Scotland much revived their drooping Spirits for winter being over they fram'd an Ordinance that Sir William Brereton in Cheshire should have authority to take Subscriptions for raising more forces in that County and soon after imposed a new Excise upon Allom Coperas Monmouth-caps Hats of all sorts Hops Saffron Starch all manner of Silks and Stuffs and on several other commodities made or growing in England not formerly charged And having by their many and great grievous Taxes thus largely provided for welcoming in the Scots those their dear Brethren advanced Southwards and with the Earl of Manchester laid siege to the City of York The loss of all the North being by this means thus in great peril and Prince Rupert coming with the chief of all His Majesties forces to the relief thereof he was encountred with the greatest strength that the English Rebels then had the joynt forces under the command of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester with the whole Scottish Army commanded by Leslley which drew off from their siege of York whereupon in a bloudy Battle fought at Marston-moore about four miles from that City though at first he utterly routed the Scots and the Earl of Manchester yet following the chase too far presuming the day his own through the onely conduct of Cromwell then Lieutenant General to Manchester with a fresh body of Horse the rest of the royal Army after a valiant and â—harp dispute being much over-powered was totally shattered and vanquisht So that he was constrain'd to quit the field and march Southwards with what Horse he had left exposing York hopeless of relief to the power of the Enemy which by reason thereof was delivered up to Cromwell within few days after But of this fatal Action the King then far remote knowing nothing at present His royal Heart incessantly minding the preservation of his people from further spoil by the wars sent to the Members at Westminster desiring as formerly that they would appoint such and so many persons as they should think fit sufficiently authorized by them to attend him upon safe-conduct given and there to conclude how all things in question might be fully setled Which gracious Message though not then regarded so much were they elated with that their success at Marston-moore yet after that grand defeat of their old General the Earl of Essex in Cornwal which hapned on the first of September next following His Majesty then reminding them of that his Message from Evesham they did vouchsafe within two months following to send him certain propositions but such as did still apparently manifest their confidence to carry on the work by power through the ayd of the Scots with whom they had entred into so firm a combination for assistance by their solemn League and Covenant For by these propositions amongst others they had the boldness to make these following Demands viz. that the King should swear to sign that Instrument called the solemn League and Covenant adding according to the example of His Royal Father of happy memory for so they had the face to say though Mr. Nye had exprest that it was such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances was never in any age before And not onely so but that an Act of Parliament might be passed for to injoyne the taking of it by all His Majesties Subjects within His three Kingdomes Next that a Bill should be passed for the utter abolishing of Episcopacy without which Goverment it is well known that no National Church ever was since the Apostles times And that their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of their Assembly of Divines should be confirm'd by Act of Parliament Also that an Act should be passed for confirming their Treaty for bringing in the Scots-Army into England and for establishing that their disloyal Declaration made by themselves and the Scots bearing date 30. Ian. 1643. whereby Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews Iames Earl of Derby William Marquess of Newcastle Iohn Earl of Bristol with divers other of his Nobility the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely then their prisoners with a multitude of other worthy persons both of this Kingdome and of Scotland were excepted as to life and their estates doom'd to pay publick Debts Likewise that a great number more whose names are there exprest together with all those Loyal Members of Parliament which attended his Majesty at Oxford should be removed from His Majesties Councils and never to come within the Verge of the Court but by their permission Then that all Judges Serjeants Councellors Attorneys Doctors Advocates and Proctors in the Law-common or Civil who had adhered to the King should be made uncapable of any practice publick or private and all Clergy-men whatsoever who had also adhered to the King to be incapable of any preferment or imployment in the Church or Common-wealth Moreover that the Forces by Sea and Land for the Kingdomes of England and Scotland should be setled by Act of Parliament in Commissioners nominated by both their Houses of Parliament and that the education and marriage of the King's children as also the making Peace or War with any forreign Princes should be with the advice and consent or Parliament Furthermore that by Act of Parliament the Deputy or chief Governour of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by Commissioners to continue during the pleasure of both Houses And that the Lord Chancellour Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Chancellour of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Judges of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer for the Kingdomes of England and Ireland should be nominated by both Houses of Parliament to continue quamdiu se benè gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the before-mention'd Commissioners The like for the Kingdome of Scotland adding the Justice-general and in such manner as the Estates in Parliament there should think fit Divers other Propositions also they then sent no less unreasonable than these which for brevities sake I omit So that in short the summe of all was no less than that His Majesty should condescend to the utter destruction and overthrow of the Religion by Law established in the Church of England which he had sworn to maintain and whereunto all the reverend Clergy of the Realm had likewise subscribed sacrifice the Lives and Estates of divers of his most faithful subjects to the avarice and ambition of these men subject all those loyal persons learned in the Laws Common and Civil to their malice Give up the power of the Sword totally into the hands of his greatest Enemies therewith not onely to oppress his good subjects at home but according to their own pleasure to molest and annoy his Friends and Allies abroad and prostitute the Education of his dear
it would be lawful to that Kingdome to assist him for the recovery of the Government he not granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and not giving a satisfactory answer to the remanent Propositions Their Answer The Quaere presupposeth the King's coming into this Kingdome which case for the reasons expressed in our late warning we humbly conceive should not be put into the Question and therefore desire your Lordships to go about all means for the present preventing of it as a matter of most dangerous consequence to Religion this Kirk and Kingdome and to the King himself and his posterity But if the Question be stated simply without supposing such a case in these termes If the King be excluded from Government in England for not granting the propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and for not giving a satisfactory Answer to the remanent propositions whether in that case it be lawfull for this Kingdome to assist him for the Recovery of the Government Or if it be not lawfull being put to it we cannot but answere in regard of the Engagement of this Kingdome by Covenant and Treaty Negative 1. Resolv'd upon the Question That the Kingdome of Scotland shall be governed as it hath been these five years last past all means being used that the King may take the Covenant and pass the Propositions 2. Resolv'd that the taking of the Scottish Covenant and passing some of the Propositions doth not give warrant to assist him against England 3. Resolv'd that upon bare taking the National Covenant we may not receive him 4. Resolv'd that the Clause in the Covenant for defence of the King's Person is to be understood in defence and safety of the Kingdomes 5. Resolv'd that the King shall not execute any power in the Kingdome of Scotland untill such time as he hath granted the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and given satisfactory answer to both Kingdomes in the rest of the Propositions presented to him by both Kingdomes at Newcastle 6. Resolv'd that if His Majestie refuse to pass the Propositions he shall be disposed of according to the Covenant and Treaty 7. Resolv'd that the union be friendly kept between the Kingdomes according to the Covenant and Treaty By what hath last been instanc'd t is easy enough to be discern'd that bargain so long in driving on was by this time concluded in reference to the person of the King I mean the certain price for which the Scots did sell him which prompted them so eagerly and frequently to press his taking their Covenant and consent to those destructive Propositions which they well knew he could never do without apparent hazard to his Soul and that he had manifestly confuted the Arguments of Mr. Alexander Henderson whom they brought to convince him therein I shall therefore need to say no more of that matter then to set down the Quaeres which His Majestie delivered to the Commissioners of Scotland upon their last importuning him thereto when they threatned to deliver him up to the Parliament of England as they then called those Members at Westminster in case of his refusal It is a receiv'd opinion by many that Engagements Acts or Promises of a restrained person are neither valid nor obligatory How true or false this is I will not now dispute but I am sure if I be not free I am not fit to answer any of your Propositions wherefore you should first resolve me in what state I stand as in relation to freedome before I can give you any other Answer The Reason of this my Question the Governour can best resolve you But if you object the loss of time and urgency of it certainly in one respect it presses none so much as my self which makes me also think it necessary that I be not to seek what to do when this Garrison shall be surrendred up to demand of you in case I go into Scotland if I shall be there with Honour Freedome and Safety or How being ready to give you a farther and more particular Answer so soon as you shall have resolv'd these two Quaeres Whereunto they give this insignificant Answer 1. To the first in what state you stand as in relation to Freedome the Parliaments of both Kingdomes have given such orders and directions as they have thought fittest for the safety of your Majesty and the Kingdomes to the General and Governour 2. To your second Quaere of your going into Scotland we shall humbly desire that we may not be put to give an Answer but if your Majesty shall either deny or delay your assent to the Propositions we are in that case to represent to your Majesty the resolutions of the Parliament of England ¶ Having now done with their attempts upon His Majesty in reference to the Covenant and Propositions I come to their farther Progress for the establishing of Presbytery Wherein I am to look back a little About the latter end of August a Bill for Ordination of Ministers being the third time read in the House of Commons at Westminster and thence transmitted to the Lords not long after they received a Petition from the County of Lancaster subscribed by twelve thousand hands for setling of the Classes in those parts with the names of such as they had made choyse of and presented to the House for ordering thereof Nor were the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster less active who having fram'd a new Confession of Faith were hard at work in adding quotations of Scripture in the Margent of their Copies for justification thereof And that this blessed Presbytereal Government might be the more secure from danger the Houses at Westminster passed an Ordinance not onely for abolishing the name title and dignity of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. but nominated Trustees in whom their Lands should be setled Likewise for the fitter moulding this new Confession of Faith Copies thereof purposely printed were delivered to each Member of both Houses at Westminster to the end they might consider of the same and advise the better therein But notwithstanding all this holy Reformation there were some who had not onely the Conscience to adhere unto the Liturgy establisht by Law in the Church of England in their publick service of God but the Courage to prosecute those by Indictment which neglected the reading thereof in their Parish-Churches In so much as upon notice of this high presumption from Buckinghamshire an Ordinance was forthwith voted to be brought in for repealing the Statute which enjoyn'd it At which time the House also ordered that all Malignant Ministers for so were the Orthodox called should be disabled from Preaching and an Ordinance to be brought in for that purpose And though by an Order of the House of Commons Mr. Sydrach Sympson one of their Assembly of Divines and an eminent stickler for the Cause was for some opinions and expressions savouring of Independencie to have been
preamble whereof beginneth thus for asmuch as the Prosperity and Safety of this Nation and the Dommions thereunto belonging very much dependeth under God upon the security and preservation of the person of his Highness c. In which Act several offences were adjudged Treason and certain Commissioners for England and Wales therein nominated for the Tryal of Offenders against the said Act. Which foundation being so laid it was by his Friends and Favourers then thought high time to discover what they would be at and accordingly moved that whereas this Nation had for thirteen hundred years at the least been governed by Kings and though some of them had offended the people yet that Title had never been abolished Also whereas the Government by the said Title was interwoven with the Laws and accommodated to the dispositions of the people that they should humbly Petition and Advise his Highness to take upon him the same Title Which motion took such effect that there was an Instrument soon drawn up by them called the Humble Petition and Advice whereby they besought his Highness so to do Whereunto that he might not seem to have any knowledg of what they were about much less any desire thereof but be still more and more sought to and importuned therein he answered with all shew of modesty that indeed those Arguments which they had used to him were persuasive but not compulsive and that the Title of Protector might be well accommodated to the Laws To which they replyed that the Title ought to be such as was suitable to the Laws and the Laws not be made suitable to the Title urging the Statutes of 9. Edw. IV. and 3. Henr. VII whereby it was provided that no one should suffer for bearing Arms on the behalf of him that was de facto King though he had no just right to the Crown Which Arguments were made use of to him meerly for shew the better to disguise his ambitious aim as though without such strong motives he could not have been won thereto But the plain truth is that after this business came thus in question the Sectaries of all sorts nay a great part of the Souldiery shewed a vehement dislike thereof being privately instigated by Lambert and some other of the Principal Officers who did themselves upon Cromwels death expect to have succeeded him in the Place of Protector it being Elective as is manifest from the Instrument of Government whereby that Tyrant was at first so Constituted whereas had he been advanced to the Title of King the case might have been otherwise So that this crafty Fox discerning no small peril to himself by such divisions as might thereby arise especially in the Army wherein lay his chief strength and support thought it the safest way to decline it and to stick still to that of Protector yet to have the Government setled in a kind of Monarchic manner And so in imitation of that which had formerly been Regal to have a House of Peers But against that also there were great and high oppositions so that though it was with much ado agreed that there should be another House yet it would not be allowed the Title of an House of Peers Whereupon the result was that an Act Intituled The Humble Petition and Advice should pass whereby they ordained what Stile the chief Magistrate should have idest Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging Likewise that Parliaments consisting of two Houses should be called once in three years with qualifications of such as should serve therein And that the number of such as should sit in the other House should be nominated by the Lord Protector and approved by the House of Commons Moreover that he should have power to nominate his Successor And that a Confession of Faith should be agreed on by his Highness and the Parliament according to the Rule and Warrant of the Scriptures Which Act being presented to him accordingly was assented to and passed But that Act being in some sort deficient about a month following they passed another relating thereto and called The Explanatory Petition and Advice Wherein inter alia is this Clause viz. Whereas in the Fourth Article Publick Ministers or Publick Preachers of the Gospel are disabled to the Elected to serve in Parliament it is hereby explained and declared to such Ministers and Preachers only as have maintenance for Preaching or are Pastors or Teachers of Congregations In which Act is also contained the Oaths of the Lord Protector and of his Privy-Council as also the Oaths of the Members of that Parliament Soon after which he was again in WestMinster-Hall standing under a Rich State solemnly invested into his Old Title of Lord Protector and into the Government thus new modelled Where in the presence of the Members of that Parliament Sir Thomas Widdrington their Speaker delivered unto him in the name of them all and as Representatives of all the people in the three Kingdoms a Purple Robe lyned with Ermine as also a Bible Sword and Scepter descanting upon each of them as significant in some respect All which being performed the Instrument of that new Modelled Government called The Humble Petition and Advice was publickly read Whereunto assenting he was then and there Proclaimed Protector of England Scotland and Ireland with sound of 〈◊〉 and afterwards in the City of London So likewise at Dublin in Ireland and Edenburgh in Scotland Which new devised Government so much resembling Monarchy though the Title did not sute thereto did so 〈◊〉 please the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men that they 〈◊〉 spired his ruin by a sudden Insurrection but their 〈◊〉 being timely discerned came at length to nothing 〈◊〉 reupon for prevention of farther mischief he committed to Prison several persons of no small note whose power with the Souldiery might otherwise have much endangered his safety Viz. Lawson one of his Admirals at Sea Harrison Rich Danvers and some other Colonels Nay Lambert himself being aware that his hopes of succeeding him were then by that new framed Government frustrated began to fall off from him and to incline to the Fanaticks Which so awakened the Protector that he took from him his Commission of Lieutenant General and gave it to Fleetwood who by the Marriage of his Daughter stood more nearly typed to his Interest And that he might the better allure those of the Army and some other which were no great friends to him to conform the more pliantly to this his new setled Dominion he tickled them with the specious Title of Lords by calling them to fit in the other House obliging also many other desperate and mean persons which were Officers of the Army with the like shadows of Honour The names of which persons so called were as followeth viz. Richard Cromwel his eldest Son Henry Cromwel his other Son then Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fienes
