Exception which the Parliament had against the good management of their Armies Essex being now suspected as careless or discontent and therefore they fall to debate hereabout in the House for Colonel Norton had writ a Letter to them that he had received a Warrant from a chief Commander in the Army to withdraw from Basing which was a thing unexpected he says but accordingly he hath obeyed nay the commands of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Army were lately much neglected and complained of It grew into a high Debate How chance the Parliaments Forces permitted the Enemie to relieve Dennington Castle when they were two for one and why the Town of Newbury was quitted before the Enemie was marched away as the pretence of not fighting before was because we would not quit Newbury And now the Kings Forces were quartered at Basing Odjam Newburie Blewburie and Marlborough and Essex at Reading Henley Abington and Farnham And whilest they thus lodg in Quarters the Actions of the Parliaments Army are arreigned and committed And the Earl of Manchester makes the Relation concerning the carriage at Dennington Castle of great length in writing wherein his Lordship makes his own Defence and gives a Charge against Lieutenant General Cromwel a Member of the Commons who had deserved much honour for his good Service to the State and who made answer to several particulars therein mentioned and the point of privilege of Parliament upon the transmitting of that business from the Lords before any Charge was brought to the House of Commons but it was committed and they to receive the proofs for making good of the Earls Information concerning Lieutenant General Cromwel and to make protestation of secrecy therein and so silent they were that we never heard more of it General Essex having sped so ill in the West was now returned to Westminster where the Faction was powerfull in the Commons House against him being suspected somewhat more royal than the House would have him to be And after long Debate it was resolved to new model the Army and by degrees and in time to be rid of their old General and to bethink of a new one in quality not more than a Knight with intention not over-long to trust to the Lords at all And begin with an Order That no Member of either House shall during this War enjoy and execute any Office or Command Military or Civil which hath been granted or conferred on any Member of either House or by any Authoritie derived from either House This was subtilly done and but very poor Reasons publick to satisfie the world in this policy That in relation to the Armie all Commissions to Parliament men being void the new molding the Armie may be carried on with less exception when all are concerned alike That all Differences militarie among the great Commanders Parliament men which may retard the work is hereby quieted And those that shall be new made Officers may be elected of the lesser quality and the sooner subject to question and punishment and the Armie maintained at a less charge And after fourty days expiring this Order all their Commands and Offices in the Army shall be null but in order to justice they publish their Resolution to pay off their Arrears which was slenderly performed when their Offices were out of date And to crown this Design they fast and pray and to boot the well-affected City give them thanks and promise to live and die with them for this their new voting And somewhat to sweeten the Earl of Essex's sowreness the Parliament ordered him ten thousand pounds per annum out of Delinquents Estates for his good Service and his great Losses and amongst their Commanders they elect Sir Thomas Fairfax in his room But this great Ordinance of Molding goes on slow and suffered much Debate and Alteration for the Lords House began to foresee the effects and would not assent untill Petitions from the City and several Counties drew them to conclude it with this Title An Ordinance for the raising and maintaining of Forces for the defence of the Kingdom under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax Who is sent for to London out of the North and comes in private and the next day Feb. 19. is conducted to the Commons House by four of their Members a Chair was set and he to sit therein M. Speaker telling him the great trust the Kingdom had put upon him in the command of this Army and the good opinion they had of his valour and fidelity for the defence of Religion Laws and Liberty encouraging him to go on as he hath begun Great Disorders in the modelling this new Army and long time setling hastened an Order to the Scots Army to march Southward with all speed This new Army consisted of twenty one thousand viz. fourteen thousand Foot and six thousand Horse and a thousand Dragoons The House of Commons finding the Peers so pregnant as notwithstanding the great Exceptions and publick discourse of an intention to lessen their Lordships it was thought fitting to caress them by an appointed Committee March 18. to congratulate their happy concurrence and to assure them of the Commons real affections and endeavours to support their Lordships in their Honours and Privileges A language which heretofore the Lords would have disdained to have received from them The List of the Officers thus passed were these besides those of the old which are kept in Sir Thomas Fairfax Commander in chief Major General Skippon who was indeed the City Champion New Officers of Foot Colonels Crayford Berkley Montague Aldridg Holborn Fortescue Ingolsby Pickering Rainsborough New Officers of Horse Colonels Middleton Sidney Graves Sheffield Vermindon Whaley Levisay Fleetwood Rossiter Sir Robert Pie The Kings Army was now under the chief command of the Prince of Wales Prince Maurice and Prince Rupert in the Northern parts and association of the Counties adjoyning the Earl of Derby and Sir Marmaduke Langdon in Byrone and Gerard in VVales Southward and these Counties thereabout Hopton Goring and Greenvile in the West with several small Armies Amongst those of the old Commanders for the Parliament I finde Lieutenant General Cromwel the
little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy mercies and passion hast broke through the jawes of death So Lord receive my soul and have mercie upon me and blesse this Kingdom with peace and plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them for Iesus Christ his sake if it be thy will Then laying his head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my soul which was the signal to the Executioner who very dexterously did his Office at a blow This one Note I may not forget as a truth from an Honourable person then present upon the Scaffold that though the Chinks were stopped yet there remained a small hole from a knot in the midst of a Board and in which his finger of the right hand happened to fall into and to stop that also that his desire might be fulfilled lest his blood might descend on the peoples head his soul ascending to Heaven and leaving his body on the Scaffold to the care of men imbalming it with their tears His body was accompanied to the earth afterwards with great multitudes of people whom love had drawn together to perform that Office and decently Interred in the Church of Allhallows-Barking a Church of his own Patronage and jurisdiction according to the Rites and â—eremonies of the Church England He deserved that honour at his death being the greatest Champion of the Common Prayer Book whilst he lived Nor need Posterity take care to provide his Monument It being well observed by Sir Edward Deering He who threw the first stone at him that St Pauls Church will be his principal Monument and his own Book against the Iesuite his lasting Epitaph and so I leave him to that comfort which the Psalmist gives him The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance and shall not be affraid of any evil report Psal. 112. 6 7. Take this though for the present Thy brave attempt on Pauls in time to come Shall be a Monument beyond a Tombe Thy Book shall be thy Statua where we finde The Image of thy Nobler part thy Minde Thy Name shall be thy Epitaph and he Who hears or reads of That shall publish Thee The Kings Party had Garisoned a repaired Castle at the Devises and Colonel Devereux had a Garison at Roudon House between the Devises and Malmsburie being set upon and Besieged Colonel Stephens in Wiltshire newly made by the Parliament Governour of Beverston Castle was willing to give aide to the Besieged at Roudon and sets upon the Besiegers with three Troopes of his own and some Malmsburie Foot without staying for Devereux assistance broke through the Cavaliers and Relieves the House with Provision and Powder and alighting would needs eate and refresh himself with his friends giving time to the Cavaliers Party to Rally and cast up a Brestwork before the passage and so he with 1400. Horse and Foot cooped up all together and so the Besieged more straitned then before News gets to Glocester from whence comes sixty Horse well commanded and were to joyn with one hundred Horse and Dragoons from Malmsburie to break through the Cavaliers and these added to the four hundred and thirty within the House were conceived to force a Passage through the first Sconce But then comes Sir Iacob Ashlie with three thousand Massie raises the County about Strodewater doing what he could to face the Garison at Cirencester and to divert the danger of the Besiegers but nothing prevailed and so they were faine to Surrender upon bad quarter The Cavaliers grow strong on all sides and a stream of ill success rushes in upon their enemies upon Colonel Hopton having raised sixty Horse and fourty Foot Garisoned Castle-ditch near Lidburie in Herefordshire a Party from thence of three hundred Horse and Foot in twenty four houres took him Horse and Foot Prisoners to Hereford Sir Iohn Winter hath Guards set round about upon him to straiten his Garison his own House in the Forest of Deane but they break out through all those Guards and joyn with a Party of Foot from Cheystow which Landed at Lancaught intending to make good the Passe over Wye and so to issue out of Wales at pleasure To oppose them all the Guards drew together thither Sir Iohn violently charged the Forlorn of Foot who gave back to let in their Foot and so both Horse and Foot fell upon him some were slain Colonel Gamne and Vangerris Colonel Pore of Berkley Castle drowned but Sir Iohn and his escaped being the industrious enemy to all his Parliament neighbours These things happened the latter end of the year February about the time of surprizing Shrewsburie by the Parliament Prince Rupert falls back out of Shropshire and comes upon Herefordshire with all his Army the greatest in the Kingdom being a confluence of these Forces his own formerly Prince Maurice Colonel Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashlie and Sir Marmaduke Langdale and yet impresse more men in aboundance in all the neighbouring Counties with store of Arms necessity casting them in such waies of violence and coercive power prest-men of suspected fidelity and lesse value often deceiving them in Battle yet the King was forced to these waies for conducing to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings affairs became desperate and so thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulk of a great Body when the Parliament had no such necessity to enforce rather a more cunning way to win upon that party the City of London being the undrained Magazine of Men and Money the common Asse that bare the burden and so ends this year A continuance of the brief Narrative of the Kings Affairs Military in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Montrose with considerable Forces enters Scotland 13. April 1644. comes to Dunfrize seises that Town expecting Antrims Irish but being there in some danger returns to Carlisle with his men for the Earl of Calander had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Leslie in England and now besieging York Montrose having beaten a Garison out of Morpith pillaged the Castle and took a Fort at the mouth of Tine He plentifully sent Victuals to Newcastle which come from Almwick And is now sent for by Prince Rupert then in his way to raise the siege of Yorke but could not possible get to him till the retreat from that unfortunate Battle of Marston-moor and so returned back to Carlisle with a few but faithful gallant men He sends the Lord Oglebie and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in disguise who return with sad news that all Strengths in Scotland were possessed by the Covenanters The Earl of Traquair contrary to his Oaths and promises to the King was an Agent for the Covenanters Yet this man was more in the Kings Favour then any Scotish except the Hamiltons Montrose in these Difficulties sends Oglebey with his earnest
Desires to the King for more Men or at least Arms from beyond Seas and himself single lies close but Oglebey and his Friends were all surprized and imprisoned by the Covenanters untill the next year that Montrose set them at liberty who did him faithfull Service Montrose with onely two Gentlemen Rollock and Sibald hasts towards Scotland and by the way escaped Sir Richard Graham who was revolted to the Covenanters and undertook to discover all men affectionate to the King this Graham heretofore a very mean Iockey of the Duke of Buckingham's Stables by Industry and Deceit got into his favour to be the chief Master of his Horse and by the necessity of the Princes secret Journey into Spain was there serviceable and upon that score had grace and preferment to be made a Knight Baronet getting an Estate emulous to all his Neighbours and now becomes a Traitour But after four Days Montrose arrives at his Cosin Patrick Graham in the Sheriffdom of Perth with whom he resides disguised and sends his two Friends to discover the state of the Kingdom who return this News That all the people lay under subjection of the Covenanters and that the Marquess of Huntley had laid down his Arms and was fled to the North leaving his noble Family the Gourdons exposed to his merciless Enemies Covenanters Instead of ten thousand promised onely 110. Irish landed in the North of Scotland from Antrim under Command of Alexander Mac-Donel a Scot who met with Montrose in Atholde but Arguile their Enemy was in their Rear with an Army marching after them the Countreymen eight hundred joyn with Montrose who marches to Ern and passing by Weme Castle of the Meneses his Enemies who treacherously fell upon his Rear he burns their Houses and wasts their Fields this was the first Onset of War His noble faithfull Friend Patrick Graham commands the Athole men to scout before who meet with five hundred Foot under the leading of the Lord Kilton Son to the Earl of Taith descended of Grahams and Sir Iohn Drummond Son to the Earl of Perth both Kinsmen to Montrose raised to oppose the new-landed Irish but understanding of Montrose the state of the Kings affairs they all joyn in a Body these discover that the Covenanters were in Arms at their Rendezvouz at Perth and waited for them at Athole he marches within three miles of them drawn out in an open Plain Tippermore ready to fight and commanded by the Lord Elcho with the Earl of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond with six thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse It was on Sunday the first of September Elcho had the right Flank one Sir Iames Scot the left and Tullibardin the Battel to each Flank Wings of Horse Montrose had not one Horse and being but few in Foot he draws out open as possible he could with his Files onely three deep commands his Ranks all to charge at once the first Rank kneeling the next stooping the third being the ablest men upright not to stoop but in the teeth of their Enemy and to spare Shot in vain and immediately after to fall in upon them with their Swords and Musquet-ends Montrose commands the right Flank against Scot the left to the Lord Kilponâ— and the Battel to Mac-Donel with his Irish. Montrose sends to the Enemy one Drummond Son to the Lord Maderty who told them That Montrose had his Commission from the King Victory they might have if they would please to conquer themselves and return to their Allegeance for his own part he was not covetous of any mans wealth nor ambitious of their honour nor envious of any mans preferment nor thirsty of bloud onely he begged of them to return faithfull to their King hitherto provoked with unspeakable injuries who had deserved to be the best of Kings These inhumane Wretches gave no Answer but send the Messenger Prisoner to Perth Being now within Musquet-shot the Enemy sends out Drummond with the Forlorn Hope at the first Onset routed them back to their Main Body and with a shout le ts loose his whole Forces upon them and puts them to flight pursued six miles two thousand slain and as many Prisoners the most take Oath with him but proved perfidious he took the City Perth but without one jot of Plunder Here he stays three Days to whom comes the Earl of Kinole with some Gentlemen of Gawry inconstant too Arguile was come up with his Army Montrose quarters in the Fields having passed over Tay near Conper a Village in Angus where Sir Thomas Ogleby Son to the Earl of Arley comes to him with others next morning early there happened a base Murder in Montrose's Quarters one Stuart lodging that night with the Lord Kilponten discovered his Design to murder Montrose inviting his assistance upon great assurance of preferment from the Covenanters who set him on work which being the Lord refused he suddenly stabb'd him with many wounds and before Day and dark he escaped to Arguile and was forthwith preferred to high Commands Montrose marches to Dundee who refuse to submit but he not fitted for a Siege turns towards Eske amongst his supposed Friends who yet withdrew onely the Ear of Arley a man of sixty years old with his two Sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some others joyned with him through all extremities to the end And now they march towards Aberdine where lay Commissioners of the Covenanters with an Army of two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse commanded by the Lord Burgly labouring to assure the Northern parts which Montrose would prevent and fight them ere that Arguile should come and first gets the Bridg over Dee where he found the Enemy drawn up near the City Montrose had but fifteen hundred Foot and but just four and fourty Horse for he had given leave to Kilponten's men to convoy their dead Master home and the Athole men were returned with Spoil with these he made two Divisions mixing his best Fire-men and Archers nimble and quick on either Wing to prevent the Enemies Horse upon his Rear the right Flank to Iames Hay and Nathaniel Gordon the left to Sir William Rollock The Enemies left Wing was commanded by Lewis Gordon Son to the Marquess Huntly a Hare-brain'd Fellow that had forced his Fathers Friends to this Fight who charges Montrose's right Flank whom Rollock aided with twenty Horse and beating back three hundred to a Rout and run away but left them for the Enemies right Wing of Horse was charging their left who had no Horse till these twenty Horse were got in but not able to endure so great a Charge wheeled about and fell upon the Enemies Flank with their Swords and put them also to Flight Those Horse that stood it out were to be assisted with fresh Foot out of the Main Body which Montrose soon apprehending prevented them fell upon the other on all sides and put them to a Flight whom he followed with execution into the Gates and Streets
