King affianced by former contract to the Princess Henrieta-Maria Sister to the French King Lewis the 13. And therefore to him first is principally dispatched Emissaries of his Fathers decease and so to other Princes and States in Amity with all but the House of Austria upon the score of restauration of the Palatine and his Inheritance And with this advice he orders Letters of Procuration or Proxie to the Duke of Chevereux of the House of Guise and so neer of Extraction to King Charles that Chawd of Lorain the first Duke of Guise maried his Daughter Mary to Iames the fifth of Scotland Grandfather to Iames the sixth and She Great Grand-mother to King Charles To this Duke Chevereux he sends for espousing his Mistress to make her his Consort which was celebrated on Sunday the first of May our stile and of theirs the eleventh day in their Church of Nostre-Dame at Paris She being given up his Queen by her two Brothers the King and Monsieur But to fetch her over there arrived a Fortnight after the Duke of Buckingham in Commission with our Ambassadors there the Earls of Carlisle and Holland with a train of the best of Quality to attend him the Earl of Mountgomery was pickt out to be one who had a larger Purse than Head-piece and being much troubled to come behind those in ranck before whom those Earls he was in Peerage professed that his intent of Journey was to see the Monarch of France where now he finds three English Kings besides for in pomp of State and Vestments they were said to equal any The second of Iune the English Queen sets forward from Paris and so to Amiens where she staied 14. dayes A City of some circuit without the walls because a Town of War and a Frontier memorable for entertainment of many persons as now for great Princes and heretofore an Army of English Guests feasted by King Lewis the eleventh not onely King Edward of England and his Military Grandees but even to the common Souldiers to please them for a patcht peace made up with their Prince whose Camp lay very neer It lasted four dayes the common chambers were the canopied streets and in all houses of Retail for Victuall or Wine scot-free The number of the English and all armed were accompted by some Authors nine thousand and might have this way stoln a Victory over a Town though with loss of their honour The Citadel is of great strength built by Henry the fourth of France so soon as he won it from the Spaniard seated neer upon his Territories and therefore now a jealous Town 500 in pay to guard the Citadel and 200 of the City that watch themselves every house finding one 12 mights a year The Duke of Chawny hath the title Vice-dame of Amiens and Governor of the Citadel made so by his Brother Favourite Luines from being before but Mr. Cadineâ— But the Cathedral Nostre-Dame the most glorious magnificent Fabrick in the World and but questionable if of the Quire more Majesty in that of Amiens or more beauty in Ours of Henry the seventh Chapel at Westminster this the more exquisite that the more glorious both Miracula Mundi Tam bene conveniunt et in una sede morantur Majestas Amor. But for the Front the Divinity of Art far beyond our famed Wells or Peterborough Invisuram facilius aliquem quam Imataturam so infinite beyond imitation And all these together is the Seat of a Bishop But here the Queen takes leave of her mother whose indisposition of health had arrested her there in punishment of that malice wherewith she dissembleâ— it too long at the first through the extreme desire she had of coming to the Sea-side But Monsieur accompanied his Sister to Boloign not so neer for passage over as Calais but the infection there turned them thither where she received the Countess of Buckingham the Mother and a train of Ladies from England To her Mounsieur descended to give a visit at her lodging and the Duchess of Chevereux that great Princess of Match and blood did perforce give her precedence with all imaginable honor for her sons sake A pittiful reason for Toby Matthew thereby not to be discouraged from bearing devotion to the blessed Virgin when he saw as he taies that women sick of love towards the son are put by a law of Nasure into pain till they revenge themselves on the Mother This Town is divided into La haute ville and La bass ville high and low Town distant one hundred paces from each other The Upper Town upon the Hill the other declining to the Sea-side this though bigger and better built Trade hath increased it so by the Haven yet but a Town the other the City made so by Henry the second and a Bishops Seat anno 1553. And here was the plague now also but the infection abated for the Queens presence by a Grand Proâ—â—ssion ad placandam Dâ—i tram Processions first instituted by Pope Stephanus anno 752. but the Letany of it was comprized by Pope Leo the first anno 1060. Not in respect of sickness but of Earthquakes which in all France are frequent But their charity to the infected dead corps continues to this day the Covent de la charite being bound to bury them and so they say themselves are free from infection for in truth they are so aged no disease can catch them but death yet by after mingling with the people they infest others which they teach the ignorant not to believe Wondrous jealous they are of the English to walk their Wall since Henry the eighth of England possessed it Their Garrison now 300. their Governor Monsieur d' Amont son to the Marshall It hath a Tower de Ordre built by Iulius Caesar at his second expedition into Britain then the Watch Tower but now worn out and only used for a Pharos by night and a Sea-mark by day called the Old man of Boloign It seems so an aged piece and ere long by the waves of the Sea upon the ruin of the Basis may be supposed not of long lasting The Town was taken by Henry 8. anno 1545. with more expence than profit of 44000. foot and 3000. horse 100. field pieces and for them and provision 25000. draught horse and so kept it against many French Attempts all his life time but was lost by Contract of a Treaty to the French Forces for 800000. Crowns tempore Edw. 6. being ingaged then against the Scots and Kit the Norfolk Rebel besides Here the Queen finds a Convoy of the English Royal Navy 21 Ships the most admired then for State and Service and had need to be so to wast over hither the most eminent persons of both nations Her passage might preâ—age the Intemperate success to Her and Us thereafter so were the Seas then the most tempestuous like the last time that wafted Queen Mary of Scotland who came from Calais Triste et lugubre
being too forward in the Fight and incompassed by the Enemy his noble Son the Lord Willoughby hastned to his rescue not staying for greater assistance than such by chance about him and were both over-powred and taken Prisoners the Father â—ore wounded and evil intreated died the next day Sir Edmund Varney Knight Marshal and Standard-bearer was killed and the Standard ingaged till a gallant Gentleman Mr. Iohn Smith instantly shot him dead and rescued it for which service he was presently dubbed Knight and Bannoret the first of that Honour and bore the Standard after and relieved Colonel Fielding with some others of quality repulsing their Enemies Horse and followed the pursuit The Foot on both sides continued hot fiering untill the Day was spent and Night five a clock parted the Fight which no doubt was fairest on the Kings side had he enjoyed the Light somewhat longer to have increased his advantage towards a Victory It must be acknowledged that the General Essex his Regiment of Foot Colonel Hollis and Colonel Hambdem's stood the brunt of the Battel most of their Men being London Prentices fresh and good Firers did bold service Among the Plunder General Essex his Waggon Saddles Cloke-bags and Cabinet were taken and therein some Letters and Papers of Intelligence sufficient to discover one Blake a secret Traitor in the Kings Court for which he was forthwith hanged in the high way a sign to all Traitors betwixt Oxford and Abingdon this Fellow had been a Merchant and for some service at Sallie in Barbarie releasing English Slaves purchased repute at home which shadowed him from any suspition to be an Intelligencer at the Kings Court to divers his Corresponds City Friends for which he so suffered After the King had given the first Word espying one to steal to the Enemy he altered it to God and King Charls The Kings Troop consisted of an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Gentlemen able to expend an hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year of their own and these charged first with much courage and so performed it that Day commanded by the Lord Bernard youngest Brother to the Duke of Richmond and afterwards created Earl of Lichfield Sir Arthur Aston commanded the Dragoons and gave notice to him the Lord Bernard how he should order his Charge which was to second him and to follow the Dragoons who beat off those that lined the Hedges having that Intelligence of Sir Fortescue's Cornet who was come from Essex's Army with assurance that his Captain would follow with his Troop as he did at the first of the Fight The Kings Army was about twelve thousand the Parliaments sixteen thousand men exceeding well armed and furnished with excellent Ammunition compleat The loss by view of the dead might be between five or six thousand between them The King certainly lost the lesse in number but the most of value men of great merit but not the most in place and Office of Command But now the question will be who had the better If you will not admit it a drawn Battel consider these particulars following The Kings design was to March on his way and Essex resolution was to attach him which he did not but rather Skirted his Marchings and gave the occasion that the King encountred him though being met he began the Challenge After the Battel the King kept the field in his Coach all that Night with great fires and the next day in the Fâ—eld Proclaimed several Pardons to such of the Enemy that would submit And then Marches to Aino the seven and twentieth of October where he dated his Proclamation of Grace and Favour to the Cities of London and Westminster The King without Interruption of his Enemy buries the dead Marches to Banbury Took the Town and Castle and they take Arms under him so then he was Master of the Field commanding his own way and doing his own work which he came about and Marches to Oxford His Enemy General Essex wheeles towards Warwick does no more and retreats to London where hâ—s Army Lodges for Recruits The next day after the fight the King sends Sir William Neve Garter Herald to Essex to exchange the Lord Willoughby Earl of Lindsey for the Lord St. Iohn Hue Bullenbroke of Bletso but ere iâ— could be dispatched St. Iohns dies by which he paies the first of his debts to his Creditors and the last debt to sin and death with the undoing of many of his Country worthy Gentlemen men bound for him in great sums of Money Colonel Essex Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey both slaine But to go on with the story The King Prince and Duke that Night retreated to the side of the Hill resting in their Coach all Night keeping divers fires but could discern but one fire from their Enemy so that it was supposed their General was Marched away untill the Morning discovered them to be drawn out and Colonel Brooks Regiment of Foot and others coming to joyn with them The King draws up also upon the Hill and about noon Essex Marches away The King at Edge-hill Proclaims his pardon to the Rebells now in Arms against him so be they will come in to him and seek it the four and twentieth of October And in Aino the seven and twentieth of October He sends his gracious Proclamation of Pardon to his Cities of London and Westminster excepting therein Alderman Fulk and Manwaring On Tuesday Morning at nine a clock the King forth with his forces faced the Town of Banbury being ready to fall on Captain Marrow who Commanded the Castle treated a while and by twelve a clock delivered up the Town and Castle though there were therein two Regiments of Foot blew coats belonging to the Lord Rochford and Peterborough and Captain Saiers Troop of Horse The Prince with three peeces of Cannon and some Foot and Horse Marched against Broughton House belonging to the Lord Say and at the first shot of Ordinance through and through it was delivered up From thence to Southampton The Earl of Essex retreated this while to Warwick and so the other way Marched to London But the Kings Forces returned to Oxford so through Abington and to Henley where they refreshed two or three daies then to Mâ—idenhead Windsor and Stains Saturday being a misty morning the Kings Forces made their Rendevouz on Hownslow Heath the Parliaments Forces being that morning drawn out of Kingston giving Liberty to the King to Command both sides of the River Thames who about eleven of the clock forced the Enemy out of Brainford but ere we go on let us return to some Civil affairs which were Acted by both parties after Edge-hill fight however controverted amongst parties Interested The King Publishes his Delaration to all his Loving Subjects after his late Victory against the Rebels on Sunday the three and twentieth of October 1642. Ascribing the preservation of him â—nd his Children in the late bloody Battel with the Rebels to the Mercy and
Kings partie are Masters of the Field with Garisons round about plentifully supplied from the King but the Parliaments partie in great want are likely to disband within ten days And this is the Relation from the Lord Fairfax Decemb. 10. 1642. The Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Cambridg the Isle of Elie Hertford and City of Norwich are authorized to associate and their General the Earl of Essex gives Commission to the Lord Grey of Wark to command in cheif as Major General over those Counties with Instructions to govern accordingly The most part of the Earl of Newcastle's Forces lie upon the County towards Halifax and the clothing Towns imposing Taxes upon the Inhabitants according to their qualities from one thousand pounds to one hundred pounds proportionable who found a Light-horse at an hundred pounds every one who found Musket or Pâ—ke at fourty shillings And about the fifteenth of December lands Colonel Goring for the King with more Arms some Pieces of Ordnance and some Money and fourscore old Commanders with the Queens Standard and to joyn with the Earl of Newcastle And in this Moneth of December the Kings Forces prospered Westward Marlborough and Tadcaster taken with a great Defeat of their Enemy Winchester and Chichester won by the Parliament The noble Lord Aubignie Brother to the Duke of Richmond died and was buried at Oxford And now it was thought time for the City to speak for themselves they well know what an odium lodged upon their disloyalty and therefore they petition the King how they are deeply pierced with Gangrene-wounds of his Majesties fear to hazzard his person in returning home to his Citie they abhor all thoughts of Disloyaltie making good their late Solemn Protestationâ— and sacred Oath with the last drop of their dearest bloud to defend and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Religion and your Majesties royal person honour and estate and do hereby engage themselves their estates and all they have to defend your Majestie with as much love loyaltie and dutie as ever Citizens expressed towards their Sovereign They are answered That his Majestie can distinguish some good Subjects in the Citie from the bad not all guiltie but what confidence can the King have there where the Laws of the Land are notoriously despised and the whole Government of the Citie submitted to the arbitrarie power of a few desperate persons of no reputation and names them Pennington their pretended Mayor the principal Authour of these Calamities which threaton ruine to that heretofore famous Citie Ven Foulk and Manwaring all of them notoriously guiltie of Schism and high Treason in oppressing robbing and imprisoning his good Subjects because they will not rebell against his Majestie nor assist those that do not that he condemns all for some that are guiltie and yet he offers his gracious pardon to all except such as are excepted if they shall yet return to their dutie if not he sums up the miserie that will necessarily fall upon every such person as shall continue acting and assisting the Rebellion This Answer full and home to the Cities conscience startled many into reluctancy when it was therefore thought fit by the Parliament to visit their Common Council and to caress them with a Committee of some Members lest this Answer should work too much with reluctancy And are told by Mr. Pym and others That this Answer reflects with wounding Aspersions upon persons of very eminent Authoritie of very great fidelitie amongst them that the Parliament owns them and their actions and will live and die in their defence and evermore concluding that their protection is the Armie and that it is hoped they will enlarge their Contributions for the maintenance of this Armie wherein as they have been liberal in former necessities so now they will exceed for safetie of themselves At the end of every period which Mr. Pym made in his Speech the applause was so great and so loud that he was silenced not without jugling and so concludes Worthy Citizens turning to the Rabble you see what the Parliament will do for your Lord Mayor and you 〈◊〉 your affections to do for the Parliament and State To which they replied We will live and die with them live and die with them All which says their printed Paper we may sum up in that Triumph of that Man of God In the thing wherein they dealt proudly God was above them There were some humble Desires and Propositions presented to the King at Oxford February 1. by four Lords and eight Members of the Commons but with so wilde and ranting a Preamble and the Desires so peremptory no less than fourteen viz. To disband his Armie and to return home to his Parliament Leave Delinquents to Trial Papists to be disarmed Bill for abolishing the Church-governours and Government and to pass such other Bills as shall be devised for a new Reformation Recusants to abjure Papacie To remove malignant Counsellours To settle the Mâ—litia as the Parliament please To prefer to the great Offices and Places of Iudicature such of the Parliament as they name and to take in all such as have been put out of Commissions of the peace A Bill to vindicate the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members To enter Alliance with his Proâ—estant Neighbours for Recoverie of the Palatinate To grant a general pardon with Exception of the Earl of Newcastle the Lord Digby and others To restore such of the Parliaments Members to their Offices and Places and to satisfie for their Losses c. The King answers with amazement If he had not given up all the faculties of his soul to an earnest endeavour of â—eace and Reconciliation or if he would suffer himself by any proâ—â—â—â—tion to be drawn to a sharpness of language at a time of Overtures of Accommodation he could not otherwise but resent their heavie charges upon him in the preamble and not suffer Reproaches which they cast upon him but his Majestie will forbear bitterness or the heat of his own sufferings throughout that if it be possible the memory thereof may be lost to the world And how unparliamentarie it is by Arms to require new Laws And he is pleased that a speedie time may be agreed upon for a Meeting and to debate those Propositions of theirs and these of his viz. That his own Revenues Magazines Towns Ships and Forts be restored That what hath been done contrary to Law and the Kings right may be renounced and recalled That all illegal power claimed or acted by Orders of Parliament be disclaimed The King will readily consent to the execution of all Laws made or to be made concerning Popery and Reformation so he desires a Bill for preserving the Book of Common Prayer and against Sectaries That all persons to be excepted against in the Treatie may be tried per pares with the cessation of Arms and for a free Trade But nothing followed till the third of March. In the North parts from
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
an enterprize For those your donatives are all disburst to a penny and I am enforced to summon you hither to tell you that neither can the Army advance nor the Fleet set forth without further aid Consider I pray you the eyes of all Europe are defixt upon me to whom I shall appear ridiculous as though I were unable to outgo muster and ostentation if you now desert me Consider it is my first attempt wherein if I sustain a foyl it will blemish all my future honour If mine cannot let your own reputation move you deliver and expedite me fairly out of this war wherewith you have encombred let it never be said whereinto you have betrayed me I desire therefore your speedy supply speedy I call it for else it will prove no supply The Sun you know is entring into his declining point so it will be soon too late to set forth when it will be rather not too soon to return Again I must minde you of the mortality now regnant in this City which should it as so it may and no breach of priviledge neither arrest any one Member of either house it would soon put a period both to consultation and Session so that your own periâ—litation necessitates an early resolution In sum Three of the best Rhetoritians Honour Opportunity and Safety are all of a plot and plead you see for expedition Perhaps it may be expected I should say something in way of account of my Religion as also of the temper and tenour of my future Government But as I hope I have not been guilty of any thing which may justly start the least question in either so I desire you would repose in this assurance that I will in neither vary from those principles wherein I have been instituted at the feet of that eminent Gamaliel my late Father And ending his Speech he with his hand moved his Crown Not usual saies one with any his predecessors to vail it Nor did he but the massy Gold and precious stones gave him cause to ease his browes of that weight and of which he complained when he came home without any other observation then which yet hath begot so much comment now as to be called Calamitous Presages no less then a dozen in the Kings future Reign which we shall remember as we meet them in order hereafter and for the present examine the Note of Mr. Prins telling That the King on his day of Coronation was clothed in White contrary to the Custome of his Predecessors on that day clothed in purple the Regal colour of Kings the Robe of Majesty the other of Saints the Robe of innocency And to this as to the other a great plague had driven the greatest trades men out of the City and the Kings Mercer infected and fled No Purple Velvet to be had on the sodain and so the colour of his Robes was changed by Necessity yet to the better by his own observation But to the matter of the Kings Speech Money for a War with Spain upon the former score of Quarrel the Palatinate which ingaged King Iames in Justice and honour and so this King To a War is required a Iust Quarrel Wars are suits of Appeal to the Tribunal of Gods Justice where there are no Superiours on Earth to determine the Cause Yet do the Princes of this World endeavour to declare the reasons of their defiance to ballance with the opinions of a righteous cause England had at this time two just Grounds of War with Spain 1. The recovery of the Palatinate 2. A just fear of subversion of our Civil Estate I have no mind to mention the Third so usually pretended viz. Fear of subversion of our Religion for though the House of Commons the first Parliament of King Iames voted that for a reason to make a War upon Spain the King was so wise as not to involve into a quarrel against him upon that score lest he should be necessarily drawn into a defiance likewise with all the Roman Catholiques of Christendome and so that vote was dasht out of the Record by the Register But we shall take the two for granted That Just fears are indeed true Defensives as well as actual Invasions but offensive Wars for Religion King Iames was of opinion are never just Not to force the Conscience which Guides the Soul with the power of the Sword which is but humane and though he was by his Title Defensor â—idei if oppugned yet he was not thereby authorized to quarrel with another mans belief For the first Ground the concernment of the Palatinate as there was no color in that Prince Elector to accept of the Kingdom of Bohemia so no Justice in the house of Austria to retain the Palatinate from him For though an Elective Monarchy cannot be so free as anâ— Hereditary yet if yoâ—â—â—ke to boot the Customes transactions and privileges of that Kingdome of Bohemia It will appear as positive as Soveraigns Descendent But leaving that Title as disputable I shall not offer at it though I were able to master the Question And then the Quere will follow whether an Offensive War being made unjustly the Defendant may not by diversion invade and master the undubitable possession of the Aggressour who is now turned Defendant of his own Surely he may and enjoy the conquest lawfully and is not bound to restore it but by force which force is as lawfull to be done as the other The Spaniard in eighty eight invaded our Seas and designed it upon our Land also was not our expeditions thereupon against Lisbone and Cadiz a just war surely it was And truly King Iames held these Opinions which put him into Treaties for the Palatinate upon terms and conditions of a mariage with Prince Charles his Son and the Infanta of Spain wherein being some years deluded it was just in him to begin the way by force which he did as it is now for King Charles to endeavour the like regaining it for his Brother-in-law by a War which he now intends For Wars are Vindictae Revenges Reparations like to cross suits in civil pleas sometime both of them just And thus much for the Palatinate The Second Ground A just fear of subversion of our Civil Estate The overgrowing Greatness of any neighbour Nation is a necessity imposed upon anothers fear of violation which becomes defensive Christian Princes have a just invasive War against the Turk as a grand Enemy indeed not for cause of Religion no good ground for that but upon a just fear because the fundamental Law in that Empire is to propagate their Mahometan faith by any War So saies the Persian for his belief two opposite enemies upon that ground and the Christians are as well upon the Preventive as the Defensive War All men know the great endeavours of the Spanish Monarchy to aspire new Acquests and to be absolute The History of the Triumvirate Kings Henry the eighth of England Francis the first of