Narwocl Which unexpected Alarm did not a little disturb them Yet on they must or be overwhelmed with Confusion They therefore soon ordered that their Forces in the North together with some other Regiments from the Southern-parts of this Realm should forthwith march to the Borders of Scotland and in the mean time sent Colonel Cobbet to Treat with General Monke expecting that he by fair words might cajole him But Monke then discerning an hopeful way open to do that which his heart had long desired to accomplish secured Cobbert from stirring abroad being well aware that by taking his Liberty he might either have endangered the corrupting of his men or carry back Intelligence of their whole strength and posture and thereupon modeled his Army sutable to his own mind publickly declaring That he would assert the Authority of Parliament against all violence whatsoever Which News arriving with the Committee of Safety presuming that they might please Monke with the Establishing of a free State though they disowned the Parliament for whom he had declared they culled out seven of their ablest contrivers to prepare a Form of Government to be set up throughout all the three Kingdoms in the Nature of a Common-Wealth or Free-State and sent away two Colonels Whalley and Goffe with Carryl and Barker two of their Assembly-men to Treat with him thereon for avoiding farther difference the Officers of the Army at London seconding the same with Letters into Scotland urging most earnestly a necessity of their Brotherly union Monke therefore foreseeing that delays would destroy them their Forces not being able to subsist long without money ordered Colonel Talbot and Dr. Clarges who had been also sent from England to him to advertise General Fleetwood that himself and his Officers had nominated Colonel Wilkes Lieutenant Colonel Clobury and Major Knight to repair speedily to London and to Treat with the like number of Officers there in order to the concluding of a firm and stedfast aimity betwixt them and for the furtherance thereof sent Letters from himself to that purpose with promise that his Forces should not advance any farther But the Committee of Safety not knowing how to trust him issued out sundry Commissions for setling the Militia which upon fit occasion was to be ready in a moment Whereof General Monke being soon advertised and that Lambert was on his march Northwards with thirteen thousand stout men he dispatcheth away those his three Messengers to Treat for a speedy Peace Which Messengers being accordingly come to London the Treaty soon began and ere long concluded in these ensuing Articles viz. 1. That the pretended Title of Charles Stuart or any other claiming from that Family should be utterly renounced 2. That the Government of these Nations should be by a Free-State or Common-Wealth and not by a single Person King or House of Lords 3. Thirdly That a Godly and Learned Ministry should be maintained and encouraged 4. That the Universities should be Reformed and Countenanced so as that they might become Nurseries of Piety and Learning 5. That the Officers and Souldiers and other persons on either side should be indempnified for what was past touching their late differences and all unkindness betwixt them buried in perpetual oblivion 6. That the Officers who were made Prisoners in Scotland should be forthwith set at liberty 7. And that the Armies should be presently disposed of into Quarters as also a Committee of nineteen Constituted whereof nine to make a Quorum which should consider of qualifications for succeeding Parliaments Which Articles so by them agreed on being returned to General Monke who had reserved to himself the power of ratifying whatever was to be Treated on and that the same should not be of force till confirmed under his Seal he forthwith commanded the coming back of the Commissioners and to shew his dislike of what they had done clapt up Colonel Wilkes into Custody for exceeding his bounds and immediately declaring the Treaty to be void advanc'd towards England having made these following Proposals to the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland First That they would during his absence which would not be long preserve and secure the Peace of that Nation Secondly That they would supply him with some men for his undertaking which he engaged upon his honour should be to their satisfaction and if any troubles should arise to assist him in the suppressing thereof Thirdly That they would advance and raise what mony they could before-hand Unto which propositions the Earl of Gleucarne Chair-man of the Assembly returned these modest answers First That they could not engage to preserve the Peace of the Country in his absence wanting Arms and so in no condition to do it but they should with all faithfulness notwithstanding endeavour it To the second that they were uncapable to answer his desires for the râ—â—ons aforesaid neither did they think it prudent for them to engage in a war which should it prove unsuccesful on their part would be a ruin to them or if succesful they did not understand that it would be advantagious in any measure Thirdly That they were content to levy monies and to advance a years Tax before-hand With which answer from that Earl General Monke being well satisfied he gave them power forthwith to Arm themselves and until all things were in better readiness delaying his march Southwards made some seeming overtures to the Committee of Safety for a second Treaty Whereunto the Committee replyed That they had already transmitted part of a form of Government to be Establisht in these Nations unto a certain Committee of the Officers in the Army by them to be considered Which Officers having thereupon met had gone through the most of it with great satisfaction And that they were very desirous to have such a Government as might best preserve the Liherties of the people and secure the Cause wherein they had contended as well against Charles Stuart as any other that might disturb the Publick Peace hoping in time to make it appear that their Enemies were liars in rendering them to the people to be meerly Self-Seekers And concluding said they hoped that the Faith of Gods People would hold out and not make hast and that good men would help them in their Prayers that God the Lord would bring forth Righteousness and Truth and discover and bring to nought the secret contrivances of all their Adversaries About this time Petitions being in hand in sundry parts of the Nation all tending to the desire of a New and Free Parliament gave such high offence unto the Committee of Safety that they issued out a solemn Proclamation against them calling them dangerous Papers and prohibiting their Subscriptions also requiring if offered to suppress them causing likewise the endeavourers of such Subscriptions to be apprehended as disturbers and Enemies to Peace Which distastful restraint caused the peoples greater earnestness especially the Londoners whereupon Colonel Hewson was sent
the People there 46. his Declaration 284. is beheaded 388. Haselring Sir Arthur his Motion in Parliament 465. Hampden Collonel slain 186. Hewson kills some of the Londoners 482. Conference at Hampton-Court 14. Hewit Dr. John beheaded 456. Mr. Hookers Books corrupted by the Presbyterians 38. Hotham Sir John denies the King entrance into Hull 91. He and his Son beheaded 99. Hypocrisie its Fruits 1. I. JAmes King enters into a War for the recovery of the Palatinate 20. his Death 24. Jesuites Tenets 16. Independency its Original 227. Their Tenets 281. 409. Instrument of Government read to Cromwel at his inauguration 414. K. KIneton Battel 108 109. Kentish Men petition the Parliament in behalf of the King 282. L. LAmbert routed at Daventry 487. Lambeth-house beset 62. Laud Arch-bishop beheaded 194. Holy League and Covenant 119. 121. Solemn League and covenant 128. Schismatical Lecturers planted in London and Corporate Towns 36. Buying in Impropriate Tyths for their support ibid. The absurdity and ill effects of their Doctrine 38. 95. 392. 469. 565. Leicester's Earl may to get the Bishops Lands 14. made Deputy of Ireland 71. Representation of the Ministers of Leicester-shire 471. A Loan required by King Charles I. 31. Londoners their forwardness to promote the Rebellion 99. 119. 123. 234. 286. 584. are dejected upon the approach of Fairfax 's Army 252. Iustice Long committed to the Tower 79. Certain seditious Expressions in Mr. Love 's Sermon at Uxbridge 576. M. BAttel at Marston-Moor 189. Five Members of Parliament demanded by the King 81. General Monk advances towards England 481. his Speech to the Rump Parliament 485. voted Lord General 487. his Descent and variable Fortune 488 Secluded Members re-admitted 487. N. NAmes of the secluded Members 363. of those that subscribed a Protestation against a Treaty with the King at the Isle of Wight 365. of the Persons present at the Treaty 289. of the High Court of Iustice for Trial of the King 367. of the Members who assented not to the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford 583. of Cromwels Council of State 406. of his House of Lords 455. of the Rumpers 467. of the secluded Members ibid. of the Rumper's Council of State 468. of the Committee of Safety 477. Navesby Fight 200. Newbery first Battle 187. second Battle 197. O. OAth for adjuring the King 471. taken by Members of Parliament 485. Order for raising an Army by the Parliament 98. Ordinance for the Militia 89. Ordinance for calling an Assembly of Divines 121. The Self-denying Ordinance 193. 197. Ordinance for Sale of Bishops Lands 225. Ordinance for Trial of the King 366. P. FIrst Parliament of King Charles I. 2◠dissolved 27. Second Parliament called ibid. dissolved 31. Third Parliament called 34. dissolved 35. The short Parliament called and dissolved 61. Long Parliament began 66. dissolved 487. Bill for perpetuating the Parliament 70. Their Declaration concerning the Five Members 83. Their insolent Propositions to the King after their Victory at Marston-Moore 191. Invite the Scots to their assistance 112. Their Oppressions of the People 112. 114. 124. 127. 129. 130. 131. 391. 474. House of Peers abolished 385. 389. Peters Hugh his Revelation 365. Petition of the County of Norfolk 386. of Grievances 66. for putting the Kingdom into a posture of Defence 85. for putting the Militia into the Hands of the Parliament 86. of the poor Tradesmen in London 87. Petitions for a free Parliament suppressed 482. Popish Priest slain on the Parliament side at Edge-hill Fight 564. Presbyterian Tenets 17. 400. Arts and Devices to raise Rebellion 19. Their actings against the Protestant Religion 554. against the Laws of the Land and Liberty of the Subject 577. Their Doctrine and Practise 565. Their violating the Priviledges of Parliament 582. Their averseness to Peace 588. Their practise for reducing the King to necessities 20. 238. Their Protestations and Declarations 206. Presbytery triumphant 193. 203. Plots and Conspiracies pretended by them 69. 76. 81. 90. 121. 129. Whether the Presbyterian or Independant were the chief Actors in the Murder of the King 375. Proposals of the Parliament for bringing in Money and Plate 95 96. Propositions sent to the King at New-Castle 217. Prides Purge 363. Privy Seals 27. 32. Puckering Speaker of the Commons his Speech against the Puritans 13. Puritans their Principles 10. and Discipline 11. petition King James against the Liturgy of the Church of England 14. R. THe Recognition subscribed 429. The Grand Remonstrance 71. presented to the King 78. Captain Rolfe employed by the Parliament to poison the King 285. Rumper's Declaration 466. are excluded by Lambert 477. are re-admitted 483. S. SAlmatius his Opinion touching the Murder of King Charles 377. Scots put themselves in Arms. 54. raise more Forces 58. Their first Invasion 62. Their second Invasion 189. 132. Their third Invasion 380. Their Letter to the Major c. of the City of London 214. Their Answer to the English Commissioners about delivering up the King 230. Their Letter and Declaration to the two Houses of Parliament 258. 271. Great Seal of England altered 370. Service Book sent into Scotland 42. 58. Sheriffs of London refuse to publish His Majesties Proclamation 72. Ship-money required 32. Inland Parts charged therewith 42. Sir Henry Slingsby beheaded 456. Spencer Earl of Northampton slain 118. Earl of Strafford impeached of Treason 67. his Trial and Death 68. Star-Chamber Court suppressed 70. Earl of Sunderland slain 187. T. TReaty in the Isle of Wight 689. Treaty at Rippon 65. removed to Westminster 66. Tumults at Edenburgh by reason of the Service-Book 44. in St. Pauls Cathedral 65. at Westminster 78 79 82. justified by the Parliament 90. V. VAne Sir Henry being sent into Scotland incites them to Rebellion 60. his sinister dealing with the King 61. Virgin of Hereford-shire her Revelation 367. Uxbridge Treaty 194. 291. 737. Votes of no more Addresses to the King 275. W. WAlsingham a favourer of the Sectaries 9. Walton upon Thames the Sermon of a Soldier there 390. Weever an Independent his Motion in the House of Commons 283. Winchester Cathedral defaced Worchester Cathedral defaced 558. Y. YOrk Grand Council of the Peers there 64 A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS Printed at the Theater in Oxford With several others And sold in London by Moses Pitt at the Angel against the Great North-door of St. Pauls-Church 1681. IN FOLIO BIble for Churches with Chronology and an Index The English Atlas Vol 1st containing the description of the North Pole as also Muscovy Poland Sweden and Denmark The second Vol. of the Atlas containing Germany The third Vol. containing the 17 Provinces both in the Press 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 five Pandectae Canonum S. S. Apostolorum Conciliorum ab Ecclesiâ Graecâ receptorum nec non canonicarum S. S. Patrum Epistolarum una cum Scholiis antiquorum singulis annexis Scriptis aliis huc spectantibus quorum plurima è Bibliothecae Bodleianae aliarumque MSS. codicibus nunc primum edita
designs The Marquess therefore shewing a dislike to those their sinister dealings departed from the Assembly at Glasgow Whereupon the Covenanters protested against all that he had said and done there as his Majesties Commissioner And at the same instant the Lord Areskyn and three other mean persons came and beg'd to be admitted into their blessed Covenant Which offer though of purpose contrived was made so good use of by the Moderator that he desired it might be admired as God's approbation and Sealing of their proceedings And it being put to the question whether they should adhere to their Protestation and continue the Assembly notwithstanding the King's Commissioners departure it was voted by most affirmatively Secondly whether the Assembly though dissolv'd by his Majesties Commissioner was competent judge against the Bishops and whether they would go on in their Tryal it passed also affirmatively nemine contradicente And now no sooner was the Marquess thus departed having caused his Majesties Proclamation to be publish'd by Heraulds at the Market-Cross in Glasgow for dissolving the Assembly but that Mr. Archibald Iohnston the then Clerk to the Assembly made a scandalous Protestation against it After which all things were transacted by some few pack'd Committees of the most fierce Covenanters which sate till the thirtieth of December following Which Committees amongst other of their Acts declared six general Assemblies to be Null and void whereof two were then in force by several Acts of Parliament and divers Acts of the other four confirm'd by Parliament They condemned likewise all the Arminian Tenets as they call'd them without defining what those Tenets were They also deprived all the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of that Realm excommunicating many of them without examining any one witness to prove no nor offering to produce any to testify ought against them And next declared Episcopal Government to be inconsistent with the Laws of that Church and Kingdom abolishing it for ever though it then stood confirm'd by many Acts both of Parliament and Assemblies They also depriv'd divers Ministers for Arminianisme without ever questioning them for what Tenets or opinions they held Moreover towards the end of their Assembly they divided themselves into several Committees which after their rising should see all their Acts put in execution And at the conclusion of all the Moderator gave God thanks for their good success congratulating the Nobility for their great pains giving thanks also to the Earl of Argyle for his Presence and Council Which Earl in a long Speech then excused his late declaring himself yet protesting that he was always set that way though he delay'd to profess it so long as he found his close carriage might advantage their Cause but now he must openly adjoyn himself to their Society or prove a Knave as he said Hereupon the Marquess his Majesties Commissioner resolving to ask the King's leave to return for England came first to Edenborough where he found strong Guards put upon the Castle and the people much abused by false Reports viz. that his Majesty had made good nothing at all which was contained in his Declaration at Edenborough upon the two and twentieth of September last whereupon he caused a Proclamation to be published in his Majesties name at the Market-cross there containing the sum of his whole proceedings at Glasgow Which being encountered with a blustering and undutiful Protestation in the name of the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland and published at the same time and place he return'd into England Then the Faction proceeded to levy Soldiers impose Taxes and requiring obedience to their Acts menac'd the Refusers raised divers Fortifications in that Kingdom block'd up his Majesties Castles and Forts and took the Castle of Edenborough procuring their Preachers seditiously to teach the People that there was a Necessity of bearing Arms against his Majesty under pain of Perjury and Damnation and caused such an infamous Ballad to be sung up and down against the Bishops as that in hatred of them the people called a Dog with black and white spots a Bishop as he went in the Streets Moreover they procured divers Libels to be scattered in England for justification of their rebellious courses and defamation of Ecclesiastical Government inciting his Majesties Subjects in this Realm to attemt the like Rebellion here refusing to admit such to the Communion who had not subscribed their Covenant and preaching that the Non-subscribers were Atheists Nay one of them in his Sermon exhorted the people never to give over till they had the King in their power and then he should see what good Subjects they were Others preach'd that the Service-Book was fram'd at fome These and many other groundless scandals and falshoods to amuse the People they published in their Pulpits which they call'd the Chairs of truth And to hasten on the Peoples Insurrection endeavoured to perswade them that his Majesty intended an Invasion of that Kingdom and to make it a Province as also to despoil them of their Laws and Liberties and to give them new Laws as if they were a conquer'd Nation And having thus prepared the People and fitted themselves with all Provisions for war they put themselves in Armes and march'd to the Frontiers of England pretending they came as Petitioners The King therefore discerning the danger raised a gallant Army whereof he made Thomas Earl of Arundel his General and on the seven and twentieth of March set forwards towards Scotland having with him the flower of his English-Nobility and Gentry whose cheerfulness then to serve him was very great Yet was the Earl of Essex at that time his Lieutenant-General and the Earl of Holland General of the Horse so much was his Majesty then mistaken in their affections to him who did afterwards sufficiently discover themselves And advancing with his Army encamp'd four miles West from Barwick What correspondence was then held betwixt the Scots and divers of the great ones then in his Majesties Camp considering also who were of his Bed-chamber may easily be guest by the consequences Certain it is that divers of them grew cool in the business so that after the Scots had by a formal Petition expressed that they falling down at his Majesties feet did most humbly supplicate him to appoint some of the Kingdom of England to hear by some of them their humble desires his Majesty assented thereunto and after several meetings thereupon and their demands presented in writing professed that it was their greif that his Majesty had been provoked to wrath against them his most humble and loving Subjects and that it should be their delight upon his gracious assurance of the preservation of their Religion and Laws to give example to all others of all civil and temporal obedience which could be required of loyal Subjects To which his Majesty answered that if their desires were only the enjoying of their Religion and Liberties according to