testimony thereof if it shall please you to expresse it to us wherein we may be useful to the States our honoured neighbours and Predecessors in the like sufferings Sir Iohn Winter was up again and obtains from Prince Rupert two thousand Horse and fifteen hundred Foot and so manages his business as drawes all Glocester Forces upon him marching to Westbury quartering within a mile of Winter but then Massie not able to do much against six thousand Horse and Foot drove after the rear of their march and attending their motion with petty Forces of fifteen hundred Horse and Foot and some Forces from Northampton and Warwick was got to Lidbury whither came a part of the Army within half a mile of the Town to surprize or summon it Massie commands his Horse to mount and marches off the Foot that the Cavaliers right or left wing might not get before him which they endeavoured by sending one party to the Towns end to keep him play whilest two other parties fetched a compass on either hand but Massie was enforced to entertain the other with several changes Here was Backhouse mortally wounded Massie's Horse shot under him but Prince Rupert plyed him so close that Massie drawes off retreats and then flies a sore day to Massie being in the instant of surprize but escaped Here the Prince being to form sufficient powers summons the County to this Protestation as the Parliament had done in the like President That they believe no power of Pope or Parliament can depose the King and absolve them from their natural obedience to his royal person and Successors that the two Houses of Parliament without the Kings consent have no power to make lawes or to binde or oblige the Subjects by their Ordinances that they believe the Earls of Essex and Manchester Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Waller together with all such as have already or shall hereafter take up Arms by Authoritie or Commission from the Members of Parliament at Westminster pretending to fight for King and Parliament doe thereby become actual Rebels and as such ought with all their adherents and partakers to be presented and brought to condigne punishment That they will never bear Arms in their quarrel but will if they be thereto called assist their Sovereign and his Armies in the defence of his Royal person Crown and Dignity against all contrary Forces to the utmost of their skil and power and with the hazard of their Lives and Fortunes That they will not discover the secrets of his Majesties Armie unto the Rebels nor hold any correspondence with them and all designs of theirs against the Kings Armie for the surprizing or delivering up of the Cities of Hereford or Worcester or any other of his Majesties Forts they shall truly discover unto those whom it shall concern so soon as it comes to their knowledge That his Majesties taking up of Arms for the causes by himself so often declared in Print is justly necessary That they shall endeavour all they can to hinder popular Tumults Risings Rendezvouz Meetings Confederacies and Associations of the people Townes Hundreds and Counties which are not warranted to Assemble by his Majesties express Commissions and in the sence he means it and that they detest from their hearts the seditious and traiterous late invented National Covenant and protest never to take it All these particulars to vow and protest sincerely to observe without Equivocation or mental Reservation This was conceived by the people very just and reasonable for it was a Riddle to the meanest understanding for the King to fight against those that pretended to fight for him This Protestation therefore taught them how to distinguish that the Parliament borrowed the Kings name to amaze the people Prince Ruperts Army the main rest of the Kings affairs draining Garisons and taking in to him the lesser Brigades Colonel Goring's Brigade passed from Bristol over Severn to the Prince at Hereford And now Rupert drawes thence the Infantry and Artillery lay between Worcester and Bewdly commanded by Sir Iacob Ashly whilest Rupert and Maurice with the Horse and some select Foot fetcht off the King from Oxford assisted also with Goring's Horse and Dragoons who left his Majesty at Stow and marched back over the Hills into the West through the Glocester-shire Borders Glocester association in much want received three hundred and fourty Auxiliaries in two Troops from the Grand Garison Newport Paynel out of Buckingham-shire and with all thâ—se and their own were hardly able to keep their Counties from daily distresses surprizal and imprisonments Sir Iohn Winter having with much resolution and providence maintained his House Lidney a Garison against several assaults of his Adversaries and now called away to publick service into the body of the Army and not willing to leave his House a prey to his Enemies advantage deserted and fired it having weakened his adverse party round about and left them nothing to live upon naked and ruined And now comes a larger supply of Horse to Glocester from the remainder of Colonel Beke and Dalby's Regiments commanded by Major Baller and so was enabled for some enterprize Evesham had much distressed VVorcester hindering the Parliaments Committee for establishing that County Massie therefore drew forth before it with five hundred Foot from Glocester and two hundred from VVarwick who belonged to the VVorcester Committee with a strong able Brigade of Horse and summoned Colonel William Leg Governour of Evesham to make a speedy surrender of the Garison with all Persons Arms Ammunition and Provision which he there held against the King and Parliament and the Iustice of them both Or upon the refusal to expect such Iustice as Fire and Sword would inflict To which he received this Answer You are hereby answered in the name of His Majesty that this Garison intrusted to me I will defend so long as I can with the Men Arms and Ammunition therein being nothing terrified with your pittifull summons perceiving that you are a stranger and slenderly acquainted with our strength and resolution not admitting any further Treaty but you to do your worst The Assault was to be made upon each part of the Town VVorcester side was to be stormed in five places and one place of the Bridge on the other side of the River The commanded parties of the Foot were lead on by the several Captaines and seconded by the Horse divided into three Bodies After the disposition of the Design and the night spent in Alarms the signal was given a little after break of day when Horse and Foot fell on both together in a furious assault broke up the Pallasadoes filled the Grafts with Fagots made sundry passages recovered the works and stood firm on the Parapet whilest the Musquetiers from within played furiously on the Assaylants The Foot having recovered the shelter of the Ditch beat off them within got up by Scaling Ladders stood upon the breast Works and some entered but were bravely
great Guns Morter-pieces Fire-balls hot Irons with the help of the Winde fired the upper Town in four places of a flame and unquenchable Tom Eliot was sent down to the General who now would not be intreated nothing but Fire and Sword having twice refused his Offer of Treaty yet they agree and Surrender is made and a Cessation on the sudden the fire quenching and conclude with fair Quarter and to march out leaving such Ammunition and Plunder as escaped burning vvhich vvas very little not vvorth the bloudy purchase And to conclude this Moneth the lasting Siege of Scarborough Castle in the North vvas novv surrendered upon honourable terms many Commanders having laid their Bones there Meldrum the Scot did his best for a long time but enduring monstrous misery by a Shot in his back died under the Walls Then comes Sir Matthew Bointon in his place and after his tedious time and the Garison vvorn out by sickness and many slain and no hope of Relief all the North cleared to the Parliament the noble Governour Sir Hugh Cholmlâ—y renders it upon very good Conditions Rabby Castle suffered under the like fate and like Conditions Some two or three such Garisons continue yet for the King as Skipton and Sandal Castle but are upon surrendring The Scots are marching towards Worcester and by the way took Canon Froom a strong Garison by Storm Hopton is near Exeter Greenvile about Southam Goring at Okington Rupert at Bristol ready to endure a Stege Prince Maurice at Worcester and the King in Wales On goes the General and the last of Iuly Bath was surrendered to him His Head Quarters being at Wells he sent a Party against Sherburn and another Party of two Regiments of Horse and two Companies of Dragoons under Command of Colonel Rich towards Bath to view the Town at the approach of his Horse and coming down the Hill to the Bridg the Town took an Allarm and discharged their Ordnance and Rich assailed an Out-work and beat them in possessing the place all night indeed it was not fortied and no boot to stand it out against so great a power as Fairfax had hard by and the sooner to condition the better terms and so Sir Thomas Bridges the Governour renders it upon good Conditions to march out in Souldier-like posture to Bristol And Fairfax marches to Wells where he stays being by this time in want of Recruits and then he is for Sherburn The City of Hereford for the King was committed to the Goverment of Sir Barnabas Scudamore a gallant expert Commander a Garison of good consequence faithfull and loyal receiving Contribution from the Counties thereabout and thither were the Scots ordered to march for reducing it to the Parliaments Service They came the thirtieth of Iuly their Forlorn of Horse were suddenly charged with a party of twenty Horse and beaten into the Main Body retreating in disorder then the whole Body of Horse faced the Besieged about ten a clock in the morning within the reach of Cannon and were welcomed with some execution the Foot as yet undiscovered a strong party of Foot came out privately and lined the Hedges galling the Scots in their passage to the Fords and so retreated and presently insafed all their Ports the next Morning came up the sole Body of Foot and surrounded the City No sooner set but they invite the Besieged to a Surrender by a double Summons one from the General Leven directed to the Governour the other from the Committee of both Kingdoms attending the Army sent to the Mayor and Corporation who complied so well in their Resolution that one Answer served for both parties a scornfull Denial The Scots challenge was thus For the Governour of the Citie of Hereford SIR Our appearance in this posture is for no other end but the setling of Truth with Peace in England without the least desire of shedding the bloud of any Subject therefore this is to summon you to deliver up that City unto me for the King and Parliament of England if herein you be wise and happy you may have Conditions honourable and safe otherwise all the world will acquit me of the manifold Inconveniencies Consider your own condition and those under your charge whose bloud will be required upon your account And return me Answer within three hours July 31. ten a clock Leven My Lord I am not to give up the Kings Garisons upon any Summons or Letter neither shall it be in the power of the Mayor or other to condescend to any such Propositions made unto him I was set in here by the Kings command and shall not quit it but by special Order from his Majesty or the Prince And with this Resolution I shall persist in Hereford this July 31. 1645. B. Scudamore This not satisfactory the Scots began their Approach the first of August but very slowly rather intending their own security than the hurt of others but their art could not protect them from small and great Shot which fell upon them and by several Sallies were much galled first over Wye Bridg beating them to their Main Guard at another time demolisht one side of Martin's Steeple which would have annoyed the Besieged at the Bridg and Pallace and in these two Sallies they lost but two Men but the Scots lost many Then the Scots make use of a better Engin the Mayor and Aldermen are now courted to yield the Town by an Epistle subscribed by six of the County Gentlemen very compassionate and swasive which was answered with neglect And so they continue their Line of Communication raise their Batteries commencing at Wye Bridg from whence they received their own greatest Dammage and here amongst many others was slain their much lamented Major General Crafford which provoked them to play upon the Gate for two Days battering it useless but was stopt up with Wool-packs and Timber and to elude the Assailants the Besieged broke an Arch but raised a very strong Work behinde it The Scots frustrate here raise two several Batteries at the Friers and over the River and from thence ply their Ordnance against Wye side but are as quick repaired and the Walls lined faster than they can batter and therefore desist Then the eleventh of August the Scots undermine at Frene-gate but are discovered and counter-mined and thereupon it is carried on at the other side of the Gate which was defeated by making a Sally Port and issued thereout broke it open and fired it The thirteenth they raise Batteries round about the Town and make a Bridg over Wye The fourteenth they send a Messenger to Dr. Scudamore with a simple Letter from three Gentlemen of the County to the Governour May it please your Honour We having a great desire for the good of the City and County and seeing the great distress like to ensue to both Citie and Countie think fit to present these to your Honour and to give you to understand that if it
observe that your Majesty desires the engagement not only of the Parliament but of the Lord Mayor Aldermen Common Council and Militia of the City of London the Chief Commanders of Sir Fairfax's Army and those of the Scots Army which is against the Priviledges and honour of the Parliament those being joyned with them who are subject and subordinate to their Authority That which your Majesty against the freedom of the Parliaments enforces in both your Letters with many earnest expressions as if in no other way then that propounded by your Majesty the peace of the Kingdoms could be established Your Majesty may please to remember that in our last Letter we did declare that Propositions from both Kingdoms were speedily to be sent to your Majesty which we conceive to be the only way for the attaining a happy and well grounded peace and your Majesties Answer to those Propositions will be an effectual means in giving satisfaction and security to your Kingdoms will assure a firm Union between the two Kingdoms as much desired each for other as for themselves and setle Religion and secure the peace of the Kingdom of Scotland whereof neither is so much as mentioned in your Majesties Letter And in proceeding according to these just and necessary grounds for the putting an end to the bleeding Calamities of these Nations your Majesty may have the glory to be principal instument in so happy a work and we how ever mis-interpreted shall approve our selves to God and the VVorld to be real and sincere in seeking a safe and well grounded Peace January 14. But the King being earnest for their Answers sends another Messenger the 15. of Ianuary in pursuance of his former Messages of the 26. and 29. of December which met the Parliaments Trumpet with their Answer of the 13. Ianuary The Kings Message was thus Ian. 15. C. R. But that these are times wherein nothing is strange it were a thing much to be marvelled at what should cause this unparallel'd long detention of his Majesties Trumpet sent with his gracious Message of the twenty sixt of December last peace being the only subject of it and his Majesties personal Treaty the means proposed for it And it were almost as great a wonder that his Majesty should be so long from enquiring after it if the hourly expectation thereof had not in some measure satisfied his impatience But lest his Majesty by his long silence should condemn himself of carelesseness in that which so much concerns the good of all his people he thinks it high time to enquire after his said Trumpeter For since all men who pretend any goodness must desire peace and that all men know Treaties to be the best and most Christian way to procure it and there being as little question that his Majesties personal presence in it is the likelyest way to bring it to a happy issue he judges there must be some strange variety of accidents which causeth this most tedious delay wherefore his Majesty earnestly desires to have a speedy account of his former Message the Subject whereof is Peace and the means his personal presence at Westminster where the Government of the Church being setled as it was in the times of the happy and glorious Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James and full liberty for the ease of their Consciences who will not communicate in that service established by Law and likewise for the free and publick use of the Directory prescribed and by command of the two Houses of Parliament now practised in some parts of the City of London to such as shall desire to use the same and all forces being agreed to be disbanded his Majesty will then forthwith as he hath in his Message of the twenty ninth of December last already offered joyn with his two Houses of Parliament in setling some way for the payment of the Publick Debts to his Scots Subjects the City of London and others and his Majesty having proposed a fair way for the sâ—â—ling of the Militia which now by this long delay seems not to be thought sufficient security his Majesty to shew how really he will imploy himself at his coming to Westminster for making this a lasting peace and taking away all jealousies how groundless soever will endeavour upon debate with his two Houses so to dispose of it as likewise of the business of Ireland as may give to them and both Kingdoms just satisfaction not doubting also but to give good contentment to his two Houses of Parliament in the choise of the Lord Admiral the Officers of State and others if his two Houses by their ready inclinations to peace shall give him encouragements thereunto Thus his Majesty having taken occasion by his just impatience so to explain his intentions that no man can doubt of a happy issue to this succeding Treaty If now there shall be so much as a delay of the same he calls God and the World to witness who they are that not only hinder but reject this Kingdoms future happiness it being so much the stranger that his Majesties coming to Westminster which was the first and greatest pretence for taking up Arms should be so much as delayed much lesse not accepted or refused but his Majesty hopes that God will no longer suffer the malice of wicked men to hinder the peace of this too much afflicted Kingdom Given at the Court at Oxford the 15. of Ianuary 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers c. And now it begins to work in the hearts of the people muttering and murmurring the true state of these transactions and the Christian pious affection of the King to peace The Parliament therefore set all their Engines to satisfie the public And after the debate of the King 's last Letter they read Letters from their Commissioners in Ireland together with some other Letters and Papers taken in the Pockets of the Arch-bishop of Trane who was slain at the overthrow of the Rebells at Sligo in Ireland discovering all the transactions between the King and them with whom the Bishop was to Treat offering Toleration of Religion themselves to choose a Governour of their own and to be intrusted with several Castles and Forts for their Caution upon condition to send in to England ten thousand Irish to assist him against his Enemies And these Papers were forthwith printed and published together with those Letters taken in the Lord Digbie's Coach at Sherburn in Yorkshire and all to amuse the people for to satisfie them thereby they could not The King hears of this and digesting it as well as he could he Plies them again with a tarter Message dated 17. Ianuary thus C. R. His Majesty thinks not fit now to Answer those aspersions which are returned as arguments for his not admittance to Westminster for a personal Treaty because it would enforce a stile not suitable to his end it being the peace of those miserable Kingdoms yet thus much he cannot but say