Councel at Hampton Court the case was concluded for the Arch Bishop as the greatest reason not to rule themselves having suffered such an Inconvenience there without so much as taking notice much lesse reforming It had been more then fifteen moneths that the Writs of Ship-money were issued out to divers Counties many Men and in special Mr. Hambden of Buckingham Shire being Assisted by the Sherifâ— made default of payment this Person well known and supposed a stake for others not without a resolved factious assistance of powerful parties And therefore the King this Michaelmas Term not precipitate into a quarrel advised the opinion of his Judges stating the Case by Letter to them To our trusty and well-beloved Sir John Bramstone Knight Chief Iustice of Our Bench Sir John Finch Knight Chief Iustice of Our Court of Common Pleas Sir Humphrey Davenport Knight Chief Baron of Our Court of Exchequer and to the rest of the Iudges of Our Courts of Kings Bench Common Pleas and the Barons of our court of Exchequer Charls Rex Trusty and well-beloved we greet you well taking into our Princely consideration that the Honor and safety of this Our Realm of England the preservation whereof is onely entrusted to Our care was and is more dearly concern'd then in late former times as well by divers councels and attempts to take from Us the Dominions of the Seas of which We are sole Lord and rightful Owner or Propriator and the losse whereof would be of greatest danger and peril to this Kingdom and other Our Dominions and many other wayes We for the avoiding of these and the like dangers well weighing with our self that where the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger there the charge and defence ought to be born by all the Realm in general did for the preventing so publique a mischief resolve with our self to have a Royal Navy prepared that might be of force and power with Almighty Gods blessing and assistance to protect and defend this Our Realm and Our Subjects therein from all such perils and dangers and for that purpose We issued forth Writs under our Great Seal of England directed to all Our Sheriffs of Our several Counties of England and Wales Commanding thereby all Our said Subjects in every City Town and Village to provide such a number of Ships well furnisht as might serve for this Royal purpose and which might be done with the greatest equality that could be In performance whereof though generally throughout all the Counties of this Our Realm We have found in Our Subjects great chearfulnesse and alacrity which We gratiously interpret as a testimony as well of their dutiful affection to us and our service as of the respect they have to the Publique which well becometh every good Subject Nevertheless finding that some few happily out of ignorance what the Laws and Customs of this Realm are or out of a desire to be eased in their particulars how general soever the charge be or ought to be have not yet paid and contributed to the several Rates and Assesments that were set upon them And fore-seeing in Our Princely wisdom that from thence divers Suits and Actions are not unlikely to be commenced and prosecuted in our several Courts at Westminster We desirous to avoid such inconveniencies and out of Our Princely love and affection to all Our People being willing to prevent such Errours as any of Our loving Subjects may happen to run into have thought fit in a case of this nature to advise with you Our Judges who We doubt not are well studied and informed in the Rights of Our Sovereignty And because the Trials in Our several Courts by the Formalities in Pleading will require a long protraction We have thought fit by this Letter directed to you all to require your Judgments in the Case as it is set down in the inclosed Paper which will not onely gain time but also be of more authority to over-rule any prejudicate opinions of others in the Point Given under Our Signet at our Court of White-hall the Second Day of February in the Twelfth Year of Our Reign 1636. CHARLS Rex CHARLS Rex VVhen the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concern'd and the whole Kingdom in danger whether may not the King by VVrit under the great Seal of England command all the Subjects in his Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victuals and Munition and for such time aâ— he shall think fit for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom from such Danger and Peril and by Law compel the doing thereof in case of Reâ—usal or Refractoriness and whether in such case is not the King the sole Iudge both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided The Judges return their Opinions thus May it please your Most Excellent Majesty we have according to your Majesties Command severally and every Man by himself and all of us together taken into serious consideration the Case and Questions signed by your Majesty and inclosed in your Letter And we are of opinion that when the Good and Safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in Danger your Majesty may by Writ under your Great Seal of England command all the Subjects of this your Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victual Munition and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom from such Peril and Danger And that by Law your Majesty may compell the doing thereof in case of Refusal or Refractoriness And we are also of opinion that in such Case your Majesty is the sole Iudg both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided John Bramston John Finch Humphrey Davenport John Denham Richard Hutton William Jones George Crook Thomas Trever George Vernon Robert Barkly Francis Crauly Richard Weston Thus they subscribe which was inrolled in all Courts at Westminster Hall and without doubt Warrant sufficient for the King to proceed against any Defaulters specially singly against Hambden who appeared upon Process and required Oyer of the Ship Writs and so being heard he demurred in Law and demanded the Iudges opinion upon the Legality of those Writs which being argued in the Exchequer all the Iudges and those Barons except Crook and Hutton were of opinion for the Writs and the Barons gave Iudgment accordingly against Hambden who under hand advised held up the Quarrel by Intermissions till further time and conveniency The Queen bare the Princess Ann the seventeenth of March the third Daughter to the King This Midsummer Term were censured in Star-chamber three Delinquents confederate A medley of Mal-contents The one a Divine Mr. Burton who is a mistiled Sometime Tutor to the King which he never was nor any
the Breaches of the State without the Ruines of the Church as I would be a Restorer of the one so I would not be an Oppressor of the other under the pretence of Publick Debts The Occasions contracting them were bad enough but such a discharging of them would be much worse I pray God neither I nor mine may be accessory to either And now dies Mr. Iohn Pym a Member of the House of Commons and a notable stickler for the Parliament he was ever observed to be an high Prebyterian in profession whose subtilty managed the most of their publick affair and ended his days when he had wrangled for the Mastery and left all in great doubt which party might overcome not without some regret and repentance they say that these Differences which he hatched should prove so desperate as he now too late fore saw would undo this Nation In the midst of May it was that Colonel Nath Fines Governour of the City of Bristol had discovered a Plot of the Inhabitants to betray the Town which after much Examination lighted upon Robert Yeomans and George Bourchier who had secretly provided themselves of Arms intending to kill the Centinels by night and possess the Main Guard whereby to master the greatest part of the other side within the Town to kill the Mayor and many others affected to the Parliament and by that means to betray the City to the Kings Forces which should lodg near hand for that purpose two miles off but the Plot pretended was discovered and those men condemned by a Council of War to be hanged This was known at Oxford whereupon the Kings Lord Lieut. of all his Forces the Lord Ruthen lately made Earl of Forth writes to the Governour of Bristol I having been informed that lately at a Council of War you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriff of Bristol who hath his Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his Brother George Bourchier and Edward Dacres all for expressing their loyalty to his Majesty and endeavouring his Service according to their Allegeance do therefore signifie to you that I intend speedily to put Mr. George Mr. Stevens Captain Huntley and others taken in Rebellion at Cirencester into the same condition I do further advise you that if you offer by that unjust Iudgment to execute any of them that those here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie At Oxford May 16. 1643. To the Commander in chief of the Council of War in Bristol Forth The Answer comes from the Governour Colonel Nathaniel Fines and the Council of War at Bristol in effect That if you shall not make distinction between Souldiers of Arms and secret Spies and Conspirators we will not onely proceed against them but others and if by any inhumane and unsouldierlike Sentence you shall execute those persons you named then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts and Colonel Connesby and others whom we have here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie May 18. 1643. Nath. Fines President c. To Patrick Earl of Forth Lord Lieutenant General And so notwithstanding the Kings Letter also to the Mayor and Citizens in their behalf Yeomans and Bourchier were hanged May 30. There was a Plot discovered at London the last of May against the Cities of London and Westminster and by consequence the whole Parliament the chief of the Conspiracy were Mr. Waller a Member of the House of Commons Mr. Tomkins his Brother in Law and lately Clerk of the Queens Council Mr. Chaloner Mr. Hasel Mr. Blinkhorn Mr. White and others As for the Plot we have ravelled into the search of the truth but must take it from the Parliaments Declaration That they should seize into their custodie the Kings Children some Members of the Parliament the Lord Mayor and Committee of Militia all the Cities Out-works and Forts the Tower of London and all the Magazines Then to let in the Kings Forces to surprize the Citie and destroy all Opposers and to resist all payments of Taxes And much heartened they were by a Commission of Array sent from Oxford at that time and brought secretly by the Lady Aubigne Daughter to the Earl of Suffolk Widow of the late Lord Aubigne wounded at Edg-hill and died at Oxford the thirteenth of Ianuary This Commission was directed to Sir Nicholas Crisp and divers others This Plot was discovered the last of May. They were arreigned in publick at Guild-hall and all those four named condemned onely Tomkins and Chaloner executed the first 〈…〉 Door in Holborn the other in Corn-hill but the chief Conspirator Waller was by General Essex reprieved imprisoned a twelve-moneth in the Tower and after for a Fine of ten thousand pounds pardoned and for shame sent to travel into France The reason is much studied for satisfying the World why he the chief Actor the other but brought in by the by should receive such partial Justice because he was ingenious and confessed all and Mr. Pym had engaged his promise for his Life but certainly the most evident Reason is very apparent his great Sum of Money paid down and belike his ample confession of the particulars which the other at their death did not acknowledg Iuly 5. The Parliament having been put to it in want of the great Seal of England now at Oxford for confirmation of their Acts and Ordinances it had been oftentimes disputed and committed the making of another Seal for the use of the Parliament yet deferred the times not â—itted for so great a business the renewing of the Treaty being offered at on both sides But now the Parliament pass four Votes 1. That it is necessary the Great Seal to attend the Houses 2. That there hath been a failer of it at this Parliament 3. Much prejudice to the King Parliament and Kingdom 4. That the Houses ought to provide a Remedie thereof for the time to come Afterwards they made an Order That if the Lord Keeper Littleton upon Summons did not return with the great Seal within fourteen days he should lose his Place and whatever should be sealed therewith by him after that time should be null and vacate in Law A worthy Member desired the Serjeant at Law that ordered the Ordinance not to wade too far in the business before he did consult the Statute of 25 Edward 3. where Counterfeiting the Great Seal is declared high Treason To which the Serjeant replied That he purposed not to counterfeit the old Seal but to make a new Indeed the Parliament being the highest Court and Council had shewn their legislative power by passing Ordinances without the Kings assent to binde the Subject in the exercise of the Militia and that there wanted nothing but the executive part with a Great Seal for the administring justice in all Courts of Law and Equity which would sufficiently declare their power in all necessary Incidents of that supreme Council That since inferiour Courts had their proper Seals the
Vane jun. M. Rob. Wallop M. Thomas Chicheley Mr. Oliver Cromwel M. Philip Skippon supposing that these are persons against whom there can be no just exception But if this doth not satisfie then his Majesty offers to name the one half and leave the other to the election of the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster with the Powers and Limitations before mentioned Thus his Majesty calls God and the VVorld to witness of his sincere intentions and real endeavours for the composing and setling of these miserable Distractions which he doubts not but by the blessing of God will soon be put to a happy Conclusion if this his Majesties offer be accepted Otherwise he leaves all the World to judg who are the continuers of this unnatural war And therefore he once more conjures you by all the bonds of duty you owe to God and your King to have so great a compassion on the bleeding and miserable estate of your Country that you joyn your most serious and hearty endeavours with his Majesty to put a happy and speedy end to these present miseries Given at the Court at Oxford the 26. of Decem. 1645. No nor yet neither the nearer the King comes the farther they fly And therefore he sends again in pursuance of the former for a personal Treaty C. R. Although the late Message sent to his Majesty may justly require an expostulatory Answer yet his Majesty layes that aside as not so proper for his present endeavours leaving all the World to judg whether his Proposition for a personal Treaty or the flat denial of a safe Conduct for persons to begin a Treaty be greater signs of a real intention to peace and shall now only insist upon his former Message of the 26 of this December That upon his repair to Westminster he doubts not but so to joyn his endeavours with his two Houses of Parliament as to give just satisfaction not only concerning the business of Ireland but also for the setling of a way for the payment of the Publick debts as well to the Scots and to the City of London as others And as already he hath shewn a fair way for the setling of the Militia so he shall carefully endeavour in all other particulars that none shall have cause to complain for want of security whereby just Iealousies may arise to hinder the continuance of the desired peace And certainly this Proposition of a personal Treaty could never have entred into his Majesties thoughts if he had not resolved to make apparent to all the VVorld that the publick good and peace of this Kingdom is far dearer to him then the respect of any particular interest VVherefore none can oppose this motion without a manifest demonstration that he particularly envies his Majesty should be the chief Author in so blessed a work besides the declaring himself a direct opposer of the happy peace of these Nations To conclude whosoever will not be ashamed that his fair and specious protestations should be brought to a true and publick test and those who have a real sense and do truly commiserate the miseries of their bleeding Country let them speedily and cheerfully embrace his Majesties proposition for his personal Treaty at Westminster which by the blessing of God will undoubtedly to these now distracted Kingdoms restore the happiness of a long-wisht-for and lasting peace Given at the Court at Oxford the 29. day of December 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers c. At a conference hereupon the House of Commons would not dissent from their resolutions past in that House That is not to Treat but to send the Propositions by way of Bill And voted that the Militia shall remain in the hands of the Parliament and no otherwise And this Resolution including all the rest of the Kings Propositions they thereby medled not as yet with that old Maxime of theirs for the King to come home to his Parliament of which he would often say that they never ment it but by limitation for him to be brought to them a Prisoner the effect and end of this Miserable war but not an end of Miseries But the Messenger sent with this last Answer from the Parliament met with another dated 30. Decemb. in pursuance of his latter in effect as before Adding withall that be will consent to any necessary course for the paiments of the debts of the Kingdoms and to the City of London and to the Kingdom of Scotland and all desirable satisfaction concerning Ireland Using fair and rational motives to the Parliament not to refuse the former Offers which Letters as all the former are debated and evermore committed to the Committee of both Kingdoms where they used to lodge And forthwith to make the matter of the Kings desire of coming to a personal Treaty at London more suspitious and dangerous every day must be debated by the Commons The great Inconvenience and mischief that may come to the City of London by permitting so great Number of Malignants and others from the Enemies Quarters that come to compound for their delinquency and do remain here Then comes out an Ordinance for the Committee of Militia with all speed to provide for the safety of the City and to search for Delinquents and to expel them the Lines of Communication As who should say we having here too many may not admit of any more from Oxford And several Votes and Orders presently thereupon as if the King by his desire of coming with three hundred men had some design to surprize the City and Parliament also It was the 13. of Ianuary before the Parliament had done debating of the Kings Letters of the 26. and 27. of December and now they return Answer to all May it Please Your Majesty VVe c. humbly return this Answer That therein hath been no delay on our parts c. Concerning the Personal Treaty desired by your Majesty there having been so much Innocent blood of your Subjects shed in this War by your Majesties Commands and Commissions Irish Rebels brought over into both Kingdoms and endeavours to bring over more both of them as also forces from foreign parts your Majesty being in Arms in these parts and the Prince in the Head of an Army in the West divers Towns made Garisons and kept in hostility by your Majesty against the Parliament of England There being also forces in Scotland against that Parliament and Kingdom by your Majesties Commissions The war in Ireland fomented and prolonged by your Majesty whereby the three Kingdoms are thereby brought almost to utter ruin and destruction VVe conceive that untill satisfaction and security be first given to both the Kingdoms your Majesties coming hither cannot be convenient nor by us assented unto Neither can we apprehend it a means conducing to peace that your Majesty should come to your Parliament for few dayes with any thoughts of leaving it especially with intentions of returning to Hostility against it And we do
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