to all Kings from their Subjects and from them to their dread Soveraign after a more special manner but meerly to preserve their Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom and that whatsoever course they should take it should be no imputation to them being constrain'd thereto for best securing that Kirk and Kingdom from the Extremity of confusion and misery taking God and man to witness that they would be free of all outrages and Insolencies that should be committed in the mean time And then they began again to levy and raise Forces in several parts of the Realm in great numbers excercised train'd and assign'd them a Rendezvouz as also a day to be in readiness to march making Provisions of Artillery Amunition and Armes in great quantities from forreign parts laying Taxes and Impositions of ten marks in every hundred upon all the Subjects of that Kingdom according to their several Revenues for support of their Rebellion exacting the same with the greatest rigour that could be imagined spreading sundry Papers and Pamphlets scandalous to the King's proceedings block'd up the Castle of Edenborough and fortified divers places imprisoned the Earl of Southeske one of his Majesties Privy-Council there and sundry others of quality for not adhering to them in their Rebellious courses endeavouring to settle Intelligencers in parts beyond-Sea and practising to let in forreign power inclining rather to prostitute themselves to a forreign Government and different in Religion than yield obedience and conformity to his Majesty their natural Soveraign as appears by their Addresses and Letter to the French King By what hath been said it appearing that the first glimpse of this grand and destructive Rebellion shew'd it self at Edenborough upon the three and twentieth of Iuly an 1637 the scum of the people then taking fire at thâ— reading of that Service-book which was sent over by his late Majesty of blessed memory as a proper Liturgy for the Church of Scotland and most nearly suting with this of England Forasmuch therefore as from those Sparks the ensuing flames arose which from and after that time continued burning for the space of many years until they had overspread and much wasted the cheif parts of this great Isle to make the Bishops of both Kingdoms odious there are not a few who either out of malice to their sacred function or ignorance as to matter of fact have imputed the original of all this mischeif unto them as the first Authors or procurers of that Book which they would have believed to be the first rise thereof To the end therefore that those reverend persons soon after ruin'd and since dead may be fully vindicated from being primarily instrumental therein though had they so been no person of upright judgment could justly have blamed them from endeavouring an uniformity in the service of God in both Kingdoms I shall desire my Reader to cast his eye upon that faithful Narrative written by the command of our late Soveraign King Charles the first and corrected throughout with his own hand as many yet living can testify whereby he will clearly discern that the then Lords of the Privy-Council of Scotland were the men who advised the King to commend a Service-Book to be received and used in all the Churches of that Realm of which there was no little want every man being left to his own giddy fancy Now whether this advice of those Lords was not with purpose to trepan his Majesty to do that which as they resolv'd to order the business should occasion a tumultuous Insurrection by the rabble whence their grand Design of raising a general flame of war might ensue let the Reader judge when he looks back upon their discontents upon his Majesties Revocation of such things as had been passed away in prejudice of that Crown especially by some of his Progenitors in their minorities though not without advice of those who were then his Privy-Councellors in that Realm as hath been already observed And withall consider what combinations were driven on divers years before betwixt the most considerable persons of the Puritan-party in England and the Grand-Contrivers there Mr. Knightley's house in Northampton-shire being the chief place where that restless faction had their frequent meetings whence a Gentleman of quality was sent into Scotland afterwards a great Parliament-man here who residing there for some time before the troubles broke out represented to those which had the chief Interest there that the business of the Ship-money and Habeas Corpus with divers other things whereof there was much noise made afterwards had so irritated the greatest part of the English Nation that if they made sure work at home they needed not to fear any thing from England Moreover how earnestly and eagerly after that Tumult at Edenborough was so raised all sorts of people took advantage thereof the Kirkmen laying about them in their Pulpits so that the Citizens Gentry and Nobles speedily put themselves in Armes entring into a rebellious Confederacy called the Covenant And lastly that when his Majesty most gratiously offered to recall the Service-Book which was the great business at which they seem'd to take offence they were no whit lenified It will be visible enough to any person of judgment who doth not wilfully shut his Eyes that the hatching of this Rebellion was of a much elder date than that Service-Book But I now return to England CHAP. VI. HIs Majesty thus seeing his danger from Scotland and hoping of help from his English Subjects resolv'd of calling a Parliament here But no sooner were Writs out for that purpose than that the Schismatical Party used all possible endeavour to strengthen their side by choosing of their own faction for Knights and Burgesses And to accomplish the same spared for no pains in packing of Voices and making parties wherein their Seditious Pulpit-men bestir'd themselves to purpose such being then their fury that those meetings for Elections appeared more like riotous tumults than orderly conventions nevertheless the Nation was not then so generally tainted but that many good men were chosen Which Parliament began at Westminster upon the thirteenth day of April wherein his Majesty declared to both Houses the indignities receiv'd from his Scotish Subjects and to suppress their Rebellion proposed a Supply of twelve Subsidies in lieu whereof he was content to forbear Ship-money than which nothing seem'd so grievous Had not that Parliament been broke by the subtile artifices of the Grand-Contrivers in the immediate Rebellion no doubt but all those miseries which were thereby soon after brought upon this Realm might have been easily prevented and that the breach thereof was wrought by them is plain enough For Sir Henry Vane Senior a member of the House of Commons at that time and one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State having by the King's appointment moved for a Supply of twelve Subsidies yet with power to stoop to eight when he saw an inclination
being too strong But no sooner was the King gone than that the turbulent Spirits in the House of Commons set to work in framing a bitter Remonstrance of the general Grievances of the Kingdom to make his Majesties Government seem odious to his Subjects which was ordered to be brought into the House Whereupon grew great debates and disputes which lasted from three of the clock afternoon the whole night following and till ten of the Clock on the morrow But at length many who disliked and opposed it partly by reason of their age of infirmity of Body being wearied out and departing others through sloth or timorousness leaving the House it was voted by some few voices divers of the factious party being fetcht out of their Beds to assist This Remonstrance being a compendium of all the mistakes and misfortunes that had hapned since the beginning of his Majesties reign to that hour objected to him the Actions of some and the Thoughts of others reproacht him with such things of which he never knew and reviled him to his people complained also of the House of Peers and ascribed all the Acts of Grace already passed in that Parliament to their own wisdom in procuring with intimation of their despair in setling the distractions of the Kingdom by reason of the power of a malignant-party and want of concurrence by the House of Peers wherein so many Bishops and malignant Lords then sat This being done their next work was to get the whole command of the Militia which being had nothing afterwards could be difficult to them For the better effecting thereof they therefore had again recourse to those shadows of Conspiracies and Plots which had stood them in good stead before The first of them being a new pretended Treason by the Earl of Craford and others against the Marquess of Hamilton then in Scotland and other Peers of that Realm this being signified by Letters from their Committee in Scotland dated 14 Oct. Whereupon that the like here might be prevented orders were directed to the Sheriffs of London Middlesex and Surrey for setling strong Guards of armed-men in places of moment Likewise the whole Trayned-Band of Westminster was brought into the Palace-Yard on the morrow and there attended all that day giving this reason for that order viz. Because the mischeivous designs and conspiracies lately discovered in Scotland against some principal and great men there by some of the Popish-faction gives just occasion to suspect that they may maintain correspondency here and practise the like in this Realm In like manner the same Trayn-Band of Westminster was brought into the Palace-Yard on the morrow and attended all that day until the Houses rose And the next day following Mr. Pym made a large Speech at a conference to lay open the Conspiracy Neither wanted they the Pulpits to advance their designs their Lecturers in several parts being men neither of learning nor conscience insinuating to the People all those falshoods and scandals which might work in them a dislike towards his Majesty depraving the conformable-Clergy charging them with Revolt from the Protestant Religion with purpose to introduce Popery one of them preaching to the Brotherhood in the Artillery-Garden expressing that for the defence of Religion and Reformation of the Church it was lawful to take up Arms against the King As a preparative whereunto a Bill was brought into the House for putting all the Forts and Castles and the whole Militia of the Kingdom into such hands as they might confide in CHAP. VIII IN this time the Rebellion in Ireland breaking forth it will not be improper to say somewhat thereof wherein though I shall not charge our grand Conspirators here with having any hand as to matter of council or contrivance with the Ring-leaders of that barbarous Insurrection yet can I not at all excuse them from giving great occasion for it and not without suspicion of Design if all be true that I have seen in a brief discourse thereof publish'd in print in an 1644. Which I shall leave to the better judgment of such as then lived and well observed the Actions of those times The substance of which Narrative is this viz. That the Irish being a people born and bred in the Romish Religion which they did glory to have derived from their Ancestors for no less than Thirteen hundred years and wherein they had connivence ever since the Reformation it could not be imagined when they saw such a Storm approach them by the harsh proceedings of the Parliament then sitting at Westminster against those of their profession in England who were daily cavill'd withall charg'd with sundry forged Conspiracies and Plots to render them odious and distastful to the world the wardship and education of their children voted to the disposal of others their votes as Peers in Parliament endangered and the large Progress made in England and Scotland towards the extirpation of the Protestant Religion as it then stood establish'd by Law in both Realms under which they had enjoyed their estates though upon certain penalties with the charge whereof they were well acquainted but they had cause enough to fear that their own misery was not far off especially discerning that the Insolency of the Scots did daily increase toward them whose large footing in their Kingdom having an inveterate hatred towards the Natives might endanger their shouldring them out Considering likewise the frequent Reports given out in that Kingdom to extirpate their Religion and Nation as also that Orders were made by the Houses of Parliament in England incroaching upon their priviledges of Parliament in Ireland and that their Committee after nine months attendance on his Majesty who was graciously pleased to hear their grievances being referr'd to the Houses of Parliament here upon his departure from London towards Scotland 10 Aug. 1641 was constrain'd to return without any redress through the prevalency of some leading Members who before had all they could misinterpreted to his Majesty the proceedings and Actions of the Parliament in Ireland It was therefore not a little fear'd by some that those provocations were purposely exercised to exasperate the Irish to take up Arms that so under colour of suppressing them as Rebels they might be utterly destroyed and eradicated Nor was it without suspicion by others considering how eagerly that Act for confiscation of their Lands was prosecuted by those Members at Westminiter at the very beginning of that Insurrection Also how his Majesties going over in person after the same brake out was hinder'd which in probability might have quencht that flame Moreover how they ingrossed that war into their own hands thereby to have the power to employ any forces raised or levied for it to assist in pursuance of their design upon this Kingdom as they should see cause as was evident by those under the command of the Lord Wharton and others which were in the Battel of
York as also by fourty three Dukes Marquesses Earls Vicounts and Barons of the House of Peers and cxviii members of the House of Commons there present many others by reason of distance of place sickness and imployments elsewhere in his Majesties service and for want of timely notice of that Proclamation of Summons not being then come thither But the effect which this their Letter produced was in the first place to be cryed throughout the Streets of London in scorn as the Petition of the Prince and Duke of York for peace and a meer frivolous answer or Paper in form of a Letter directed to the Earl of Forth then General of the King's forces wherein was inclosed a printed paper called a National Covenant of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and two other Papers the one called a Declaration of both the Kingdoms and the other a Declaration of the Kingdom of Scotland In that their General 's Letter it was pretended that because there was no address to the two Houses of Parliament nor acknowledgment of them it could not be communicated to them whereas it was notoriously known that he did so far impart it as that a Committee of theirs advised and fram'd the answer Besides it plainly appears by the penning thereof that they all concurr'd in the Resolution therein mention'd whereby 't is clear enough that this was but an excuse or shift to avoid any Treaty And what could that printed Covenant and two Declarations inclosed signifie but to shew that before they would admit of a Treaty all the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford must join in that Covenant with them for the absolute extirpation of Church-government here without nay tho against the King's consent submit the Lives Liberties and Estates of themselves and all others who according to their allegiance had assisted his Majesty to the mercy of those members then sitting at Westminster as also to admit of and justifie that invasion of the Scots according to the plain sense of their Declaration But notwithstanding all this the Lords and Commons at Oxford continuing still sollicitous for an happy peace for avoiding delay or cavil about Names or Titles or descants upon words humbly besought his Majesty to send Messengers with Instructions to desire a Treaty for peace Whereunto he readily assenting two persons were by him nominated and a Letter written to the Earl of Essex for their safe conduct Which Letter had in substance this Answer viz. that if they would first agree that those Lords and Commons sitting a Westminster were the Parliament and the King 's only Council that those Gentlemen should have a safe conduct This being therefore taken into consideration it was thought fit to desire his Majesty to write his royal Letters to the Earl of Essex himself and therein to inclose a Letter superscribed To the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster Which his Majesty accordingly did and thereby desired that a convenient number of fit persons might be appointed and authorized to meet with all convenient speed at such a place as they should nominate with an equal number of fit persons appointed and authorized by him to treat of the ways and means for setling the present distractions of the Kingdom and procuring a happy peace In answer whereunto they insisted that themselves thus sitting at Westminster were the Parliament convened according to the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and that those loyal persons members of the Parliament who were come to his Majesty at Oxford according to his royal Proclamation had deserted their Trust and levyed war against the Parliament and in sum did intimate that what they should do herein must be with the concurrent advice of the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland according to their late solemn League and Covenant calling his Majesties earnest endeavours for Peace but Professions and their own feigned pretences most real intentions letting fall by way of menace that his Majesty could not be the least and last sufferer Hitherto as a consequence of this second Invasion by the Scots I have given a brief touch of his Majesties farther incessant endeavours for obtaining a happy peace with these violent spirited men by an amicable Treaty Which taking no effect by reason they then saw such a likelihood through the aid and assistance of those their dear Brethren to carry all powerfully before them I shall look back a little and take notice not only how their heavy oppressions upon the people by many farther grievous Impositions were carried on but how they proceeded in their advancing the Scepter of Iesus Christ in this Realm for so they called their Presbyterian Discipline Wherein I observe that within six days next after this their Invasion the Members at Westminster passed an Ordinance for regulating the Vniversity of Cambridge by Edward Earl of Manchester then their Chancellour that is to say for turning out all loyal persons from their Headships and Fellowships in any of the Colleges there and for removing scandalous Ministers id est all orthodox men throughout the several associated Counties of Essex Norfolk Suffolk Hertford Cambridge Huntington and Lincoln That the Welch also might be the sooner brought under the yoke they soon after made another Ordinance whereby they impower'd Sir Thomas Middleton Knight to take Subscriptions for raising of Forces in the six Counties of North-wales and give the public faith for such moneys as should be raised to that purpose CHAP. XVIII HAving thus taken notice of the Transactions in their Parliament at Westminster I come now according to my designed method to the Militarie-business of this year 1643. In which I find that the King having gained ground in the North and West his farther success in sundry parts was not unsutable thereto for Sir Hugh Cholmley of Whitby in Yorkshire who at first had been a most confiding man thought it now time to declare for the King So likewise did Captain Brown-Bushell Governour of Scarborough Castle in that County who then delivered it up for his Majestie And within few days after their great Northern Champion Ferdinando Lord Fairfax was routed by the Earls of Newcastle and Cumberland at Bramham-moore in that County which great defeat so startled the Members at Westminster that they forthwith solicited the ayd of their Brethren the Scots In the neck of this also Prince Rupert upon a sharp encounter near Bermicham a seditious and populous Town in Warwick shire with a strong party of the Rebels commanded by Colonel Greaves worsted them with the loss of the Loyal William Earl of Denbigh who there received his deaths wound Soon after that also another party of them commanded by Iohn son and heir to the famous Sir Iohn Hotham their trusty Governour of Hull was routed near Ancaster in Lincolnshire And Litchfield close which they had got after the unsuccessfull attempt thereof by the Lord Brooke was without much adoe