that No eclipse of outward fortune shall rob me of that light what God hath denied of outward strength his grace I hope will supplie with inward resolutions not morosely to denie what is fit to be granted but not to grant anie thing which Reason and Religion bid me denie I shall never think my self less then my self while I am able thus to preserve the integritie of my conscience the only jewel now left me which is worth keeping But the Parliament in doubt how to be used by this advantage which the Scots had of the Kings person they send again Letters to the Prince of Wales to invite him to come into the Parliaments Quarters with offer of all due respect befitting his Highness which Letter was sent to Colonel Russel their Governour of Garnsey to convey to the Prince who was now at Iersey increasing in power by addition of some of Hoptons scattered Forces out of Cornwal and some landed out of Ireland having also possessed himself of all the Vessels in Iersey and others hired of the French for securing that Island and as occasion may happen to be able to attempt upon Garnsey to which place the Parliament had sent six Ships and Ammunition The King is caressed at Newcastle with Bone-fires and Bel-ringing Drums and Trumpets with peals of 〈◊〉 and Vollies of Shot but guarded with three hundred of the 〈◊〉 Horse those near him bare-headed and lodged at General Levens Quarters who proclaims That no Papists or Delinquents shall come near his presence And another Proclamation That although his Majesties person was present yet all men whatsoever should yield obedience to the Ordinance of Parliament Leven 18. May. And the Committee of Estate in Scotland proclaim there That no person whatsoever depart that Kingdon by Sea or by Land without warrant to continue till the first of June next The Scotish Army are now they imagine Masters of all by their power of the Kings person and leavie intolerable Taxes and Assessements upon all the Northern Counties which very coursly resent them and complain to the Parliament at Westminster not without some rising of the people standing upon their Guard and all the Scotish Horse formerly sent into Scotland are returned into Yorkshire which makes the House of Commons to debate and Vote That this Kingdom had no further need of the Armie of our brethren the Scots in this Kingdom and that the summe of one hundred thousand pounds should be advanced and paid to that Armie as followeth viz. 50000. l. thereof after their surrendring of Newcastle Carlisle and other the English Garisons possessed by them in England and the other 50000. l. after they are advanced into Scotland and order shall be taken for payment of their Arrears And forthwith Mr. Alexander Henderson the Scots Apostolick Minister and one of their Cmmissioners is sent from Westminster to Newcastle to dispute with the King and to convince him to the Covenant where after several discourses and meetings the King is pleased to descend so low as to argue reasons by writings which continued several encounters by Papers till the 16. of Iuly concerning Church matters by Authoritie of the Fathers and practice of the Church which Henderson would avoid by the Text of Scriptures and from thence his own Opinion should guide him beyond all Universal consent or practice of the Primitive Church which were erroneous But the King concludes that to him it is incredible that any Custom of the Catholick Church to be erroneous which was not contradicted by Orthodox Learned men in the times of their first pratice as is easily perceived that these Defections were some of them may be justly called Rebellions which Henderson mentions And lastly that albeit he nere esteem'd any Authoritie equall to the Scriptures yet he thinks the unanimous consent of the Fathers and the universal practice of the Primitive Church to be the best and Authentical Interpreters of Gods word and consequently the fittest Judges between Him and Henderson until better may be found as for example he sayes I think Mr. Henderson the best Preacher in Newcastle yet I believe you may erre and possibly a better Preacher may come but till then I must retain my opinion C. R. Iuly 16. These Disputes are in Print which shewes his Majesties temper and knowledge to treat so long with a peevish Presbyter Amongst many that hazarded themselves to approach the Kings presence was that aforesaid Master Hudson a Minister and a faithful constant assistant to the Kings desires the only person that ordered his disguise and iourney to the Scots Army this man is taken and in custody of the Deputy Mayor of Newcastle and by Order of Parliament to be brought up to their Bar and Ashburnham also But Ashburnham was gone ere the Messenger got thither some say to Montrose and General Leven makes answer for him that the Scots conceive not that Ashburnhams bringing the King into their Army makes him an Incendiary and that Hudson is forth coming who soon after got away but was taken at Sandwich going over beyond Seas This gives the Parliament a taste of the Scots intentions which could not be well relished therefore Engins are set on work Petitions and Complaints are received examined and proved against the Plundering Cruelties and Misdemeanours of the Scots Army in the Northern parts and that instead of 8000. l. a moneth Assessement they have charged 9000. l. a moneth The Citie of London also pour forth Petition upon Petition as they are directed with Congratulatory Exordiums and Prefaces for their invincible resolutions care and pains for the fafety liberty and property of the People bound up in and under the blessed Parliament That Iustice and Iudgement run down in a stream and Mercy and Truth take place And implore their further Protection not to be enslaved under the power of any upon what colourable pretence soever nor to share with the Parliament nor to prescribe unto them in the Government or power of this Nation to whose great trust it hath ever been to order their own matters by their own great Councel without the confluence of any other And to be encouraged hereto they offer the Hand Hearts Lives Estates of the whole City and Millions more shall still be with them to stand by and support them against whomsoever shall with open face or secret Conspiracies oppose them Here are the Scots laid aside we can now do our own Work without the further help of our dear Brethren But the Scots Army set out their Declaration in excuse and desire to stand upon the truth of their Justification which wrought much upon their Faction And the Parliament as forward to oppose them by a Declaration in Answer to the other and to vindicate the people And now comes an Expressesone of the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland with Copies of several Letters the one from the King to Ormond dated from Oxon the third of April 1646.
Kings cause the danger of the Kingdome and after all to beseech a conference with Montrose But he returned answer with peevish scorns Wherefore Montrose resolves to surprise into reason Therefore in depth of Winter the last of December he marches through Angus over Gransbaw hills and so with a few men he comes direct North into Sâ—ratbogge where Huntly kept in hold but with wondrous cunning escaped to his Castle Bogye upon the mouth of the River Spey that runs North and South Thither posts Montrose with two men and so disguised rushes in and salutes him Where they confer and over-mastred with Montrose's reason and perhaps loyalty to his Sovereigns cause they agree and shook hands in earnest Huntlâ—y to pass over the Spey and fall down into Murray Land South-West Montrose to march Southwards on the East side to Strath-spey and then suddenly to meet and Besiege Innerness a Garison in the North of Murray Land on the Sea Coast above the great Lake Nessa which was near froze And his two Sons Alboin and Lewis coâ—firmed friendship and obedience hereto upon the most assurance by oath that could possible be given from men of Honour and by force of fair means to draw to them the Earl of Seafort Montrose accordingly Marches with his Forces towards Innerness and sends Patrick Graham and Dromond to raise the whole men seven hundred who were put to it for the Arguile Party and others were fallen upon the Mack-Gregories and Mack-Nubies who sided with Montrose with fifteen hundred men Having already fired a Town in the Lakes and besieged Ample Castle from which they are forced by the Athole men and pursued but Face about and fight and being Routed fly and many slain and so return to Montrose Of whom we take leave till we meet the next year The Foraign Affairs speak the surrender of Dunkirk to the French the tenth of October and the same day the news was carried to the King and Queen Regent newly arrived at Paris from Fountain-Bleau the Spaniards have now but three Haven Towns in Flanders Newport and Baukerber which are not fit for greater Vessels then of ten Tun and that of Ostend in truth capable of greater but those less safe there than in the open Road. The Besieged Marched out of Dunkirk that night with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse besides four hundred sick and wounded persons they have lost in their defence six or seven hundred of their best men those that marched out were conducted to Newport The Duke of Anguien now Prince Conde put in the Marshall of Rantzaw Governour thereof The Holland Ships assisted the French here We may not confound the Original and Natural Inhabitants with an heap of divers Nations who being brought under the Banners of Spain into their Haven commodious for Sea-roads did exercise that Piracy which naturally the Spaniard doth not profess The chiefest of the Natural people are Flemings a Generation of good men lovers of Traffique Improvers of Handicraft as appears by the great Trade and Commerce of those most populous Towns of Flanders and the rest of the Netherlands Another sort of them subsisting wholly by Thieving and Piracie The fifth of September the Emperour at Prague came attired in his Emperial Robes with his Eldest Son in white cloth of Tyssue early into the Cathedral Church of the Castle attended with divers Princes and Lords that bare several dignities and honours in the State of Germany the Emperour sat upon a Throne of Gold the Son upon Silver who having been re-attired with Royal Abiliments in a side Chappel was conducted by the Estates of Bohemia unto his Throne where after Masse he went and kneeled down before the Cardinal of Harach invironed with sixteen Prelats in Pontificalibus Annointed him and put on his Head a Regal Crown whereupon he was proclaimed King of Bohemia and received the Oath of Allegeance of the Peâ—rs and States of that Kingdom and the Ceremonies and Feastings finished the Father and Son went to Lintz The Parliament and Scot having bought and sold the best Bargain are soon decieved of their Prize by a third party as bad as both the other The Parliament jealous of any present Power to prevail but themselves by degrees debate the lessening of the Army thereby to be rid of such whom they misliked And to send over thousands of them into Ireland to manage that War against the Rebells there But the Souldiers set on begin to Mutiny and being ripe for acting their Commanders underhand abet them and after some alteration it â—ell into Sedition and so into Division those for the Parliament fared the worse and were Cashiered And therefore â—twas necessary for some truly affected to discriminate the other Those who were intrusted were called Agitators two out of each Regiment who indeed with others of more power Acted for erecting a Democracie having seized the King out of custody of the Parliaments Commissioners under pretence of favour and freedom of his person they indulge him with many small Experiments for the present of his Chaplains converse with his Children caress him to his most eminent Palace so that the Camp and Court seemed one nay they frame Proposals to provide for the King the Army and people envy at the Parliament accuse divers Members of high Treason urge the Dissolution of the Parliament regnant and all this seemingly for the Kings Interest In fine the Military march up to the Parliament and formidable put them in fear Some of the Members of either Houses with their Speakers fly to the Camp for succour the City and such as stay behinde prepare for a Defence whose Circle being too wide for their Management and unfaithfull to themselves fall into Factions the whole City submit to the Discretion of the Army who first ingratiate the Speakers and Members in the Camp and setle them into their Seats again with condign punishment and Impeachment of high Treason upon the Lord Mayor Aldermen divers Lords and many Members The Tower and City Militia are new-modelled into other hands their Fortifications demolished and their Lines of Communication levelled the Admiralty ordered into Commissioners ad yet for all these punishments the City give thanks and pay a Largess to the Army Thus the former eminent power the Presbyter by their own weight and pride sink and raise the other yet these are at their wits end also unresolved and unsetled The people at gazâ— for a Government Proposals from the Army and Propositions from the Parliament the King refuses as in hope to have them lessened which they take for an advantage to themselves The Wheel turns and he is threatned and under hand advised of some Danger to his person which whilest he seeks to avoid he falls into their Pit prepared for him and afterwards into eminent Destruction which the story too soon discovers We may wonder what becomes of the Prince Elector Palatine he remained at Westminster for his Interest might
Propositions of Peace may be speedily presented to his Majesty and that Colonel Rossiter and his Regiment may guard his person The Army declare likewise That they appeal in the business of Ireland and desire of the Parliament to review their former Papers not yet satisfied that the Parliament and Kingdom are concerned therein pleading the Declarations of the Parliament themselves therein in point of Freedom Peace Safety the Laws of the Kingdom the President of Scotland and in the close conclude with Propositions for setling and securing their own and the Kingdoms common Rest Peace and Safety grounded upon these positive Articles That the Houses may be speedily purged of such as ought not to sit there That such who abused the Parliament and Army and endanger the Kingdom may be speedily disabled from doing the like or worse That some determinate period of time may be set to this and future Parliaments according to the intent of the Bill for Triennial Parliaments That provision may be not to be adjournable or dissolvable by any power but by their own consent during their respective period and then to determine themselves That the freedom of the people to present Grievances by Petition to Parliament may be vindicated That the exorbitant powers of Countrey Committees may be taken away That the Kingdom may be satisfied in the Parliaments Accounts for their vast Sums received and also in divers other things wherein the Common-wealth have been abused That after Delinquents have passed their Compositions an Act of Oblivion may be passed These fly high and therefore the Parliament to appease them send Commissioners to treat with the General to receive their Grievance which now is returned a Charge against eleven Members of the Commons Denzil Hollis Esq. Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewis Sir Iohn Clotworthy Sir William Waller Sir Iohn Mainard Major General Massey Mr. Glyn Recorder of London Colonel Walter Long Colonel Edward Harley and Anthony Nichols Esq. Which Charge being read to their faces some of them made excuse for the present But this Charge is brought up by these Officers of Note four Colonels Scroop Okey Hewson and Pride Lieutenant Colonels Bowen and Goff Major Desborough and five Captains Berry Clark Carter Rolph and Saxbie and must be obeyed for there follows them a Paper also from the General and Army shewing That in pursuance of the Representation they have the Heads of a Charge against these Members and shall appoint fit persons on our and the Kingdoms behalf to make good the same and that if the Parliament shall admit the Debate and Consideration then the Armie shall desire That the persons impeached may be forthwith suspended from sitting in the House who have notoriously appeared to the prejudice and provocation of the Armie and unfit to be Iudges therein That a Moneths Pay be immediately sent down to the Armie the next Day by Noon at the farthest That if those Officers and Souldiers of the Army who have engaged in Ireland or those who have deserted the Army and come to London have received more than a Moneths Pay that then so much more Money may be sent to the Army to make their Pay equal And that hereafter they have no more Pay till the Army be paid their Arrears And concerning secret Practices and Designs to raise and list new Forces and those engaged in Ireland to march towards London to engage in a second War That no force be further raised in these Kingdoms or invited from foreign preparations to interrupt the Liberties and Peace of the Kingdom And all these to be speedily performed the condition of the Army and Kingdom and King himself not admitting Delaies June 27. To which obedience was performed and the several Orders for listing and drawing together any Forces of the Counties as also that other of listing the Reformadoes Officers to engage in the Parliaments Service are nulled and void But the Parliament debate the suspension of their eleven Members and vote That by Law no Iudgment can be given to suspend those Members before the particulars of the Papers be produced and the proofs made Nor have those Members done or said any thing within the House for which the House can suspend them But the Army is displeased the eleven Members forbear the House But not to affright the Parliament and City by being too near with the Army they removed to Backhamstead seven and twenty Miles from London thence to Uxbridg the six and twentieth of Iune and the King came from Roiston to Hatfield to the Earl of Salisbury's and thence to Causam the Lord Craven's The Army answer these Votes That they can prove them guilty of such practices in the House as will be just for the House to suspend them And that by the Laws of the Land and the Parliaments Precedents in the E. of Strafford Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the Lord Keeper Finch and others upon very Papers of Accusation they were suspended the sitting in Parliament and yet the Army is ready to give in a Charge against them and because the Members have of themselves forborn the House they are to be so forborn till they be proceeded against which is ready Iune 27. And yet to comply with the Desires of the Parliament the Army remove to Wickham And truly as the Kings Surprizal at Holmby and those future Distractions amazed most men to foresee the Issue and effects so it put the King into serious contemplation as he expresses himself What part God will have me now to act or suffer in this new and strange Scene of Affairs I am not much solicitous some little practice will serve that man who onely seeks to represent a part of honesty and honour This Surprize of Me tells the World that a King cannot be so low but he is considerable adding weight to that party where he appears This motion like others of the times seems excentrick and irregular yet not well to be resisted or quieted Better swim down such a stream then in vain to strive against it These are but the strugglings of those Twins which lately one womb enclosed the younger striving to prevail against the elder what the Presbyterians have hunted after the Independents now seek to catch for themselves So impossible it is for lines to be drawn from the center and not to divide from each other so much the wider by how much they go farther from the point of union That the builders of Babel should from division fall to confusion is no wonder but for those that pretend to build Jerusalem to divide their tongues and hands is but an ill Omen and sounds too like the fury of those Zealots whose intestine bitternesse and divisions were the greatest occasion of the last fatal destruction of that City Well may I change my Keepers and Prison but not my Captive condition only with this hope of bettering that those who are so much professed Patrons for the peoples Liberties cannot