Caelum She lands at Dover 12 23 of Iune on Sunday seven a clock at Night and in the appearance of those who observed her in France at the first time of the Overtures for the Mariage she was grown from the fear of never being tall and already sits upon the very skirts of womanhood Her countenance sweet and lovely which opened a window with her heart where one may see Nobleness and Goodness and the actions of her self her own Will to be excellent full of Wit and a lovely manner of expressing it Her attire very plain for so great a Princess can be thought to have nothing mean about her His Majesty was come thither from Canterbury no otherwise to the Conquest of Love than to receive Her at the top of the stairs She on her Knee striving to kiss his hand He takes her up with treble surprized affection expressed in so many salutes on her lips And so with excessive strains of Love retire to the inmost chamber where after his expression of many sad fears for her hazard at Sea She whether in fright of the remembrance or sorrow to be now surprized into the subjection of a Stranger that was of her self free before she tenderly and unwilling slipt down some tears which trickled on her lips and he with the other passion of Love took that occasion to dry them up with kisses and so he said he would do till she had done confuting her that she was fallen into the effect of Gods divine Providence to forsake her kindred and cleave to her Spouse He professing to be no longer Master of himself than whilest he was a servant to her Here the Ceremony was accomplished and the Duke of Chevereux the Kings Representative in France renders her up to his Majesties Bosom and to his Bed at Canterbury From whence the whole journey in the way to Gravesend was laned through with millions of people crying out Halelujahs of Hasanna for their eternal happiness They were attended with a train of Gallantry the youth of Honour and others the Noblest of this Nation whom the Kingdom could send thither to wait upon their Majesties At Gravesend they take water towards London in the sumptuous Barge of State followed with numbers of other Barges and Boats The whole Naval Fleet designed to clear the stream and to Anchor neer either shore and their Majesties to be rowed through their ranks the Ships in comely order giving fire by degrees after the first shot vollyed these Princely Guests with the roaring Cannons that shook the ayre even to their landing at Somerset-House The third day appeared their Majesties on Royal Thrones to the Nobility and now their Mariage proclaimed with excessive joy at all From hence they too soon took leave of this evermore pestilential City but then and most usuall at the death of Soveraigns fatal which forced their remove of State to Hampton Court And so this disease of plague becoming casual we shall not need any idle suggestive Apologie to â—ake into other reasons or to fetch a freak of speculation as one hath done To mate all events passionately ascribing future calamities to the 〈◊〉 of the Kings Mariage with a Lady of Misbelief closing his excuse conjectural that No Protestant Princess was left alive to equal his Majesty for a Compleat Consort Necessity of State affairs and the custome of soveraigns enter their Inauguration with summons of their subjects Peers and People Politique and Necessary as Husband and Wife an Absolute and Natural the One may err the Other offend Not that a K. is bound up in all Acts of State lawfully to their Council and so the Parliament to be co-ordinate not subordinate to their Prince Yet King Iames often used the comparison in Matrimony And King Charles unadvisedly hereafter makes himself a Member of the Representative of Peers which the Parliament would never acquit him But for that a King is a man subject to errors in Judgement he assignes to himself Helps for directing and Rectifying his Will and Judgement by Laws and Councils Law Est mens quaedam nullo pertuâ—bata affectu So that a Prince by Law is more then a man deified but ruling by affections is brutified and nothing so outragious as injustice armed with power will and authority Councils are Privy and Publique his Privy Councill by his own free Election Publique his Parliament Peers and People so our Neighbor Nations Parliaments of France Courts of Spain Diets of Germany without which no Matters of Moment are concluded In the Monarchy of England all the three forms of Government do enter It hath one King as a Monarchy by certain Councils it participateth of Aristocracy and in the Commonalties voices and Burgesses in Parliament it taketh part of Democracy and all to temper somewhat the absolute form of Monarchy whose danger may be too peremptory At this Parliament Sir Thomas Crew was chosen Speaker of the House of Commons and was so the last of King Iames His place being as antient as Parliaments in the time of King William Rufus where he is termed Totius Regni Adunatio Afterwards stiled Vice totius Communitatis And the 51. of Edw. 3. He is named Speaker In the fifth of Rich. 2. the first that made any excuse to be discharged and in the 17. Rich 2. the first that was presented to the King in full Parliament But of late all these particulars are become proper to his place to do as this Speaker did And at the opening of this Parliament Iune 18. the King Himself salutes them which was not expected the common usage of former Princes being to speak by their Chancelour but King Iames altered that course as best able of any his Predecessors to speak for himself and King Charles began now to appear Inheritor of his Crown and Virtues though his Impediment of not speaking plain might spare him from a long Speech and have excused the grace of Oratory A note of Wisdome not weakness of understanding and in those dayes of less observation in the defect for the then Kings of Spain and France stammer'd but he with the least imperfection of them all who were men of Eminency in the effects of Government My Lords and Gentlemen YOu are not ignorant that at your earnest entreaty March 23. 1623. my Father of happy memory first took up armes for the recovery of the Palatinate for which purpose by your assistance he began to form a considerable Army and to prepare a goodly Armado and Navy Royal. But death intervening between him and the atchievement the war with the Crown is devolved upon Me. To the prosecution whereof as I am obliged both in Nature and Honour so I question not but the same necessity continuing you will cherish the action with the like affection and further it with a ready contribution True it is you furnished my Father with affectionate supplyes but they held no symmetry or proportion with the charge of so great
Laws and Lives of others are assailed That none presume to call his Son and heir King nor to be mentioned in prayer Monarchy is attached the power of the Parliamentary Lords is abrogate the Major of London denuded the Council of the City changed and their own creatures introduced the Law against schismaticks repealed the Preachers are defrauded and threatned Countesses committed Noblemen executed the Nation stiled a Common-wealth but the power contracted in a few who erect an Oligarchy for themselves and are envied of the Democracies and take Arms encouraging the Oligarchies Enjoyn submission to the Government appoint Thanksgiving daies to God for their success and thereby are Invited to the City feast whom they requite with the Kings New Park and sell his householdstuff houses lands and all and yet not satisfied they burthen the people with Taxes and invade Ireland and conquer it and after Scotland This in brief the story follows And now the Parliament Assembled Mr. Iohn Glunvile speaker as was resolved this day the thirteenth day of April Entring their first business of the Earl of Strafford good services in Ireland who was led in to the house of Lords by two of their own as presenting him the more eminent for what he had done in Ireland speedily effectually Obtaining of the Irish the grant of four Subsidies for maintenance of Ten thousand foot and fifteen hundred Horse which might be a pattern in preparation for the English supplies And an accompt was given to the Lords of the Scots letter sent to the French King for it being Examined by the Lord Cotington Secretary Windebanck and the Atturney General Loudon conâ—essed the hand writing to be his prepared in a readiness before the late pacification at Barwick but no use was ever made thereof but supposed Nevertheless Loudon stood committed till further evidence might condemn or clear him The Parliament not very forward to fall upon the necessary business of supplies To quicken them the King by message represents to the house of Commons many particular Insolencies intolerable with which the Scots had heated him And that for their assistance answerable to the present occasion so much concerning him and the honour of this Nation he would acquit his claim of ship-moneys besides due satisfaction to all their demands This offer discovered to them the Kings extremities and how they pricked which would serve their turn in demanding the more of him And therefore they expect to be assured in these particulars which they well know would spend so much time in arguing that the Kings necessity might undo him and yet they would not be otherwise relenting For clearing the Properties of the Subject For establishing true Religion For priviledge of Parliament These were the grounds of former differences so often discussed whether the Kings supply or the Subjects sufferings should be first considered and now it took up sundry debates and several conferences of both Houses ere the Lords could Master it among themselves for the King the Commons were resolved the next to yield to him from their own intents first But coming to the Question how much might serve the present Expectation Secretary Vane told them by Command from the King Twelve subsidies would serve the turn and so it might for he had such authority to demand so much being double the Kings desire which Vane with indirect intention was known willingly to mistake and it took the effect firing them into so much fury and their compliance so desperate as that the Iunto advise the King to break up their sitting and so the fiâ—t of May after two and twenty daies they were dissolved Nor need we lodge the advice upon a Iunto to councell the King herein It was the common consent of the Privy Council openly concluded debate there needed none the frequent discourse of the publique observators fore saw so much and the Parliament found the Kings necessities so enforcing by which means they were resolved to draw advantage to themselves though prejudice to him For to think as is supposed that the Luxuriance of the Kings perogative being detrected or any other Spontaneous concessions could have calmed their animosities is much mistaken for it is truely observed that the house of Commons meant that morning to vote against the war with Scotland and to blast that design to which they were so much indisposed however hazardous to the Kings honour and the necessities of his affairs which was conceaved now at the point of time to resent and to prevent by renewing the present intention and so the Arch Bishop is to be cleared as the main adviser for both he and the Earl of Strafford in the next Parliament by their answers were forced to defend themselves from that occasion But though the Parliament break up yet the Convocation of Bishops sat still from their first meeting by writ the twentieth of February last and might no doubt do so with Commission April 15. after to act propose deliberate and conclude such Canons and Constitutions as they conceived conduceable to the peace of the Church During the session of that Parliament necessarily to be now revised by a new Commission to continue the Convocation for the conclusion of such matters then in treaty amongst them though it became a doubt whether they might not sit in Convocation still the Writ which called them having no limitation but during the Kings pleasure which was not as yet otherwise signified and the difference of the Writ and the Commission was by Commissioners considered and thus subcribed That the convocation called by the Kings Writ was not to dissolve but by the Kings Writ notwithstanding the dissolution of the Parliament The tenth of May Finch Manchester Littleton Banks Heath Sheffield and so was the old Convocation armed with a new Commission but not well armed against Lilburns Libels or the Riot of Rakehels upon Lambeth house which followed and the King was fain to set a guard about Westminster Abby during their whole time of sitting In much distresse besides well observed and in danger of the Kings displeasure if they rose of the peoples fury if they sat to be beaten up by Tumults while at work and beaten down by the next Parliament for doing the work and obnoxious to the last of evil tongues for all their good intents and to their pens too upon the main score not so much of the Bishops doing not well as of being Bishops to do any things such was the fate of the Prelates now to be under censure of the Presbyters with such prejudice to either as the contest of endeavouring to satisfie the world made the wound upon either side more wide especially if you take in for good Arguments the common fame of every Libeller As for the main It must not be supposed that the question began but now to be maintained for the Divine Right on which Bishops were founded Many writ for their defence in Queen Elizabeths time Dr.
Earl craved not to Answer an unexpected addition without time assigned yet the Lords prevailed and put him to a present reply 1. That he had withdrawn four and twenty thousand pounds and more from the Exchequer in Ireland and converted to his own use 2. That in the beginning of his Government the Garrisons of Ireland had been maintained by the English Treasury 3. That he had advanced popish and infamous persons as the Bishop of Waterford and others to the prime Room in the Church of Ireland Answer 1. That England was indebted to Ireland so much which he took up upon his own credit and paid it in again producing the Kings Authority and Letter for the same 2. That the Garrisons had been formerly burdensom to England which he so found and had so improved the Kings Revenues there that they were not burdensom at all 3. That he never preferred any but whom he conceived consciencious and honest not being able to prophesie of mens future conditions And for the Bishop of Waterford he hath satisfied the Law The next Day March 24. the particular Articles were inforced to each he answered in order The further Impeachment of Thomas Earl of Strafford by the Commons assembled in Parliament The first Article was not insisted upon 2. That shortly after the obtaining of a Commission dated the 21. of March in the 8. Year of his now Majesties Reign to wit the last Day of August then next following he the said Earl to bring his Majesties Liege-people into a dislike of his Majesty and of his Government and to terrifie the Iustices of the Peace from executing the Laws he the said Earl being then President of the Kings Council in the Northern parts of England and a Iustice of Peace did publickly at the Assizes held for the County of York in the City of York in and upon the said last Day of August declare and publish before the People there attending for the administration of Iustice according to the Law and in the presence of the Iustices sitting that some of the Justices were all for Law but they should finde that the Kings little finger should be heavier than the loyns of the Law Testified by Sir David Fowls and others The Earls Reply That Sir David Fowls was his profest Enemy that his words were clearly inverted that his expression was That the little finger of the Law if not moderated by the Kings gracious clemency was heavier than the Kings loyns That these were his words he verified First by the occasion of them they being spoken to some whom the Kings favour had then enlarged from Imprisonment at York as a Motive to their Thankfulness to his Majesty Secondly by Sir William Pennyman a Member of the House who was then present and heard the words Which Sir William declaring to be true the House of Commons required Iustice of the Lords against him because he had voted the Articles as a Member of the House whereupon Sir William wept 3. That the Realm of Ireland having been time out of minde annexed to the Imperial Crown of this his Majesties Realm of England and governed by the same Laws the said Earl being Lord Deputy of that Realm to bring his Majesties Liege-people of that Kingdom likewise into dislike of his Majesties Government and intending the subversion of the Fundamental Laws and settled Government of that Realm and the distraction of his Majesties Liege-people there did upon the 30. Day of September in the 9. Year of his now Majesties Reign in the City of Dublin the chief City of that Kingdom where his Majesties Privy Council and Courts of Iustice do ordinarily reside and whither the Nobility and Gentry of that Realm do usually resort for Iustice in a publick Speech before divers of the Nobility and Gentry and before the Maior Aldermen and Recorder and many Citizens of Dublin and other his Majesties Liege-people declare and publish that Ireland was a conquered Nation and that the King might do with them what he pleased and speaking of the Charters of the former Kings of England made to that City he further said that their Charters were nothing worth and did binde the King no further than he pleased Testified by the Earl of Cork and two other Lords The Earls Reply That if he had been over-liberal of his tongue for want of discretion yet could not his words amount to Treason unless they had been revealed within fourteen days as he was informed As to the Charge he said True it is he said Ireland was a conquered Nation which no man can deny and that the King is the Law-giver in matters not determined by Acts of Parliament he conceived all loyal Subjects would grant 4. That Richard Earl of Cork having sued out Process in course of Law for recovery of his Possessions from which he was put by colour of an Order made by the said Earl of Strafford and the Council-table of the said Realm of Ireland The said Earl of Strafford upon a Paper-petition without legal proceedings did the twentieth Day of February in the eleventh Year of his now Majesties Reign threaten the said Earl of Cork being then a Peer of the said Realm to imprison him unless he would surcease his Suit and said that he would have neither Law nor Lawyers dispute or question any of his Orders And the twentieth of March in the said eleventh Tear the said Earl of Strafford speaking of an Order of the said Council-table of that Realm made in the time of King James which concerned a Lease which the said Earl of Cork claimed in certain Rectories or Tithes which the said Earl of Cork alleged to be of no force said that he would make the said Earl and all Ireland know so long as he had the Government there any Act of State there made or to be made should be as binding to the Subjects of that Kingdom as an Act of Parliament And did question the said Earl of Cork in the Castle-chamber upon pretence of Breach of the said Order of Council-table and did sundry other times and upon sundry other occasions by his words and speeches arrogate to himself a Power above the Fundamental Laws and established Government of that Kingdom and scorned the said Laws and established Government The Earls Reply It were hard measure for a man to lose his Honour and his Life for an hasty word or because he is no wiser than God hath made him As for the words he confessed them to be true and thought he said no more than what became him considering how much his Masters Honour was concerned in him that if a proportionable obedience was not as well due to Acts of State as to Acts of Parliament in vain did Councils sit And that he had done no more than what former Deputies had done and than what was agreeable to his Instructions for the Council-table which he produced And that if those words were Treason they should have been revealed within
speech thwarting the general resentment of the Parliament they were dismissed with very great discontent The next day bâ—ing Sunday the second of May the Marriage was solemnized at Court between the young Prince of Orange and the princess Mary at Whitehal he had been here ever since the twentieth of April One daies time falling in of leasure to the Parliament to consider of all the former passages concerning the Earl and that by a convenience of the service of that holy day Sunday where the Pulpits of some Incendiaries preached to the people the necessity of Justice upon high Delinquents now to be acted which so prevailed that on Munday the next morning being the third of May a rabble of the light headed City neer 6000. came thronging down that morning to Westminster the most of them armed with swords others with Cutchels and staffes crying out for Justice against the Earl of Strafford pretending that their trading decayed and they in great want thereby of bread they were loth to say so against their own knowledge being rather extreamly wanton with too much pride They applied themselves to the Earl of Mountgomery who very wisely indeavoured to appease them They notwithstanding poasted up at Westminster a Catalogue of names and stiled them Straffordians such whose suffrages had been to acquit him And this way of tumult had been lately taken up to enforce a consent or execution of any the Parliament designs upon which the King observes the subsequent mischiefs that followed I never thought saies the King anie thing except our sins more ominously presageing all these mischiefs which have followed then those Tumults in London and Westminster soon after the Convening of this Parliament which were not like a storm at Sea which yet want's not it's terror but like an Earth quake shakeing the very foundations of all then which nothing in the world hath more of horror As it is one of the most convincing Arguments that there is a God while his power sets bounds to the rageing of the Sea so t is no less that he restrain's the madness of the people Nor doth any thing portend more Gods displeasure against a Nation then when he suffers the confluence and clamors of the Vulgar to pass all boundaries of Laws and reverence to Authority Which those Tumults did to so high degrees of Insolence that they spared not to invade the Honor and Freedom of the two Houses menaceing reproaching shakeing yea and assaulting som Members of both Houses as they fancied or disliked them Nor did they forbear most rude and unseemly deportments both in contemptuous words and actions to My self and My Court Nor was this a short fit or two of shakeing as an Ague but a quotidian Fever alwaies encreasing to higher inflammations impatient of any mitigation restraint or remission First they must be a Guard against those fears which som men scared themselves and others withall when indeed nothing was more to be feared and less to be used by wise men then those tumultuarie confluxes of mean and rude people who are taught first to Petition then to Protest then to dictate at last to Command and Over-aw the Parliament All obstructions in Parliament that is a freedom of differing in Votes and debateing matters with reason and candor must be taken away with these Tumults By these must the Houses be purged and all rotten Members as they please to count them cast out By these the obstinacie of men resolved to discharge their Consciences must be subdued by these all factious seditious and schismatical Proposals against Government Ecclesiastical or Civil must be backed and abetted till they prevailed Generally who ever had most minde to bring forth confusion and ruine upon Church and State used the midwiferie of those Tumults whose riot and impatience was such that they would not stay the ripening and season of Counsels or fair production of Acts in the order gravitie and deliberateness befitting a Parliament but ripped up with barbarous crueltie and forcibly cut out abortive Votes such as their Inviters and Encouragers most fancied Yea so enormous and detestable were their out-rages that no sober man could be without an infinite shame and sorrow to see them so tolerated and connived at by some countenanced encouraged and applauded by others What good man had not rather want any thing he most desired for the publique good then obtain it by such unlawful and irreligious means But mens passions and Gods directions seldom agree violent designs and motions must have suteable engines such as too much attend their own ends seldom confine themselves to Gods means Force must crowd in what Reasons will not lead Who were the chief Demagogues and Patrones of Tumults to send for them to flatter and embolden them to direct and turn their clamorous importunities some men yet living are too conscious to pretend ignorance God in his due time will let these see that those were no fit means to be used for attaining his ends But as it is no strange thing for the sea to rage when strong windes blow upon it so neither for multitudes to become insolent when they have Men of some reputation for parts and piety to set them on That which made their rudeness most formidable was That many Complaints being made and Messages sent by My self and some of both Houses yet no order for redress could be obtained with any vigor and efficacie proportionable to the malignity of that now far-spread disease and predominant mischief Such was some mens stupidity that they feared no inconvenience Others petulancie that they joyed to see their betters shamefully out-raged and abused while they knew their onely security consisted in vulgar flattery So insensible were they of Mine or the two Houses common safety and Honors Nor could ever any order be obtained impartially to examine censure and punish the known Boutefeus and impudent Incendiaries who boasted of the influence they had and used to convoke those Tumults as their advantages served Yea some who should have been wiser States-men owned them as friends commending their Courage Zeal and industry which to sober men could seem no better then that of the Devil who goes about seeking whom he may deceive and devour I confess when I found such a deafness that no Declaration from the Bishops who were first fouly insolenced and assaulted nor yet from other Lords and Gentlemen of Honor nor yet from my self could take place for the due suppression of these Tumults and securing not onely Our Freedom in Parliament but our very Persons in the streets I thought My self not bound by My presence to provoke them to higher boldness and contempts I hoped by My with-drawing to give time both for the ebbing of their Tumultuous fury and others regaining some degrees of modesty and sober sense Som may interpret it as an effect of Pusillanimity for any man for popular terrors to desert his Publique Station But I think it a hardiness beyond true