Government CHAP. XXXVI ALL things being accordingly ready in order thereto upon the Sixteenth of December and about One of the Clock that day Five Regiments of Foot and Three of Horse were drawn out as a Guard from White-Hall to Westminster-Hall whereof one viz. Colonel Goffs was placed within the Precincts of the Hall This being done Cromwel with the Captain of his Guard and some few others passed through these Bands of Souldiers to the Door of Westminster-Hall Where alighting from his Coach there proceeded First the City Marshals Then the Aldermen of London in Scarlet After them the Judges all except their Chief-Justice Rolls Next the Two Keepers of their Great Seal Keble and L'isle Then Four Serjeants at Armes with Maces viz. the Parliament Mace the City Mace the Council of State 's Mace and the Lord Keeper's Mace After thses the Lord Mayor's Sword-bearer with the Cap of Maintenance and Sword but the Sword not Erected Then the Lord Mayor And next to him Cromwel himself in a Black Sute and Cloak Lined with Velvet Boots and a Gold Hatband all bare headed And after him the Principal Officers of the Army and Council of State In which manner they proceeded to the Chancery-Court where a Rich Chair of State was set with a large Cusheon and Carpets on the Floor Being ascended into the court Cromwel standing before the Chair with the Two Keepers and Judges on each hand of him Major General Lambert declaring to him the Dissolution of the Parliament and exigency of the times did in the name of the Army and of the Three Nations desire him to accept of the Protectorship of them Whereunto he assenting a large Instrument extending to a whole skin of Velome was read to him which contained the form of his Government and somewhat called an Oath at which he lifted up his Right Hand and Eyes and assented thereto Then did the Lord Mayor present the Sword to him and the Keepers the Seal Both which he delivered back to them respectively This being done a Common Souldier Seconded with about Twenty more cryed aloud God Bless the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland After which there was a General shout made by the Souldiers throughout the Hall and after a little pause the like twice more Then he went back to White-Hall the Lord Mayor carrying the Sword upright before him the Protector having his Hat on After which in the Evening were several Vollies of small shot and some great with Ringing of Bells The Tenor of which Instrument was as followeth viz. That the Supream Legislative Authority should be in a Single Person and the People in Parliament but the Administration thereof to be left to the Lord Protector and to his Council whereof the number was not to be above Twenty and One. That all Charters Patents Writs and Commissions should be passed by the Protector All Power of Magistracy Honours and Titles to be derived from him Likewise the Pardon of all Offences excepting Treason and Murther He also to have the Administration of all things with the Advice of his Council and according to the Tenor of this Instrument That the Militia Sitting the Parliament should be in the disposal of the Protector and the Parliament but in the Intervals in the Protector and his Council The Power also of making Peace and War with Forreign Princes to be in the Protector and his Council but he to have no Authority of Repealing or making any Laws without the consent of Parliament That the Parliament should be called before the end of Six Months then next ensuing and afterwards once in Three Years or oftner if need require and that it should not be in the Protector 's Power to Dissolve the same for the First Five Months without the consent of the House That the Number of Members for England should consist of full Four hundred Elected according to an equal distribution For Scotland Thirty and for Ireland the like Number the number for each County and City to be also assgned That the Calling of such Parliament should be under the Seal of the Common-wealth by Writs to the Sheriff in the Protector 's Name But if the Protector should not call the same within the times limited the Chancellor then to do it under the Penalty of High Treason and if he should fail therein then that the Sheriffs should perform it And after such Election should be made to be transmitted by the Chief Magistrate by Indenture to the Chancellor Signel with his Hand Twenty days before the Sitting of the same Parliament Also if the Sheriff or Mayor should make a false Return that he be Fined in Two thousand Marks That none should be capable to Elect who had ever born Armes against the Parliament or been Actors in the Irish Rebellion Nor that any Papist should ever be capable to give his Voice And that all Elections against these Rules should be void and the transgressors Fined at Two Years value of their Revenues and third part of their Goods That no Person under the Age of One and twenty years should be capable of being Elected nor any other than of known credit fearing God and of good behaviour No man likewise to have power of Electing whose Estate should not be worth Twenty Pound per annum Sterling That the Return of the Persons Elected should be transmitted by the Prothonotary in Chancery unto the Council of State within two days after they should come to his hands to the end that judgment might be made of the Persons if any question should arise touching the lawfulness of the choice That Sixty Members should be accounted a Parliament in case the rest be absent Nevertheless that it should be lawful to the Protector to call a Parliament when he should see cause That the Bills agreed on in Parliament should be presented to the Protector for his assent thereto and if he should not give his assent to them within twenty days that then they should have the force of Laws without it That if any Councellor of State should dye or be outed of his place for corruption in the Intervals of Parliament the Protector with the rest of the Councel to substitute another in his stead That a certain annual Tax shouldbe made throughout the There Common-wealths for the maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and Fifteen thousand Foot which Tax should also supply the charge of the Navy and that this rate should not be lessened or altered by the Parliament without the consent of the Protector and his Council But if it should not be thought necessary hereafter that any Army should be maintained then whatsoever surplusage of this Tax should be to be kept in the Treasury for sudden Emergencies That if there might happen to be occasion of making extraordinary choices and to Raise new Forces it should not be done without consent of Parliament but that in the Intervals of Parliament it should be lawful for the
day of March instant be presented chosen or appointed to any Benefice formerly called Benefice with Cure of Souls or to Preach any publick setled Lecture in England or Wales shall before he be admitted c. be Iudged and Approved by the Persons hereafter named to be a Person for the Grace of God in him his Holy and unblameable Conversation as also for his knowledge and utterance able and fit to Preach the Gospel viz. Francis Rous Esq Dr. Thomas Goodwyn Dr. Iohn Owen Mr. Thankful Owen Dr. Arrowsmith Dr. Tuckney Dr. Horton Mr. Joseph Caryll Mr. Philip Nye Mr. William Carter Mr. Sidrak Simpson Mr. William Greenhill Mr. William Strong Mr. Thomas Manton Mr. Samuel Slater Mr. William Couper Mr. Stephen Marshall Mr. Iohn Tombes Mr. Walter Cradok Mr. Samuel Faircloath Mr. Hugh Peters Mr. Peter Sterrey Mr. Samuel Bamford Mr. Thomas Valentine of Chaford Mr. Henry Iesse Mr. Obediah Sedgwick Mr. Nicholas Lockyer Mr. Daniel Dike Mr. Iames Russel Mr. Nathaniel Campfield Robert Tichburne Alderman of London Mark Hildesley Thomas Wood. John Sadler William Goff Thomas St. Nicholas William Packer Edward Crescet Esq or any five or more of them Having now ended this year 1653. as to the Principal Transsactions at Home I must look back a little and take notice of our farther Military contests with the Dutch wherein I find that on the second of Iune upon another sharp Fight in Yarmouth rode they much worsted those Hogen-mogens so likewife on the last day of Iuly wherein Van Trump their famous Admiral was slain But both parties at length growing weary of this chargeable and destructive War before the end of this year a Peace was concluded betwixt them though not ratified till April ensuing Which Peace with the Dutch and the slavish condition whereunto this Monster Cromwell had brought the People of these Nations made him not only much Idolized here by all his Party but somewhat feared abroad For certain it is that most of the Princes of Europe made application to him amongst which the French King was the first his Embassador making this Speech to him in the Banquetting-house at White-Hall Your most serene Highness hath received already some principal assurances of the King my Master and of his desire to establish a perfect Correspondency between his Dominions and England His Majesty gives unto your Highness this day some publick Demonstration of the same and sending his Excellency for his Service in the quality of Embassador to your Highness doth plainly shew that the esteem which his Majesty makes of your Highness and the Interest of his People have more power in his Councils than many Considerations that would be of great concernment to a Prince less affected with the one and the other This proceeding grounded upon such sound principles and so different from that which is only guided by Ambition renders the Friendship of the King my Master as much considerable for its firmness as for the Utility it may produce and for that reason it is such eminent esteem and sought after by all the greatest Princes and Powers of the Earth But his Majesty doth Communicate none to any with so much Ioy and Chearfulness as unto those whose vertuous deeds and extraordinary Merits render them more eminently Famous than the greatness of their Dominions His Majesty doth acknowledge all these advantages wholly to reside in your Highness and that Divine Providence after so many Troubles and Calamities could not deal more favourably with these three Nations nor cause them to forget their past Misery with more content and satisfaction than by submitting them to so just a Government And whereas it is not enough for the compleating of their happiness to make them enjoy Peace at Home since it depends no less on a good correspondency with Neighbour-Nations abroad the King my Master doth not doubt but to find also the same disposition in your Highness which his Majesty doth express in those Letters which his Excellencie hath Order to present unto your Highness After so many Dispositions exprest by his Majesty and your Highness towards the accommodation of the two Nations there is cause to believe that their wishes will be soon Accomplisht As for me I have none greater than to be able to serve the King my Master with the good liking and satisfaction of your Highness and that the happiness I have to tender unto your Highness the first assurances of his Majesties esteem may give me occasion to deserve by my respects the honour of your Gracious Affection Being therefore thus puft up he soon after passed an Act of Grace and Pardon to all Persons of the Scottish Nation excepting Iames late Duke Hamilton William late Duke Hamilton Iohn Earl of Crawford-Lindsey Iames Earl of Calender and many more therein specially named As also another Act for making Scotland one Common-wealth with England Whereby it was likewise Ordained that thirty Persons of that Nation should serve in Parliament here for Scotland And that the People of that Nation should be discharged of their Allegiance to any Issue of the late King Also that Kingship and Parliamentary-Authority should be there abolished and the Arms of Scotland viz. St. Andrew's Cross should thenceforth be borne with the Arms of this Common-wealth All which being done he removed his Lodgings which were before at the Cockpit into those of the late King in his Royal Pallace at White-Hall About this time it was that Colonel Venables having been imploy'd by Cromwell to attempt some of the chief Plantations made by the Spanyard in the West-Indies Landing his Men in Hispaniola and expecting with little trouble to have taken S. Domingo he received a shameful defeat But the next Month he had better success in those Forreign parts For the Spaniards in Iamaco timorously flying before them when they Landed there an easie acquisition was made by the English of that large Island which hath since proved a very prosperous and beneficial Plantation But to return Cromwell by this time being grown very great to make himself the more formidable to all his late Majesties good Subjects then called Royalists by establishing his Dominion upon more Innocent blood having by the wicked practises of his Emissaries trayn'd in some Persons purpose of endeavouring their own and the Peoples freedome from his Tyrannous Power he caused another bloody Theater to be erected in Westminster-Hall calling it an high-Court of Iustice where Mr. Iohn Gerard and Mr. Wowell two Gentlemen of great Loyalty received Sentence of Death and were accordingly Sacrificed as a peace-Offering to this Moloch For the better maintenance likewise and encouragement of Preaching-Ministers and for uniting and severing of Parishes he made another Act which begins thus Whereas many Parishes in this Nation are without the constant and Powerful Preaching of the Gospel through want of competent maintenance c. Also another for Souldiers which had serv'd the Common-wealth in
while upheld by some few and much art used for perpetuating his Dominion first by procure Congratulations from all the Souldiery in England Scotland and Ireland Secondly from all the Independent Congregational-Assemblies Thirdly from the most eminent of the London Ministers as also from the French Dutch and Italian Churches and lastly from most of the Counties Cities and chief Towns in England all of them engaging to live and dye with this youngster In many of which solemn Congratulatory Addresses being highly magnified for his Wisdom nobleness of mind and lovely Composition of Body his Father Oliver was compared to Moses Zerubabel Ioshua Gideon Elijah to the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel to David Solomon and Hezekiah Likewise to Constantine the Great and to whomsoever else that either the Sacred Scripture or any other History had celebrated for their Piety and Goodness Insomuch as it was then by most men thought that this their late framed Government might be durable enough against the disturbance of any opposers But so active and earnest were the Fanaticks against it that they spared not their utmost industry for the supplanting thereof And discerning Fleetwood then General of the Army to be very much a friend unto all of their party unto him they made addresses for furtherance of their design speciously suggesting that the Office of Protector being at the disposal of Cromwel was to him alone intended though Richard had been Proclaimed by some few of the Council And to the end that the Souldiers might likewise incline to their side they put them on to require the auditing of their Arrears two pence a week having been withheld of their pay and not only so but to insist upon greater priviledges as Souldiers than they had enjoyed in Olivers time viz. that no Souldier should be displaced without consent of the Council of War no nor questioned for Murther Robbery or any other Offence otherwise than by the Law-Military whereby they were sure to have no little favour Likewise that it should be in the power of the Army upon all occasions to make choice of their General of all which they had first disputes with this Richard and afterwards by their Remonstrances did insist upon boldly These perrillous attempts being therefore discerned by his Highness he forthwith summoned a Parliament according to the tenor of the old Instrument which Parliament was for its greater honour to consist of two Houses thereby not doubting but to scatter these dangerous clouds and met accordingly at Westminster upon the seventh of Ianuary But consulting together instead of complying with his Highnesses designs they fell to questioning the Authority of the Other House Nor did they at all brook the Irish and Scotch sent thither as Representatives from each of those Realms Nevertheless after divers tedious and warm disputes they were at length content to transact with those who Sate in that Other House not excluding such Peers who had been faithful to the Parliament from their priviledges of being summoned as Members thereof and that they would receive any Message from them but by some of those who were Members of their own House And to the end they might by degrees bring themselves into power they attempted the asserting of their Interest in the Militia by a salvo in their Vote relating to the Fleet. Moreover to captivate the people with specious shews of alleviating their burthens they made divers formal Speeches for the taking away of all Excise as also of Tonnage and Poundage after the next three years Likewise to make shew how tender they were of the peoples Liberties they did not only set at large Colonel Overion and others which had been committed to Prison by Oliver without payment of Fees but questioned the Lieutenant of the Tower for detaining those persons there Appointing also a Committee of Inspection for Publick Accompts Which Committee Reported the Yearly incomes of England Scotland and Ireland to be eighteen hundred sixty eight thousand seven hundred and seventeen pounds and the Issues to be no less than two Millions two hundred and one thousand five hundred and forty pounds By which they saw that three hundred thirty two thousand eight hundred twenty three pounds of Debt incurred Yearly upon them by the ill management of that great Revenue which was treble to what any King of England ever enjoyed And further saw that to maintain the Conquest of Scotland they were at the Yearly charge of one hundred sixty three thousand six hundred and nineteen pounds more than the Revenue of that Kingdom did then yield unto them Other particulars they then had likewise in hand all tending to the publick benefit of the Nation forbearing to give mony beneficial Offices or rewards as formerly had been usual amongst themselves by which means the world might by degrees be wrought into a dislike of being Governed by that Military power which for so long time had Ruled the Roast and to restore the general sway of the Realm to themselves as the Representative of the People in whom according to the Presbyterian Maxim the whole Sovereign Power virtually was Which design so destructive to the Sword-mens Interest did not only disturb their minds but by doubts and jealousies at length divided their strength into Parties and Factions some of them holding their Councils at Wallingford House with the General others at White-hall with the Protector and his Confidents But in this Fraction those of Wallingford House being much the more numerous drew up a bold Representation both to the Protector and the House which so startled his Highness that he forthwith stood upon his Guard and so allarmed the House of Commons that they thereupon Voted That during the Sitting of the Parliament there should be no General Council or meeting of the Officers of the Army without direction leave and Authority of the Lord Protector and both Houses of Parliament And that no person should have and continue any Command or Trust in any of the Armies or Navies of England Scotland or Ireland or any the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging who should refuse to subscribe that he would not disturb or interrupt the free meeting in Parliament or their freedom in their Debates or Councils And to sweeten the Common-Souldiers lest they should joyn with their Officers in turning them out of Doors as they had formerly done added that they would presently take into consideration how to satisfie the Arrears of the Army with present pay and likewise to prepare and Act of Indempnity for them A great Task indeed had that Parliament then upon their Hands viz. the pleasing of the people which could no otherwise be than by alleviating their heavy burthens and satisfying the Souldiery by feeding them with mony whereon they fell seriously to consider But whilst they were intentive on these necessary works the Animosities of the Army Officers grew higher and higher against each other strict Guards being kept by