be utterly against the Libertie of their King what they demand for their own Consciences they cannot in reason denie to mine In this they seem more ingenious then the Presbyterian rigor who sometimes complaining of exacting their conformitie to Laws are become the greatest Exactors of other mens submission to their novel injunctions before they are stamped with the Authority of Laws which they cannot well have without my consent 'T is a great argument that the Independents think themselves manumitted from their Rival's service in that they carry on a business of such consequence as the assuming my person into the Armies custodie without any Commission but that of their own will and power Such as will thus adventure on a King must not be thought over-modest or timorous to carry on any design they have a minde to The next motion menace's and scares both the two Houses and the City which soon after acting over again that former part of Tumultuarie motions never questioned punished or repented of must now suffer for both and see their former sin in the glass of the present terrors and distractions No man is so blinde as not to see herein the hand of Divine Iustice they that by Tumults first occasioned the raising of Armies must now be chastened by their own Armie for new Tumults So hardly can men be content with one sin but add sin to sin till the later punish the former such as were content to see me and many Members of both Houses driven away by the first unsuppressed Tumults are now forced to flie to an Armie or defend themselves against them But who can unfold the riddle of some mens justice The Members of both Houses who at first withdrew as my self was forced to do from the rudeness of the Tumults were counted Desertors and outed of their places in Parliament such as staied then and enjoyed the benefit of the Tumults were asserted for the only Parliament men Now the fliers from and forsakers of their places carry the Parliamentary power along with them complain highly against the Tumults and vindicate themselves by an Army Such as remained and kept their Stations are looked upon as Abettors of Tumultuarie Insolencies and Betraiers of the Freedom and honour of Parliament Thus is Power above all Rule Order and Law where men look more to present Advantages then their Consciences and the unchangeable Rules of Iustice while they are Iudges of others they are forced to condemn themselves Now the plea against Tumults holds good the Authors and Abettors of them are guilty of prodigious insolencies when as before they were counted as Friends and necessary Assistants I see Vengeance pursues and overtakes as the Mice and Rats are said to have done a Bishop in Germany them that thought to have escaped and fortified themselves most impregnably against it both by their multitude and compliance Whom the Laws cannot God will punish by their own crimes and hands I cannot but observe this divine Iustice yet with sorrow and pitie for I alwaies wished so well to the Parliament and City that I was sorry to see them doe or suffer any thing unworthy such great and considerable bodies in this Kingdom I was glad to see them only scared and humbled not broken by that shaking I never had so ill a thought of those Cities as to despair of their Loyalty to me which mistakes might Eclipse but I never believed malice had quite put out I pray God the storm be yet wholly passed over them upon whom I look as Christ did sometime over Jerusalem as Objects of my praiers and tears with compassionate grief fore-seeing those severer scatterings which will certainly befall such as wantonly refuse to be gathered to their duty fatall blindeness frequently attending and punishing wilful so that men shall not be able at last to prevent their sorrows who would not timely repent of their sins nor shall they be suffered to enjoy the comforts who securely neglect the counsels belonging to their peace They will finde that Brethren in iniquitie are not far from becoming insolent enemies there being nothing harder then to keep ill men long in one minde Nor is it possible to gain a fair period for those Notions which go rather in a round and circle of phansie then in a right line of Reason tending to the Law the onely Center of publick consistencie whither I pray God at last bring all sides Which will easily be done when we shall fully see how much more happy we are to be subject to the known Laws then to the various Wills of any men seem they never so plausible at first Vulgar compliance with any illegal and extravagant waies like violent motions in nature soon grows wearie of it self and ends in a refractory sullenness Peoples rebounds are oft in their faces who first put them upon those violent strokes For the Army which is so far excusable as they Act according to Souldiers Principles and interests demanding Pay and Indempnitie I think it necessarie in order to the publick peace that they should be satisfied as far as is just no man being more prone to consider then my self though they have fought against me yet I cannot but so far esteem that valour and gallantrie they have sometime shâ—wed as to wiâ—h I may never want such men to maintain my self my Laws and my Kingdoms in such a Peace as wherein they may enjoy their share and proportion as much as any men The King had made a suit to the Parliament to vouchsafe him the comfort of seeing his Chrildren at Syon as he passed towards Windsor but was not admitted He being now at Causam the Lord Cravens House made his case known to the General who resents it so much that he Writes to the Speaker of the Commons House and the same to the Lords And answered the Parliaments Exceptions because the Duke of Richmond and two of the Kings Chaplains had access to him Mr. Speaker I was sent unto by the King on Friday last to desire the Parliament to give way to him to see his Children and that they might for that purpose be sent unto him If I may be bold humbly to offer my Opinion I think the allowance of such a thing may be without the least prejudice to the Kingdom and yet gain more upon his Majestie than denying it And if it be in the prayers of everie good man that his heart may be gained the performance of such Civilities to him is verie sutable to those desires and will bear well with all men who if they can imagine it their own case cannot but be sorry if his Majesties natural afâ—ection to his Children in so small a thing shall not be complyed with And if any question should be concerning the assurance of their return I shall ingage therein within what time the Parliament shall limit Upon this occasion give me leave I beseech you to take notice of some Reports spread abroad as if my self
1647. In the Letter to the House of Peers which is the same with this to the Commons there was inclosed a Letter from his Majesty to his Son the Duke of York CHARLES REX JAMES I am in hope that you may be permitted with your Brother and Sister to come to some place betwixt this and London where I may see you To this end therefore I command you to ask leave of the two Houses to make a journey if it may be for a night or two But rather then not to see you I will be content that ye come to some convenient place to dine and go back at night And foreseeing the fear of your being brought within the power of the Army as I am may be objected to hinder this my desire I have full assurance from Sir Thomas Fairfax and the chief Officers that there will be no interruption or impediment made by them for your return how and when you please So God bless you Your loving Father Charles R. Casam July 4 1647. Send me word as soon as you can of the time and place where I shall have the contentment of seeing you your Brother and Sister And accordingly the King and they met at Maidstone where they dined together went with the King to Casam and there stayed two dayes and returned Indeed at this time the Parliament were jealous of the K. and Army lest they should Treat without their consent and Pamphlets had been Printed of Heads presented by the Army to the King 19. June As also Articles agreed upon between the King and the Army 26. June which the General complained of since he came to Wickham being devised to distract the Peace of the Kingdom And daily several Petitions were presented by Prentices to the Parliament in many particulars which the next day another number of Prentices would contradict And the Army likewise devised as many jealousies and fears of a private Ingagement and Subscribing in the City of London and against the Army Then the Parliament Order their Votes of the Militia in the hands of the City to be Null and for to be Treason to seek Subscriptions to Petitions Upon which the Prentices clamour at the Houses and in Westminster Hall in such Multitudes and Mutiny that the Commons were forced to Unvote and Null their last Orders And in this Hubbub the Army Marches neerer London Orders are therefore given by the Militia that the Trained Bands doe Man the Works and Proclamation for all the Inhabitants that have or can bear Arms to appear in their defence of the City against the Army 30. Iuly But the 11. Members were wise enough to ponder their different conditions and Power now not to struggle with an Army though 5. such other Members had the better heretofore of the King And therefore these having made their way to some of the Officers of the Army and now by a Member Mr. Green to the Parliament They humbly desire and had it granted That leave be given to Denzil Hollis Sir Philip Stapleton and the rest c. for six moneths to be absent at their own home or to go beyond Seas and then to return and attend the Parliament to Answer the Charge against them The debate hitherto of the Treaty between the Commissioners of the Parliament and the Commissioners of the Army came to this result That a Declaration be published by Parliament against the coming in of any Foraign Forces That the pay of the Army be put into a constant course and Accountants called in question That the Militia of London return into former hands well affected That all persons imprisoned for pretended misdemeanours not by course of Law but by Order of Parliament or their Committees to have libertie of Baile and after of Trial If innocent that they may have reparation In particular they mention Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburn Mr. Musgrave Mr. Overton and others imprisoned at London or any other places contrarie to the Acts and Statutes of 35. Eliz. and the 3. of James agaist Conventicles or Meetings in pretence of Religious Exercises To grant these and other such Demands the Parliament Vote them neither for their Interest nor Honour the Souldiers heretofore for King and people March on towards the Parliament who with the Londoners prepare for Defence and Vote that the King be invited to London The Parliament in these Distractions had a while Adjourned and now come to Assemble the Speakers of both Houses with about half a hundred of their Members were slipt out of the City and were not to be found but anon tremblingly betake themselves to the Camp crying out against the outrage of their fellows and the Citizens and certain Reformadoes desiring the Armies protection of their persons and to punish the Offenders Some others also of their friends stay behind to manage the Councels in the Houses Hereupon the few Members present Vote new Speakers the Upper House chose the Lord Grey in the place of the Earl of Manchester The Commons Elect Mr. Pellam Councellor of Lincolns Inn and a Member to be Speaker pro tempore A new Mace bearer also one Mr. Nufolk borrowed the City Mace for the present of those who were their friends and thus fitted they began to Vote 29. Iuly That the King comes to London That the City raise what Force they think fit with such Commanders in Chief and Officers of the Militia as they shall appear and so the City chose Major General Massey their Master in chief for the City and Order that all Reformadoes doe appear and be listed in St. Iame's Fields for Defence of the City and so we finde the City and this new Representative to be all one But the General hears of this who for the ease of the Countrey was removed about Bedford pretending thereby in reference to the desires of the City not to approach near London and therefore now he writes to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen c. My Lord and Gentlemen You may please to remember the forward complyance of the Army with your desires to remove at this distance upon assurance that you would secure the Parliament from violence c. And therefore we cannot but be sensible of the unparalleled violation acted upon the Parliament on Munday last 26. July by a multitude from the Citie with incouragement of divers of the Common Councel a prodigious and horrid face tending to dissolve all Government and look upon them as accountable for to the Kingdom the interruption thereby of Peace and settlement of the Nation and relieving of Ireland upon which score the Armie will put every thing of the like nature except Iustice be done to the Offenders Bedford 30. July And finding the City to stand upon their Guard the Army forthwith March a round pace nearer London and within two days were got to Uxbridge and some Horse were entered Windsor Hownslow and then to London professing their Obligations to the Parliament whom they will deâ—end for
the old Speakers and many Members were fled to their Protection And the eleven Members that had leave to travel were now got into this new Parliament and Massie Sir William Waller and Colonel General Poins the City Favourites were Listing Reformadoes and others Souldiers And out comes the City Declaration 31. Iuly in effect That his Majesty was surprised at Holmby and though the Act was disavowed by the General Yet the Armie desire that his person may be Resident with them Improving their interest throughout the Kingdom That the City have indeavoured by Remonstrance and Petitions to satisfie all unbiassed men of their zeal to Peace by establishing the True Religion restoring his Majestie and maintaining Priviledge of Parliament easing the charge of the Kingdom securing the peoples Liberty and relieving of Ireland Endeavouring to hold good correspondency between the Army and City That the Priviledges of Parliament have been violated by the Armies causing the eleven Members to withdraw whilst the City Militia is demanded contrary to the Establishment by Ordinance of Parliament and is subject to no other Cognizance then of the King and Parliament That there is nothing in the world that we desire more then that his Majestie be left free in such an honourable condition and capacitie as his person may appear to be at libertie to receive and treat upon Propositions to be presented to him from the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for whilst his Royal person is invironed by an Army and remains under the power thereof He cannot give that free assent to Propositions as is requisite or if he doe we nor our Posterity have no hope to enjoy the same without alteration And therefore we are resolved to apply our selves to the Parliament and hope that all good Subjects touched with the sence of Duty and Allegiance which by the Law of God and man they owe to the King will unanimously joyn with us therein The matter of difference thus truly stated between us and the Army to wit That we would not submit the Militia of the City to be ruled at the pleasure of an Army after it had been so orderly setled into the hands of such as were intrusted with it for a year when there was a full and free Parliament So we finde it more then time that the whole Kingdom be possessed with the true state thereof and upon whom the guilt of a new War which God forbid must justly lodge and accordingly we expect a blessing from God in our just defence And conclude their desires summmond up to be The settlement of Religion by re-establishing his Majesty in his just Rights and Authority by upholding all lawful priviledges of a free Parliament by maintaining the Fundamental Laws by restoring the Subjects Libertie and propertie by freeing this long oppressed Kingdom of all Taxes enforceed Free Quarter of the Army which hath had no visible Enemy to encounter and from this resolution we shall never recede for any earthly consideration or advantage what soever And although the Parliament had by Ordinance of 19. Iuly given the General power over all the Land Forces under the pay of the Parliament they declare it shall not extend over the Trained Bands and Garisons And both Houses Order that this Declaration be Printed and published by the Militia of the City by sound of Trumpet and that the Sheriffs of the several Counties of this Kingdom and Wales do publish the same in their respective Limits accordingly The Army comes on this night at Wickam to morrow to be at Colebrook and the King now at Latimer The last of Iuly he was two dayes after at Stoke Abby near Windsor In this confusion the City differ among themselves at the sitting of their Common Councel at Guildhall the Trained Bands of Southwark came in a Muâ—inous manner and would not be commanded out of their Borough but there to stand upon their own Guard Then were presented Petitions of thousands well-affected one against another that matters might be composed but what way they cared not nor could they tell And therefore their new Leaders Massey Waller and Poins were displeased with the multitude at Guildhall fell to words and blows divers wounded and some slain and the Aldermen in Councel fearing the people were fain to sit all day and that night and only concluded to write to the General And Petitions are set on work on either side as their constitutions led them some against the Parliament others against the Army others made it their sport to see this confusion in Church and State and like true Bautofees kindled this fire into a flame Men they say that have wasted their Estates in the Kingdoms extremity Some complain for liberty of Conscience are now to a new tone and tune for their Faith are Imprisoned though nothing can be found worthy of death or of durance only for differing in the outside controversies though blameless in Conversation and Office So that in truth it was apparent to the people that after such a vast expense of Blood and Treasure the exchange was of men in Places but not of Manners old burthens with new names new men with old Corruptions Then in places of new Election for Members they first made the choice and then give the Voice complaining against the Parliamentary proceedings and pray the Army not to lay down their power till the Kingdom with its Ruler be committed to the care and chaâ—ge of such persons as may secure us from fear of future oppression The City send 6. Aldermen and 12. Commons with a Letter to the General and complain That the City is suspected though innocent from Acting against the Army and therefore these their Members they send to be added to their Committee now attending the Councel of the Army and pray the General to forbear the mischief of a new War No sooner come but they were presented with the Armies Remonstrance and Proposals And on Hownslow Heath they Rendezvouz twenty thousand Men Horse and Foot with a great Train of Artillery to astonish the City and therefore such of the Parliament as trusted to the Souldiers were there present the Earls of Northumberland Salisbury Kent the Lords Wark Howard Wharton Say and Moulgrave and others fourteen in all the Speaker Mr. Lenthal of the Commons and above a hundred more of their Members The City stand in a maze unresolved and inconstant the Army in the mean time send a Brigade under Command of Rainsborough and Hewson over Kingstone Bridge and all night March to Southwark being called thither in opposition to the City Massey was busie and knowing his own case desperate sent out his Scouts and are met with and taken prisoners some of the Train-men would needs march out and were worsted and lost their Colours for the General was now near Brainford And therefore the City meet him with humble Messages That finding that his desires of Marching so near is to settle the Members of the Lords and