service nor any Man to March upon such pretence the three and twentieth of October and Copies sent abroad to all the Countiâ—s And the same night the Lord Blaney arrived with the newes of the surprisal of his House his wife and children by the Rebels of Monâ—ghan This Rebellion began first in the North in the Province of Ulster so that every day and hour ill newes came posting like Iobs Messengers of fearful Massacres upon the English which increased a fear of some Massacre in Dublin by the Papists there The Council began to consider of their own forces to defend and were assured that the Mony was in the Exchequer the Kings revenues and English Rents for that halfe year lodged in Tenents hands a fit prey for the Rebels which they seized some Artillery Arms for 10000. men 1500. barrels of powder with Match and lead laid in by the last Earl of Strafford By which Lâ—st of his it appeared that the old standing Army in Ireland consisted only of 41. Companies of foot and 14. Troopes of Horse The foot Officers 246. and of Souldiers 2051. Inall 2297. The Horse Officers 42. and Horsemen 901. In all 943. These so dispersed as not without difficulty to march yet the Councel sent their Patents to several Garisons to march to Dublin And Letters dispatched to the King in Scotland and to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland not got out of London of the Rebellion and ill State of the Kingdome depending on Gods assistance the fidelity of the old English Pale and aid out of England that they intended to prorogue the Parliament and adjourn the Term. And that their present Army now subsisting contain but 2000. foot and 1000. Horse the five and twentieth of October 1641. with a poscript for recompense to Conally for his discâ—very as may stand with the Mark of his Majesties bounty for that service who had a present peece of money and a certain annuity during his life very considerable who carried these Letters to the Lord Lieutenant Those to the King were sent to Secretary Vane in Scotland and convayed by sea by Sir Henry Spotswood Other Letters were sent to the Earl of Ormond at Carick to repair with his forces to Dublin and commissions were sent to the Lords Viscounts of Clandeboys and Ardes and to others for the raising of the Scots in the Northern parts into Arms with power to destroy the Enemy or to receive them to Mercy but all these dispatches were sent by sea the whole Land passages stopt by â—he Rebels The Lords of the English pale repair to the Council offering their faith and service It is a large Circuit of Land possessed by the English from the first Conquest being the Countiâ—s of Dublin Mâ—th Lâ—wth Kildare Yet some of these Lords Popish â—umbly offered their sense of the wars in the late Proclamation as to be misinterpreted viz. the Conspiracy of evil affected Iâ—â—sh Papists as to reflect upon their persons which were afterwards explained to please them and so Proclaimed And now the Rebels up in all places they in Ulster had by the latter end of October possessed themselves of all the great part of the Province of Ulster except the Cities of London derry Colraingue and the Town aâ—d Castle of Eâ—cikillen the chief Rebels were Sir Philip Oneale 〈◊〉 Oneale his brother Rowry Mac Guire brother to the Lord Mac Guire Philip O Rely Mulmere O Rely Sir Conno Mac Gennes Call Mac Ruian Mac Mahon these with others the chief of every Sept had as at one instant surprized the Castles and places of the most considerable strengths and the English being lovingly intermixed with the Irish for a long time made the Conspiracy more easily to be effected Besides such of the English as had gotten into some places of strength able to indure a siege yet upon good quarter rendered themselves were sure to be butchered and murthered in cold blood men women and children And to keep of the Assistance of the Scots they openly professed and really did spare them the more easily afterwards to be swallowed up at a bit These were the first fruits of the Rebellion in all the Northern parts acted by Phelim O Neale the chief of that Sept and the onely remain of cruel alliance to the late Earl of Tirone He was of very mean parts with courage or conduct His education in England a Student of Lincolns Inn and a Protestant till of late lived lasily of a mean estate untill now that the Natives set him up for their General and with such Numerous a rabble that he marched down towards Lisnagarvy neer the Scots and fell upon them now without mercy and with other forces came up into the Pale and took in Dondalk about the beginning of November then they marcht to the County of Lowth and incamped at Ardee a small Town within seven miles of Tredagh antiently called Drohedagh which they Besieged afterwards The Newes from Dublin being instantly posted to the Town of Tredagh was there encountred with the like mischievous tidings from the North the treacherous surprisal of the Castles Blainey Carrick Charlemont Monahan with others came thick and three fold one upon another and a rumour that Dublin was already taken confirmed by numbers stripped and wounded that fled hither The first succour was the Lord Viscount Moor being then at Mellifont ten miles off who by the sad newes of his Sister the Lady Blanâ—y and her children imprisoned made speed to save himself with some part of his Troop not more than sixty hither at Midnight joyned in Counsel with the Major suddainly to prevent the mischief by many vipers in their own Bowels but of all the Muster not above fourty to be found gave great suspition the rest were not found Instantly were drawn out many old peeces scowred and planted at several Gates fower more were heaved out of a Merchants Ship in the Harbour and some powder the Lord Moor posts to Dublin offers to make up his own Troop and to raise one hundred foot with amunition which was speedily brought thither with him with a Commission to Captain Sea foule Gibson to command these Men and instantly to take the watch who was the 〈◊〉 and last worthy of Record for his faithful service watching 〈◊〉 own perâ—erson for ten nights together and continuing the war became Colonel of a Regiment By this time the Rebels had taken Dundalk and Dromiskin and pillaged all the Protestants within five miles The Papist Townsmen were discovered by their smiling countenance All promised relief failing Sir Faithful Fortescue being Governour posted to Dublin where finding no hope of Assistance he quitted his charge not willing to loose himself and his honour to boote in an impossible undertaking After a solemn fast some forces sallied out upon the thickest of the Rebells who fled and left much plundred goods and Cowes to comfort the Towns-people two hundred Rebels and eighty brought in Prisoners
his Forces within the Counties of Devon Cornwall Somerset Dorset Wilts Southampton Glocester Berks Oxford Hereford Monmouth Radnor Brecknock Glamorgan Carmarthen Pembroke Cardigan The Cities of Exeter Bristol â—locester Oxford Bath and Wells New Salisbury and Hereford The Towns of Pool Southampton and Havenport and of all the Trained Bands and others Voluntiers to march against the said Earl of Essex and his Complices and them subdue specially in behalf of the Town of Portsmouth the Isle of Wight and Southampton August 9. at York 'T is true that the King did what he could to answer them in Arms he being put upon the defensive part and so and not otherwise to oppose the Parliament As they began by Meetings and Mutinies they now proceed to the effects fighting upon which the King falls into a Soliloquy with himself thus I finde that I am says the King at the same point and posture I was when they forced me to leave White-hall what Tumults could not do an Armie must which is but Tumults listed and enrolled to a better order but as bad an end my recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered And so I easily may as to any outward strength which God knows is little or none at all but I have a Soul invincible through Gods grace inabling me here I am sure to be Conquerour if God will give me such a measure of constancie as to fear him more than man and to love the inward peace of my conscience before any outward tranquillitie And must I be opposed â—ith force because they have not reason wherewith to convince me O my Soul be of good courage they confess their own weakness as to â—ruth and Iustice who chuse rather to contend by Armies than by Arguments Is this the reward and thanks that I am to receive for those many acts of grace I have lately passed and for those many Indignities I have endured Is there no way left to make me a glorious King but by my Sufferings It is an hard and disputable choice for a King that loves his People and desires their love either to kill his own Subjects or to be killed by them Are the hazzards and miseries of Civil War in the bowels of my most flourishing Kingdom the fruits I must now reap after seventeen years living and reigning among them with such a measure of justice peace plentie and Religion as all Nations about either admired or envied Notwithstanding some miscarriages in Government which might escape rather through ill counsel of some men driving on their private ends or the peevishness of others envying the publick should be managed without them or the hidden and insuperable necessities of State than any propensitie I hope of my self either to injuriousness or oppression Whose innocent bloud during my Reign have I shed to satisfie my lust anger or covetousness What Widows or Orphans tears can witness against me the just crie of which must now be avenged with mine own bloud For the hazzards of War are equal nor doth the Cannon know any respect of persons In vain is my person excepted by a Parenthesis of words when so many hands are armed against me with Swords God knows how much I have studied to see what ground of justice is alledged for this War against me that so I might by giving just satisfaction either prevent or soon end so unnatural aâ—otion which to many men seems rather the production of a surfeit of peace and wantonness of mindes or of private discontents ambition and faction which easily finde or make causes of quarrel than any real obstruction of publick justice or parliamentarie privilege But this is pretended and this I must be able to avoid and answer before God in mine own conscience however some men are not willing to believe me lest they should condemn themselves When I first withdrew from White-hall to see if I could allay the insolencie of the Tumults of the not suppressing of which no account in reason can be given where an orderly Guard was granted but onely to oppress both mine and the two Houses freedom of declaring and voting according to every mans conscience what obstructions of justice were there further than this that what seemed just to one man might not seem so to another Whom did I by power protect against the justice of Parliament That some men withdrew who feared the partialitie of their trial warned by my Lord of Strafford's death while the vulgar threatned to be their Oppressours and Iudgers of their Iudges was from that instinct which is in all creatures to preserve themselves If any others refused to appear where they evidently saw the current of justice and freedom so stopped and troubled by the Rabble that their lawfull Iudges either durst not come to the Houses or not declare their sense with libertie and safetie it cannot seem strange to any reasonable man when the sole exposing them to the publick odium was enough to ruine them before their cause could be heard or tried Had not factious Tumults overborn the freedom and honour of the two Houses had they asserted their justice against them and made the way open for all the Members quietly to come and declare their consciences I know no man so dear to me whom I had the least inclination to advise either to withdraw himself or denie appearing upon their Summons to whose Sentence according to Law I think every Subject bound to stand Distempers indeed were risen to so great a height for want of timely repressing the vulgar insolencies that the greatest guilt of those which were voted and demanded as Delinquents was this That they would not suffâ—r themselves to be overaw'd with the Tumults and their Patroâ—s nor compelled to abet by their suffrages or presence the Designs of those men who agitated Innovations and ruine both in Church and State In this point I could not but approve their generous constancie and cautiousness further than this I did never allow any mans Refractoriness against the Privileges and Orders of the Houses to whom I wished nothing more than Saftie Fulness and Freedom But the truth is some men and those not many despairing in fair and Parliamentarie waies by free deliberations and Votes to gain the concurrence of the majoâ— part of Lords and Commons betook themselves by the desperate activitie of factious Tumults to sift and terrifie away all those Memâ—ers whom they saw to be of contrarie mindes to their purposes How oft was the business of the Bishops enjoying their ancient places and undoubted privileges in the House of Peers carried for them by far the major part of Lords Yet after five Repulses contrarie to all Order and Custom it was by tumultuarie Instigations obtruded again and by a few carried wheâ— most of the Peers were forced to absent themselves In like manner was the Bill against Root and Branch brought on by tumultuarie Clamours and schismatical Terrours which could never pass â—ill both Houses were
Parl. and hath seen their Declaration sent to his Subjects in Scotland unjustly taxing the King and his Government and in a manner challenging assistance from Scotland to make War against the King making their clame by a late Act of Pacification to which he did chearfully consent And tells them of the other Scandal upon him and his Army of being Papists and sends to them his former Declarations in answer to the Parliaments wonted Scandal in that particular protesting against any intent of his to bring in Foreign Forces and doubts not of a dutifull concurrence in all his Subjects of Scotland And requires this his Declaration to be published to all his people there General Essex having lain quiet since the late Battel of Edg-hill and his Souldiers squandered from their Quarters to incourage them it is declared That if they return to their Quarters within an hour after this publication each Foot-souldier shall receive as the rest half a Crown addition and each Trooper five shillings increase to their pay Which sent them packing to their Quarters And because their General may not be discouraged by the last Battel doubtfully disputed the Parliament is pleased to set out a Declaration concerning the late valourous and acceptable Service of his Excellencie Robert Earl of Essex to remain upon Record in both Houses for a mark of Honour to his person name and familie and for a Monument of his singular virtue to posteritie The Parliament having assured confidence in his wisdom for the defence of Religion King Parliament and Kingdom and he managing this Service with so much valour in a bloudie Battel near Keinton in Warwickshire which doth deserve their best acknowledgment and they shall be readie to express the due sense of his merit and this to remain upon Record to him and his posteritie Nov. 11. 1642. But let us see what becomes of the Parliaments Address to the King The safe conduct was sent from Reading the sixth of Novemb. with such Exceptions as you have heard just and reasonable and yet the very next day November 7. the Parliament vote Not to accept of this safe conduct and resolve That the Exception in the safe conduct is a Denial and Refusal of a Treatie Of which they order a Committee to acquaint the City Common Hall and thereby to quicken them to a Resolution of defending their Liberties and Religion and thereafter to frame a Declaration to all the World of the Kings refusal of the Parliaments petition and yet receives petition and address from the Rebells of Ireland And of this Message the eighth of November is sent the Lord Brook and Sir Henry Vane junior to Guild-hall where his Lordship tells the Mayor and Aldermen That the Kings Foot were near Stains his Horse at Kingston and that the Parliaments Foot are marching that way who couragiously had the late Victory and killed two thousand without the loss of an hundred unless Women Children and Dogs be numbred then indeed there might be with all them two hundred But it was Gods work of mercy and wonder Truly he is assured that we said he are a dear people exceedingly beloved of God But his second Speech surpasses take it at length and printed somewhat like the same again Gentlemen I have but one word more to trouble you with This noble Gentleman Sir Henry Vane hath exprest so fully all that was in the Message that truly I should wrong him and my self too if I should say any more therefore I shall now speak to you of another thing it is not fit any thing concerns you should be concealed from you I came this day to this place to this house about another business I have already communicated to my Lord Mayor and the Aldermen and the Committee I think it will not be unfit you should know it I have the consent of some that understand this business very well to this I now shall do Gentlemen the Message was this it was a Message from his Excellencie it is to let you know how near the Danger is at hand that so you may gird up the Loins of your Resolution and do like men of courage Gentlemen Citizens of London better than whom no man did in that Armie we had abroad the Enemies the Foot as we understand are very near Stains the Horse they are about Kingston we cannot tell you that all are there but that there are both Horse and Foot too and it is certain our Foot are going to it so that the question is now What is to be done Certainly this is a certain truth among all Souldiers that you must keep evil as far off you as you can you must not let it come near your doors you must not think to fight in the sights and tears and eyes and dâ—â—â—â—actions of your Wives and Children but to go out and meet it valiantly as you have done God hath shewed himself a God of love and mercie and truly we must give him all the honour of that day certainly it is the greatest Victorie that ever was gotten near two thousand I love to speak with the least on their side slain and I am confident not an hundred on our side unless you will take in Women and Children Car-men and Dogs for they â—lew the very Dogs and all If you take in Women Children Carmen and Dogs then they slew about two hundred but that an hundred should be slain on one side and two thousand on the other side is a very miraculous thing he that dealt so wonderfully heretofore it were to distrust him if we did not think he would do so again Truly he hath a people among us exceedingly beloved and what is it we fight for it is for our Religion for God for Libertie and all and what is it they fight for for their lust their will for tyrannie to make us slaves and to overthrow all Gentlemen me thinks I see a face and spie you readie to do any thing and the Generals Resolution is to go out tomorrow and to do as a man of courage and resolution and never man did like him for he was not onely General but Common Souldier for he led up his own Regiment and he led up his own Troop with his own person and when the left Troops of Horse deceived him he brought up the right Troops he himself will go out again and do again as much as he hath done and all this is for your sakes for he can be a free-man he can be a Gentleman he can be a great man go where he will therefore it is onely for your sakes he is resolved to go out to morrow his Forces are wearie his Forces are spent some came but last night into Town some marched twenty miles March which is a great March as some that know what it is can tell but as wearie as they are he is resolved to go out but if you will affect the cause and joyn with him hand and heart
the middle Rank of people the Gentry in general for the King which made the Contribution heavy upon the other grumbling at Taxes always covetous where they are not affected In Ianuary it was that the Kings Forces marched resolving to storm Cirencester but they onely faced the Town and retired And the Parliaments Forces had their Design upon Sudeley Castle kept by Captain Bridges for the Lord Chandos Lieutenant Colonel Massey draws from Glocester with three hundred Musquetiers two Sakers and four Companies of Dragoons from Cirencester In the Castle were sixty Souldiers and all things sufficient and endured several shot and Cannon The next day they drew up to the Assault and kept by the help of Beds and Woolpacks tumbled before them to save them from shot the Horse and Dragoons possessing a Garden under the Castle fired the Hay and Straw smothering the House in the Blinde whereof the Ordinance were brought up and planted against the West part of the Wall and so became surrendred upon quarter to pass to their homes and to leave their Arms and were to pay for the Goods in the Castle five hundred pounds in six days or to lose them But some days after comes Prince Rupert with four thousand Horse and Foot pretending to regain it but marched by to Cirencester a stragling open Town neither fortified nor indeed capable of defence the champion Countrey helpfull to the Horse his greatest strength and on the first oâ— Febr. the Assault was first made upon a House a flight-shot from â—he Town defended an hour by an hundred shot then the Prince draws up their Musquetiers and by Granadoes fired the Barns smothered the Guard and marched into the Town by main force and in two hours mastered all and the Earl of Stamford's Regiment put to the sword and many more slain eleven hundred Prisoners and three thousand Arms laid up for the Countrey Magazine are taken and so carried in triumph to Oxford to shame them for disobedience The next day the Prince marches to Glocester his hasty Summons startled them at these strange turnings but Massey makes Answer That they were resolved to defend the Citie for the use of the King and Parliament and would not surrender at the Command of a foreign Prince And to maintain its strength the outward Garisons as Sudeley was deserted Teuxbury Garison wanting to secure themselves the Countrey backward to come in to them the Governour draws up Propositions for Peace and sent them to Sir William Russel which were granted The Army in Wales raised for the King by the Earl of Worcester and his Son the Lord Herbert begins to appear and designed for Glocester and was marched forwards and come to Coford in the Forest of Dean three Miles from Monmouth where Colonel Burrows Regiment for the Parliament had made a loose Garison for defence of the Forest where the Welch fell on and drave their Enemy before them divers Officers slain Sir Richard Lundy Major General of South-Wales and for the Parliament Lieutenant Colonel Winter and many other and fifty taken Prisoners And thus this Welch Army prevailing march on towards Glocester and setle at Hingham house two miles off and there intrench and Sir Ierome Bret Major General demanded the Town but was refused with scorn as not to yield to a Welch Army that denied twice Prince Rupert's Summons before but indeed they expected the Prince to assist them on the other side of the Town the cause that they lodged nastily so long as five weeks never attempting their Enemies out-guards nor the least party that issued out Mean while the Prince was to wait upon other Designs the Bristol Plot offered it self upon whâ—ch he attended before their Gates thence he was drawn off to stop Sir Waller's advance for the Relief of Glocester who deceived the Prince by false Reports and Night-marches drilling along his small Army The Governour Massey could attempt nothing till Captain Iohn Fines came from Bristol with two hundred Horse and Dragoons which issued out and skirmished with the Welch and so imployed till that after the taking of Malmsbury Waller came to Glocester laying his Design to surprize the Welch and Massey to draw out at the time appointed Horse and Foot before Hingham and to keep them in action not to understand his apâ—â—â—ach and for the flat-bottom'd Boats brought from London to be â—worsdâ— to Frampton passage six miles below Glocester where the Horse and Foot arrived by noon passed over by night and intrapped the Welch Massey likewise drew up all his Horse and five hundred Foot with his Ordnance near to the House keeping them near fifteen hundred in play till evening at Sun rising they were fresh allarm'd by the great Guns and held to it by the Musket-shot when in the forenoon the Welch Horse forced their way through the Horse-guard and put them to a disorderly Retreat but coming up to the Foot-guard received a Repulse whichâ— Foot-guard was thought too weak and had Relief of a party drawn from the Artillery the Welch at that instant fell upon the Ordnance likely to be deserted in this point of action Waller comes up with his Warning Piece on the other side much amazing the Welch and revived the other who thus encouraged they ran upon a Redoubt and took it with two Captains and thirty Souldiers Waller made a better shew than in substance two Foot Regiments made some few shot of Cannon upon the House and the Welch sounded a Parley with this Result To render the House and themselves Prisoners but the Officers should receive quarter as to their qualities Upon these hard terms they resolved to break through in a dark and rainy night but the common men would not and so they yielded upon these terms Divers persons of quality were here taken the Gentry of Herefordshire The next day the Prisoners were lead to Glocester The Scots Army marched Southward and crossed Tine March 13. and met no Enemy till they were forced from Bowdsn Hill by the Earl of Newcastle twenty days after And to end this Year the Synod began to sit at Westminster and what to do to reform or rather to set up a new model of Church-government Presbyterian and what they shall do God knows what they have done we can tell received their Wages for many years since of four Shillings a Day and rose again without finishing so much as their intended Directory We conclude with these two Letters of the Pope sent to his people of Ireland which were returned from them to the Parliament of England to put them in minde of that miserable Kingdom The Pope was not wanting to encourage the Rebellion with his Apostolical Letters to Oneal and other Letters to the Ecclesiasticks thus Dilecto filio Eugenio O Nello c. To our beloved Son Eugenius O Neal Health and Happiness Beloved Son It hath ever been our constant custom to lay hold on every opportunity whereby you following the steps of your progenitors