the Nobility and Gentry civilly and intimating that it would be their wisdom rather to enlarge than contract any whit of their Interest And farther told them that the fewer qualifications they did put upon succeeding Parliaments it would be the better Desiring them to be tender in imposing new Oaths for he had heard of the Oath of Abjuration alledging that there was more reason to repent of those already taken than to take farther new ones And so warning them to beware of Cavaliers and Fanaticks commending Scotland to their care and assuring them of Ireland concluded with some intimation of his thoughts for a Free-State Having thus taken his leave of the House he withdrew to his place in the Council of State Where the first thing he found under consideration was that the Citizens of London being grown somwhat unruly had stifly resolved to own no power but of a Full and Free Parliament encouraged thereto by sundry Petitions to that purpose which they had seen from several Counties refusing to pay Taxes but by consent of such a Parliament Which put the Rumpers upon this desperate exigent viz. either to reduce them to obedience by a strong hand or themselves to be reputed but the shadow of Authority In order whereunto they commanded General Monke to march thither with his Forces and to compel them to pay the Assesments Whereupon he advanced with speed to Guild-Hall and there made his demand of what the Parliament had required Which much dashing the hopes that the Citizens had otherwise of him they modestly answered that in Magna Charta confirmed by the Petition of Right and ratified by that present Parliament the day before their forcible Dissolution they were to pay no Taxes but by their consent in Parliament which at that present they had not Yet to avoid the giving him any just offence desired farther time to consider thereof Which though the General readily granted yet he wrote to the House for their farther direction Whereupon answer was forthwith returned that he should in the first place imprison Colonel Bromefield Alderman Bludworth Lieutenant Colonel Iackson Major Cox Colonel Vincent c. some of which number had attended him from the City but a little before And secondly that he should remove their Chains dig up their Posts and break down their Gates Which harsh and rough service did at first not a little startle him considering it was done partly to make tryal of his patient obedience to them and partly to occasion a certain enmity betwixt him and the City and then to cast him off by diminishing his power as he very well discerned But foreseeing the event he submitted thereto which was to enrage the Citizens throughly against the Rump and that upon the expiring of his Commission the next day after his power would be diminished by the conjunction of six others with him in equal Command Which being made known by him to his Officers who lookt for a better reward for their service concluding that the Rump would shortly lay them aside also and perpetuate their own sitting Having likewise made so sure an experiment of the Cities temper which he then knew was positive for their Liberties and Rights and concluding thereupon that he might safely put his confidence in them after private discourse had with some of the chief Citizens he first wrote his Letters to the Rumpers wishing them at last to put a period to their siting and make some certain provision for future Parliaments And thereupon marching with his Forces into the City immediately declared for a Full and Free Parliament Which raised the hearts of all people so much that they expressed their great joy by Bells Bonefires and all other testimonies of joy imaginable And having waited a while for a return to his Letter and receiving no manner of Answer thereunto he procured a Conference with some of the old Secluded Members Finding also that the settlement proposed by the Rumpers was too weak and slender to repair the breaches in Government he resolved to withdraw all force from the House and to admit those to sit there whose tempers were more moderate and therefore sending for the Secluded Members to meet him at white-hall he represented unto them what he then thought best to be done viz. The meeting of a Full and Free Parliament saying that the House should be open unto them and wishing them all happy success therein Which old Members being by this means met together again they began where they broke off in Decemb. 1648. ratisfying that Vote then made viz. That the Concessions of the late King were a sufficient ground to proceed on for setling the Peace of the Kingdom Whereupon most men took courage in hope of an happy deliverance from that miserable slavery they had so long endured and in the next place Voted Monke to be Lord General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland By virtue whereof he soon with much prudence disarmed the Fanaticks the Parliament in the mean time taking seasonable care to secure the Peace of the Nation by two wholsom Acts the one for the Militia whereby Gentlemen of worth and quality had opportunity to put themselves in Arms The other by raising mony for the support of such Forces as might be necessarily imployed for the Publick safety And in order to an happy Establishing of the Government upon the old Foundation did ordain that Writs should issue out for the meeting of a Full and Free Parliament upon the 25. of April then next following In the mean time constituting a Council of State of moderate men and so at last put a period to that old and unhappy Convention But notwithstanding all this the danger was not totally over for the Council of State discerning no little averseness in some Officers of the Army and some other turbulent Spirits to this hopeful settlement and thereupon requiring an Engagement from them of their peaceable demeanor were necessitated to imprison some of the most obstinate refusers amongst which Lambert was one and not the least who finding the Fanaticks most eager for another push got out of Prison and Headed that Party Which through the great vigilancy of the General being seasonably routed near Daventre in Northamptonshire the chief of them were committed to several Prisons The Parliament therefore meeting upon the 25. of April Sir Iohn Greenvile presented to both Houses a Declaration from the King then at Breda with certain Letters bearing date April 4. Which with great joy being openly Read they presently Voted His Majesties speedy return to His people the whole Navy also soon after submitting to His obedience So that within very few days following he was solemnly Proclaimed in the Cities of London and Westminster and his Arms set up in all publick places those formerly erected for the Common-Wealth and Oliver being pulled down and defaced And upon May 25.
p. 500. z Compare with this the Propositions to his Majesties Commissioners at Vxbridge concerning the War of Ireland Full Relation c. p. 95. a See the like demands by the Members at Westminster Exact Coll. p. 259. 465. b Ib. p. 502. c Ib. p. 503. d Ib. p. 508. e Compare with this the Expression of the Members at Westminster in their Petition to his Majesty 26. Martij 1642. Exact Coll. p. 123. f Ib. p. 118. g Compare with this the Protestation framed at Westminster 3 Maij. 1641. b Ibid. p. 523. i D'Aubignie Tom. 2. lib. 3. cap. 3. col 828. k Davilaeâ— 548. l Ib. p. 566. m Annal. Eliz. in An. 1589. p. 557. n Davilae p. 561. o Ib. p. 562. p Compare with this his Majesties Answer to the two Papers concerning Ireland Full Relation c. p. 215. Was not his Majesties Statua abused both at the Old Exchange in London and at Wincheâ—ster q Ib. p. 563. r Ib. p. 564. s Ib. p. 565. t Ib. p. 567. u Exact Coll. p. 503. x Davilae p. 568. y Ib. p. 569. z Was not the like done by our Men against his Majesty for Assenting to the Cessation in Ireland a Ib. p. 591. b Ib. p. 593. e Ib. p. 596 d Ib. p. 597. 599. e Ib. p. 601. f Ib. p. 603. g Ib. p. 606. 609. h Ib. p. 612. i Ib. p. 613. k Ib. p. 627. l Ib. p. 6â—8 m Ib. p. 629. n Ib. p. 6â—0 o Ib. p. 662. 663. p Ib. p. 669. q Ib. p. 676. r Ibid. p. 733. Such hath been the Pollicy of the Scots with us Anno. 1. 591. s Ib. p. 679. t Ib. p. 701. u Ib. 742. x Ib. p. 702. y Brigard Ib. p. 742. z Ib. p. 740. a Ib. p. 726. b Ib. p. 733. c Ib. p. 740. d Ib. p. 747. e Ib. p. 761. f Ib. p. 792. 851. g Ib. p. 724. b Ib. p. 811. 821. Thus did Cromwell here i Ib. p. 862. k Ib. p. 865. l Ib. p. 837. m Ib. p. 161. 866. n Ib. p. 867. o Ib. p. 868. p Ib. p. 879. q Ib. p. 845. r Ib. p. 743. s Ib. p. 901. t See their Solemn Leagus and Covenant u See the full Relation of the Treaty at Vxbridge p. 209. x Ib. p. 206. y D'avila p. 943. z Piere Mathew Lib. 2. Narrat 1. Sect. 4. a Du Tillet p. 242. b Davila p. 994. c Duplex Hist. p. 27. d K. Henry the 4th e K. Lewis the 13th Davila p. 629. f Du Tellet p. 263. g Davila p. 936. b Cokes Instit part 3. p. 35. i Numb 16. 31 32. 27. 3. k Reg. 11. 36. l Esther 6. 2 3. m Sam. 2. 18. 9. 14. n Ib. 17. 23. o Reg. 2 21. 26 27. p Sam. 2 16. 5 6. Et Reg. 1 2. 8. 4. 6. q Reg. b 16. 9. 18. r Act. Apost 5. 36 37. s Prov. 24. 21. THE INDEX A. ANabaptists of Germany their Tenets and Progress Page 2. Calvins Character of them 8. Dangerous to Church and State 9. Luthers Request to the Duke of Saxony in favour of them 4. Afterwards exhorts all Men to destroy them 6. St. Antholin 's Church in London made the grand Nursery of seditious Preachers 37. Articles of Pacification with the Scots 55. Articles of the Treaty at Edenburgh for bringing in the Scots Army 131. between General Monk and the Committee of Safety 480. Articles called The Agreement of the People 260. Articles assented to by the King at the Treaty at Uxbridge 291. Assembly at Glasgow dissolved 52. The Impious Saving of one of the Assembly of Divines 225. Apprentices of London force the House of Commons 248. Army marcheth towards London 251. B. BArons War in the time of King Henry the 3d parallel'd with that of King Charles the First 592. A Benevolence proposed for raising Money 32. Bishops voted to have no Voice in Parliament 68. Booth Sir George his Insurrection 470. Brook Lord slain 117. Buckingham Duke his Expedition to the Isle of Rhee 33. murdered by Felton 34. C. CAnterbury and other Cathedrals defaced 557. Carew Sir Alex. his ominous words 198. is beheaded ibid. Carnarvan Earl slain 187. Charles I. King pawns his Lands to the City of London 33. is denied entrance into Hull 91. his Messages to the Parliament for Peace 102 103 134 237 268. his Protestation at the Head of his Army 104. goes from Oxford to the Scots Army 209. is sold by the Scots 232. is brought from Newcastle to Holdenby 234. his Answer to the four dethroning Bills 271. last Scene of his Life 361. rejects the Proposals made to him on the Sunday before his death 372. is murdered 373. his Legacies to his Children and others 382. his Burial 383. Charles II. King his Care when in Exile to preserve the Duke of Glocester in the Protestant Religion 429. marches from Scotland to Worcester 400. proclaimed King at London 488. Cheapside Cross pull'd down 560. Church Livings plurality of them allowed by the Presbyterians 225. Colchester Men petition the Parliament against Bishops c. 85. Common Prayer abolished 193. Commissions of Array 97. Common-Council-men turned out 79. First Covenant by the Scots 46. Conference at Hampton-Court 14. Cromwel Oliver his Extraction and Education 458. his persidious dealing with the King 261. his pretended Revelation 366. his Speech in Parliament ibid. Preaches at White-hall 391. made General of the Army 397. his Answer to a Letter from the Governour of the Castle of Edenburgh 397. turns the Rump Parliament out of doors 405. made Lord Protector 414. The manner of his riding to Grocers-hall in State 418. calls a Parliament 423. The manner of his proceeding to Parliament ibid. his Speech at the opening the Parliament 424 426. dissolves his first Parliament 429. Second Parliament called 450. dissolved 455. his Death 457. Cromwel Richard calls a Parliament 462. is set aside and the Ramp Parliament restored 465. D DEclaration of the City of London 250. Declaration of the Scots Commissioners 258 271. Declaration of the Scots for a publick Fast. 246. of the Committee of Safety 482. Denbigh Earl slain 185. Directory established 193. E. EPiscopal Government abolished in Scotland 52. in England 122. Earl of Essex made Lientenant-General of the Kings Army going against the Scots 54. made Lord Chamberlain 71. made General of the Parliament Forces 98. Essex-Men petition to the Parliament in behalf of the King 282. Excise first began 120 123 127 132. F. FAlkland Lucius Visc. slain 187. Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine elected King of Bohemia 20. French Ambassador's Speech to Cromwel 421. French Holy League parallel'd with the Rebellion in England 600. G. GLoucester Duke the attempts made upon him by the Queen Mother at Paris to turn to the Romish Religion 429. Grenvil Sir Bevil slain 186. Gurney Lord Major of London is deposed by the Rebels 101. H. MArquess of Hamilton sent into Scotland to appease
of England having not only been invaded by the Dutch but their bold usupation therein openly justifyed by certain public Writings the King with the advice of his Council-learned did about the same time issue out certain Writs directed as well to all the Inland Counties as to the respective Port-Towns according to the example of his Royal Progenitors to set out a certain number of Ships furnish'd with Mariners Amunition Victual and all other necessaries for defence of the Realm By which means he did not only assert and recover that dominion on the Sea which really belong'd to this Kingdom but much improved Trade and Commerce whereby the generality of his Subjects were not a little enrich'd But this just and rational practise some of the malevolent Members of his former Parliaments and others of that stamp under pretence of standing up for the Rights and Properties of the Subjects did stubbornly oppose though his Majesty had the clear and unanimous opinion of all the grave and learned Judges of his Courts in Westminster-Hall under their hands to justify those his Proceedings Nevertheless waving any arbitrary power he freely gave leave that the Case should be solemnly debated in the Exchequer-Chamber Which being publikly done after divers solid Arguments thereon no less then ten of those twelve Judges fully declared their opinion for the Legality thereof Sr. George Crook and Sr. Richard Hulton only dissenting though they had formerly subscribed thereto This as to the Civil Liberties and what as hath been before observed of the great noise made every where touching the fear of Popery was it whereof not only the factious people here took great advantage but those of that leven in Scotland who thereupon began to set on foot a contrivance whereby they might have the colour of Religion* to help on their work Whereunto the rise they took was a pretended apprehension that the Liturgy sent to them in an 1637 was a meer Popish Service-book and purposely design'd to introduce the Romish worship into both Kingdoms From the ground of which seeming jealousies they fell foul upon the Bishops under colour that they were the framers thereof and the chief Instruments for obtruding it upon them To clear them therefore of this most impious scandal I shall here breifly represent to the world what that so much defam'd Liturgy was and on what occasion it was sent into that Realm King Iames after he came to enjoy the Crown of England well observing the Decency and Uniformity of God's worship here and the Deformity thereof in his own native Kingdom where no set or public form of Prayer was used but oftimes seditious expressions girding at Sovereignty and Authority and stuft with false Reports upon his Progress into Scotland an 1616 an Assembly being then held at Aberdene he proposed to that Convention a public Liturgy to be used in that Realm Which pious motion being then and there well approved of a Liturgy was accordingly framed and in all points properly fitted for that Kirk and after his return into England convey'd to him where it was viewed by some of his Scottish Subjects yet not sent thither whilst that King lived Being thus composed his Son and Successor K. Charles after a review thereof finding it in substance the same with the English Liturgy which his Majesty in point of prudence declin'd to recommend unto them lest they might cavil thereat under colour that it would be look'd upon as a badge of Dependency upon the Church of England then sent it to the Lords of the Privy-Council of that Realm by their advice to be publicly read without the least suspition of any dislike thereof in regard it did so little differ from the English Liturgy wherewith his Scottish Subjects of all sorts were well acquainted by reason of their frequent resort to his Majesties own Chappel and many other Churches in this Realm where it was constantly used as also in his Royal Chappel at Haly-Rood-House whereunto the Nobility Bishops Judges Gentry and people of all degrees did usually come Cathedrals of Scotland and University of St. Andrews and not only so but commended in the Sermons of some of their after principal Covenanters especially Mr. Rollock But Rebellion being the close and underhand design of these great Pretenders to Godliness whereby in case they did prosper they might swallow up the Possessions of the Crown and Church with the Estates of all his Majesties loyal Subjects the contrivance was so laid that the Common people should be possess'd with an opinion that the King having married a Popish Queen did resolve to introduce the Romish Religion first into Scotland and afterwards into the rest of his dominions and to that end first to settle this Liturgy there it being privately whispered that it was the very Mass translated into their Language Which so far incensed the vulgar that upon the reading thereof in the great Church at Edenborough upon the 23 d of Iuly the same year 1637 they made such a tumult as that the Dean who read it and many other persons of note had much adoe to escape thence with their lives Which uproar was so barbarous that the day following the Lords of the Council there set forth a Proclamation* in dislike thereof And the Magistrates of Edenborough to make up the Pageant sent Letters into England to the Archbishop of Canterbury desiring him to recommend to the King's Majesty their zeal and forwardness for setling the peaceable practise thereof Neither would any man of note then seem to own that Tumult but attributed it to the Rogues and base multitude except the zealous Kirkmen who cryed it up in their Pulpits and magnifyed them for the most heroical Sparks that ever God inspired and raised up in this last age of the world and for their happy Mouths and Hands which God was pleas'd to honour that day with the beginning of their new Blessed Reformation and occasioning their celestial Covenant as they call'd it that their memorial should be eternal and all succeeding generations should call them blessed After this about the end of Harvest began a tumultuous conflux of the Nobility Gentry Ministers and others at Edenborough from all parts of the Kingdom howbeit as yet the principal persons in authority there seemed to stand right enough in their loyalty so that his Majesty the less feared the ensuing mischeifs the more to prevent any suspition thereof set forth three Proclamations First that nothing should be treated of at the Council-Table there about Church-business till they saw the times and meeting of his Majesties Subjects more quiet and peaceable The Second for removing the Session or Term from Edenborough to Lithgow for fear of present danger The third for burning a seditious Book dispersed in derogation of the Ecclesiastical Government in England But these Proclamations were for little else then shew the Tumults increasing so that the next day