Commons in their Liberties of Parliament to which the City will contribute all their Power and Service and pray with all submission that he will please to send such a Guard of several Regiments as may conduct them to the Parliament in safety and that the Passes and Ports shall be set open for them and what else to his Excellencies command 3. Aug. But on come the Brigades into Southwark to encompass the City and Rainsborough Hewson Pride Thistlewel Marched without opposition but rather heartily welcome till they came to the Bridge-gate of the City which was shut and the Portcullis let down and a Guard within They make a stand and plant two pieces and set a Guard without then Hewson Marched into St. Georges Fields sends a Summons to the great Fort in the Highway to Lambeth which was suddenly Surrendred by eight a clock that morning The Common Councel now sitting post away Messages to the General who slowly comes on and demands all the Forts of the West side of the City to be Commanded by him before six a clock at night To which the City submit Professing how ready they are to comply with the Army and have given order to their Militia for drawing off all Forces and Ordnance accordingly and speedily to be effected And that now next under Almighty God we doe râ—ly upon your Excellencies honourable word for our safety and protection 4. Aug. The King this while fast and loose on all sides thought it good to be as forward with the Army professing in his Letter that he acquits himself of the scandal cast upon him concerning the Tumults of London accounting it a dishonourable action to be brought to his City in Tumult desiring rather to rely on the General and the Army as more safe and honourable excusing that this Letter came but now which was writ the day before this agreement between the General and the City But he comes on and at Kensington is met by the City Commissioners by the Members of both Houses who had been driven away by tumult And forthwith a Declaration is published of the mutual joyning of the Parliament and Army making Null all Acts passed by the Members at Westminster since the 26. of Iuly last and so all March together towards Westminster And by the way in Hide Park waits the Lord Mayor and his Brethren to congratulate the good composure between the Army and City and then to Westminster thus First Regiment of Foot and Rich his Horse next the Lord General Cromwels Regiment of Horse and then the General of Horseback with his Life Guard the Lords in Coaches with the Speaker of the Commons and their Members Tomlinsons Regiment of Horse brought up the Rear-Guard and you must note that each Souldier had a green branch in his hat and at Charing Cross stood the Common Council humbly ducking to his Excellency and so went on to the Parliament And being sat in both Houses their first duty was to Enact the General to be High Constable of the Tower of London The next was for a Festival day on all sides which the sorrowful City must nevertheless pay for Then was the General sent for to receive thanks of both Houses for his preservation of their Liberties And to caress the Army a months pay is given to them as a largess for this great grace and favour And the next day the General with the whole Army Horse and Foot Marched in Triumph through the City from eleven a clock till eight at night the Generals Quarters went to Croyden and the Army all about in Essex and Kent from this day being Saturday till Munday When the General comes to takes possession of the Tower and the City Guard were turned out and after Dinner the City Committee did congratulate their happiness in his care of the City and could wish that the Records of the Tower might in time to come make known to the World this their safety in him being now made visible in subjection to the Souldier they crave pardon for not waiting upon him to the City in such equâ—page as he merited nor with such a present as the shortness of preparation could possibly admit and therefore they were now come to bid him to Dinner And in the end of all they desired that Mr. West might continue his Deputy Lieutenant But they were answered He had intrusted it to one of his own and a Citizen Colonel Titchburn Then he took view of the Amunition the strength of the White Tower and last of all of the Records where he was told of the great Charter of England Which he had a great desire he said to see And being shewed it with some Ceremonies he took off his Hat This is that said he which we have fought for and by Gods help we must maintain Some smiled to see his simple and single intention the sense of all pretenders which while we fight for we fly from And having done what they would do they begin again to think of the King the great expectation of the Kingdom and so he resides at his Quarters at Kingston August 13. But first the Parliament must undo what the City had lately done in their Apprentices Ordinance so called and voted unwarrantable and in a world to unravel and null all Acts in their absence and to prosecute Examinations and Punishments against the Actours in the late Insurrections And the King is come from Stoke to Oatlands August 14. But the Members were not well at ease unless some Setlement were made for them by Orders and Ordinances against the usurping Members from Iuly 26. to Aug. 6. to be forced and no free Parliament At last after long Debate the Question was put Whether the Question should be put or not And concluded Affirmative by two Voices Then Whether the Proceedings were forced and that Sitting no free Parliament And it was carried in the Negative by three Voices August 17. And the Army remonstrate the practice of the late force upon the Parliament That not any of those Members which did sit in the absence of their Speaker shall presume to continue in the House till satisfaction be given of their intention to raise a new War and imbroil the Kingdom by contriving the King to come to the City and they brought to condign punishment by the judgment of a free Parliament And so they have Letters of Thanks from both Houses for this Remonstrance August 20. But take it in effect Whereas there was a visible horrid insolent and actual force upon the Houses of Parliament Munday the six and twentieth of July last whereby the Speakers and many Members were forced to absent themselves and could not return and fit before the sixth of August and that the Ordinance of the six and twentieth of July for revoking and making void of the Ordinance of the three and twentieth of July for setling the Militia of London and all other their Votes
in this time to be void Provided that no persons be impeached for their so acting in these Votes unless he or they be found guilty of contriving or acting the visible force or bringing the King to the City as is mentioned in the Kings Letter of the twelfth of May last and Committees set a work to examine all these particulars Amongst which the Inquisition returns the apprehending of six of the eleven Members in their passage upon the Sea within two Leagues of Calais and brought back again the manner thus Major Redman upon the Guard at Gravesend having notice that some of them were passed by and gone to Margarets in Kent and ere his Messenger came there they were hoised Sail a Mile at Sea the Town upon this Allarm muster up fourty Men under command of one Captain Lamming put to Sea in a small Vessel and overtook them within six Miles of Calais and being assisted also by a Frigot the Members yielded being Hollis Stapleton Lewis Clotworthy and Long and were brought aboard Captain Batten at Deal who dismist them again and sent them to Sea and the Seamen for their Service soundly checked by Batten And another of the Members Mr. Nichols being apprehended travelling to the West Countrey was sent to the General accused by the Army of high Treason was sent up to the Parliament and committed to the custody of their Serjeants Deputy one Denham who upon his Parol gave him liberty and he escaped And upon Examination of others Actours in the late Force against the Parliament were impeached of high Treason these were three Colonels Sowton Vaughan and Chapman Lieutenant Colonel Baies and Captain Cox The six of these Members aforesaid that Batten remitted landed at Calais and Sir Philip Stapleton falling sick in the Town and as soon as suspected to be of the Plague for London was infected he and they were hurried out of the Town towards Flushing but Stapleton died by the High-way in a Ditch none willing to receive him under their Roof a sad Example to the rest who got safe to Flushing The Armies Head Quarters at Kingston the King at Hampton Court this Moneths Pay ordered to be given in gratuity to the Army for their protection of the Parliament in effect against the City is refused to be lent or raised by the City excusing themselves of mighty Sums lent and much Money not repaid and the great pressures of Taxes whereupon the Army advance nearer and are come to Putney and Hammersmith In this time of Distraction of Parliament Army and City the people thought fit to be eased of their Taxes and payments and specially of some part of Excise and several Petitions have been to that purpose by several Tradesmen in reference to their respective Interests and to shew their dislike have lately committed many Insolencies in opposition against the Officers of Excise whereupon the Parliament were fain to establish that Duty by a second Ordinance in effect That by their late taking off the Excise from Flesh and all Salt made in this Kingdom they hoped the People with patience would have excused the Parliament for removal of the rest and not have insulted with violence and injuries upon their Commissioners and Officers And tell them plainly they cannot as yet ease the people from any part of Paiment thereof but expect due obedience to their Declarations of the two and twentieth of February 1646. then occasioned by Tumults and Riots of this kinde now daily increased so that the Parliament will seriously consider to suppress those Insolencies and punisâ— the Offenders and to insist upon the due collection thereof against all opposition whatsoever and therefore command all Iustices of Peace c. to assist their Officers and desire that the Army would suppress the Tumults and Riots hereabouts And do earnestly desire to satisfie the People that the Service of the Receits of Excise hitherto hath amounted but unto the Sum of one Million three hundred thirty four thousand five hundred thirty two pounds ten shillings eleven pence half-penny The benefit of which hath discharged towards the Relief of Ireland and satisfaction of their Brethren of Scotland Maintenance of their Navy their Army maimed Souldiers and other expences of the Parliament for the Kingdoms use Besides there is due upon the credit of the Excise divers great Sums of Money yet owing for and must be paid And do perswade that the Excise is the most orderly equal Tax to the People and the greatest ease in raising this way which otherwise would have been raised with much more difficulty and in a far more burdensom manner c. August ult The King was now come to Hampton Court with the Parliament Commissioners all this time attending upon him and some of the Army for his Guard He dines abroad in the Presence-chamber with the same Duty and Ceremonies as heretofore where any of the Gentry are admitted to kiss his hand After Dinner he retires to his Chamber then he walks into the Park or plays at Tennis yesterday he killed a Stag and a Buck and dined with his Children at Sion where they remain as yet and he returned And at this time he was much troubled at a Paper intituled The Kings Declaration which he disowned as contrary to his Intentions and it was publickly professed in writing by Colonel Whaley at the Kings desire that he disavowed it August ult And now was the Marquess of Ormond come to Hampton Court to the King and from thence to Putney to the General he had by the Kings command quitted his Government to the Parliaments Commissioners c. During these passages the Scotish Commissioners residing here near the Parliament at Worcester House in the Strand and their Masters at home as busie in their Assembly general to whom the Commissioners send their Secretary with an Express to the Parliament of Scotland and he was staid at Newcastle by the Governour and kept prisoner upon some suspition which after complaint of the Estates of Scotland he was released and Colonel Robert Lilburn the Governour put to his Excuse as that upon the late great Tumults in the City of London against the Parliament and some jealousie of Imbroils in Scotland to follow and Mr. Chiâ—ley coming that way towards Scotland with a new Speakers Pass whom he knew not he onely secured his person untill Major General Lambert then in the North satisfied him of his condition and that all Rumours were now at quiet and prays that the happy freindship and union betwixt the two Nations may not be obstructed by this his clear Intentions not to violate it in the least observance And now the old Gang of the Committee of Militia whereabout all this stir had been was re-established and setled in the persons as heretofore viz. in Pennington Wollaston Atkins Warner Foâ—k Gibs Andrews Ven Allen Foot a certain number or any nine of them The old mutinous way of Petitions were now increased as
they were of mixed natures in each Petition so were they diverse in the contents some of which partly for the Parliament and much for the Army those of the Parliament come oft time from the well affected of such a County or Corporation and booted and spurr'd they must have answer and the Gentlemen must be called in for to receive thanks which usually was thus expressed by Mr. Speaker That though there be some things in the Petition that the House cannot so well approve of to be presented by Petition yet because in other things they express their good affections they have the thanks of the House And evermore in the tail of all they are told that the House had thoughts to such and such of their particulars expressed and for others of them the House were now in debate thereof And so the Gentlemen Commoners that came of the Errand trot home again no wiser than they were before onely with thus much honour that they have seen the Parliament sitting And according to the change of the time one of their Articles is evermore to be tender in imposing the Covenant upon any of their own Members or upon others whose consciences dare not subscribe unto it that they would provide for succouring tender consciences and not suffer them to be grieved and to be brought into bondage by rigid Impositions who live without offence and never fail to give a wipe against the King and his Prelatical party And last of all they petition that many men of competent gifts of good life and conversation who are willing to imploy their talents in the Lords work and yet are by occasion of some scruples about Ordination discountenanced from engaging in the work of the Gospel and in the things of our peace and pray that such men may receive encouragement and protection from both Houses This wrought for them for as the Protestant reformed from Romes Papacy the Presbyters from the Prelacy the Independents from them and the Libertines from all in which we sum up numberless Sectaries under the notion of godly gifted men And indeed the Members were not well pleased at the strictness of the Presbytery and forbore the House so that at this time there were absent of the Commons near two hundred Members in neglect or contempt of their proceedings so that the House make Orders and Proclamations in every County with Amerciaments by Fine of such as come not by the third of November next Octob. 9. But the gifted men fall to preaching and every Libertine began to profess himself of a tender conscience so suddenly increasing that the Parliament order That they shall have Liberty to meet for religious Duties in any place at any time and may be excused from the Churches on the Lords Day if so be they meet elsewhere to hear preaching or expounding But with this Proviso That the Indulgence as to tender consciences shall not extend to tolerate the use of the Common Prayer in any place whatsoever that was the Bug-Bear in all places Octob. 