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
But all would not do to the purpose which the Parliament expected for the City were not able to effect more and so the time calling for the General Essex to march out he mustered on Hounslo-Heath but ten thousand and so Sir William Waller would be the longer attendant for his yet on goes Essex fresh Supplies being promised and soon sent after him for two Designs to take Oxford or to raise the Kings Siege against Glocester which he did marching for this purpose to Maidenhead and so forward and by the tenth of September raised the Siege as hereafter in due place But the King failing at Glocester his Service was performed by Prince Maurice at Exeter which City he summoned often and at last had this Answer That no evil counsels or hard opinions should abate the loyalty of their affections and they neither did nor would enjoy any thing whereof his Majesty should not have the just and true command And accordingly on the fourth of September he took possession of Exeter for having given a fierce Assault the day before flung in their Granadoes fired part of the Suburbs and came to parley but not liking their Conditions for that day and having slept upon it also on went the Prince made himself Master of the great Sconce or Bulwark turn'd the great Ordnance thereof upon the Town it self which the Souldiers considered as having no safety but in their seasonable submission with all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition the Officers to depart with their Swords by their sides and the common Souldiers with cudgels in their hands And Sir Iohn Berkley made Governour thereof for the King The King having prospered so well in the West by the merit of his County of Cornwall as also other wonderfull Successes which it hath pleased God to bless that loyalty in despite of all humane probability He declares and signifieth that as he cannot be forgetfull of so great Deserts so could he not but desire to perpetuate the memory of these their merits and of his gracious acceptance of them and to that end did thereby render his Royal thanks to them in the most publick and lasting manner that he could devise Commanding Copies thereof to be printed and published and to be read in every Church and Chapel of the County and there to be preserved upon good Record that so as long as the Historie of this State continueth the memorie of their merits in the present action may be derived to perpetual posterity A gracious Act not more conducing to the praise and honour of them who receive than of him that gave it Judg Berkley one of the Judges for the promoting of Ship-mo-money hath been long a Prisoner for that cause and now was censured in a Fine of twenty thousand pounds to be incapable of Dignity and Office in the Common-wealth and to be continued a Prisoner during pleasure so being formerly accused of high Treason this Sentence seemed very partial to condemn him for Misdemeanours The strength of Glocester for the Parliament was no more than two Regiments of Foot one hundred Horse and the Trained Bands with some Reformadoes one hundred Horse more from Berkley Castle in the whole about fifteen hundred men fourty Barrels of Powder and a slender Artillery the Works large and not perfected from the South Gate Eastward to the North Port defended with an old Wall lined with Earth with a slender Work at the end thereof with a Stone Barn that commanded several ways upon the lower part of the City from the North to the West Gate there was a Work newly raised and the advantage of Marsh-grounds without and a Line drawn within from the inner North Gate under the College Wall to the Priorie of St. Oswalds the West side defended by the River the Meadows beyond level with the Town from the Castle to the South Port with a firm and lofty Work which commanded the ground in the Suburbs the Ditches narrow but full of Water round about Thus they within when the King hovers over the Hills and now and then skirted upon the Town before he laid his close Siege Upon the tenth of August they descended the Hills the Mayor of the Town having heretofore answered Prince Rupert's Summons That he kept it according to his Oath for the King It was considered with themselves what Answer novv to make to the Kings person this then True it is say they It was held so but as to the sense of the Parliament and the Citizens put no difference between a Command in Person and a Deputation Whereupon tvvo Heralds gave them this Summons CHARLS REX Out of our tender compassion to our City of Glocester and that it may not receive prejudice by our Armie which we cannot prevent if we be compelled to assault it we are personally come before it to require the same and are graciously pleased to let all the Inhabitants Souldiers and others to know that if they yield all shall have pardon without Exception and that in the word of their King and without prejudice to any person or their Estates and a Governour shall be appointed and such a moderate Garison for ease and security of the City and County but if they shall neglect this offer of grace they must expect the issue To this Message we expect a clear and positive Answer within two hours and for any persons safely to repair to and return from us And novv vvas the King dravvn before the Tovvn attended by Prince Charls and the Duke of York Prince Rupert and General Ruthen vvith about six thousand Horse and Foot on that side and tvvo thousand Horse on the other side And by this time an Ansvver is come presented by Major Pudsey and one Citizen We the Inhabitants Magistrates Officers and Souldiers within this Garison of Glocester unto his Majesties gracious Message return this humble Answer That we do keep this Citie according to our Oath and Allegeance to and for the use of his Majestie and his Royal Posteritie and do accordingly conceive our selves wholly bound to obey the Commands of his Majestie signified by both Houses of Parliament and are resolved by Gods help to keep the Citie accordingly The King vvondered at their confidence vvithout any hope of Succour Waller not in being and Essex cannot come and therefore they vvent to vvork advancing forvvards into the East Suburbs vvhich the City instantly fired for their better security vvithin The next day they intrenched on the South and East parts under the shadovv of the night but induring some Sallies from the Town vvith loss on both sides the Ordnance also killed some few and a Lieutenant Colonel and Captain of the Queens Black Regiment Sir Iacob Ashley also shot in the arm By this time the Welch Forces under command of Sir William Vavisor vvere advanced to the Bishops house leaving a Guard half a mile from the West Gate the place deserted by the Enemy and so passed over
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
their affairs and was resolved to be relieved the recruit of the Parliaments Army was too slow for the service the London trained bands must do the deed and shop-windows must be shut up and trading suspended the expedition cried up out of every Pulpit and an Army was raised in an instant and upon their March Against whom Prince Rupert is sent from the siege at Glocester to retard their speed untill the King might rise and be gon which was upon the fifth of September and the Rear guard had fired their huts The Earl of Essex came to the brow of the Hills seven miles from the City and gave his warning piece but the Town had no minde to hinder the King being glad of his departing when all his indeavours were now prepared ready for a storm the besieged in want their Amunition consumed to three Barrels of powder but the Towns loss of men were not many not one hundred say they and two or three Officers Captain Harcus and his Ensign the King lost many more and especialy his precious time to no purpose had he waved Glocester and Marched to London directly whilst the Parliament had no Army in the Field London full of discontent and disorder and their actions of Council unresolved The Kings Northern Army under the Earl of Newcastle there also prevailing but it was his fate to be overtaken with this idle siege Sir Nicholas Crisp One of the Farmers of the Kings Customs of England had a high command also both in the Army by Land and afterwards in the Navy by Sea He being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse and his first service took the charge of Convoy of the train of Artillery sent from Oxford to the siege of Glocester and brought it in safety to the Kings Camp and there very much esteemed He was quartered in Rouslidge near Glocester at a Knights house where finding Sir Iames Enyon and other Gentlemen of no Command in the Army and had taken up so much of the house as was Incommode to the Colonel yet he continued then there with much civility Not long it was that the Guests had some horses missing out of the Pastures and so charged upon default the Colonels Souldiers and indeed very ruffly demanding the accompt from the Colonel himself who promised indeavours to finde them out buâ— refused to draw out his Regiment for that purpose onely to satisfie Sir Iames who urged it for his friend himself no otherwise concerned But being a person of eminency and of a Spirit answerable impatient of any delay or orderly proceedings departs and sends a Gentleman with this summon to Sir Nicholas Crisp to meet him with his sword in a field near the Quarters and with this express addition That if he did refuse upon any pretence he would pistoll him against the wall Upon which sharp and suddain summons of an hours warning the Colonel accompanied with a Gentleman findes Sir Iames at the place with him that brought the challenge and as it became a Christian desired to understand the true reason of the meeting professing that his Duty to the King in the charge he had there of present service might justifie his refusal to fight Yet he told him he was come to give him all satisfaction first as a Christian if he had done him Injury of which he professed ignorance Sir Iames shortly replied He came thither to receive no other satisfaction but by the sword which instantly he drew out and as soon so don by the other whose fortune was at an encounter to give a pass that pierced Sir Iames about the rim of the belly of which he was caried off to the same house in eminent danger But whilst he had life and memory the Colonel gave him a visit beseeching him to put by all passions and receive him infinitely afflicted at this misfortune unwillingly provoked to this mischief and so with Christian reconciliation they parted and he died two daies after Hereupon a legal trial was offered for any complainant to prosecute the matter And after some time on Munday the second of October a Council of war being set thereupon gave their opinion and sentence thus In the cause depending against Sir Nicholas Crisp Knight concerning the death of Sir James Enyon Knight slain by him in a Duel in September last The Court being informed that an Affixer was duly set up upon the Court house door according to their Order of the eight and tewentieth of September last and the affixer afterwards taken down and brought into the Court and Proclamation being made and no man appearing against him according to the Affixer yet upon examination of all the matter and difference between them and that the friends of the slain taking notice thereof The Court proceeded to sentence That although the Court doth condemn all manner of Duels and utterly disallow them yet in this particular case of Sir Nicholas Crisp in consideration of the great injury he received in his own Quarter and how much he was provoked and challenged the Court hath thought fit to acquit him from any punishment in this Court and doth leave and recommend him to his Majesties mercy for his gracious pardon the second of October 1643. Forth Lord Lieutenant general and President Dorset Bristol Northampton Andover Dunsmore Jacob Astley Arthur Aston William Brumchard John Byron Who all reported to the King the whole matter and brought him to kiss his hand and received a Pardon under the great feal of England and to confirm him in the Kings affection He had a Commission to be Admiral of a Fleet at Sea set out by himself and was undon for his Masters service The solemn League by Oath and Covenant being ordered to be sworn unto by all and divers consciencious persons excepting against the same and refusing were therefore committed and sequestred to their utter undoing Amongst many Doctor Featly that excellent and learned Divine and Minister at Lambeth had given by Letter to the Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland an accompt of his demeanour in this business of the Scotish Covenant and was therefore committed to the prison in the Lord Peters house in Aldersgate Street as many other noble houses turned into Jayles both his livings given away and his books bestowed upon White of Dorchester It was the Doctors reasons that raised all this stir He first excepted against these words We will indeavour the true reformedâ— Protestant Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Discipline worship and Government according to the word of God These words said the Doctor imply that the Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland is according to the word of God which said he is more than I dare subscribe unto much less confirm by an Oath for first I am not perswaded that any Plat form of Government in each particular circumstance is Jure Divino Secondly admit some were yet I doubt whether the Scots Presbytery be
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
urged But they have found a Letter of his Majesties to the Queen which shewes that the Eminent places of the Kingdom are disposed of by her advice and then conclude from her Religion that they are by consequence disposed of by Papists and Jesuits and that the persons there Named even during the sitting of Parliament are either all impeached by them or bear Armes against them To this his Majesty replies First that he cannot but deplore the condition of the Kingdom when Letters of all sorts to Husbands and Wives even of his Majesty to his Royal Consort are intercepted and brought in evidence and published to the world Secondly that the places there named are not places as they call it of the Kingdom but private menial places a Treasurer of the Houshold a Captain of the Pensioners and a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber c. Nor of the persons there named is there any one a Papist or like one That in these his most private Letters to the persons nearest him wherein he cannot be justly suspected to say any thing out of Design or Policy His own clear perswasion that the Parliament and not he have been the cause and are the fosterers of this War and Universal distraction and his sence of it and his desire of the end of it are so plainly expressed that they will by this accident be much satisfied with his Innocency and reality and believe that the reading this in such a Letter is the very next degree to reading it in his Heart But their successes increase Leicester is rendered upon Articles and thus the Manner Sir Iohn Gell for the Parliament whilst the Armies were fighting had summoned all the forces of those Counties of Darby and Notingham and two dayes after the Battel they met with some of the Kings scattered Horse and took fifty Another of his party fell upon threescore of the Newarkers Horse did so by them and carried away fourty Prisoners and fifty Arms. And forthwith they joyn with Fairfax and sit down before Leicester Instantly Summons it with the true Relation of what had befallen the King and advises the Governour the Lord Loughborow to surrender speedily to avoid the Mischief of storming But he stoutly refused professing that it were a shame for them to submit since if the state of War was so to his Majesty it might prove the rather now propitious to them however their opposers should finde their Loyalty never a whit abated by the unhappinesse of his Majesties success but to do their duty to the utmost of their power which was equal to their Spirits Fairfax finding their Confidence calls a Council of War and concludes of storming the next day and instantly to surround the Town which was done with great expedition Raising their Batteries providing Ladders and Engins for their best advantage On Tuesday 17. Iune they began their Batteries with their great shot without ceasing and together fell upon storming in several places especially the Newark side supposed their greatest strength And not over-long it was that the breach widened which strook so much terrour to the besieged that Overtures were offered of surrender The Commissioners sent in were two Colonels Pickering and Rainsborough But whilst they capitulate Fairfax provides himself of Necessaries which he wanted Pittars Carts Hay Granadoes Ladders resolving to fall on upon their return But it was concluded to surrender and thereby much blood saved upon Noble Articles And at the thanksgiving-Thanksgiving-day in London the City feast the Parliament at Grocers Hall where was for Principal guest the Prince Elector drinking health from the fatall events of his dearest Uncle the King and when a bold and worthy Merchant true to his principles Arrested him in the Room delivering a writ of Execution to the Sheriffes of London there present to do their Office which debt of 1000. Marks was instanly secured by the Lords that were present the Citizen committed for some dayes but his mony paied him to a farthing And after their full bellie-cheer they sung the 46. Psalm being a song of Thanksgiving for deliverance of Ierusalem after Senacherib with his Army was driven away or some other such deliverance But the prisoners were now disposed the most of them more then a thousand to be listed for the Parliaments service in Ireland Oxford siege is now resolved upon by the Parliament and twenty thousand pounds advanced for the Army for that and the Relief of Taunton now again hard beset by the Kings Forces Sir Thomas Glenham a gallant person had been for some time Governour of Carlisle Garison for the King and had endured a strickt and forceable Seige but not able to do more then could be expected by starved Souldiers lessened by small numbers little Ammunition and without expectation of Succour he surrenders the eight and twentieth of Iune upon honourable Conditions and the Garison to march away to Newark so then the Parliament had the North parts clear and therefore have a Conference how mainly to keep their Northern Garisons with Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle clear from the King or any other Enemy not trusting therein to our dear Brethren the Scots who were loth to remove Southward from the Northern neighbouring Counties We are told that the King is now in person about Ragland Castle in Wales to gather Recruits from his faithfull Brittains Fairfax at Marlborough Massie at Shaftsbury and Goring keeps aloof of Taunton so that the Besieged can sally out in more safety and this Goring might do and forrage the Countrey for the Club-men were up I cannot say in Arms onely with Cudgels nor can we as yet finde for whom they intend assistance an unruly Rabble five thousand and upwards daily increasing without Order or Discipline and so insolent that they forced the Parliaments Quarters in Wilts and Dorsetshire specially at Sturmister-Neuton and killed many and seize all the Horse in the grounds near a hundred Dragoons at a clap to whom therefore Major General Massie sends a Trumpeter for Restitution of Horse and Arms in other places also or suddenly reports to reduce them to obedience These Club-men were called Levellers in respect of some Principles which we shall discuss hereafter but for the present take this Description of their pretences at first The Countreys especially Wilts and Dorsetshire and some others had been extremely harrased plundered of their Lives and Fortunes by a two-edged Sword now in power for the King then for the Parliament and between both the poor people are crushed and ground to powder and in no one place more than at this time concerning Taunton to defend themselves the Clowns and Countrey-men stood upon their guard not submitting Contribution to either and in truth so formidable they were and for the present so independing as Fairfax is in doubt to march forward to relieve Taunton untill these mens interests were calmed or their intentions fixed And to make the business more formidable the Parliament come to a