whose endeavours were to kindle that combustion in England which they had in so great a measure effected in Ireland and which nothing could do as they said but the granting that Petition Which Petition together with an Ordinance of both Houses setting forth a most dangerous and desperate design upon the House of Commons and many discoveries importing fears of rebellious Insurrections by Papists and other ill affected persons in this Kingdom they then exhibited Whose answer thereunto being that for the City of London and other Corporations which by any antient Charters had power of ordering the Militia he conceiv'd it unfit to alter their government but that he could not consent to the indefinite time propounded for this Posture Whereupon they forthwith voted this Answer to be a flat denial and that his Majesties advisers thereto were Enemies to the State and mischeivous Projectors against the defence of the Kingdom Also that this denial was of such dangerous consequence that it would hazard the peace and safety of all his Kingdoms unless some speedy remedy were applyed by the Parliament And immediately dispatch'd another Petition to his Majesty then at Theobalds wherein they protested that if he did not speedily pass his assent to the satisfaction of their desires they should be inforced by authority of both Houses to dispose thereof and that they did accordingly so resolve to do Farther voting that the Kingdom should be forthwith put into a Posture of defence by Authority of both Houses that the Navy should be speedily rigg'd and a Declaration of their just Fears and Jealousies speedily drawn up with the grounds of their former votes for putting the Kingdom into a Posture by authority of both Houses to clear the Parliament of all mistrusts And to carry out all this under colour of the Peoples desires New Petitions were brought from several Counties viz. one from Staffordsh pretending such dread of the Papists rising there that every man was constrain'd to stand upon his Guard not daring to go to Church unarm'd Others from Worcestersh Berksh Norfolk Norwich Lynne Royston Salop all of them earnestly desiring this Posture of Defence And the very next day the Ordinance for ordering the Militia of the Kingdom by authority of both Houses sent to his Majesty 22 Febr. was assented to by the Lords and thereupon new Lieutenants were assign'd throughout all England and Wales And having in a grand Committee at Merchant-Taylers Hall contrived the Declaration mention'd in their Votes of March the second wherein they made a very great noise of a design to alter Religion in this Kingdom and that the wars with Scotland and Ireland were framed to that end they presented the same to his Majesty at Newmarket within few days after voting the King's Commissions of Lieutenancies in the several Counties illegal as also that there was an urgent and inevitable Necessity for putting his Majesties Subjects into a Posture of Defence and that the Ordinances of both Houses for the Militia being obliging to the People ought to be obeyed by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom And lastly that the Earl of Warwick should be appointed Vice-Admiral of his Majesties Ships And having now by these their exorbitant courses together with the Tumults so much endangered his Majesties Royal person that he was forced for safety of himself and the Prince to retire into the North they voted that they would go on with their former Votes concerning the Militia Also that when the Lords and Commons in Parliament should declare what the Laws of the Land be to Question it was a high breach of the Privilege of Parliament After this within few days they sent a Petition to York which was there presented to his Majesty by the Lord Willoughby of Parham and others wherein they alledged that his Majesties denial to their petition for disposing the Militia was a great hinderance to their other proceedings and justified the Tumults at Westminster by taxing his Majesty with denial of such a Guard to them as they might confide in aspersing his Government for many continued Acts of violation of Laws c. And to keep the people still awake by allarming them with new dangers they caused Letters to be read in the House which were said to come from Amsterdam intimating intelligence from Denmark of a great Army ready prepared there to be transported for England and to land at Hull upon some dangerous enterprize The like Letter pretended to come from Newmarket then produced and another from France Whereupon having receiv'd a Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London in which great Thanks was given to the House for ordering the Militia of the City as they had done with their resolutions therein signified to obey the same As also another from the Cinque-Ports desiring that those places might be strongly guarded and fortified and the Kingdom put into a Posture they ordered that every of his Majesties Forts and Castles should be presently fortified with an Hundred men of the Trained Bands next adjoining to them and ten pieces of Ordinance to each place Also that no Forces should be admitted into Hull without the consent of the Lords and Commons and that Instructions should be sent thither for the farther fortifying of that place Likewise upon another pretended discovery made by one Mr. Cartwright and the Speaker of the House of Commons that they were advertised by Letters from France of an Army preparing there to come for England or Ireland the Lords sent a message to the Commons to let them know that they had designed the Earl of Warwick Vice-Admiral of the Fleet. Whereupon both Houses joyn'd in a Message to the King to inform him of the grounds and reasons of their sending out that Earl as Vice-Admiral without his Majesties consent The King therefore discerning that they had got the Royal Navy into their hands thought it high time to make sure of his Magazine which had been laid up at Hull about two years before part for the service of Ireland and the rest for the security of the North and accordingly rode from York thither for the disposal thereof But when he came to the Gates of that Town Sir Iohn Hotham a member of the House of Commons being a confiding man with the factious party there and by their contrivance got privately thither with Souldiers refused him entrance affirming that in so doing he had the authority of Parliament to bear him out For which insolent act he was declared traiterous by his Majesty and by a special Message so signifyed to both Houses with demand of Justice against him according to the Laws But instead thereof they forthwith not only publish'd a bold Declaration with Votes and order of assistance in the name of both Houses of Parliament justifying Hotham therein
aid from any man nor protection from Heaven when he willingly should fail in these particulars Which pious intentions of his thus declared were of no small advantage to him at that time his Army increasing daily beyond expectation The Rebels therefore hearing which way the King moved beâ—t their course speedily towards him making their Head-quarter in and about Worcester from the four and twentieth of September till the nineteenth of October following Near to which place upon their approach some few Troops of his Majesties under the command of Prince Rupert most happily defeated a far greater number of the Rebel 's principal Cavalry Colonel Sandys Major Douglas and other Commanders with divers other being there slain six Cornets of Horse taken and all this with the loss but of one man Which being the first notable encounter that his Majesties forces had with them and so successful did not a little amaze most of the Rebels party Lest therefore the truth thereof being divulged should dishearten their friends in London and other remote parts they not only caused divers printed Papers to be spread about bragging of it for a special victory but that it might gain the more credit ordain'd a public Thanksgiving in London for the same And to hinder his Majesty from the assistance of his good Subjects under one pretence or other though they had cryed out against his raising an Army by the help of Papists to destroy the Protestant Religion they were not ashamed to make a public Order that if any Papist would bring in considerable sums to them upon the Propositions it should be accepted of As by these subtile devices they had rais'd the flames of Rebellion to this height and deprived the King of all visible means here for the quenching thereof so did they use their utmost endeavours to prevent any help that might be obtained for him from forreign parts as appears by their negotiation with the States of the Vnited Provinces wherein they imploy'd one Walter Strickland with a special Declaration to them complaining of the Prince of Aurange for countenancing the Lord Digby in his making warlike Provisions in those parts for the King's use and in favour of that Lord and other wicked Counsellers and Incendiaries to have licensed experienced Officers and Souldiers to resort into this Kingdom in aid of his Majesty against the Parliament Scandalizing the King also that his Councils were corrupted by a Jesuitical faction and that he had drawn his sword for the destruction of his people desiring therefore that his Majesty might have no manner of Supplies from thence and withall insinuating how near a relation there was betwixt that model into which they aimed to cast this Government and the State of those Provinces and that therefore they expected assistance from them Nor did they rest here as is evident from those Instructions which were brought up by a Committee to be sent into Holland for this Mr. Strickland upon the 29th of February an 1643 by which he was to represent to the States of those Provinces that the Parliament of England did only strive for Reformation of that Religion and State they live in and therefore desired those States that they would now afford them their Brotherly assistance as they had formerly assisted them As also that they would enlarge their union to other Princes and lend them some money upon the public faith of both Kingdoms and the rather because they made Reformed Churches the pattern of their endeavours Neither could they be silent at home but the more to stir up the people inculcated to them that the King had raised an Army by the help of Papists the corrupt part of the Clergy the Delinquent Nobility and Gentry and some notable Traitors beyond-Sea that they had liberty to rob and spoil all sorts of people as also to exact Money and Plate from Corporations by threatning Fire and Sword to the refusers that he had hired a Scotchman to murther Sir Iohn Hotham that by violent oppressions he had exhausted the parts about Shrewsbury and that the Cavaliers were hungry for the wealth of London and the fruitful Counties adjacent that if he should prevail there was no expectation but that all would be exposed to the malice and rapine of his ravenous Souldiers and all honest and religious mens throats cut And therefore that the means of curing and preventing these dangers must be by Loan and contribution to the Earl of Essex's Army which was not inferior in number to the King 's besides better armed full pay'd c. but above all well encouraged and instructed in the Cause by the labour of many Godly and painful Divines and therefore that all Trained Bands Voluntiers c. in all places should assist the Lord General c. Whereunto they added these ensuing Votes viz. 1. That such persons as should not contribute to the charge of the Common-wealth in this time of Necessity should be held sit to be secured and disarmed 2. That the Fines Rents c. of Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans c. and of such notorious Delinquents who had taken up Arms against the Parliament or had been active in the Commission of Array should be sequestred for the use and service of the Common-wealth 3. That the King's revenues should be brought into the several Courts and other places where they ought to be paid in and not issued out until farther order was taken by both Houses of Parliament And to sum up all they set forth another Declaration and Protestation wherein they did in the presence of Almighty God protest and declare to this Kingdom and the whole World that no private passion or respect nor evil intention to his Majesties person no design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authority had engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms c. that they had professed their Loyalty by several Remonstrances that they had passed by ignominious Slanders c. that for the avoiding of blood they had directed the Earl of Essex by himself or others to cause an humble Petition to be delivered to his Majesty to return in peace to his Parliament that his Majesty had refused to yield safe conduct for the delivery thereof that he was engaged to the Popish-party for suppression and extirpation of the true Religion and exposing the wealth of this Kingdom to be plundered and spoil'd by Cavaliers c. contrary to his solemn Oaths Protestations and Execrations and therefore that they resolved to enter a solemn Oath and Covenant to defend this Cause with the hazard of their lives against the King's Army And that they expected help from the Brethren of Scotland herein His Majesty therefore having in a very short time and beyond expectation raised an indifferent Army though his wants of many accomodations were very great finding no means of Peace or Safety but by the hazard of Battel which the Rebels eagerly sought casting himself wholly upon
Laws and Liberty of the Subject to establish Popery and to set up an arbitrary Government for prevention whereof both Houses and the whole Realm should enter into a solemn Covenant never to lay down Arms so long as the Popish-party for so they called the King's forces were on foot and Papists and Delinquents protected from the Justice of the Parliament but to assist the Forces rais'd by authority of the two Houses of Parliament against the Forces rais'd by the King Which solemn Oath and Covenant thus drawn up was then taken by both Houses and within ten days following throughout all the Parishes of London And because the poor Country-people might throughout England be all caught upon one day they passed an Order of both Houses that a Public Thanksgiving should be made throughout the whole Kingdom on Thursday the thirteenth of Iuly following for the discovery of the late Plot at which time this Oath and Covenant should be tendred to every man in the several Parishes Also to secure the Pulpit-men the more cordially to them and to make them the more active in stirring up the people upon all occasions they made an Ordinance for calling an Assembly of Divines in order to the setting up of the Presbyterian Government Which Assembly was to consist of ten of the House of Lords and twenty of the House of Commons whose names are therein express'd and the rest Ministers all of the Presbyterian gang excepting three or four whom though for the more credit of that Convention they nominated there was little reason to expect any of their company The Preamble of which Ordinance runs thus Whereas amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this Nation none is or can be more dear unto us then the purity of our Religion And for that as yet many things remain in the Liturgy Discipline and Government of the Church which do necessarily require a farther and more perfect Reformation than as yet hath been attained And whereas it hath been declared and resolved by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that the present Church-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and other Eccleastical Officers depending upon the Hierarchy is justly offensive and burthensome to the Kingdom a great impediment to Reformation and growth of Religion and very prejudicial to the State and Government of this Kingdom and that therefore they are resolved that the same shall be taken away and that such a Government shall be setled in the Church as may be most agreeable to God's holy word and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the Church at home and neerer agreement with the Church of Scotland and other reformed Churches abroad c. be it ordained c. 'T was no marvail indeed that they at Westminster bestir'd themselves so hard for by this time the success of his Majesties Armies was such that he had by God's blessing regained the greatest part of the North and West parts of this Realm and did daily so increase in strength that to uphold their Cause they bethought themselves of calling in their Brethren the Scots for aid Wherefore having prepared a Declaration to discover another dangerous Plot to extirpate the Protestant Religion in England Ireland and Scotland they agreed that some of their Members viz. the Lork Grey of Wark Sir William Ayrmia and Mr. Darley should go into Scotland to desire help from thence and prepare Instructions for them with Letters of Credence with promise that they should have allowance for the charge of such forces as they should send and that the debts they already owed them should be paid out of the lands of the Papists and Prelatical party in Northumberland Cumberland and Bishoprick of Durham Which Commissioners did accordingly set forwards upon the xxith of Iuly But about this time the Earl of Essex their General made complaint to them by Letters for want of Horse Arms c. and proposed to them a Treaty for peace Whereunto answer was soon made by the resolution of their House of Commons who debated the same that by their late Vow and Covenant they had bound themselves never to lay down Arms so long as the Papists for so they call'd the King's forces which were then in Arms against them should have protection from the Justice of the Parliament sending him word that they would recruit his Troops according to his desire And to complement their Western General Sir William Waller whose heartiness to the Cause suted so well with theirs they ordered five thousand pounds to be sent down to him and given as a Largess to his Souldiers the more to encourage them in that service But the certain charge of their Rebellious Armies did so vastly increase as was truly foretold by Mr. Green Chairman to their Committee for the Navy upon the sixth of December before viz. that the maintenance of the Lord General 's Army would for the ensuing year amount to above a million of Money that of the Navy having been two hundred and forty thousand pounds for the year passed and that without delay they must of necessity settle a round and constant Tax for maintenance thereof they therefore passed an Ordinance for Excise or new Impost upon Wine Beer Ale Cider Perry Raisins Figs Currans Sugar Spices wrought and raw Silks Furrs Hats Laces Lether Linnen of all sorts Thread Wier c. and for sweetning its relish with the people gave it out that part of its income should pay Debts for which the Public faith was engaged Moreover to raise men as well as money their Western-Army being then destroy'd at Round-way-down the Citizens had a meeting at Grocer's Hall where they made new Subscriptions to set up Sir William Waller again For the better furthering whereof there were new Petitions framed from London Westminster and Southwark and presented to the House of Commons that all the Kingdom might rise as one man against the Common Enemy and that the Parliament would give power to a Committee to list so many of the Petitioners as were willing to go out in their own persons as also to take the Subscriptions of others for the raising a considerable Body of Horse and Foot and that the like course might be taken throughout the Kingdom by a confiding Committee In pursuance whereof both Houses made an Ordinance for raising seven thousand Horse in London Middlesex and the Counties adjacent to be commanded by the Lord Kymbolton afterwards Earl of Manchester and of Eleven hundred Horse in the Counties of Bedford Buckingham Northampton and Hertford to be commanded by Sir Iohn Norwich In Norfolk and Suffolk Eleven hundred by Sir Miles Hobart in Surrey Sussex Southampton and Berkshire fourteen hundred by Colonel Richard Norton And all these thus to be rais'd to resist the Insolencies of the King's Army Certain it is