16. Upon Examinations of divers Actors Fomenters of the late Uproar of Parliament and City sundry were imprisoned Mr. Glyn the Recorder of London was charged that he had been very active in the late Actions for a new War countenanced the Cities last Declaration encouraged the riotous Petitioners had been very active with the Committee of safety and new Committee of the Militia of London c. And although he was able and did make his Defence at the Bar yet the Commons were divided as to his guilt but concluded to discharge him from being a Member and was committed to the Tower during pleasure and Mr. Steel was elected Recorder in his place Sir Iohn Mainard a petit busie Member always and in all kindes was impeached of high Treason Captain Macquire was condemned at the Old Baily for the same matters and the Murder and Ryot at Guild Hall But because he had been faithful to his Principles and but a looker on in the Crowd with his Sword drawn great means was made for him by Colonel Sanderson his best friend it seems who Petitioned the Parliament and General for the present and his very day come of Execution he got to be put off and afterwards his Reprieve and lastly his Pardon Mr. Braynton also was deeply concerned but being a Member it was considered how far such Members should be questioned And because the eleven Members were accounted rotten Summons was sent to Hollis Waller Clotworthy Massey Long and Nichols to attend the House the 16. October And by President of the Commons the Members of the Lords were also Involved and Impeachments of High Treason against the Earls of Suffolk and Lincoln and Middlesex the Lords Willoughby of Parham Hunsdon Maynard and Berkly for Levying War against the King Parliament and Kingdom And the Charge against them seat up by the Commons Not long after they fall upon some Citizens and Impeach them of high Treason those were Sir Iohn Gayer Lord Mayor â—ulham Bruce Langham and Adams Aldermen and are all committed to the Tower The Citizens of other Rank were Colonel Lawrence Colonel Hooker and Captain Iones impeached of high crimes And Captain Musgrave and about fifteen Citizens and Mr. Melton a Minister were indicted of high Treason at the Kings Bench Bar. And because their Mayor stood committed the Aldermen and Commons were to consider of a Government of the City according to their Charter These confusions brought work to the Printers in spight of all their Orders against Pamphlets as No Merling no Mercury Bellum â—ibernicale and I need not tell you how many more The Lords impeached of High Treason were the Earls of Suffolk Lincoln and Middlesex the Lords Willoughby of Parham Hunsdon Maynard and Berkley enduring nasty imprisonment to humble them to submit and so they escaped And now the City were curb'd in their former power of the Militia extending heretofore to the Lines of Communication which indeed are digged down and these their particular Militia set up for Westminster and the out Parishes for the Burrough of Southwark and for the Tower Hamlets and the last to be under the immediate command of the Constable the other of several Committee-men or any seven And an Ordinance passed also for the Citizens and Prentices to demolish the Forts and Guards and to dig down the Lines of Communication to another more doleful tune then when they were digg'd up And yet nothwithstanding the burthened City must bear more and advance fifty thousand pounds to pay the Army by two dayes time no longer delay so that upon the same sudden they must advaâ—ce a Moneths pay of the Army as a gratuity aforesaid the moneths pay of the Army besides and fifty thousand pounds also for the necessity of the Army being inforced to burthen the Countrey with free Quarter And therefore the Army declare That for what time the Cities fault and delayes have occasioned and shall further occasion the stâ—â—y of
the Army hereabouts the charge thereof shall be laid upon them and their Adherents about the City That the Parliament would consider of their Delinquencie that had a hand in the late Tumult Engagement and Design of a new War that they may be fined according to Iustice. That the Army will dispose themselves for the Levying the money required in case speedy advancement be not made The City seemed hide bound and underhand it was conceived that the Army was too high to be hindered from being their own carvers The Army suspect that they are too well understood And therefore not to drindle any longer And in plain terms Represent their desires to the Parliament with a Letter from the General and his Councel Remembring them that in their former Declaration from St. Albons it was expressed in General for setling and securing the Kingdom In order to which they presented their Proposals and in pursuance thereof having set forth what their desires are as Members of the Common-wealth They now desire those things which concern themselves as Souldiers and of satisfactions in relation thereto to be taken into speedy consideration by the Parliament In brief That a Committee of the Parliament may reside in the Armie to audite their Accounts of the Armies Arrears and to give Debenters as well for the pay respited upon the Publick Faith as otherwise for their service under this General or any other respective Commanders in the Parliaments Service which is to be made an unquestionable debt That Bishops Dean and Chapters and Forrest Lands may be sold for payment of the Armies Arrears That an Ordinance be passed that no person that is or shall be in this Army shall not be impressed to any Foreign service nor any Horseman be ever forced to serve on Foot in any future case An Act to pass for Prentices Freedom that have served the Parliament and provision for their maimed Souldiers Widows and Orphans An Act for Indemnity of Souldiers for any Action Petition or Papers agreed at Waldon in March last or any thing else in relation to the Army This begat serious consideration of the Parliament and present payment of 30000. l. and their gratuity to the Army and the moneths pay and all these from their own Treasurers and for the present they could but leavy the Arrears due from the City which was done with wonderful regret Propositions of Peace were now finished the consent and approbation of the Estates of Scotland returned and so they are speeded to the King at Hampton Court 7. Septemb. by the Commissioners the Earl of Pembroke the Lord Mountague Sir Iames Harrington Sir Io. Cook Sir Io. Holland and Major General Brown for the Parliament and the Earl of Lotherdale and Sir Charls Erskin for the Scots And though the Propositions were long the King told them they should have a speedy Answer which he delivered to them in writing the next day C. R. His Majestie cannot chuse but be passionatelie sensible as he believes all his good Subjects are of the late great distractions â—nd still languishing and unsetled state of this Kingdom and he calls God to witness and is willing to give Testimonie to all the world of his readiness to contribute his utmost endeavours for restoring it to a happy and flourishing condition His Majestie having perused the Propositions now brought to him finds them the same in effect which were offered to him at Newcastle To some of which as he could not then consent without violation of his conscience and honour so neither can he agree to others now conceiving them in many respects more disagreeable to the present condition of affairs than when they were formerly presented unto him as being destructive to the main principal interests of the Army and of all those whose affections concur with them And his Majestie having seen the proposals of the Army to the Commissioners from his two Houses residing with them and with them to be treated on in order to the clearing and securing of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom and the setling of a just and lasting Peace To which proposals as the conceives his two Houses not to be strangers So he believes they will think with him that they much more conduce to the satisfaction of all interests and may be a fitter foundation for a lasting peace than the propositions which at this time are tendred unto him He therefore propounds as the best way in his judgement in order to a peace that his two Houses would instantly take into consideration those proposals upon which there may be a personal Treatie with his Majestie and upon such other Propositions as his Majestie shall make hoping that the said proposals may be so moderated in the said Treatie as to render them the more capable of his Majesties full concession wherein he resolves to give full satisfaction to his people for whatsoever shall concern the Protestant profession with liberty to tender Consciences the securing of the Lawes Liberties and properties of his Subjects and all the just Priviledges of Parliaments for the future and likewise by his present deportment in this Treaty he will make the world clearly judge of his intentions in matters of future Government In which Treaty his Majestie will be well pleased if it be thought fit that Commissioners from the Army whose the proposals are may likewise be admitted His Majestie therefore conjures his two Houses of Parliament by the duty they owe God and his Majesty their King And by the bowels of Compassion they have to their fellow Subjects both for relief of their present sufferings and to prevent future miseries that they will forthwith accept of this his Majesties offer whereby the joyful news of Peace may be restored to this distressed Kingdom And for what concerns the Kingdom of Scotland mentioned in the Propositions his Majestie will very willingly Treat upon those particulars with the Scotish Commissioners and doubts not but to give reasonable satisfaction to that his Kingdom At Hampton-Court the 9. of September 1647. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore to be communicated c. By this Answer we see the King is catchâ—t to comply with the Army rather in their Proposals for setling of a peace 1. Aug. for now the design is working In order thereto Colonel Hamond is sent down to be Governour of the Isle of Wight an Item to the great fate that followed And the Kings Answer is Voted a flat denial That the King denies in his Answer to give his assent to the Propositions and that the King and those about the King shall speedily be taken into consideration Then after a dayes time to consider they debate Whether to adhere to the Propositions or fall upon the Proposals or have a personal Treaty with the King or not or whether to send the Propositions again to the King But after debates they resolve To fall upon the settlement of the Kingdom by
upon their purses at all times of need The general opinion of the people was never to have other but Uprores and Disorders untill the King were treated with To that end after sundry Petitions from several Counties had led the way The City also exhibit theirs for a personal treaty with the King to be at London Upon which Petition now so seasonable Committees are appointed to Treat That of the Parliament interrogate the Cities What was meant by these words of their Petition Viz. That the King and Parliament may meet and treat with freedom honour and safety according to the Ancient Fundamental constitutions of the Kingdom They Answer Free from force and violence to the King What was meant That the City will defend his Royal person and the Parliament during the Treaty according to the Covenant Answer As much as in us lyeth free from all fear and violence Whether will the City maintain their Guards during the Treaty there Answer They will and after the Treaty refer themselves to the King and Parliament for satisfaction thereof In case the King doe not consent in the Treaty whether the City will engage that the person of the King shall be disposed of by Parliament Answer They in such a case which God forbid will submit to the wisdom of Parliament By what means and in what manner will they make good their Engagement by defending the King and Parliament against all violence Answer As much as in us lyeth by the Trained Bands of the City and Lines of Communication To that end they desire that the Militia of the out places of the City may by the Ordinance of our intire Militia be speedily passed and no other Forces to be made use of within the City That no Forces in Arms may come within thirty miles thereof during the Treaty and that it shall be death for any within the City to make Tumult And desire the Treaty may speedily commence To which consent and engagement the Common Councel men get subscription of the chief of each Parish which was done to purpose But then how long did it last true some two dayes in which time a Rabble of Subscribers to another Petition sang to a contrary tune for which they had thanks but however the Parliament go on and made hast whilst the Officers of the Army were busied abroad The Propositions are ready the fourth of August a seasonable time to hasten them to the King for whilst the General Lieutenant General Major General Commissary General and the most of the chiefest Commanders are abroad in active service others are encouraged thereby and Major Huntington gave in his Narrative to the Lords House why he left the Army complaining against the most eminent Officers and their carriage since the Parliaments Orders to Disband the Army and in relation to Overtures made with the King and concerning the proceedings against the Lords and Commons and Aldermen These were large and being but Complaints not proved we shall forbear Yet Huntington delivered them in upon Oath and had the protection of that House for so doing The Prince of Wales also with his Fleet then in the Downs and in good condition and some bustling by the Prince of Orange for his assistance with Land Souldiers out of Holland gave hopes of success for the King And the Prince writes to the Speaker of the House of Peers not naming the Commons taking notice 〈◊〉 the progress of the Parliament with the King and desires That the Treaty may be in place and manner as may consist with the Kings Honour and safety of his person so that the agreement be not blemished with any face of restraint That the Treaty include the Kingdom of Scotland That during the Treaty there may be a Cessation of Arms and that an orderly moderate subsistance may be agreed upon for all Forces on foot and the Scots Army now in England as may be with the least pressure on the Northern parts And that some course may be taken to give content to his Ships in the Dowâ—s that common Trade be not hindered by them and to discharge the Ships which he hath lately taken into hold And joyntly with these Letters are presented Petitions to the Commons House of the very same nature with the others and have a fair Answer and great thanks The like from the reduced Officers of the Army according to the late desires of the City of London And in Order to the publick effects the Parliament Vote That the Houses desire a Treaty with his Majesties person in what place of the Isle of Wight that he shall appoint upon the Propositions tendered to him at Hampton Court and concerning Wards and Liveries and to treat with Honour Freedom and safety to his person and to the Coâ—missioners of Parliament 2. To receive such other Propositions to be treated on as shall be presented to his Majestie 3. The Commissioners sent with this Message to return in ten dayes The Messengers were the Earl of Middlesex Sir Io. Hepsly and Mr. Bulkley who arrived there Sunday the 6 of Aug. delivering their Votes first to be agreed unto and them for a Treaty The King told them no man desired Peace so much as he in his several Relations as a King a Husband a Father and a Master for who ever gained by these troubles He was like to lose And so without a Secretary he said he would frame an Answer to the Parliament with which the Messengers returned the tenth of August It was thus C. R. If the peace of my Dominions were not much dearer to me then any particular interest whatsoever I had too much reason to take notice of the several Vâ—tes which passed against me and the sad condition I have been in now above these seven moneths But since you my two Houses of Parliament have opened as it seems to me a fair beginning to a happy peace I shall heartily apply my self thereunto and to that end I will as clearly and shortly as I may set you down those things which I conceive necessary to this blessed work so that we together may remove all impediments that may hinder a happy conclusion of this Treaty which with all chearfulâ—ess I doe embrace And to this wished end your selves have laid most excellent grounds for what can I reasonably expect more than to treat with honour Freedom and Safety upon such Propositions as you have or shall present unto me and such as I shall make to you But withall remember that it is the definition not names of things which make them rightly known and that without means to perform no Proposition can take effect And truly my present condition is such that I can no more treat than a blinde man judg of colours or one run a race who hath both his feet fast tied together wherefore my first necessary demand is That you will recall all such Votes and Orders by which people are frighted from coming writing or