1000. Foot odds of their Enemies and yet left their Siege works well manned at Chester and meet the Cavaliers in their March sending their Forlorn by Captain Otter the Body commanded by Mitton Iones and Louthian against men of resolution and gallantry but overmastered because overpowred and with other advantages to boot defeated the Cavaliers kild some and took Horse and Foot more then will be imagined and this was 1. of November A second design of Relief was nobly attempted by the Lord Aston who in his way was met with near Stur-bridge Horse to Horse each a Regiment Aston too forward was wounded and taken prisoner he scaped no better others payed dear on both sides loss whereof neither bragged and this was ten days after the other defeat Thus abroad and more at home for Byron was a brave man discreet and valiant but could not doe much more then he did within doores for wearied a long time with Sallies outward was now overpowred and overpressed that he was forced to keep in and feed upon nothing even to nothing in great distress when Horse-flesh failed Sir William Brereton and Col. Mitton now command the Leaguer heretofore knowing the resolution of gallant Governours supposed it to no purpose to summon Byron that never used to yield yet now each Opposite fall to treat but the Overtures high neither of them would condiscend November 28. for Byron had intelligence of the Kings earnest desire and unfortunate endeavours for his Relief and the Parliament debating and voting for a Committee on purpose to order force upon force to joyn with Brereton for the gaining of this Garison blocking up and guarding all ways and passages about the County to hinder Relief December 9. And therefore the Townsmen murmur first then mutiny which Byron appeases with promises after a weeks expectation of Relief if none comes to treat upon Surrender and as yet none comes nor can and therefore Brereton ingeniously writes to him For the Lord Byron and the Mayor of Chester SIR Experience tells you on what Foundations your hopes of Relief were grounded but that you may see â—y tender care of the preservation of the Lives and Estates of the Inhabitants once more I summon you to deliver this Garison into my hands for the use of the King and Parliament with expecting your speedy Answer Your Servant Will. Brereton Chester Suburbs Jan. 17. But Byron was busie and did not answer Brereton sends the second time again SIR I perceive my Desire to preserve the Citie encourageth a great obstinacie as though you expected as good Conditions when you can hold out no longer as if you had treated the last Summons which proceeded not from any fear of disturbance for I believe your self is hopeless of Relief but to prevent further miserie and the ruine of that Citie which will be remediless I expect your Answer by three a clock this Day Your Servant Will. Brereton Jan. 12. To which Byron answers We are not convinced by experience of the groundless Foundation of our hopes of Relief neither is our Condition such as to precipitate us to a prejudicial Treatie however if within twelve Days we be not assured of Relief by a Gentleman and Citizen whom we shall send for that purpose with a Trumpet of ours and a Pass from you we shall then be contented to enter into a Treatie for Surrender upon honourable and orderly condition Charls Walley Mayor Your Servant John Byron Chester Jan. 12. And instantly replied unto the same Day The Writing sent by the Drummer is not satisfactory to the Summons neither will I assent to your Desires in any part of it If you return not a positive Answer before ten a clock to morrow morning expect no further Treatie Will. Brereton This was sharp and sudden but Byron stirs not having sent out a Messenger whose return he expected That if Relief came not by the end of this Moneth Ianuary at the furthest he could hold out no longer This Messenger is intercepted on his way which Brereton sends to the Parliament having private order if possible to spare the storming and plunder of that City which Brereton hoped to govern hereafter and he being that Countreyman was not willing to ruine the chief Town The time is come and they treat ten Days spent with several Transactions in hope of Relief for which strong preparations were made whereof the Besiegers had frequent advertisement that Sir Iacob Ashley and Colonel Vaughan had united and lay hovering about Bridg-North their Intention to have joyned with the Welch Forces under the Lord St. Paul and some Irish that came over in December last and those other lately landed at Blewmorris who were part of the Lord Digby's Regiment as the intercepted Letters mentioned to prevent which Conjunction Brereton sends three Regiments of Horse the Warwickshire the Reformado's Regiment and part of the Staffordshire Horse and Foot and also of the Cheshire Dragoons together with some of Colonel Mitton's Horse and Foot which Party was commanded by Mitton who marched to Ruthen the four and twentieth of this Moneth Ianuary intending to fall upon the Cavaliers Quarters who made their way and marched to Denbigh and so to Conway but Mitton came in good time after for Ruthen Castle was so ill provided that he hath hope to master it however the Conjunction of the Cavaliers is frustrate which probably occasioned the Cavaliers Retreat quite away so as now the Besieged hopeless sent out their Commissioners Ian. 30. to treat with the Assailants The first Day nothing was concluded The next Day the Besiegers importuned to lengthen the Treaty for three Days longer which being denied they conclude the first of February Between Iohn Lord Byron Field-Marshal General of North-Wales and Governour of Chester and Sir William Brereton Knight and Baronet Commander in chief of all the Forces of Cheshire The Lord Byron and all Noblemen Commanders and Officers and Souldiers in all their Apparel whatsoever The Lord Byron with Horse and Arms and ten Men alike accomplished to attend him His Lady and Servants with Coaches and in each four Horses with such other Ladies and Gentlewomen as he thinks fit and with his Books Evidences and Writings in his possession and all of them with not above fourty pounds in Money and twenty pounds in Plate The rest of the Noblemen and their Ladies answerable with Honour and Arms and not above thirty pounds in Money Every Knight and Colonel alike with ten pounds in Money and so in a respective condition and quality of every Officer to the common Souldier who was to march away with twenty Shillings In a word throughout their degrees Men and Women answerable and as reasonable for the Citizens So that I shall conclude for the honour of Sir William Brereton although he knew the Distress of the Garison yet he was so noble and so much a Gentleman and a Souldier that in earnest I finde his Concessions worthy of honourable Record which I mention
Parliament no further Expectation of Aid from Ireland or any foreign Friend the Lord Ashley was onely in a Body but closely pursued by Sir William Brereton and Colonel Morgan Governour of Glocester and in the end not able to avoid the Quarrel they came to fight the one and twentieth of March where Ashley was totally defeated near Stow in the Wold upon the edg of Glocestershire himself taken Prisoner fifteen hundred Horse and Foot with his Baggage Ammunition and all and therefore he told them that took him Their Work was done they might go play Meaning that the King had lost all And it seems so by the hasty Vote of the Parliament to the Kings Letter which Message was in effect That he offers to come to his two Houses upon their Assurance for the safety of his Person and to advise with them for the good and safety of the Kingdom Provided that all those who have adhered to his Majesty may have liberty to return in peace to their own home to live in quiet without the Obligation of the National Oath or Covenant and Sequestration to be taken off from their Estates And that then his Majesty will disband all his Forces dismantle his Garisons pass an Act of Oblivion and free Pardon to all and give ample satisfaction to the Kingdom of Scotland March 23. But it is now too late and therefore they answer not at all unless he be willing to take notice of this Ordinance That in case the King shall contrary to the advise of Parliament already given to him come or attempt to come within the Lines of Communication that then the Committee of the Militia of London shall have power and are hereby enjoyned to raise such Force as they shall think fit to prevent any Tumult that may arise by his coming and to suppress any that shall happen and to apprehend and secure any such as shall come with him to prevent resort unto him and to secure his person from danger Nay more That all persons whatsoever that have born Arms against the Parliament are to depart the City by the sixth of April upon the penalty as followeth viz. The Lords and Commons taking notice of the great concourse and resort of Papist Officers and Souldiers of Fortune and such as have been in Arms against the Parliament of England from the Enemies Garisons and Quarters unto the Citie of London and Westminster and other parts within the Lines of Communication That such depart c. before the sixth of April next or to be declared against as Spies and to be proceeded against according to the Rules of War unless with licence of the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall and of the Militia of London and the Sub-committees are hereby to keep strict Guards and Watches to make frequent Searches Provided that this Act shall not extend to such as came in to the Parliament before the first of June last And that no Peer have licence but by the House of Lords And this Order to continue for a moneth after the sixth of April and no longer March 30. Then for fear that the King should come notwithstanding all their fore-warnings Letters are devised from several places of Intelligence That the King is resolved to come suddenly to London And with some Designs also hinted as might seem most dangerous to the Parliament and Kingdom Therefore the Parliament order That Letters shall be suddenly sent to the Prince as in answer to former received from him as also to the King that Commissioners will forthwith be sent to his Majesty with Propositions of Peace And now we have almost done fighting in the Field some Garisons onely stand out but others are daily surrendred And for these and such like Victories we have such City-feastings Bonefires and Bell-ringings as that we were imagined to be all mad which the Pay-masters of all the Aldermen and the rest expressed in the highest manner that could be as being the effects of joy union sweet harmony heavenly blessings and the like as indeed we want words also to express their conceits Then was there established a Court Martial in London with Articles published against such Inhabitants as were but tending to the malignancy of Cavaliery as that it was almost impossible for a conscionable Subject but to be liable to their punishment And withall comes out another Ordinance viz. That no persons whatsoever shall repair to the King Queen Prince or Lords malignant or to either of them or to any Commander or Officer of theirs or shall hold Intelligence with them or shall plot contrive or endeavour with the Enemie contrary to the Rules of War not to relieve any person that have taken up Arms against the Parliament not to assemble or mutinie And against such as have taken up Arms against the Parliament and have taken the Covenant no Officer shall desert his Trust none that hath been in Arms against the Parliament or assisted the Enemy shall come to London or Westminster without a Pass and shall not also within eight and fourty hours tender himself to the Parliament All these aforesaid shall die the death without mercie And this Ordinance to last for three moneths April 3. What should the Kings party his Souldiers and Friends do that had delivered up themselves and Garisons upon Articles and Quarter but to return home which indeed in effect was for all or the most to come to London for means for inquiry for subsistence and for courses to sell Lands raise Moneys to seek Relief and to compound multitudes of such are come and must suddenly be gone again others on their way to the City and ignorant of the Ordinances fell unwittingly under the Penalties and so are daily taken seized and hurried into Prisons or Goals and are utterly ruined ere they know for what This makes them repent their hasty Surrenders of Garisons rather to have been there slain in honour by the Sword than after all to be undone at home Aud to colour the cruelty it was surmized that probably these had some horrible Design against the Parliament City and Kingdom which was referred to other Committees to do and order the Cavaliers to dispose and command them as they should think fit A mischief to the Sufferers beyond all their former miseries thus to submit to a City Committee made up they said of Tradesmen and Tailours These Tidings reach to the knowledg of the King and his Council at Oxford who disorderly seek in private their own safety leaving the King to shift for himself But to make their own Jealousies of some colour and Punishments answerable thereto It is devised that the King notwithstanding the Refusal of his coming he is yet resolved to come some fix upon the Day others suppose it uncertain some say he comes disguised and others affirm positively that he is come and is to be seen at the Lord Mayors whether the City Wives went to visit my Lady Mistress Mayoress
give content to both in a happy peace Religion being the chiefest Point he advises them to take the Opinions of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster The Militia he will settle it as was offered at Uxbridge into the hands of such persons as the Parliament shall name for seven years and afterwards to be named by the King and Parliament and the like for Scotland and for Ireland He will doe what possibly he is able desiring such of their Propositions as are ready to be sent to him being resolved to comply with them in any thing He wishes both Kingdoms to be careful to maintain Him and his Honour and his just aâ—d lawful Rights He will take a course for satisfying of Publick Debts disband all Armies that so each hinderance being removed he may return to them with mutual comfort And in a Postscript To shew his real intentions to peace is willing that his Forces in and about Oxford be disbanded the Fortifications dismantled they receiving Honourable Conditions which being granted he will give the like order to all the rest of his Garisons Southwel 8. of May 1646. And two dayes after being come to Newcastle He writes his Letters to the States of the Kingdom of Scotland to the same effect And that the truth of these his intentions might be made known to all He desires a Proclamation might be there Printed and published together with this Letter that it is his Voluntary and Cordial resolution proceeding from the deep sence of the bleeding condition of his Kingdoms And that he intends to joyn with his Parliament in setling Religion in purity and the Subjects in safety so expecting their counsel and advice c. Newcastle May 10. 1646. And to satisfie all men He writes the same in effect to his City of London giving them the account of the former Letters from himself that his return to his Parliament might also be to their good likeing May 19. In the mean time came Letters from the Commissioners before Newark of the surrender of that Town and that the Scotish Army was drawn off and retreated about four miles and the King with them in their Army Then the House of Commons Vote for the demanding of his Majesties Person which took up a weeks time and not agreed For Letters were read That the Scotish Army and the King were marched further North towards their old Quarters and the King sodainly expected at Newcastle and a House there prepared for him But the Commons conclude They conceive it reasonable that in England his Majesty be disposed by none but the Parliament of England That the Scotish Armie in England is an Army of the Parliaments and in Pay to them and so theirs besides his Majestie is in open Hostility with the Parliament and hath Towns and Forces abroad against the Parliament and yet he is with the Scotish Army without the approbation of the Parliament c. That the King is or ought to be near his Parliament whereby they may have recourse to him for the better correspondencie between both and the obtaining the concurrence of his Majestie to such things as are most necessary for the Kingdom in the doing whereof it cannot but be of great prejudice and obstruction to have his Majesty some hundred of miles from his Parliament Likewise that by Covenant we are swâ—rn to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament but to detain the King from his Parliament is altogether inconsistent with the Covenant but the Lords take time to consider hereof The King at leasure also to consider his unhappy condition and now at Newcale the 13. of May in his Soliloquie complains of his misfortune and extremities which have forced him to seek relief any where specially of the Scots Although God hath given me three Kingdoms yet in these he hath not now left me any place where I may with safety and honour rest my head Shewing me that himself is the safest Refuge and the strongest Tower of defence in which I may put my trust In these extremities I look not to man so much as to God he will 〈◊〉 have it thus that I may wholly cast my self and my now distressed Affairs upon his mercie who hath both the hearts and hands of all men in his dispose What providence denies to force it may grant to prudence necessitie is now my Counsellor and commands me to studie my safetie by a disguised withdrawing from my chiefest strength and adventuring upon their Loyaltie who first began my troubles Haply God may make them a means honourably to compose them This my confidence of them may disarm and overcome them my rendering my person to them may engage their affections to me who have oft professed They fought not against me but for me I must now resolve the Riddle of their Loyaltie and give them opportunitie to let world see they mean not what they doe but what they say Yet must God be my chiefest Guard and my conscience both my Councellor and my Comforter though I put my Bodie into their hands yet I shall reserve my Soule to God and my self nor shall any necessities compel me to desert mine Honour or swerve from my judgement What they sought to take by force shall now be given them in such a waie of unusual confidence of them as may make them ashamed not to be really such as they ought and professed to be God sees it not enough to deprive me of all Militarie power to defend my self but 〈…〉 upon using their power who seem to fight against me yet oâ—ght in dutie to defend me So various are all humane afâ—airs and so necessitous may the state of Princes be that their greatest danger may be in their supposed safetie and their safetie in their supposed danger I must now leave those that have adhered to me and apply to those that have opposed me this method of Peace may be morâ— prosperous then that of War both to stop the effusion of blood and to close those wounds alreadie made and in it I am no less solicitous for my friends safetie then mine own chusing to venture my self upon further hazards rather then expose their resolute Loyaltie to all extremities It is some skill in plaie to know when a game is lost better fairlie to give over then to contest in vain I must now studie to re-inforce my judgement and fortifie my minde with Reason and Religion that I may not seem to offer up my Souls libertie or make my Conscience their Captive who ought at first to have used Arguments not Arms to have perswaded my consent to their new demands I thank God no success darkens or disguises Truth to me and I shall no less conform my words to my inward dictates now then if they had been as the words of a King ought to be among Loyal Subjects full of power Reason is the divinest power I shall never think my self weakned while I may make full and free use of
afore mentioned as also that which Ormond intimates to Monroe of the one and twentieth of May. Which Letters were the very same in print and published by Ormond at Dublin and brought over by Sir Robert King one of the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland and were as yet laid under Deck for advantage against the King hereafter In this time the King caresses the Parliament with Messages as before for his personal Treaty at London And because he would give earnest of his serious Intentions he gives Warrant for surrendering all his Garisons C. R. Having resolved to comply with the designs of our Parliament in every thing that may be for the good of our Subjects and leave no means unattempted for removing of differences between us therefore we have thought the more to evidence the reality of our intention of setling a happy peace to require you upon honourable conditions to quit the Towns Castles and forts intrusted to you by us and to disband all the forces under your several Commands Given at Newcastle the tenth of June 1646. To our trusty and well beloved Sir Thomas Glenham Sir Thomas Tisley Colonel Washington Colonel Blague Governours of our Cities and Towns of Oxford Worcester Litchfield and Wallingford and to all other Commanders of any other Towns Castles or Forts within the Kingdom of England or Dominion of Wales The Scots now in some Jealousie how mightily the King complies with his Parliament and that they should not be able perhaps to effect their designs by force they now endeavour therefore by fraud and cunningly insinuate to the Parliament That their Conscience bears them witnesse of their constant endeavours to preserve the Union of both Kingdoms yet never more than since the Kings coming to their Army by effecting such Messages from his Majesty as might be a sure ground of peace to his people and happinesse to himself And although we have not as yet prevailed over his Principles deeply rooted into him as to obtain the utmost of our desires which we hope in short time to effect And we hope that accordingly the Parliament will be pleased to send their Propositions of peace to him upon whose Answer we shall clearly know how to proceed in the intended Pacification and to satisfie the Parliament in disbanding our Armies delivering up the Garisons possessed by us and retiring home for the good of both Kingdoms Newcastle June 10. Signed by Leven and all the Scots Commissioners and directed to the Parliament And herewith is presented to the Parliament the Copy of a paper delivered to the King from the Committee of Estates of Scotland concerning the Prince of Wales That the Prince goe not beyond Sea but to reside within the Kingdom of England with Honour and safety for preventing the danger to his Person Religion and Inconveniencies besides in this time of affairs Then was a Letter intercepted from the King to the Prince read in the Parliament thus Charles This is rather to tell you where I am and that I am well than at this time to direct you in any thing having writ fully to your Mother what I would have you to do whom I Command you to Obey in every thing except Religion concerning which I am confident she will not trouble you and see you goe no whither without her or my particular direction Let me hear often from you so God blesse you Your Loving Father C. REX Postscript If Jack Ashburnham come where you are command him to wait on you as he was wont untill I shall send for him If your Mother and you be together if she will he must wait on her Then was Hudson Examined who saith That the King was there in company coasted the Country from Oxford and came to Henley Brainford and Harrow on the Hill where he was almost perswaded to come to London from thence he went to St. Albans and then to Harborough in Leicestershire where he expected the French Agent with some Horse to meet him toconduct him to the Scots but the Agent failing of his promise to Hudson the King went to Stanford thence to Norfolk and at Downham he rested from Thursday till Munday till Hudson returned from the Agent upon whose return the King passed into the Army But how ever they handled Hudson he escaped out of prison at London 28. November after and is retaken again the midst of December in the North and his Examination sent up viz. That escaping out of Newgate he went to Ratcliffe disguised and there took Boat and landing without the Works went to Bow where his Man met him with Horses thence to Lyn so to Newcastle to Montril the French Agent who carried him to the King and had conference with him two hours who bad him return to his friends for a moneth by that time he should have occasion to dispose of him bad him beware of the Scots who would commit him and returning to Lincolnshire was taken prisoner again The King now in durance and out of all hope to be able to Manage his affairs in Ireland and for Ormond to proceed there according to former directions and being labored by the English and Scots at Newcastle not to Treat with the Rebells of Ireland any more The King writes to the Marquesse C. R. Right trusty c. Having a long time with much grief looked upon the sad Condition our Kingdom of Ireland hath been in these divers years through the â—iked and desperate Rebellion there and the bloody effects that have ensued thereupon for the setling whereof we would have wholly applied our selves if the difference betwixt us and our Subjects here had not diverted and withdrawn us And not having been able by force for that respect to reduce them we were necessitated for the present safety of our Protestant Subjects there to give you power and Authority to Treat with them upon such Pious Honourable and Safe grounds as the good of that our Kingdom did require But for many Reasons too long for a Letter We think fit to require you to proceed no further with the Rebells nor to engage us upon any conditions with them after sight hereof And having formerly found such real proofs of your ready Obedience to our commands we doubt not of your care in this wherein our service and the good of our Protestant Subjects in Ireland is so much concerned Newcastle June the eleventh 1646. But the affairs of Ireland not intermxing with others are purposely put together at the end of this year to which we refer the Reader The Commissioners of Scotland had oftentimes since the twentieth of Iune 1645. pressed the sending of the former Propositions presented at Oxford and debated at Uxbridg And the Parliament upon the sixth of August 1645. declared that Propositions shall speedily be sent with some alteration And upon the last of February following the Scots Commissioners received some new Propositions from the Houses And upon the sixteenth March they