that though the Committee which were sent to bring in the Scots went but lately thither yet the Brethren there having had former advertisements how great a necessity here was of them to the end their Friends should not faint hasted over a Declaration hither whereby they signified that whereas the Kingdom of England had a long time suffered by the Popish and malignant Counsels about his Majesty and that the miseries in England were but preparations to theirs they therefore did resolve to assist the Parliament of England And high time it was for their forces in most parts going by the worst it put them upon new contrivances every day So that Sir William Waller was fain to come again to the House and take the Covenant a second time to encourage some that had not taken it before And though the Committee which met at Merchant-Taylor's-Hall for raising the people of the land as one man did give direction to the Aldermen and their Deputies in every Ward with the Ministers Common-Council-men and others to promote the work as being the last Refuge of the people for so they express'd and no vain bait or allurement yet saw they so little fruit of this great endeavour that they were constrain'd to effect that by their power which they could not do by perswasion and therefore ordered the raising of two thousand men in Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgshire every man to have a months pay in his pocket And for a speedy supply of more they passed two Ordinances One that the Committee for the Militia of London with the Deputy-Lieutenant's and Committees of Parliament in every County throughout the Kingdom should have power to raise levy and impress such numbers of Souldiers as should be appointed by both Houses of Parliament The other for pressing no less than twenty thousand men with so many Gunners Trumpets and Chirurgeons as should be thought fit for the six associated Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Cambridg Hertford and Huntington with the City of Norwich and Isle of Ely to be rais'd within the said Counties for the service of the Kingdom and Parliament And notwithstanding all this being in a declining condition by reason that their moneys were spent their men wore out and no small discontents amongst themselves in order to some recruit they made an explanation of their old Ordinance for Sequestration of Delinquents with certain enlargements wherein is set forth who were to be reputed Delinquents over and besides such as were described in the former Ordinance with power to examine upon Oath for discovery as also Rewards to Discoverers And likewise passed another Ordinance relating to a former for the speedy raising of a body of Horse for the Preservation Peace and Safety of the Kingdom to resist the Insolencies and outrages committed by the Souldiers of the King's Army those being the words thereof By which they farther ordained that Tenants should pay the Assesments out of their Landlords estates and defalk them out of their Rents But that which they then chiefly look'd on being the assistance of the Scots whereon they principally depended as their last refuge to keep up the hearts of their then drooping party they made it their business therefore to cry up loudly the aid of these their dear Brethren For which respect it will not I suppose be impertinent to make here a short digression in shewing by what means they were dealt with in order to this their second Invasion CHAP. XVI AFter the English Committee was arriv'd in Scotland and had made large promises to the Brethren of an advantagious journey viz. the lands of the Church by the extirpation of Episcopacy the Scots well resenting so beneficial an offer did set forth a Proclamation whereby pretending the King's Person their Religion and Priviledges of Parliament to be in no small danger for preservation of these they required that all persons in that Realm of what sort quality or degree soever between sixteen and sixty years of age should forthwith fit themselves with fourty days Victual Amunition Arms and all other warlike Provision under penalty of confiscation of their whole Estates and to be punished as Enemies to Religion King and Kingdoms And having set forth a plausible Declaration shewing the reasons of such their intended assistance to the Parliament of England against the Papists and Prelatical party as they therein express'd they passed an Act in their convention of Estates for putting that Kingdom into a Posture of Defence naming therein the principal Colonels and Officers for that purpose To accomplish likewise their cheif design of enjoying the Church-Lands they fram'd a new Oath called the solemn League and Covenant Which was forthwith sent over into England and read in the House of Commons at Westminster thence to be transmitted to the Assembly of Divines for their approbation and being by them approved was remitted to the House of Commons And that the grand Contrivers at Westminster might the more ingratiate themselves with those their Brethren of Scotland they passed an Ordinance for demolishing all Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry as they intituled it In which was particularized the removal of all Communion-Tables from the East end of the Chancels in every Church as also for taking away the Rails which defended them levying the Chancels where the East part was higher with removing of Tapers Candlesticks and Basins For the speedy raising of more Moneys they likewise passed another Ordinance for fourteen thousand pounds to furnish one or more Magazines of Arms and Amunition and for raising of Horse c. Which sum was to be levied within the Hamlets of the Tower City of Westminster Burrough of Southwark and other places of Middlesex and Surrey within the lines of Communication Hitherto it was only pretended that those new Regiments of Voluntiers rais'd by the Ordinance of April the xiith for the better security of the City of London should not go out of the Lines of Communication But as Mr. Pym in his Epistle to Sir Iohn Hotham concerning Excise wrote that they must be used to it by little and little so now they began to shew them what they must trust to and passed another Ordinance to enable the Committee for the Militia of London to command forth one or more Regiments of the Trained-Bands or Auxiliaries within the Liberties of London and Westminster to go forth under the command of Sir William Waller and upon occasion to be assistant to the Lord General And herein I cannot but observe an excellent expression made to the House of Commons by Mr. Oliver St. Iohn sometime his Majesties Sollicitor General but then a dear Member and special Contriver in this great work in answer to Mr. Iohn Pym who seemed to stand strict for observing the Ordinance of April the xiith alleaged that though those men by that Ordinance raised only for the defence of the City were not to
go out of the line of Communication yet now that they were rais'd they meaning the Parliament might dispose of them whether they pleased without asking their consents And whereas the first Ordinance for Excise was but only for maintenance of the Army and paiment of Debts due by the Common-wealth they passed another wherein was a consideration added for securing of Trade which occasioned the enlargement thereof upon such Commodities as had not been formerly tax'd besides an alteration of the rates Which Commodities were Strong-waters Medicinal-Drugs Haberdashers-ware Vpholsters ware Salt Sallets Sope all sorts of Woollen-cloth Paper Skins and Glasses Having also thus taught the new Auxiliaries the force of an Ordinance of Parliament they passed another for the pressing of five thousand men in the Cities of London and Westminster with the Counties adjacent to go under the command of Sir William Waller And to hasten on the march of their Brethren the Scots to their aid and assistance the Members of the House of Commons with great formality and no less seeming devotion entred into that unhappy Combination called the solemn League and Covenant so fram'd in Scotland in St. Margarets-Church at Westminster Which under the specious veil of Reformation was that fatal Engine whereby not only the Hierarchy in the Church was by them soon after destroyed and the patrimony thereof with the Lands and Revenues of the Crown swallow'd up by those pretenders to Godliness but the sacred Person of the King most inhumanly murthered and this ancient and long flourishing Monarchy so far as 't was in their power wholly subverted and destroy'd as to the whole world is most notorious In the Preamble whereunto they had the confidence to say that this their League and Covenant was according to the commendable practise of these Kingdoms and the Example of God's people in other Nations Whereas there is not only no mention of any such things by our Historiographers nor in the History of any other Realm that I have ever seen excepting that of the Holy League in France whereof I shall take farther notice ere I finish this work but Mr. Philip Nye one of their mighty Champions for the Cause and an especial assertor of this Covenant hath expresly affirmed in print that it is such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances the like hath not been in any age or Oath we read of in sacred or humane stories And it is also observable that whereas in the Preamble they farther affirm that they did it to preserve themselves and their Religion which must needs be intended the known Religion publickly profess'd and by Law establish'd in the Church of England from ruine and destruction they immediatly vow to reform Religion here in England according to the pattern of the Kirk of Scotland and to extirpate Episcopacy and all Ecclesiastical Offices depending thereon Notwithstanding they knew full well First that the King was by his Coronation Oath sworn to maintain and defend the Bishops and the Churches under their charge Secondly that all the Clergy of England had testified their approbation of Episcopal Government by personal Subscriptions thereto and thirdly that by a solemn Protestation made and framed by themselves in that very Parliament and recommended by them to be taken by all the people of England they had oblig'd themselves neither for hope nor fear or other respect to relinquish the true Protestant Religion express'd in the Doctrine of the Church of England But all this Pageantry in their thus taking of that solemn League and Covenant could not allay the loud clamours of the people occasion'd by the great pressures and daily exactions under which they miserably groaned the Members therefore were constrain'd to betake themselves to another way for the easing them at least in shew and this was by an Ordinance for selling the King's Queen's and Princes revenues and the arrearages thereof as also to another for felling and cutting down Woods within sixty miles of London in all Forests Chases and Parks belonging to the King or Queen or any Arch-bishop Bishop Dean and Chapter c. Papist Delinquent Malignant c. to be disposed of for supply of the City of London Which seeming favour was for no other purpose than that they might afterwards bring the greater load upon them as they did ere long For within few days upon a jugling Report made to the House of a Pope's Bull translated into English with a Declaration upon it which was pretended to be newly sent into England for the more effectual prosecuting of the Catholic war here a Committee of the House of Commons and of the Assembly of Divines came to a Common-Hall in London to consult with the Citizens for the speedy raising of an hundred thousand pounds for the advance of the Scottish Army to be lent for that service and repay'd when moneys were procured from forreign parts upon the public faith of both Kingdoms And to obtain more men as well as money there issued out another Order that the Committee for the Militia or London should have power to appoint six Regiments of their Trained-Bands and one of their Auxiliaries as also one Regiment of Horse and Dragoons to march out with their Commanders and joyn with the Earl of Essex's Forces Likewise an Ordinance for the pressing of five thousand Souldiers more to be sent to the Islands of Ieresey and Garnsey under the command of the Earl of Warwick those Trained-Bands being appointed to meet in St. Iames Fields and from thence to march unto such place as the Earl of Essex or his Officers should appoint and in default thereof their Shops to be shut up themselves depriv'd of Trade and liable to expulsion out of the lines of Communication And about the same time they passed another Ordinance for assessing the Twenty fifth part upon all Members of Parliament who then were either in the King's Army or otherwise absent their estates to be let in case of not paiment And having lately sped so well upon credit of the public faith they adventured again upon the same security recommending to the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex and Lincoln with the City of Norwich the aid of the Lord Fairfax in Men Money Plate Horse and Amunition passing an Ordinance for repaiment of what should be lent for the speedy bringing in of the Scots to their assistance and securing it in the mean time by the before-mention'd public faith But the reputation of the public faith was now grown so low that moneys came not in either quick enough or in such large sums as were expected it being left arbitrary to the Creditors what they would lend another Ordinance therefore was passed for raising the full sum of sixty six thousand six hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence within the Cities of London and Westminster with the Counties of Hertford Bedferd Middlesex Essex Suffolk
Norfolk Kent Surrey Sussex Cambridg Isle of Ely Huntington Northampton and Rutland and the Cities of Norwich and Canterbury for the better enabling their Brethren of Scotland to assist in the Common-cause of Religion and Liberty Which Ordinance had such a succesful effect that it accelerated the conclusion of the Treaty at Edenborough then on foot betwixt the Commissioners sent into Scotland from the Members sitting at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland for aid from their Brethren of that Kingdom insomuch as upon the xxixth of November the Articles were there signed whereby inter alia in the first place it was agreed that the Covenant represented to the Convention of Estates and general Assembly of Scotland and formerly sent to both Houses of the Parliament of England for by that name those members then sitting at Westminster stiled themselves should be sworn and subscribed by both Kingdoms as a most near Tie and Conjunction between them for their mutual defence against the Papists and Prelatical faction and their adherents in both Kingdoms and for pursuance of the ends expressed in that Covenant And next that an Army to that purpose should be forthwith levyed consisting of eighteen thousand foot two thousand Horse and one thousand Dragoons effective with a sutable Train of Artillery to be ready at some general Rendezvouz near the Borders of England to march into England for the purposes aforesaid with all convenient speed the same Foot and Horse to be well and compleatly armed and provided of Victuals and pay for fourty days In contemplation of which aid from Scotland and that those their Brethren might not want encouragement in that their necessary assistance Mr. William Strode made a motion in the House that all those who would neither contribute nor take the Covenant should have a price put upon them and be sent to Sea that something might be given for them who would give nothing of themselves And shortly after by other Ordinances the Customs upon all Merchandizes were advanc'd to a tenth part under pretence of defending the Towns and Ports of Plymouth St. Nicolas Isle with the Towns of Pâ—ol and Lime and places adjacent As also additional Articles to the Ordinance for the Excise Besides this the sum of three thousand pounds a month was assessed upon the associated Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgshire c. towards the maintenance of the Lord General 's Army Likewise thirteen hundred pounds toward the support of Sir William Waller's Forces which were raising in Kent And about the same time they made void the places and Offices of all Clerks in any of the Courts at Westminster who had in any sort adher'd to the King But amongst all their Impositions and Taxes there was none came in so amply and insensibly as the Excise wherewith the vulgar were by that time in some sort acquainted And therefore according to Mr. Pym's principle the Houses pass'd another Ordinance for a new Excise upon Flesh Victuals and Salt ever heartning on the people with hopes of ease and now most especially because the Scots Army was ready to march which was represented to be so formidable as that it would put a sudden end to the work Which Army according to a Declaration they then set forth wherein they did cast divers scandals upon his Majesty and justified that most perfidious action invaded this Realm upon the xvth of Ianuary passing the Twede at Barwick notwithstanding their frequent reiterated Oaths Promises and National Covenant viz. that whensoever his Majesties Honour and Interest should be in danger they would as one man obliged by the Laws of God and man apply themselves to his succour and defence CHAP. XVII ANd now that I come to their second Invasion forasmuch as the main end of this Narrative is historically to shew the growth and effects of Presbytery in England which had its chief rise and production from Scotland it will not be improper to take notice that though by their first Invasion in an 1639 they had not only made way for the setting up that Discipline here but before their departure laid a seeming sure foundation for the firm and perfect establishment thereof yet such was the success that the King had against those fiery spirited men that he was then become totally master of the feild throughout the West and many other parts of this Kingdom divers of their strong-Holds being likewise gained and consequently in a very hopeful way to have reduced that perverse Generation to an absolute obedience with whom no fair invitation and condescension on his part though with all earnestness frequently sought could prevail to make them return to their due allegiance by kindness and love But it so fell out that this their second Invasion the first fruit of their solemn League and Covenant with so numerous and powerful an Army raised cheifly by the influence of their Preachers in that Realm and brought in with the Prayers of the Boutefeus here the Pulpits daily ringing with loud cryes and groans for hastening the slow feet of their dear Brethren to their aid became fatal to his Majesty For the Marquess of Newcastle who lay then in Sunderland with his Army consisting of about 7000 men which he had raised in the North being thereupon constrain'd to make his retreat towards York left all those parts to the rapine and spoil of the Scots The Scene being therefore by this means thus unhappily chang'd his Majesty who foresaw the Cloud approaching having by Proclamation dated 22 Dec. called all the Peers of this Realm which had any sense of Honour and likewise all those Members of the House of Commons that upon the Principles of Loyalty and duty had faithfully adhered to him in these his distresses to attend him at Oxford upon the xxiith of Ianuary did there represent unto them this their second Invasion desiring their speedy advice and assistance both what was to be said or done therein as well in reference to This as That Kingdom Whereupon those worthy persons so assembled notwithstanding they saw that many of his Majesties gracious offers of Treaty for peace to the Lords and Commons then sitting at Westminster had been rejected and taking into consideration that those Lords and Commons had upon pain of death prohibited the address of any Letters or Message to them otherwise than by their General the Earl of Essex they did by a special Letter bearing date the 27th of the same month of Ianuary recommend unto him their most earnest desire that he would faithfully and industriously cooperate with them in a right sense of the then past present and more threatning future calamities of this Kingdom by obtaining that some persons might be appointed on either part and a place agreed on to treat for such a peace as might redeem it from desolation Which Letter was signed by the Prince the Duke of