Seyman which held a weeks debate and being very prolix we shall refer the Reader to the Papers on each particular then set forth by the Kings friends and since imprinted and bound up together with other Writings and Papers of the Kings annexed to his Eikon Basilike where the dispute is set out at large But the time limited in the Treaty being now consummaâ—â— the Commissioners return and make their report to the Parliament of the Kings Concessions no waies answerable to their desires and so are voted unsatisfactory And at an instand Hamond renders up the charge of the Kings person to Col. Ewers as hereafter And whilst the Treaty is likely to conclude in peace the Commanders of the Army seem to entertain the hopes with gladness and profess That they will obey the Acts of the Houses that publick peace will be welcom to them above others that being free from the toyls of War they might settle their own private affairs and after the end of their tedious labours sit down to rest But what ere they said their intermingled friends in the Houses advizing some Commanders and common Souldiers hold meetings and frame Petitions That the Treaty with the King might be broken off and punishment on all without distinction glancing at the Kings person the Enemies of the Common-wealth and these are Printed and dispersed and which taking flame the Souldiers Rendezvouz near London to frighten their adverse party and a Remonstrance is conceiving by an able pen-man who under colour of dislike with the General takes time in private for the present only to frame a large Remonstrance of the Army But to usher it in with County Petitions 〈…〉 most pertinent from thousands of the County of Leicester minding the Parliament in this time of Treaty of two Declarations the one from the Assembly of Scotland charging the King with spilling of the bloud of many thousands in his three Kingdoms And the other Declaration of Parliament An. 1647. wherein they give Reasons of their no further address to the King and speak as high as these of Scotland they add also the Houses Answer to the Scots Commissioners Papers 1647. All which have made their hearts to tremble expecting with amazement what satisfaction they may have to these loud cryings and Heaven-provoking crimes viz. The death of his Father betraying Rochel the Spanish Fleet with an Army in it Proclamations to cry down Parliaments his correspondency with Rome the private Articles of his marriage his Commissions to the Rebels in Ireland his violent attempt upon his House of Commons inviting Foreigners to enslave the three Nations his proclaiming the Parliament of England Rebels the designed bloody Massacre in London by his Commission his destructive principle of yielding accompt to none but God his inviting over of the Irish Rebels to subdue this Parliament and such like together with this eight years misâ—ries of these three Kingdoms And that these are but a few of the many Reasons why they cannot repose any more trust in him And pray that proceedings against him may be accordingly least they build their peace upon ruined foundations that they may neither fear Treating with him nor trusting him with great and weighty affairs of the three Kingdoms And conclude as most charitable and Christian that speedy justice be executed on all prisoners the Parliaments Enemies And had thanks for this Petition But the Tide began to turn in October whilst they were Treating for now we are almost at quiet abroad and the Army at leisure Insurrections calmed Garrisons in opposition surrendred Scotland inâ—aders overcome the two Kingdoms brought in confederacy in Arms. And the House of Commons bethinks of raising vast sums for composition of Delinquents and accessaries in the late Insurrections and in executing such persons prisoners as are fitted for Justice To which eâ—d they have Petitions from the Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London and the like unchristian charity from the prayers and Preachings of the Presbyterian and accordingly the Parliament proceed They begin with the Earl of Norwich and the Lord Capell as to impeaching them of Treason and Rebellion who Petitioned the House of Lords with the sense of their condition and of the quarter consented unto by the General Fairfax at the Surrender of Colchâ—ster The Lords send to the Commons assuring them that by the Generals Letter to them all others were to have quarter after some were shot to deaâ—â— And upon great debate the Houses were fain to desire the General to explain his Letter of the 29. of Septem He was now at his Head Quarters at St. Albans and long after they had this Answer The General does not take upon him to conclude but stating the business leaves them to the Civil power and so in effect to tâ—yal for life But ere they had Answer they are troubled at a demand of the Army for present payment of their Arrears amounting to the sum of three hundred fourteen thousand three hundred fifty one pounds and five pence whereof near fifty thousand pounds is due from the City of London Besides one hundred thousand pounds to be advanced in part of the Arrears due to the reduced Officers and Souldiers in a List remaining in the House of Commons and the debate was whether the new Sequestrations in the County of Essex should be exempted from being part of the money assigned for this purpose and conclude in the Negative This made a hubbub over all England the reduced Officers of all Counties are coming up to London under pretence for their Arrears The Parliament bustle how to avoid the inconvenience and declare That the Houses are upon passing an Ordinance for their satisfaction and that their coming up to London will much impede this and other the great affairs of the Kingdom and therefore they are commanded to forbear upon that or any pretence whatsoever and so had an Ordinance passed for payment of 23000. l. part of their Arrears 9. October The Courts of Westminster Hall were thin and were to be filled with Judges And in order thereto a new call of Serjeants at Law Out of Greyes Inn thâ—se to be Serjeants Sir Tho. Widdrington Sir Tho. Bednifield Mr. Kebble Mr. Thorpe and Mr. Bradshaw Out of Lincâ—lns Inn Mr. Sollicitor St. Iohn Mr. Sam. Brown Mr. Recorder Glyn and Mr Erle Out of the Middle-Temple Mr. Whitlock Mr. Coniers Mr. Puleston Out of the Inner-Temple Mr. Chapman Mr. Gales and Mr. Will. Littleton And not long after were called Will. Powel Io. Clark Iohn Elcontread Ro. Nichols Io. Parker and Rob. Barnard and were made Serjeants at Law Serjeant Roll is to be chief Justice of the Kings Bench Iermin and Brown Justices there Mr. Sollicitor chief Justice of the Common-pleas Sir Tho. Bedingfield and Creswel Justices there Serjeant Wild chief Baron of the Exchequer Mr. Gates a Baron there Mr. Whitlock Atturney Gen. of the Dutchy Mr. Prideaux Sollicitor Gen. Mr. Widrington one of the Kings Serjeants
And thus by degrees they are preferred and the Courts filled And whilst the Treaty is in some likelyhood to conclude fair the Armies Petitions speak home for a scrutiny to be taken for discovery of contrivers and actors in the late bloody Wars that speedy Justice be done upon them That the same fault may have the same justice and punishment in the person of the King or Lord as in the person of the poorest Commoner That such as speak or act in the Kings-behalf till he be acquitted of shedding innocent bloud be proceeded against as Traytors These and other such like Petitions set the wheele on going towards the Kings after destruction The Head Quarters were now at Windsor where the Army concluded the large Remonstrance commended by the Generals Letter and brought up to the Parliament by half a dozen Officers It was of the greatest length which we must abreviate The Preamble shews the miscarriages of the King and Parliament in former Treaties And therefore urge Reasons to lay aside any further proceedings therein and to return to their former Votes of Non-â—ddress and to settle the Government that he may not be 〈◊〉 and that they proceed against the King by way of justice for evils done by him and in order thereunto that he be kept in safe custody 2. To lay aside that bargaining Proposition with Delinquents which will present the thing done by contract with the King and not in a way judicially 3. And in order to all they offer First That the King be brought to justice as the capital cause of all Secondly That a peremptory day be set for summoning the Prince of Wales and Duke of York and if they refuse to declare them incapable of Government or Succession and stand exiled as Traytors and if they render themselves yet they to be proceeded against for satisfaction that the Revenues of the Crown be sequestred Thirdly That publick justice be done against the Actors in the late Wars Fourthly And others upon submission may have mercy and conclude as usual That the Armies Arrears may be paid the County eased of free-quarter publick debts paid a period to be put to this Parliament A new Representative of the people for governing and preservation of the whole body of people in this Nation That no King be admitted hereafter but upon election of and as upon trust for the people who is to be limited by the Representative c. 16. Novem. The Parliament read this Remonstrance which endured a high debate and was referred to be further discussed some dayes after In the mean time the General sends his Letters to Colonel Hamond to render up his Command to Colonel Ewers who is to take charge of the King but the Parliament Vote him hereupon to stay there of which the General hath notice 27. Novem. The Army fast and pray and receive Petitions from several Counties in order to what they intend to resolve And therefore Hamond submits and delivers up the King to Ewers and comes towards the Army The Parliament are angry and Vote a Letter to the General That his Orders and Instruction to Colonel Ewers for securing the Kings person are contrary to their resolutions and instructions to Colonel Hamond And that it is the pleasure of the House that his Excellency recall his Orders and that Colonel Hamond be free to take his charge in the Isle of Wight the Treaty being ended But in stead of an obedience hereto he salutes them with a sharp Letter for money to pay Arrears of the Army to spare free Quarter upon the County or he must be forced to change his quarters and come nearer London And withall is published a Declaration of the Army in confirmation of their late Remonstrance Windsor 30. Novem. Which Declaration the Parliament are resolved not to tak◠〈◊〉 â—onsideration Herâ—â—pon the Army Marches to London and Quarter at Whitehall St. Iames's the Mewes and in several Towns and Hamlets about the City The King is removed by Ewers out of the Isle of Wight to Hurst Castle and the City in fear are raising 40000. l. forthwith for the Army At the reading of the Remonstrance to the King at Newport and concerning the intended Tryal of him he propounded four Queries First Whether this Remonstrance be agreeable to the former Declarations of the Army and if not whether the Parliament would make good their Votes that after he had consented to what they desired he should be in a capacity of Honour Freedom and Safety Secondly Whether his acknowledgment of the guilt of the blood that hath been spilt in the late Wars nothing being as yet absolutely concluded or binding could be urged so far as to be made use of by way of evidence against him or any of his party Thirdly Whether the Arguments that he hath used in a free and personal Treaty to lessen or extenuate and avoid the exactness of any of the conditions though in manner and form only might be charged against him as an Act of Obstinacy or wilfull persistance in what is alleged against him in that he goes on in a destructive course of enmity against the people and the Laws of the Land when he hath declared that his Conscience was not satisfied concerning divers particulars in the Propositions Fourthly Whereas by the Letter of the Law all persons charged to offend against the Law ought to be tryed by their Peers or equals what the Law is if the person questioned is without a Peer and if the Law which of it self is but a dead Letter seems to condemn him by what power shall judgement be given and who shall give it or from whence shall the administrators of such judgement derive their power which may by the same Law be deemed the Supream power or Authority of Magistracy in the Kingdom At at his removal from the Isle of Wights he framed a Declaration concerning the Treaty and his dislike of the Armies proceeding commanding one of his servants to see it published for satisfaction to all his Subjects Decemb. 1648. When large pretences prove but the shadows of weak performances then the greatest labours produce the smallest effects and when a period is put to a work of great concernment all mens ears doe as it were hunger till they are satisfied in their expectations Hath not this distracted Nation groaned a long time under the burden of Tyranny and oppression and hath not all the blood that hath been spilt these seven years been cast upon my head who am the greatest sufferer though the least guilty And was it not requisâ—â—e to endeavour the stopping of that flux which if not stopt will bring an absolute destruction to this Nation And what more speedy way was there to consummate these distractions than by a personal Treaty being agreed upon by my two Houses of Parliament and condescended to by me And I might declare that I conceive it had been the best physick had not the
Isle of Wight shut him up close in Hurst Castle a strong place upon a neck of Land into the Sea opposite to the West corner of the Island a most scanty and by reason the sea surrounds it an unhealthy place And this relation comes to the Speaker in a Letter signed by Bâ—reman and Hawes Decemb. 1. Upon the reading whereof the Houses Vote That the seizing upon the person of the King and carrying him prisoner to Hurst Castle was without the advice and consent of the Houses The Parliament being in a wood before are now at 〈◊〉 wâ—â—s eâ—d debate the particulars and are divided some for the Parliament and their proceedings other stiâ—k to the interest of the Army bâ—t the major part Vote That his Majesties Concessions to the Propositions of Parliament are sufficient grounds for sâ—tling the Peace of the Kingdom And Sir Iohn Evelin Sir Tho. Widrington Piâ—â—point Ashurst Maynard Col. Birch and Mr. Sollicitor are apâ—ointed a Committee to confer with the General for continuance of a good correspondence between them The Trained Bands are discharged the Guard to the Parliament and Pride and Riches Regiments take it uâ—on them And the Members coming to the Hâ—â—se were seized anâ— kept in custody by the Generals Command 〈◊〉 the Queens Coâ—â—t and Court of Wards The House hears oâ— this and send their Serjeant for their Members but Pride keâ—ps them secured And presently comes from the Army Lieutenant Colonel Axtel and others and tels the House that he had in Command from the Army to say that they had somewhat unto them ready for their present view to which the House answered that they would be ready to receive it Then comes Colonel Whaley with other Officers and presents the House with Proposals which whilst they consider the House sends Messengers to the Army for release of their Members They were between fourty and fifty of the old stamp Sir Robert Harlow Col. Harlow Sir Will. Waller Sir Walter Earl Sir Samuel Luke Sir Io. Merrick Sir Martin Lister Lo. Wenman Mr. Knightly Sir Gilbert Gerard Sir Ben. Ruddiard Mr. Fran. Gerard Mr. Swinfin Sir Edw. Partridge Mr. Crew Mr. Edw. Stephens Mr. Butler Sir Harb Grimston Mr. Bunckley M. Gen. Massey Mr. Walker Sir Rob. Pye Mr. Pelham Col. Leigh Sir An. Erbyr Sir Tho. Soam Col Birch Mr. Lane Mr. Doderidge Mr. Wheeler Mr. Drake Mr. Green Mr. Bowton Mr. Prin. Mr. Vaughan Mr. Nath. Fines Com. Copley Col. Stroode Mr. Priestly Sir Simon Dews Sir Will. Lewes Sir Io. Clotworthy Sir Rich Onslow Sir Tho. Dacres These Members were at last sent all to Hell and there remainâ—d till night and then removed to the Kings Head Inn near Charing Cross and to the Swan Inn in the Srand under Guard of Souldiers The House Fasted and Prayed nay more gave Alms a voluntary Collection of each Member remaining which the Serjeant received and distributed to the poor Widows and Orphans of the deceased Souldiers we knew not the sum but the design was very certain Yet this would not serve the turn though a Committee was sent to the General for release of their Members And because the Parliament knew not what to do they Adjourned this Friday till Munday following In the mean time he sends some Forces to Quarter at Ludgate Black-friers the West Gate of St. Pauls and in the Church where the Horse and Foot made it a Stable But not to frighten the City the General writes to my Lord Mayor That he hath sent Colonel Dean to seize the Treasuries of Haberdasher Goldsmith and Weavers Hall where they light upon twenty thousand pounds that by the monies he may pay his Armies Arrears for which he must forthwith have 40000. l. the Countries having been thereby over burthâ—ned a long time with free Quarter and tells them plainly That if the City supply him with the fourty thousand pounds advance which he so often hath desired and take order for all the Armies Arrears the Forces shall draw off if not thank themselves for what may follow Westm. 8. Decem. 1648. Tho. Fairfax But the Souldiers took so much delight in this Errrand that besides the Halls they mistook their Warrant and went to the Excisâ— Office which made such a Hubbub in London that it was presently divulged That no more Excise should be levied or paid but that was soon considered and an excuse by Letter sent to that Office that by mistake the Souldiers mist their way and so that place was secured The City assemble a Common Council who send Propositions to his Excellencie They will advance the fourty thousand pounds by Munday and discharge the twenty thousand pounds to the Receivers of the Halls And hasten the collecting the rest of the Arrears and discharge some certain engagements of the Army for money borrowed provided that the Army withdraw this night out of the City Saturday 9. Decem. This did not satisfie nor would the Army remove but gave the City time to collect their money in fourteen daies or sooner if they please and shall have the aid of the Souldier to force payment of the Inhabitants and after this Message follows a Regiment of Horse this night quartered in Inns and some Foot in private houses This while the Parliament ponder upon the late Proposâ—ls of the Army which in brief were these The Anny complain of the sad eâ—fects of Councels divided and corrupted by Faction and personal interest to the betraying of the publick good the continuance and widening of the issues of blood and ruine to all Wherefore they propound and demand whereas Denzil Hollis Lyonel Copley Major Gen. Massey and others your Members were in Anno 1647. impeached by you selves for treason in relation to the treasonable engagement of the City of London violence upon the Parliament levying a new War c. and were upon Proofs expelled the House And yet by prevalency of their Faction When in the last Summer divers faithful Members were ingaged in the publick service and others by Tumults could not attend the same persons were afterwards re-admitted c. where by the câ—â—federacy of Major Genral Brown now Sheriff of London and others the Scots were invited and drawn in to invade this Kingdom Insomuch that when the House proceeded to declare them enemies and these their Adherents Traytors Yet the said Confederates and other treacherous Members to the number of ninety and odd did by their Votes endeavour to hinder the House from declaring against them Therefore they desire that Major Gen. Brown and the other ninety and odd persons dissenting against the said Votes may be excluded the House c. The continued Series of the proceedings for many moneths have been prevalent by the same treacherous corrupt and divided Councels from any good precipitating into treacherous complyances with the Enemies as in the Votes of No more address to the King the necessity whereof you had once so cleared to the world Also for entertaining after all this a personal Treaty and lastly