their hands yet their Expences necessarily were infinite besides their Gifts and Rewards very high and bountifull to some and to themselves not to be summ'd to an imaginable Account for now also and besides former Gifts a Remembrance must be of the Sufferings of the five Members so long passed that some of their persons are laid asleep yet the charity of the House of Commons was herein visible even to their Children Mr. Denzil Hollis hath five thousand pounds for his Sufferings 3 Car. Mr. Selden 5000. 1. To the younger children of Sir Iohn Elyot 5000. 1. and to his eldest Son his fine in the Court of Wards to be remitted and Mr. William Strodes poor kindred 5000. 1. He had a God-son who was forgotten To Mr. Benjamin Valentine 5000. 1. for Mr. Walter Long 5000. 1. to Sir Miles Hubbart 5000. 1. to Sir Peter Hamands successors his eldest Son a Member 5000. 1. to Mr. Io. Hamdens children for his opposing Ship-money 5000. 1. and ten thousand pounds to Mr. Vassel for the loss of his Trade and Damages about the Customes And Alderman Chambers demand of 22000. 1. towards his suffering was only committed But why were others mixed with the five Members truly to draw on consent one for another and so they did doe to the undoing of the Nation had they not been taken off from doing at all any more as hereafter shall appear But two dales after came in further considerations of many more the Earl of Northumberland for his Audit of sufferings 30000. 1. he had in part but 10000. 1. But the Parliament had vast sums coming in certain for the Excise although some obstructions hapned in the Levying and the Mutinies caused thereby The total charged upon the Excise of this Kingdom in course was cast up and reported to the House amounting to three hundred and ninety thousand pounds and upwards besides interest for the same and the interest of the 200000. 1. for the Scots first payment Of what consequence then must be the credit of Excise and the benefit of the Towns and Cities that farmed the Excise And thereupon not long after the Parliament Order Ian. 20. That all Towns Cities and Counties that have Excise granted them without limitation shall have it continued no longer then 15. March next and such as have any Moitie or parcel thereof no longer then 25. March The King hears of these Passages and conceived that he being herein so concerned he might put in his spoke and to keep his old pace puts the Parliament in mind of his former Messages and now again desires a personal Treaty at or near London upâ—n the faith of the two Houses C. R. His Majesties thoughts being alwaies sincerely bent to the peace of his Kingdoms was and will be ever desirous to take all waies which might the most clearly make appear the candour of his intentions to his people And to this end could finde no better way than to propose a personal free debate with his two Houses of Parliament upon all the present differences Yet finding very much against his expectations that this offer was laid aside his Majestie bent all his thoughts to make his intentions fully known by a particular Answer to the Propositions delivered to him in the name of both Kingdoms the 24. of July last But the more he endeavoured it he more plainly saw that any answer he could make would be subject to misinformations and misconstructions which upon his own Paraphrases and explanations he is most confident will give so good satisfaction as would doubtless cause a happy and lasting peace Lest therefore that good intentions may produce ill effects his Majesty again proposeth and desires again to come to London or any of his houses thereabouts upon the publick Faith and security of his two Houses of Parliament and the Scotish Commissioners that he shall be there with Honour Freedom and safety Where by his personal presence he may not only raise a mutual confidence betwixt him and his people but also have those doubts cleared and those difficulties explained to him without which he cannot but with the aforesaid mischievous inconveniences give a particular answer to the Propositions and with which he doubts not but so to manifest his real intentions for the setling of Religion the just Priviledges of Parliament with the freedom and property of the Subject that it shall not be in the power of wicked and malicious men to hinder the establishing of that firm peace which all honest men desire Assureing them as he will make no other demands but such as he believes confidently to be just and much conducing to the Tranquillity of the people So he will be most willing to condescend to them in whatsoever shall be really for their good and happiness Not doubting likewise but you will also have a due regard to maintain the just power of the Crown according to your many protestations and professions For certainly except King and people have reciprocal care each of other neither can be happy To conclude 't is your King who desires to be heard the which if refused to a Subject by a King he would be thought a Tyrant for it and for that end which all men profess to desire Wherefore his Majestie conjures you as you desire to shew your selves really what you profess even as you are good Christians and Subjects that you will accept this his offer which he is confident God will so bless that it will be the readiest means by which these Kingdoms may again become a comfort to their friends and a terror to their enemies Newcastle 20. Decemb. 1646. But in stead of an Answer hereto the Houses were busie to Order the disposal of the Kings person for the Scots had their hire and were taking their leave That they were ready to depart and to march away desiring to know what service the Parliament would command them to the Estates of Scotland leaving the King to shift for himself And accordingly the Parliament Voted his remove to Holmby with respect to the safety and preservation of his Majesties pâ—rson and in preservation and defence of the true Religion but then a great debate followed whether the words according to the Covenant should be added and it past affirmatively And that after his coming thither and attended there by such as they shall appoint and that the Scots are gone out of the Kingdom then the Parliament will joyn with our Brethren of Scotland to perswade the King to pass the Propositions and if he refuse that then the Houses will do nothing that may break the union of the two Kingdoms but to preserve the same A Rumour there was of the Kings intentions to escape disguised from Newcastle Indeed there was a Hubbub raised of such a design and the Guards doubled that night and letters sent to General Leven to be more careful of the Kings Person who returns Answer of his double diligence therein and hath thanks
that your scope is the maintenance of the Laws those Laws must be derived to us and enlivened by the onely supreme Governour the Fountain of Iustice and the Life of the Law the King The Parliaments are called by his Writs the Iudges sit by his Patents so of all Officers the Cities and Towns Corporate govern by the Kings Charters and therefore since by the Laws I cannot be by you examined I do refuse to answer David Jenkins April 10. â—1647 And forthwith he publishes a Discourse in print concerning Treason Murder and Felony that any person committing either of them hath no assurance of Life Lands or Goods without the Kings pardon 27 H. 8. cap. 24. The King is not virtually in the two Houses at Westminster whereby they can give pardon to these offences The Parliament in their Declaration November 28. last to the Scots Papers say That the King at this time is not in a condition to govern and it is impossible that they should have a virtue from the King to govern which they declare he hath not himself to give The Law of the Land is 5 Eliz. cap. 1. That no person hath a Voice in Parliament before he take Oath that the King is the onely and supreme Governour How does this Oath agree with their Declaration By the one it is sworn He is the onely supreme Governour and by the other that he is not in a condition to govern so they swear one thing and declare the contrary at the same time The Parliament say that the Parliament are the onely supreme Governours in default of the King for that he hath left his great Council and will not come to them and yet he desires to come and they will not suffer him but keep him Prisoner at Holmby That there is no point of Government but for some years past they have taken to themselves and used his Name onely to deceive the People They have sent Propositions to Oxford to Newcastle to be signed by him What needs this ado if they have the virtual power with them at Westminster To say that his virtual power is separate from his person is high Treason See Coke in Calvin's case fol. 11. And setting down the Traitours Arguments of that time they were condemned in Edw. 2. called Exilium Hugonis le Spencer and the other in 1 Edw. 3. cap. 2. That the two Bodies Natural and Politick make but one Body and not divers is resolved 4 Eliz. Plowden Com. fol. 213. by Catlin Dier Sanders Rastal Brown Corbet Weston Frevil Carve Powdrel Gerard Carel Plowden the most learned men of our Law in that Age. That no Act of Parliament bindes the Subject without the assent of the King either for Person Lands Goods or Fame The styles of the Acts in Print from 9 H. 3. to 1 H. 7. And since his time it continues thus so that alwaies the assent of the King giveth Life to all as the Soul to the Bodie He is called by our Law-books the Fountain of Iustice the Life of the Law Mercie as well as Iustice belongs onely to the King 2 H. 4. Mr. Pryn in his Treatise of the great Seal saies as much See 27 H. 8. cap. 24. Queen Elizabeth summoned her first Parliament to be held Jan. 23. 1 Eliz. and the Parliament accordingly assembled but she being sick it was prorogued till the 25. of the same and it was resolved by all the Iudges that the Parliament began not till the said 25. Day They have the King a Prisoner at Holmby and yet they govern by the virtual power of their Prisoner a meer deluding Fiction All these he will justifie with his Life and takes it for an Honour to die for the Laws of the Land David Jenkins April 29. We must confess that H. P. a Barrister of Lincolns Inn made a slight Answer to Ienkins but being ashamed to set down his Name we will not trouble the Reader with it but leave it to the Lawyers But this man endured from time to time strict Imprisonment in most of the Goals at London was arreigned at the Sessions in the Old Baily at the Kings Bench Bar and where not and is now at liberty legally answering to all the Exceptions against him We enter this year with the military affairs of the English Army for the Scots are gone modelled into less and sixty thousand pounds a Moneth setled for their pay as also for the Transport and Maintenance of these to be imployed into Ireland viz. eight thousand Foot and two thousand Horse And in these Commissioners are appointed to treat with the General at Saffron Walden in Cambridgshire and the Advance-money was borrowed of the City no less than two hundred thousand pounds The Officers met five and fourty of them and resolve That they were not resolved concerning the engaging in the Service of Ireland with those under their Command yet they shall be ready to further and advance it amongst those under their Commands But conclude in four Questions 1. Under whose Conduct in chief those who are to engage for Ireland shall go 2. What particular Forces of this Armie are to be continued in England 3. What Assurance of Subsistence and Pay to those that engage for Ireland during their stay there 4. When shall the Armie receive their Arrears and Indempnitie for past Services in England And thus heated a Petition is drawn into Heads For provision for Indempnitie the Arrears to be paid that the Foot Souldiers may not be prest out of the Kingdom nor Horsmen compelled to serve on Foot their Widows and Children to be relieved and untill the Armie be disbanded that they may receive Pay to discharge Quarters and not to burden the Countrey To this Petition were Subscribers increasing daily into Thousands and to be preferred by Lieutenant General Hamond Colonel Hamond Ireton and Rich and others who are sent for to the Parliament and ere they come the Parliament declare Their high dislike of that Petition and their approbation and esteem of their good Service who first discovered it but if the Subscribers forbear to proceed any further therein they shall be retained in the Parliaments good opinion and that those who shall continue in their distempered condition shall be proceeded against as Enemies to the State But all things were pieced for the present and not till the General was angry who sends a Letter to some Members and to this effect That there is another Petition on foot in the Countie of Essex against this Armie and which was read in several Churches yesterday by the Ministers to get Hands thereto The Souldiers specially the Horse are much troubled at this and crie out Why may not we petition as to see Petitions subscribed in an indirect manner against us and that under our Noses The Horse here about talk of drawing to a Rendezvouz to compose something of Vindication c. Walden April 5. And this Essex Petition was framed at London and sent
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
left him to acknowledg or mend it and yet this is the Kings present condition who is at this time laid aside because he will not consent c. Then Jealousies and fears were raised of some designs in London and therefore the Earl of Cleveland is now remanded into the Tower Sir Lewis Dives to be close Prisoner and Sir Iohn Stowel and Judge Ienkins to be tryed at the Kings-Bench-Bar And proceedings to be hastened against the late Mutinies of the City of London and of Canterbury and of other Towns and Counties about keeping the last Christmas-day And that Serjeant Iermin Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Steel now Recorder in the place of Serjeant Glyn are appointed by councel of tâ—e Parliament against those Delinquents But the King thus sadly set aside and no more addresse to him nor Messages to be received from him or any other in his behalf He is put upon it in publick to complain to his people by his Declaration the eighteeth of Ianuary which came privately to many mens hands then and since very publickly in these words Am I thus laid aside saith the King and must I not speak for my self No! I will speak and that to all my people which I would have rather done by the way of my two Houses of Parliament but that there is a publick order neither to make addresses to or receive Messages from me and who but you can be judge of the differences betwixt me and my two Houses I know none else for I am sure you it is who will enjoy the happiness or feel the misery of good or ill Government and we all pretend who should run fastest to serve you without having a regard at least in the first place to particular interests And therefore I desire you to consider the state I am and have been in this long time and whether my actions have more tended to the publick or my own particular good for whosoever will look upon me barely as I am a Man without that liberty which the meanest of my Subjects enjoyes of going whither and conversing with whom I will As a Husband and Father without the comfort of my Wife and Children or lastly as a King without the least shew of Authority or Power to protect my distressed Subjects must conclude me not only voyd of all natural Affection but also to want common understanding if I should not most cheerfully embrace the readiest way to the settleâ—ent of these distracted Kingdoms As also on the other side do but consider the form and draught of the Bills lately presented unto me and as they are the conditions of a Treaty ye will conclude that the same spirit which hath still been able to frustrate all my sincere and constant endeavours for peace hath had a powerful influence on his Message for though I was ready to grant the substance and comply with what they seem to desire yet as they had framed it I could not agree thereunto without deeply wounding my Conscience and Honour and betraying the trust reposed in me by abandoning my people to the Arbitrary and unlimited power of the two Houses for ever for the levying and maintaining of Land or Sea Forces without distinction of quality or limitation for money taxes And if I could have passed them in termes how unheard of a condition were it for a Treaty to grant before hand the most considerable part of the Subject matter How ineffectual were that debate like to prove wherein the most potent party had nothing of moment left to ask and the other nothing more to give So consequently how hopelesse of mutual complyance Without which a settlement is impossible Besides if after my Concession the two Houses should insiâ—â— on those thing from which I cannot depart how desperate would the condition of these Kingdoms be when the most proper and approved remedy should become ineffectual Being therefore fully resolved that I could neither in conscience honour or prudence passe those four Bills I only endeavour'd to make the Reasons and Iustice of my denyal appear to all the World as they do to me intending to give as little dis-satisfaction to the two Houses of Parliament without betraying my own cause as the matter would bear I was desirous to give my Answer of the 28. of December last to the Commissioners sealed as I had done others heretofore and sometimes at the desire of the Commissioners cheifly because when my Messages or Answers were publickly known before they were read in the Houses prejudicial interpretations were forced on them much differing and sometimes contrary to my meaning For Example my Answer from Hampton Court was accused of dividing the two Nations because I promised to give satisfaction to the Scots in all things concerning that Kingdom And this last suffers in a contrary sense by making me intend to interest Scotland in the Laws of this Kingdom then which nothing was nor is further from my thoughts because I took Notice of the Scots Commissioners protesting against the Bills and Propositions as contrary to the interests and Engagements of the two Kingdoms Indeed if I had not mentioned their dissent an Objection not without some probability might have been made against me both in respect the Scots are much concern'd in the Bill for the Militia and in several other Propositions and my silence might with some justice have seemed to approve of it But the Commissioners refusing to receive my Answer sealed I upon the Engagement of their and the Governours honour that no other use should be made or notice taken of it then as if it had not been seen read and delivered it open unto them Whereupon what hath since passed either by the Governour in discharging most of my Servants redoubling the Guards and restraining me of my former Liberty and all this as himself confest meerly out of his own dislike of my Answer notwithstanding his beforesaid Engagement or afterwards by the two Houses as the Governour affirms in confining me within the circuit of this Castle I appeal to God and the World whether my said Answer deserved the reply of such proceedings Besides the unlawfulnesse for Subjects to Imprison their King That by the permission of Almighty God I am reduced to this sad condition as I no way repine so I am not without hope but that the same God will in due time convert these afflictions into my advantage In the mean time I am confident to bear these crosses with patience and equality of minde But by what means or occasion I am come to this Relapse in my affairs I am utterly to seek especially when I consider that I have sacrificed to my two Houses of Parliament for the Peace of the Kingdom all but what is much more dear to me than my Life my Conscience and Honour desiring nothing more than to perform it in the most proper and natural way a personal Treaty But that which makes me most at a losse is the remembring my