That the Supream power of England is immediately invested only in the people and their Representatives and had Voted therefore that all Committees which before consisted of Lords and Commons should have power to Act though the Lords joyn not herein After much debate the Commons resolved that the House would not agree with their Lordships This day Friday 19. of Ian. the King was brought from Windsor to St. Iames's And the Argument of the people thus long a hammering was perfected by the Commonwealth of the Army at White-hall and presented to the House of Commons by Sir Hardress Waller and 16. Officers Nay more there came a Woman-witch out of Hartfordshire who justified the Armies proceedings by her Revelations from God which was well accepted of the Council as coming from an humble spirit and her advice taken as very seasonable The Commons House being possessed of this great power as great as they list to take erect a new Tribunal for Tryal of the King which is called the high Court of Iustice and so to gain reverence from the Name over which are appointed 150. Judges or Tryers that so in number they might represent the people who are impowered to Convent Hear Iudge and Execute Charls Stuart King of England Into this number are Elected Members of both Houses and others of neither men of several conditions and professions Nay if it were necessary to prove it it was reported for truth there was one man and No-man or rather of double Sex an Hermophrodite But amongst the number were six Earls of the upper House the Judges of the Kingdom Commanders of the Army Members of the Commons and no Members of the City of London of Lawyers nay of several Trades and Professions And all these supposed themselves to deserve much for this desperate enterprize and twenty of them made up the Quorum Little regard is had of the higher House unless of a few Lords whose Authority there was deemed sufficient for Acting Yet when the Vote of the Commons House against the King was carried up there were unwittingly 17. Lords and the major part refused to assent and did reject the Vote as not grounded upon Law Hereupon such Lords which were to be Tryers of the King are expunged the Roll. And afterwards the Judges of the Kingdom are put out as deeming That it was against the received Laws of England that the King should be brought to tryal But on they go and appoint Mr. Iohn Bradshaw lately made Serjeant at Law to be President of the Court and one Cook to be Sollicitor The Presbyterian Ministers now too late declaim against it many more of other Sects by their Sermons Conference Protestations and Remonstrances publish and beseech That against the dreadful tyes of so many Oaths against the publick and private faith backed by Declarations and promises against the Law of the Land against the more sacred Dictates of divine Scripturâ— and Religion nay against the good of the Common-wealth they would not distain their own hands and the Kingdom with the Kings blood The English Nobility offer themselves Pledges on the Kings behalf and universally the people murmur but in vain The 19. Ian. the Scotish Commissioners delivered some Papers and a Declaration from the Parliament of Scotland wherein they express a dislike of the present proceedings against the King and declare That the Kingdom of Scotland have an undoubted interest in the person of the King who was not delivered to the English Commissioners at Newcastle for the ruine of his person but for more speedy settlement of the peace of his Kingdoms That they extreamly dissent and declare against the Tryal of him in regard of the great miseries that are like to ensue upon the Kingdoms And crave leave to make their personal addresses to the King The like Papers and desires were presented to the Gâ—neral and these were publick But we have met with a Scotish Paper of privacie belike from the other Faction and it was intercepted by our English Army it was intituled Instructions sent to the Scotish Commissioners from the Parliament of Scotland To use in your amplification the same mentioned in your Letter that it seemed not to import by proofe of any violence used against the Parliament or any member thereof That you have address to such Lords and Commons as are our friends and not ill-affected to the honest party That your amplifications be so concise that they give no occasion of offence That nothing proceed from you justifying the Kings proceedings Nothing in approbation of the late engagement Nothing which may import a breach or give or be a ground of a new War That they would delay to meddle with the Kings person according to their several promises and Declarations at Newcastle and at Holmby If they procâ—ed and pronounce sentence against the King that you enter your dissent and protest that this Kingdom may be free of the miseries which unevitably will follow without offering in your reasons that Princes are exempted from Tryal and Iustice. That none in this Parliament had or hath had any hand in any the proceedings of the Army against the King and Members of Parliament If they proceed then to shew the calamities that will follow and how grievous it will be to this Kingdom considering his delivering up at Newcastle If the Papers called the Engagement of the people be passed and shall import any thing anent the Processing of the Prince the changing of the Fundamental Government of the Kingdom that you enter your dissent You shall alter these Instructions or mannage your trust therein by the advice of our friends there To prosecute your instructions anenâ— the Covenant and against the toleratio To shew that the Kings last Concessions are insatisfactory to ours in point of Religion But all these Scotish tricks on either side signified little not to frighten Resolutions for the Actors in England arm themselves with pretensions of Gods providence and impulsions of the holy Spirit some there were even in the Pulpit bids them Courage that the time was come that the Saints of the earth should binde Kings and their Nobles with chains of iron and not to doubt but that the Prophesie belongs to them And in the Pulpit another with bended knees tears and hands lift up in the name of the people of England earnestly beseeching they would execute justice against Charls and not suffer Benhadad their Enemy to go away in safety raging and railing against Monarchy one expounds the story of the Trees in chusing a King when the Vine and Olive refused that Office underwent the harsher government of the Bramble After sundry meetings of the 38. Commissioners in the Painted Chamber at Westminster they had prepared all things expedient for the Tryal and the high Court of Justice was framed at the upper end of Westminster Hall the place of the two Courts Chancery and Kings-Bench were ordered into one and all
Stratherns descent and title to Sovereignty Raised to his ruine Dangerous to Sovereigns to prefer any Pretenders of Title The Scots design a new Government by Tables The Confession of Faith 1580. Negative confession what and when See Hist. 9. of Scots The Scots title to their new Confession of Faith examined Hamilton high Commissioner tâ— Scotland His Commission read in publiquâ— Covenanters demands Proclamation Hamilton posts to the King August 5. And returns Contracted into two Hamilton poasts to the King again And return to Scotland September 22. The Kings Declaration published For the general Assembly another Their Letter of thanks to the King Covenanters assume all authority A covenanting Female Imposturess Assembly dischâ—â—â—â—â— Against which the Covenanters protest Hamilton returns to England and the Scots begin to arm Iuly Eruption of Fire out of the Sea Queen Motlier of France comes hither The King prepares an Army Proclaims the occasion Hist p. 188. Obs. p. 151. English Army 1639. The Army marches to the North. Anno 1639. Obs. p. 157. The Scots and English in view The Armies Treat The Scots desires The Kings Declaration Artâ—cles of Pacification Scots submission Scots Protestation The proccedings in their Parliament in August Scotish Parliament prorogued Their Protestation The Scots deputies to the King Four Commissioners from Scotland Loudon his Speech Their Treasons summed up The Protestation of the Assembly and like of the Parliament Simeon and Levi. The Covenanters Declaration of grievances Observations thereupon It was ratified by Parliament most faise never ratified by Parliament never forbiden by any Act of Parliament These were confirmed by Parliaments and never repreaâ—ed but nâ—w most illegally called in question without King or Parliament Is this Assembly without the King of more validity six former Assemblies approved by the King and Parliament It Was no covenant but only a bare negative confession and abjuration of all points of Popery Nunquam de fide constare dum semper de fide disputamus Tertul Iâ— one Assemblie null what others 〈◊〉 act and constitute how shall the people be certain of their Religion Twenty years hence another Assembly was upon new alterations anul all which this hath done and there shall be never any certain Religion settled Oath administred to the Scots against their Covenant The Scots false Paper which was burnt This Paper was contradictory to the 7. Articles of Pacification Arnndel testifies Pembroke testifies Salisbury testifies All the Lords concurre The Kings report The Scots excuse concerning this Paper They pretend that verbal grants made the King contradict the signed Articles A pretty conceit The disagreeing of these Notes shew there was no truth in it This is like the rest as if they themselves had not dispersed them They were coÌ„mon and therfore one was burnt and others called in They acknowledge this letter by the French king They did mediate with Denmark Sweden and Holland for their assistance and offered to Denmark the isles of Orkney and had agents at every place for that effect Multitudo peccatorum tollit sensum poenâ—m peccati Formerly the Scots account themselves a free Republick They forget another duty to our King It is not against the law of nations for any King to imprison and execute his own subjects Considerations upon the 7. Articles Obs. 160. Protestation of the Covenanters the Preface Prince Elector comes over Hist. p. 163. fleets of Spain and Holland engage Arundel sent aboard the Spaniards What was the Spaniards Design Lord Keeper Coventry dies Sir Iohn Finch succeeds Reading at the Temple He is silenced and questioned Answer Scots Commissioners return Hist. p. 167. Hist. p. 167. The matter concluded at the Private Iunto The King resolves of a Parliament in England and anothâ—â— to be iâ—â—â—â—â—land Ob. p. 167. The Iunto subscribe to lend mony and so afterwards do all others herein mistaking those Obs. p. 170. Hist. p. 170. The grand Design In England he means The Earl and Countess had no such interest The King never thought so What execution doth he mean Of Nidsdale he means This was a false Parenthesis and injurious to the late King and his blessed memory and the rest of this Paragraph an idle conceit It was proved he never was there There were these men and pâ—aces but upon exâ—mination the matter but devised Unlikely Never taught any Religion Hist. p. 181. Obs. p. 171. Hist. of Qu. of Scots and K. Iames. 1640. Proeme Anno 1640. Parliament beigns the thirteenth of April Hist. p. 183. Parliament dissolved the 5. of May. Obs. p. 174. Convocation sit still Hist. p. 184. Bishops impose an Oath Hist. p. 185. Obs. p. 189. Hist. p. 186. Obs. p. 166. The entrance and original of all our Troubles Lambeth house beset by Puritans A Jovento of Council L. L. See L. L. of Ireland L. Admiral L. L. See L. L. of Ireland Lord Arch-bishop Lordâ— Archbishop of Canterbury L. Cottington L. L. See L. L. of Ireland London Derry in Ireland English Army ready Henry Duke of Glocester born Proclamation against the Rebells The King goes into Scotland At Newburn defeat New-castle deserted Hist. p. 189. Scots Petition Scots â—â—mands Anno 1640. Petition of the city of London The Kings speech to the Peers A meeting resolved Treaty at Rippon thus concluded Earl of Montross forsakes the Covenanters in private A Parliament resolâ—ved upon an ominous day Nov. 3. Obs. p. 208. The King in prudence calls this Parliament His excellent Book Eikon Basilike Eikon Basilike Chap. 1. of calling the Parliament Obs. p. 209. See Hist. Qu. of Scots and K. Iames in Folio Parliament sit The Kings Speech to the Lords Petitions against Grievances Pym 's Speech 1. Grievanceâ— of Religion in Popery Grievance 2 of Religion in Popary Innovations 3. Liberty of Persons and Estates Grievance 4. Compositions for Knighthood Sâ—ap Ship-money Inlargments of forrests Selling of Nusances Commissions for buildings Depopulations Military charges Muster-master his Wages Extrajudicials Monopolies countenanced by the Council-table Star-chambet The Kings Edicts and Proclamations Abuse of Preachers Intermission of Parliaments Lord Dighy's Speech Laws executed upon Recusants Monopolies voted out of the House Lords Pockets searched The Lieutenant of Ireland impeached of High-Treason Obs. p. 211. His condition examined Parliament borrow money of the City Bishop of Lincoln enlarged Hist. p. 217. Justice Howard killed by a Papist Prin and Burton return from durance Sir Francis Windbanck gets away Votes against Ship-money Ob. p. 218. London Petitioneth the late Canons denounced Obs. p. 220. Arch-bishop of Canterbury impeached See Obs. p. 216. and committed to custody Scots Covenanters charge against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury December 17. the Scots Charge against the L. Lieutenant of Ireland Money voted for the Scots Lord Keeper Finch his Speech to the Commons House Voted flyeth 〈…〉 〈◊〉 against Goodman the Priest The Kings Answer 〈…〉 The Scots affairs 1. Demand Answer 2. Demand Answer 3. Demand Answer 5. Demand Answer 6. Demand Answer 7. Demand Answer
for the Spaniard Cockram's Instructions to the King of Denmark Annâ— 1644. 〈…〉 Sir W. Waller 's Commission The Scots are caressed Fight at Braâ—dean Heath Essex's Army recruited Tax of weekly Meals Bewdley taken Fairfax in the North. Parliaments Army hastened The Parliament assembled at Oxford proroguâ—d Parliament at Westminster write to the Parliament in Scotland Anno 1643. The Queen journeys to the West and so to France The Kings Protestation aâ— the Sacrament of the Eucharist Swansey summoned Anno 1644. Siege at Latham House from Aâ—ril 17 raised May 27. The Lady Winter summoned to yield Her Answer Malmsbury taken The Kings design to march from Oxford Essex and Waller divide Forces Waller to catch the King Waller defeated at Copredy Bridge General Essex defeated in Cornwal Anno 1643. Anno 1644. The King returns to Oxford The Kings Letter to the Earl of Essex The Lords Letters to Essex Another from Tavestock Holland Ambassadours have audience for Peace York relieved by P. Rupert York surrendered to the Parliament Dennington Castle assaulted by the Parliaments Forces A second Attempt upon the Castle Church Reformation Princess Henretta Maria born at Exceter Iune 16. Ambassadours mediatours for Peace A Letter from beyond Seas to a member at Westminster The Kings Letter to the Parliament for a Peacâ— Upon the Victory against Essex's Army in Cornwal Banbury stormed by the Parliament and repulsed Earl of Northampton defeats the Besiegers Massey meets Myns design Grâ—y and Hammond fall out Myn de feated and slain Prince Rupert near Bristol Ast Ferry Fight Lieutenant Col. Kirle betrays Monmouth to Massey Military affairs in Monmouthshire Fight on the East side of Spine Earl of Cleveland commended Fight near Shaw Monmouth surprized and how Sir Iac. Astley at Cirencester Sentenced to death Captain Hotham arraigned Hothams Letter to the Earl of Newcastle Eikon Bas. cap. 8. p. 46. A new Government of the Church voted Eikon Bas. Cap. 16. Parliaments Propositions for Peace Directions to Ormond to make peace with the Rebels in Ireland Memorials for Secretary Nicholas at the Treaty Directions to the Kings Commissioners to treat Treaty at Uxbridge The Kings Commissioners offers concerning Religion Ireland Observations concerning the Treaty Anno 1644. Upon Uxbridg Treaty and other the Kings offers Eikon Bas. Chap. 18. Irish Rebels Macquire and Mac-Mahone Executed The design of new modelling the Army Newcastle siege Newcastle surrendred The siege of Basing House Basing relieved the 12 of Sept. The Besiegers rise from Basing Arch-Bishop of Canterbury arraigned Acts 6. 12. Acts 12. 3. Isa. 1. 15. Psal. 9. 12. Heb. 12. His Prayer at the Block Colonel Stephens surprizing was surprized The Cavaliers prevail Price Rupert in Wales with additional Forces Military affairs in Scotland Montrose spoils the Mâ—neses Dâ—feat at Aberdinc Fight at Favy Montrose in Arguile divastates all Arguile defeated A Design for the Duke of Lorain's assistance to the King The reason of the Danish War Anno 1645. General Fairfax his Commission Peace with the Swedes Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliaments Forces Anno 1645. The Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbigh surrender their Commissions A Paper delivered to the Lord by the Earl of Essex together with his Commission Declaration in behalf of these Generals Grand Ordinance to disable Members from Offices and Commands Both Armies how disposed Blackington delivered to the Parliament Colonel Windebank shot to death Taunton besieged by the Kings Forces Taunton relieved for the present and again besieged State Ambassadours take leave Sir Iohn Winter recruited Lidbury fight A Protestation of Loyalty to the King Leicester taken by the King Naseby Fight Their Order The Kings Letters taken and divulged Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged Eikon Bas. ch 21. And his Declaration Leicester Surrendered upon Articles to the Parliament Prince Elector arrested for debt at the City feast Oxford straitned Carlisle surrendered Club-men are up Club-men treat with Fairfax His Answer Club-men's mis-rule Goring and Fairfax fight at Sutton Field Goring goes Westward Fairfax to Bridgwater Bridgwater bravely defended Bridgwater bravely defended at last surrendered Scarborough Castle delivered to the Parliament Bath rendered to Fairfax Siege of Hereford by the Scots raised by the King Summons Answers The King raises the Siege The Scots in discontent Sherburn taken by storm Club-men surprized by Cromwel Huntington taken by the King The King comes to Wales Fight at Bauton Heath Bristol besieged by Fairfax and Cromwel Cromwels Letter from Bristol to the Speaker He takes the Devizes And Winchester His Letter A Ranting Commander Basing taken by storm The wealth of Basing The Kings condition His Forces defeated at Sherburn in Yorkshire Digbie's Letters taken concerning Ireland The Kings Officers quarrâ—l Commanders quit their Commissions Belvoir surrendred to the Parliament Latham House rendred to the Parliament Hereford surprized for the Parliament Of treachery or Corruptions Qualifications concerning Delinquents Prince Charles desires conduct for two Lords to treat about a peace Fairfax's Answer The Princes Reply The Kings Letter to the Parliamentâ— for a conduct for persons to treat The Parliaments answer The Parliaments Answer to the Kings former Letters Anno. 1645. Fasting and Prayer at Oxford Irish Letters Intercepted The Kings Commission to the Barl of Glamorgan Message about Ireland and personal Treaty Arch-Bishop of York his letter to the Lord Ashley Digby's letter Glamorgans letter to the King out of Ireland Westchester besieged and surrendered Court of Wards and Liveries voted down Lilburn petitions for justice Dartmouth besieged and surrendred to the Parliament Exeter summoned Hopton defeated at Torrington Lamiston quitted Hopton agrees to disband Eikon Bas. pa. 17. 2. His expedition to Dundâ—e Aldern Battel Kilsithe famous Battel Foreign Affairs Prisoners of note Anno. 1646. The Prince of Wales invited to the Parliament The King at Oxâ—ord in distress Lord Ashley defeated totally The King desires to come to his Parliament He is answered negatively Cavaliers to depart the City Court Martial and their Articles Misery of the Cavalier The Brass Tomb of Windsor sold. Garisons surrendred Exeter surrendred Garisons rendred up to the Parliament Williams Arch-bishop of York turnned Souldier against the King Dudley Castle surrendred Oxford City besieged the second time Instructions to treat Oxford surrendred upon Articles Prince Elector visits his Brothers The Kings Seal of State broken The Duke of York brought to London Princess Henretta conveyed into France Sir Richard Onslow complains of Withers Newark siege and surrender of it First summons Second summons Banbury Castle surrendered and Carnarvan Ragland Castle besieged The King escapes out of Oxford And arrives at the Scots Army before Newark The Kings Letter to Ormond of his intention to go to the Scots Army Order to dispose of the King Levens Letter concerning the King The Kings Message to the Parliament from Southwel Votes to dispose of the King Eikon Bas. chap. 21. The Prince invited again to the Parliament The King enters into Newcastle The Scots Army voted to be gone