as to the last event I may seem to owe more to my Enemies then my friends ' while those will put a period to the sins and sorrows attending this miserable life wherewith these desire I might still contend I shall be more then Conquerour through Christ enabling me for whom I have hitherto suffered as he is the Author of Truth Order and Peace for all which I have been forced to contend against Error Faction and Confusion If I must suffer a violent death with my Saviour it is but mortality crowned with Martyrdom where the debt of death which I owe for sin to nature shall be raised as a gift of faith and patience offered to God Which I humbly beseech him mercifully to accept and although death be the wages of my own sin as from God and the effect of others sins as men both against God and me yet as I hope my own sins are so remitted that they may be no ingredients to imbitter the cup of my death so I desire God to pardon their sins who are most guilty of my destruction The Trophies of my charity will be more glorious and durable over them then their ill-mannaged victories over me Though their sin be prosperous yet they had need to be penitent that they may be pardoned both which I pray God they may obtain that my temporal death unjustly inflicted by them may not be revenged by Gods just inflicting eternal death upon them for I look upon the temporal destruction of the greatest King as far less deprecable then the eternal damnation of the meanest Subject Nor do I wish other then the safe bringing of the ship to shore when they have cast me over-board though it be very strange that Mariners can finde no other means to appease the storm themselves have raised but by drowning their Pilot. I thank God my enemies cruelty cannot prevent my Preparation whose malice in this I shall defeat that they shall not have the satisfaction to have destroyed my soul with my body of whose salvation while some of them have themselves seemed and taught others to despair they have only discovered this that they do not much desire it Whose uncharitable and cruel restraints denying me even the assistance of any of my Chaplains hath rather enlarged then any way obstructed my access to the throne of Heaven And for his better preparation he is a suitor to the Governour that he might have two of his own Chaplains to preach and pray with him And that he might have liberty to write to his Queen in France and to the Prince of Wales to acquaint them with his sad condition but not granted For the General hath ordered that the King be brought up with a Guard Prisoner to Windsor Castle and came to Winchester Tuesday 21. December where the honourable Mayor and Aldermen met him at the Towns end and as in duty heretofore presented him with a Speech and then with their mace The Governour of the Guard told them that by the Act of No address to the King they were all Traytors which not a little troubled the well meaning Mayor The next night Friday to Farnham and after dinner at Bagshot calling for his Coach he was told it was gone before and indeed so designed then ready to mount an excellent horse he had been newly prickt with a nail stark lame the King was troubled which being perceived a Gentleman lent him a swift Gelding but being observed the Guards were commanded for Flankers till the King came off the Downs and so he came to Windsor Saturday night 23. Decemb. Colonel Thomlingson commanding the Guards when Colonel Harrison left him And here they refuse to afford his Majesty any Ceremony of State upon the knee and hardly the Cap his attendance taken away and he clapt up close And because William Prinne of Lincolns Inn Barrester puts himself in Print the first man that brings in his Charge whether to his eternal shame or otherwise we shall give you his title wherein we finde in this case as very often in other his Pamphlets more matter in the Title Page then all that follows in the Book besides He calls it Mr. Prinns Charge against the King shewing That the Kings Design Purpose Resolution his Endeavours Practice Conversation have alwayes been engaged byassed tended to settle establish confirm Popery Tyranny Slavery in among over his Dominions Subjects People and in order to that Design End Purpose he writ to the Pope of Rome stiling him His most Holy Father Catholique Majesty thrice honoured Lord and Father engaging himself to the said Pope to endeavour to settle the Popish Religion only in his Dominions And since his coming to the Crown hath extended extraordinary favours upon protection of notorious Papists Priests Iesuites against all prosecution of Laws enacted against them notwithstanding all his Protestations to the contrary hath raised up a most horrid unnatural and bloudy War arming his Roman Catholique Subjects to Massacre Plunder Torture Imprison Ruine his Loyal Faithful pious Protestant Subjects to burn sack spoil their Cities Towns Villages collected from the Books written By VVilliam Prinne of Lincols Inne Esq. Being but a very small taste from that main Ocean of that which he hath written concerning the King and his ill behaviour since his coming to the Crown As also with references unto clear satisfactory convincing Answers unto several Objections concerning resisting censuring suspending depriving Kings for their Tyranny yea capitally proceeding against them By the said Author Thus he belches up the Charge and his proofs are plain from himself the only Author and witness directing us by his Margin to the third part of the Sovereign power of Parliaments wherein he pretends to overthrow all Scripture proofs against killing Kings and Princes His proofs against the Kings person is cited out of Prynns Popish Royal Favourite Romes Master-piece To which we refer the Reader without censuring them as some have done to be a Rhapsodie of Nonsense But then also we not to be partial refer the Reader to the History of Him Bastwick and Burton their Crimes Charge Indictments Censure Sentence and Execution And to second Prinne there follows Petitions pretended from the well-affected of the County of Norfolk from several Garrisons and other such in complyance with the Armies Remonstrance and Declarations and therein praying for justice against the King And yet not long after the 10. of Ianuary Mr. Prinne Imprints a Memento for which he reâ—uses to answer the Commons Summons untill he be sent to in a Legal way and by a lawful and sufficient Authority for he was not long before turned out of being a Member and continued now a prisoner to the Army and ever since out of date or use This man an indefatigable Author of most vast pieces in the Parliaments defence should now with others be ill intreated by their own stipendaries in the inscrutable judgement of God The appearance in Parliament is yet thin for Oligarchy gets
according to the prescript of his word which hath long since been miserably convulst and disjoynted And this a National Synod duly called and freely debating will best effectuate To the King namely my Successor you will render full right if you restore those things which by the clear letter of the Law stands expressed Lastly you will put the people in their rights and due Liberties not by listing them in the consort of the Throne and sway of the Scepter but by recovering unto the Laws their Authority and the peoples observance to the abrogating of which by the enormous power of the Sword when as by no means I could be induced I was brought hither to undergoe a Martyrdom for my people So his last breath gently dissolving into a most meek prayer the Bishop of London promps him â—hat if his most excellent Majesty pleased he would openly profess what he thought touching his Religion not that any one alive could suspect it of which himself at all times throughout the whole space of his life had given manifest testimony but for custom and the peoples satisfaction Hereupon saies the King That he deposited the testimony of his faith with that holy man meaning the Bishop or else expected defence on this behalf of all men who well knew his Life and profession Namely That I dye saith he in the Christian faith according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left me by my Father of most blessed memory Then looking about upon the Officers Having saies he a most gracious God and most just Cause that I shall by and by â—â—â—ange this corruptible Crown for an Immarcessible one I both trust and exult and that I shall depart hence into another Kingdom altogether exempt and free from all manner of disturbance Then preparing towards the Circumstances the Bishop put on his night-cap and unclothed him to his Sky-colour Satten Wastecoat He said I have a good Cause and a gracious God and gave his George Order to the Bishop bidding him remember to give it to the Prince There is but one Stage more Sir saies the Bishop this is turbulent and troublesome and but a short one but it will soon dismiss you to a way further even from Earth to Heaven there you are assured of joy and comfort I go saies the King from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven mildly praying to himself he stooped down to the Block as to a Prayer Desk and most humbly bowed down his generous neck to God to be cut off by the vizarded Executioner which was suddenly done at one blow Thus fell Charles and thus all Britain with him Tuesday 30. of Ianuary about the minute of two a clock afternoon There are those persons who have seriously observed some passasages afterwards against the Corps which they stile barbarous in relation to his blood shed thereabouts nay to the Block and to the Sand distained therewith and to his Hair the ground whereof was 〈◊〉 those things were procured by the Royal party well-affected even for a price Certainly there were very many such that coveted any thing as a Relique which evidenced his Martyrdom as they esteemed it And to this day there are divers Devoters that affirm the effects of Cure by application of those things distained with his bloud we need not go farre to finde out the truth hereof if we take the Narrative of the Woman-patient at Dedford near the City of London being thereby cured of her blindness and many others of like infirmities His Head and Trunk was instantly put into a Coffin covered with black Velvet and conveyed into the Lodgings at Whitehall There it was imbowelled by Chirurgions of their own but a Physitian privately thrusting himself into the dissection of the body relates that Nature had designed him above the most of Mortal men for a long life And all sides manifested by those that beheld the admirable temperature almost all ad pondus of his body and mind Then they bear it to St. Iames's House and Coffin it there in Lead About a fortnight after some of the Kings Friends the greatest of Nobility and Honour the Duke of Lenox Marquess of Hartford the Earl of Southampton and the Bishop of London begged the Body to bury it which they conducted to Windsor Chappel Royal and interred it there in the Vault of King Henry the eighth having only this Inscription upon the Coffin Charls King of England From the Bishop of London long time kept Prisoner they take away all the Kings Papers ransack his Coffers and clothes for Scripts and Scroles but Almighty God in his providence hath preserved a Volume of the Kings own a Posthume work of which if any man or Broughton shall impartially weigh the matter the Elegancy of the Stile the nerves of Reason the ardour of Piety even envy it self will confess he deserved the Kingdom amongst Writers and though his own is wrested from him the mercy of his Lord and Saviour hath given 〈◊〉 Crown of Erernal Glory He was a King worthy to be numbred amongst the best of Princes in al-beading ages a strength of will but of more and greater Endowments of vertue of a most strict temperature in the natural disposition of flesh and blood and by the effects of Divine grace the most exact observer of Conjugal Rites and therein for his continency much admired His personage comely of an even well timber'd tallness which assisted him to be excellent in all exercises and therein to be indefatigable for the minde or body None of the Kings no not one not of Britain only but also all as many as any where sat on Throne ever left the world with more sorrow for his his luck women miscarried men fell into melancholly some with Consternations expired men women and children then and yet unborn suffering in him and for him The Pulpit places of all Sects and Opinions lamented even the same men in vain bewailing the losse of him whom they strove heretofore who should first undoe now they extoll and compare to Iob for patience to David for piety to Solomon for prudence most worthy he was of Government if otherwise it had not been his due to Govern herein he performed that great piece to Act one man in every place with the same Tenor of Vertue and condition The same Mean in the most different fortunes without any mutation of the temperature of the mind He addulced as with Charms his Enemies to be made his adorers Reproaches he converted into Praises He in a word excelled in goodness of whom this world was not worthy and therefore the Heavens have him there He had his failings of perfection in the first years of his Reign not so well versed in the affairs of State but that he being put to it trusted too much to others
time besieged and surrendred 890. The University refuses to be visited by the Parliament 1053. and except against their Order 1054 P. PRopositions for toleration of Papists in Ireland 66. protested against ibid. Papists pursued 219. pretended plots of Papists 360 Propositions presented to the King and his Answer to them 919 First Parliament sits 6 Grants the K. 2. Subsidies 11. Laws enacted that Session 13. adjourns to Oxford ibid. Petition against Recusants 14. are answered by the King 16. dissolved 17 Second Parliament called 28. the Lords Petition 29. are answered by the King 30. the Lord Keepers speech to them 31. and the Kings 33. the Commons reply 34. dissolved 58 Third Parliament called 106. the Kings speech to them 107. they grant him Subsidies 109. are prorogued 116. sit again 127. appoint a Committee of Religion ibid. the King and they differ 130. the Commons protest 131. the Parliament dissolved 132. some Members questioned after 135 A fourth Parliament called 304. dissolved 305 Long â—â—rliament resolved on upon an 〈◊〉 day 323. sit 326. vote Monopoâ—◠〈◊〉 of the House 336. borrow moneys of the City 337. vote against ship-money 338. Bill of Poll-money and for suppressing the High Commission Court and Star-Chamber passed 427. sit on a Sunday 430. disorders by their connivance 431. their Order concerning Ireland 447. the petition for Priviledge 463. another Petition and Remonstrance 465 466 c. Petition again for the Militia 489. for the five Members 495. and to settle the Militia 496 499. their Declaration to the King of his faults 501. they denude the King of all power and Allegiance 505. put themselves in a posture of War 513. their Protestation 517. their Declaration observed 519. their Votes upon the Kings preparations for war 538. their Declaration of defence 547. their advice to their deputy Lieutenants in the Northern Counties 561. they joyn with the Scots Kirk to reform all Christendom 565. Assure Payment on publique faith out of Delinquents Estates 556. exempt certain persons from pardon 568. their Declaration to the united Provinces 569. their directions to their General 575. They petition the King by their General Essex 578. Vote address to the King 588. their Declaration to the Scots 589. their Petition to the King and Answer to it 592. their Answer and the Kings Reply 594. their Petition to the King again 595. their desires presented to the King at Oxford are answered 599. their Ordinance to seize upon the Kings Revenues 659. their Propositions for peace and other Acts 752 753. their order to dispose of the King 899 901 924 the Propositions sent to him 916. both Speakers and some Members fly to the Army 996. Forced Acts of the Parliament made Null 1002. they send Propositions to the King 1009. their Declaration concerning their Votes of Non address to the King 1033. which is answered 1034. they vote concerning the King and Government 1061. and again for a Treaty 1083 1087. their Commissioners to treat 1088. their 4. demands 1089. and Propositions 1090. they tye their Commissioners to conditions 1093. the Commons vote for the Kings Tryal 1118. but the Lords dissent 1119. and Vote against it 1121 Patrick arraigned and executed 160 St. Pauls Church begins to be repaired 176 Earl of Pembroke dies 140. His successour made Chancellour of Oxford 1055 Pembroke besieged and surrendered 1060 Sir John Pennington made Commander of the Fleet 506 A wondrous Floud and Pestilence 209 Sir Pindar's bounty to the repair of St. Pauls 176 Polish wars with the Turk 178. cause of it 179. the state of Poland 181. Overtures of mariage of the King of Poland with the Lady Elizabeth 213 The Popes Letters to encourage the Rebellion in Ireland 605 Portsmouth beset 575 Col. Poyer revolts in Wales 1056. defeats the Parliaments Forces 1058. is defeated 1059 Of Presbyterial Government 948 c. Dr. Preston dies 119 Prin censured 218 219 returns from durance 338. his charge against the King 1116 Proeme from the year 1640. to the end of the History 299. and to the Irish Rebellion 421 The nineteen Propositions sent to the King 521 National Protestation 405 Viscountess Purbeck censured and escapes 105 A Puritan who 148 Mr. Pyms speech 330 Q. QUeen Mother of France comes into England 247. dies at Colen 428 Queen of England sent into Holland with the Princess of Orange 491. she returns from thence 601. meets the King at Edge-Hill 615. Entreth Oxford 626. journeys to the West where she ships for France 702. her Letter to the King 1118. and to Gen. Fairfax ibid. R. RAgland Castle besieged 893. surrendred upon Articles 896 Ramsey vide Rey. Diet at Ratisbone 211 Laws executed upon Recusants 335 Sir Charls Rich and Sir John Ratcliff their Gallantry 98 Trial of combate betwixt Rey and Ramsey 164. the manner of it ibid. c. Cardinal Richelieu dies 607 Expedition to the Isle of Rhe 75. cause of that war 79. English Land upon it and take St. Martins Town 80. the Castle described 81. besieged by the English 82. and relieved 83. English have recruits 88. the French designs frustrated and their ships destroyed 90. the French send to surrender are answered and relieved 91. the ill condition of the English 92. they rise from the siege but renew it upon hopes of supply 93. the French Forces increase there 94. encounter with the English but fly 95. English retiring Fight and assault St. Martins Castle ibid. the French receive recruits and Marshal 98 the English retire 98. yet encounter the French are defeated 99. make aboard their ships and consult 101. hoise sail 102. the expedition censured ibid. Treaty at Rippon how conclude 320 321 Rochellers false friends to the English at the Isle of Rhe 101. Rochel besieged by the French King 105. a third Fleet sent thither 120. the Town surrendred 127 Battel of Rocroy 691 Fight at Roundway Down 625 Sir Benjamin Ruddiers first Speech in Parliament 358. His second Speech 609 Prince Ruperts Fight near Tame 623 S. MInister of the Savoy his blasphemy 638 Scarborough Castle delivered to the Parliament 823 Scots Plot against the King 200. The Leiturgie imposed upon them 221. they mutiny against it ibid. 222. three Proclamations against them 223. a fourth to keep the peace 224. which is protested against by the Lords 225. the Scots insolent Petitions 224. they design a new Government by Tables 233. renew their confession of Faith 234. their title to it examined 236. their desires 251. their submission and Protestation 253. Proceedings in their Parliament 254. their Parliament prorogued 255. against which they protest 256. and send Deputies to the King ibid. four Commissioners from Scotland 261. their Treasons summ'd up ibid. Oath administred to the Scots against their Covenanters 265. their false Paper 267. their excuse touching it 271. their several mediations for assistance 274. their Commissioners return 284 Their Petition and Demands 314. moneys voted for them 343. their demands Answered 351 352 353 354. their
Scotland iâ—â—â—terposeth The Kings Letter to the Council of Scotland The Scots answer Scots Council declare Parliament of England's Protestation Earl of Bristol's Speech for Accommodation Parliament Declaration observed 19. Propositions to the King Eik Bas. c. 11. upon the 19. Propositions sent to the King The Answer to the 19. Propositions The King caresses the County of York Preparations for War The King Provides Arms. The Kings Letters with his Commission of Array Parliaments Votes thereupon The Kings Protestation And the Lords The Kings General Declaration Proclamation against Levies as by the statutes in force Parliaments answers The faction distinguiâ—hed by Cavalâ—ers and Round-heads The Authorâ— advice Introduction to this Civil War The King caresses his people in the County of Nottingham Proclamation Earl of Essex made General of the Foot and the Earl of Bedford of the Horse Parâ—â—aments Petition Earl of Stamford Proclaimed Traytor Parliaments Declaration of defence Earl of Essex General Eaâ—l of Essex proclamed Traitour and all other his complices Eikon Basil. upon the listing and raising Arms against the King Proclamation for aid of his Subjects The Kings gâ—and Declaration Scots Army kept up Bishops voted down Parliament give advises to their Deputy Lieutenants in the Northern Counties The King proposeth the 〈◊〉 Treaty for Peace and is reâ—used Sir Iohn Lucas Proclaimmed Traytor by the Parliament and committed Scots Declaration in answer to the Parliament of England The Parliament joyn with the Scots Kirk to reform all Christendom Parliament assure payment on Publick Faith out of Delinquents Estates Lord Strange impeached of high Treason Mich. Term adjourned The Articles of Nâ—utralâ—â—y for Yorkshire inâ—ringed Mr. Fountain committed Essex his Ensigns Colours Persons excepted out of pardon by the Parliament The Netherland States are caressed on both sides Eikon Basil. c. 10. Military effects Sir Iohn Hotham begins the quarrel in the North. Portsmouth beset Parliaments directions to their General Essex Sir Iohn Byron for the King Marches to Oxford Marquess Herford seizeth Sherborn Earl of Essex sets out oâ— London The Kings Speâ—ch to his Army Parliament petition the King by their General Essex The Kings Speech to the Gentry of Denbigh and Flintshire 〈◊〉 of the Kings Army to come to London A pitifull Plot by a poor Scot. Worcester Fight Sept. 23. Col. Th. Essex garisoneth Bristol L Col. Massey Governour of Glocester Edg-hill Battel The victory disputed Exchange of prisoners The King Marches to Aino Takes Banbury and Broughton House The King Marches to Brainford The Kings Declaration after his victory at Edgehill October 25. The King Charged with favouring Papists upon their Petition Address to the King voted Parliaments Declaration to the Scots The Kings Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland Parliaments commendance of their General Effects of the address to the King Lord Brook's Speech at Guild-hall His second Speech there Petition of the Parliament The Kings Answer Brainford Fight Nov. 15 The Kings Message to the Parliament Parliaments Answer The King replies Parliament petition the King A Letter from the Hague intercepted The military affairs in the North. City of London petition the King The Kings Answer Parliaments desires presented to the King at Oxford by the Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury and Holland with eight of the Commons Answered The actions of the North. The Lord Fairfax and others proclamed Traitors A Treaty proposed by the King The Treaty ends The Queen returns from Holland The state of the County of Glocâ—ster Cirencester taken by storm of Prince Rupert Synod began to sit Affairs of Germany In Catalonia Cardinal Riâ—â—â—lieu dies His Character Lewis the just and the 13. dies His Character Anno 1643. Sir Rudyerd's Speech Treaty at Oxford L. Brook killed at Lichâ—ield Close Lichfield Close besieged by the Kings party Lichfield won by P. Rupert Reading besieged by the Parliament Cheapside Cross pulled down Hotham to betray Hull and Lincoln The Queenâ— Army The King and Queen meet at Edghill Ambassadour from France Solemn League and Coâ—enant with the Scots Eikon Bas. c. 14. Yeomans and Bourchier hanged at Bristol and why Tomkins and Chaloner hanged at London and why A new Seal voted and framed Mr. H. Martin seizeth the Regalia at Westminister P. Rupert's â—ight near Tame Mr. Io. Hâ—mbden slain His Character The Hothams of Hull seized Prisoners to the Parliament Lands-down fight against Sir W. Waller by the Cornish Iuly 5. Gen. Essex advises of peace Fight at Round-wayâ—down The Queen entereth Oxford E. of Lindsey returns from his Imprisonment by the Parliament The Earls of Bedford and Holland revolt to the King and back again to the Parliament Prisoners animated to treachery Ministers make Propositions The City must set out Sir W. Waller again General Essex musters at Hounslo-heath Exeter delivered up to P. Maurice The King caresses the County of Cornwall by Declaration Judg Berkley fined Siege of Glocester by the King A general Storm A Mine wrought Two spies return unto the Town Essex's Army in distress The Leaguer take leave to depart the fifth of September Sir Nicholas Crisp kils Sir Iames Enyon Solemn League and Covenant Dr. Featly imprisoned and why Proclamation against the Solemn League and Covenant Minister of the Savoy his Blasphemy Sir G. Chidleigh leaves the Cause The Earl of Holland returns to the Parliament Irish Forces come over to the King in England Cessation of Arms in Ireland for a year Vide the Kings Narrative of Uxbridg Treaty Eikon Bas. c. 12. Articles for the Brittish Army in Irâ—land Cirencester surprized Newbery first fight Noble men slain aâ—d hurt Several successes on either side Sir William Vavisor for the Kings retire Sir Iohn Winter for the King More Irish Forces for the King The Kings Garisons Parliaments Garisons Cavaliers seek â—or Forage with success Captain Backhouse was to betray Glocester Backhouse his Letter of design Lord Digby's Answer Glocestershire Actions Waller retreats to Monmouth Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury Teuxbury surprized P. Maurice defeats Waller Parliament Forces defeated Sir Winter's house in Dean Forrest Sir W. Waller defeated at the Devices Bristol surrendered to Prince Rupert Eccleshal Castle and Town taken Stafford taken by treachery Ordinance to seize upon the Kings Revenues Virginia not assâ—ssed with Excise Sir William Wallers Commission Parliaments Manifesto concerning Professours Organs in Paul's Church pull'd down Treason to assist the King French Ambassadour affronted The Kings Successes Arundel Castle surrendred to Waller Protestation and Oath of the Associates of Devon and Cornwall for the King University of Cambridg ordâ—red Parliament assembled at Oxford The Parliament at Oxford write to General Essex for a Peace Scots Army enters England Their Declaration Eikon Bas. p. 100. c. 13. Montrose his undertaking for the King Sir Thomas Glenham's answer to Argiles Letters Newark siege raised by Prince Rupert Military affairs under conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Battel of Rocroy for the French Battel of Burling for the Emperour Duke of Lorain
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