his desire And having no Answer to that neither he sent a third whereby he offered upon engagement for his freedome and safety in going and returning to come himself to London or Westminster for the space of fourty days and there to treat personally with them offering to commit the Militia of this Realm unto certain persons to be nominated by himself and them equally for such a time and with such powers and limitations as were delivered in by a paper upon the Treaty at Uxbridg After which third Message he received their Answer to his second which was the refusal of a safe-conduct to the Duke and those other who were design'd to go saying that they then had certain Propositions and Bills under consideration which they purposed to tender unto his Majestie for the setling of a safe and well grounded peace as they call'd it which after agreement upon them by the Scotch-Commissioners they resolv'd to present unto him The King not satisfied with this sent a fourth Message whereby he earnestly pressed their embracing his offer for a personal Treaty with them at Westminster And after expectance of an Answer thereto for the space of full twenty days and hearing nothing he sent them a fifth Message to the same purpose enlarging his offers for his People's quiet in sundry particulars But whilst this message was upon the way towards them came an answer to his fourth absolutely negative as to his admittance for coming to them still telling him of the Propositions and Bills which they were preparing to send Which Answer being wholly unsatisfactory and apparently manifesting their aversness to peace he sent a sixth Message to them incessantly importuning their speedy Answer to his former and within few days after a seventh wherein he expressed somewhat in confutation of those frivolous Arguments which they had used against his Personal Treaty with them continuing his desires thereof Certain it is that as they grew in strength and power so their Insolence which thus prompted them to decline all good expedients for accommodation increased more and more Nevertheless his Majestie not totally despairing but that by farther condescensions he might move this hard-hearted Generation sent unto them his eighth Message whereby acquitting himself from having any hand in some passages of the Lord Herbert of Ragland then called Earl of Glamorgan in Ireland which he well knew that they would be apt enough to scandalize him with he offer'd that in case they would admit him to come to London in order to a personal Treaty with them he would leave the management of the War in Ireland wholly to themselves as also the nomination of the Persons to be entrusted with the Militia with such power and limitations as were express'd in the Paper delivered by his Commissioners in the Treaty at Uxbridge for the Term of seven years as had been by them desired Likewise the nomination of the Lord Admiral Officers of State and Judges And for Religion to give liberty that all those who were unwilling to communicate with the Church of England in the Service already establisht by Act of Parliament should not be urged thereto provided that all other Protestants behaving themselves peaceably and quietly in and towards the Civil Government should have the free exercise of theirs tendring also unto them a general Act of Pardon and oblivion Which gracious Message so full of condescension produced from them nothing in effect but Scorn and Contempt For though the King caused the Lord Herbert for that his misdemeanor in Ireland to be arrested upon suspicion of Treason and imprisoned they traduced his Majestie with under-hand-compliance therein affirming that he had given that Lord a private Commission with command to manage it with all secrecie and that it contain'd such odious and shamefull things as himself blusht publickly to own or impart to the Marquess of Ormond his Lieutenant there And whereas he had in his said Message most graciously tendred them all that the most wicked and guilty persons could desire or wish viz. Liberty for their Consciences safety for their Persons security for their Estates greatness for their desires and peace to enjoy all nothing would be accepted insomuch as after a full months expectation of some return upon those his offers and hearing nothing by His ninth Message he pressed them for some Answer but all to no purpose For like as a Shadow pursued they still fled from him whereupon after the stay of one month more he sent them His tenth Message wherein taking notice of the duty he owed to God and sense of his peoples miseries that no means might be left unattempted which could conduce to a safe and well-grounded peace he offer'd unto them that in case he might have the Faith of both their Houses of Parliament for the preservation of his Honour Person and Estate and liberty given to all his faithfull Subjects who had adhered to him to go to their own Houses and there enjoy their estates peaceably without compelling to take any Oath that was not enjoyned by the undoubted Laws of the Kingdome or other molestation he would immediately disband all his Forces dismantle his Garrisons return to his two Houses of Parliament pass an Act of Oblivion and free pardon there and doe whatsoever else they should advise him to for the good and peace of the Kingdome But these great Masters who to captivate the people before they had got sufficient power into their hands had by their most solemn Protestations and Declarations which are publisht in Print to the world profess'd in the presence of Almighty God and for the satisfaction of their consciences and discharge of that great Trust which lay upon them as they then exprest made their solemn Protestation and Declaration to this Kingdome and Nation and to the whole World that no private passion or respect no evil intention to His Majesties person no design to the prejudice of His just Honour and Authority engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms c. And again we profess from our very Hearts and Souls our Loyalty and Obedience to his Crown readiness and resolution to defend his Person and support his Estate with our Lives and Fortunes to the utmost of our power c. Moreover we profess we desire nothing from his Majesty but that he would return in peace to his Parliament And again We profess in the sight of Almighty God which is the strongest obligation that a Christian and the most solemn publick Faith which any such State as a Parliament can give that we would receive him with all Honour yield him all true obedience and subjection and faithfully endeavour to defend his person and estate from all danger and to the utmost of our power to establish to him and his people all the blessings of a most glorious and happy reign Nevertheless so obdurate were their Hearts being then rais'd to an height of confidence that
cleared and those difficulties explained to him which he then conceived to be destructive to his just regal power in case he should give a full consent to those Propositions as they then stood Engaging himself to give his chearful assent to all such Bills as should be really to the good and peace of his people and to prefer the happiness of this Kingdome before his own particular And as a farther means to work a confidence in them of his own sincerity in these things he offered again to trust them with his own person conjuring them as they were Christians and Subjects and as they were men who desired to leave a good name behind them so to receive and make use of that his Answer that all issues of bloud might be stopped and those unhappy distractions peaceably setled But as his former gracious and frequent offers so this could not then find any acceptance at all with them by reason that it tended to the composure of those lamentable distractions which tended to the utter ruine of the King and Realm their aims at first and continued resolutions still being to share the spoyl which by their strength and power they had most unjustly got Nay in stead of any kindness or comfort which he might rationally expect from their many and most solemn promises and protestations they perpetually tormented his pious Soul with incessant importunities to take their hypocritical Covenant and sent for several of their most rigid Preachers to terrify him with their Kirk-censures upon his refusal thereof In which sad and disconsolate condition I shall for a while leave him and take a short view of the transactions betwixt the Members sitting at Westminster and those at Edenborough with their respective Commissioners The principal work being now done here in England by the help of the Scots the Grandees here as well as others began to be weary of their dear Brethren and for the sooner riddance of them passed a Vote that a Message should be sent to the Scottish Army that in regard they were not usefull in this Kingdome for the present and that the payment thereof would be a great burthen thereto they should with all convenient speed return into their Country But the Scots never intending to be loosers by their journey hither knowing full well how to make the best use of those advantages they then had gave their dear Brethren very good words telling them in their answer to the demands made in pursuance of that Vote that their earnest desires were the setling of Religion and Church Government which as it was the principal ground of their engagement in this Cause so would the perfecting of it be their chiefest joy and Glory of both Kingdomes it being the constant resolution of that Kingdome against all opposition to strengthen and cherish the Brotherly kindness between the Kingdomes and Peace setled with Truth and those things performed by the Honourable Houses which by Treaty they were obliged unto to recall their Army with as great alacrity as they were ready to send the same into England for the assistance of their Brethren And in another Letter speaking of the Arrears due to their Army they had these words This Kingdome lyeth under the burthen of great and vast expence in raising and entertaining of Armies and hath with the lives of many precious men set their own Houses on fire to quench the flame of yours And seeing by the seasonable assistance afforded by this Kingdome to you and by the late successes wherewith God hath blessed your Armies you are in a great measure freed of your troubles and are in a far better capacity to pay the moneys due to our Armies in England and Ireland than you were at any time since the beginning of these Wars we demand of the honourable houses to make payment of the summs of money duly owing to this Kingdome ¶ The state of things standing thus made the Game now to be play'd betwixt these great Masters not a little difficult to each the chief business of the then predominant party at Westminster being to gain the person of the King into their own hands and in case he should not upon the matter totally quit his Regal power to them by taking their Covenant and assenting to those their destructive propositions before-mentioned then to keep him close prisoner and exercise the same power without him And the design of the Scots not onely to use the like Regal-power in Scotland but to get a large sum of mony to boot considering that having the King in their hands the Grandees there were able to make their own terms on the behalf of themselves as to Riches and Honours There was therefore no means unessayed by each for accomplishing their respective ends But the Arguments and debates about this business continuing no less than six months before all things were fully agree'd I shall reserve my observations upon them till then and in the mean time take notice of what else did occur that is most remarkable in order to the carrying on their main work and divide the same into two parts the one touching their attempts upon the King in relation to the Covenant and Propositions the other towards the advancement of the Scepter of Iesus Christ for by that title they called their Presbyterean Doctrine and Discipline As to the first About the beginning of September Iames Duke Hamilton Lindsey Earl of Craford the Earl of Cassiles and some others from the Estates of Scotland came to Newcastle to the King and there earnestly solicited him to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions To second which motion there was a petition presented to His Majesty from the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland for Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant and uniformity of Church government denouncing God's anger upon him and the hazard to lose the Hearts of his good subjects in case he assented not thereto Soon after which Mr. Andrew Cant Mr. Robert Blayre and Mr. Iames Douglass came thither also to press him to the same purpose To torment him likewise yet more one of these violent men I mean a rigid Presbyterean-preacher besides many rude and uncivil expressions in his Sermon there before the King called for the 52. Psalm to be sung by the congregation which beginneth thus Why do'st thou Tyrant boast abroad thy wicked works to praise Whereupon His Majesty instantly stood up and called for the 56. Psalm beginning thus Have mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour Which the people readily sung waving the other Nay the fierceness of these Scottish-presbyters against His Sacred Majesty was such as that upon certain Proposals made to those of them who were Commissioners from the general Assembly viz. If the King shall come into Scotland and that the Kingdome of England shall exclude him of the Government there for his leaving them without granting the Propositions Whether or not
under that disguise pretending their desire to make peace with the King presented him with the same Propositions in effect as he had formerly received from the Grandees at Westminster when he lay at Newcastle in custody of the Scots Whereunto he made answer that unto some of them he could not consent without violation of his Conscience and Honour nor to some others for that they were disagreeable to the present condition of affairs as things then stood and destructive to the main and principal Interests of the Army and of all those whose affections concurr'd with them And therefore desired that the Proposals of the Army might be likewise treated on in order to the setling of a lasting peace still urging his desires of a personal Treaty But to this vouchsafing him no reply at all they cast off that veile and proceeded yet farther in brideling the City by Impeaching the Lord Mayor divers Aldermen and some eminent Citizens for having an Hand in the Petition Engagement and Force upon the House of Commons upon the xxvith of Iuly before-mention'd who were thereupon committed to the Tower About this time also for the better encouragement of those that had a mind to buy Bishops Lands they passed an Ordinance whereby the Purchasers were promised to have their Bargains comfirm'd under the great Seal of England And to the end that the multitude of Wild-headed Schismaticks Limbs of this monstrous Independent-Body whose help they might need at a desperate pinch might propagate the more throughout all parts of the Nation a Petition was fram'd and Subscriptions got to it by many thousands of the Godly-party in the City of London and presented to the Houses at Westminster for sending of able gifted men as they call'd them though not of the Clergy to preach the Gospel throughout the whole Kingdome Whereupon Thanks was return'd to the Petitioners by the Houses About this time likewise an Ordinance was brought in to the House of Commons for setling the Church-Government in a Presbyterean-way with a Clause for tender Consciences and such as were Godly and made Conscience of their ways Wherein upon large debate had it was resolved that all manner of Sects should partake of this Indulgence excepting those of the Church of Rome and such as should make use of the Common-prayer according to Law establisht in the Church of England It is not the least observable that as at this time the Independent Grandees were laying the foundation of their own future dominion So the Presbyterean Brethren though then under Hatches were as busy as in such a condition was possible setting on the old-Covenanters in Scotland to make a loud noise as appears by a Letter from their Commissioners then residing at Westminster sent to the two Houses of Parliament chiefly concerning their Lord and Sovereign the King for so they call'd him wherein they took notice that he was still under the power of the Army and of the many Professions and Engagements made by the said Houses to the Kingdome of Scotland viz. that they would take care of the preservation of his person and of his just Power and Greateness which both Kingdomes had sworn as that Letter did import not to diminish Also that they were Informed of some intentions by the Army to remove His Majesty from Hampton-Court And finding that their stability and happiness did so much depend upon the safety and preservation of his royal person being resolv'd that the alteration of affairs should never ☜ separate them from the duty and allegiance they did owe unto him nor from their constant resolution to live in all loyalty under his Government they had often shewn their earnest desires and contributed their utmost endeavours towards the composure of those unhappy differences And that the Houses at Westminster having by their Votes of October the xxvith intimated unto them their resolution to apply themselves to His Majesty as also that they were preparing Propositions to be tendred to him they desired that they might be expedited and communicated to them that according to their many Engagements and relations there might still be a conjunction of Councils in those things which were for the Common-peace and joynt Interest of both Kingdomes And therefore that for the assisting of them in clearing His Majestie 's doubts and for giving mutual satisfaction to each other they desired in the name of the Kingdome of Scotland that there might be a Personal Treaty with His Majesty as the best and readyest means to obtain the joynt desires of both Kingdomes And to that end that the King might be invited to come to London with that Honour Freedome and respect as was due to His Majesty or at least remain at Hampton-Court and not to be under the power and restraynt of the Souldiers But this project of the Scots for a Personal Treaty which might in any sort tend to the good of His Majesty or the people was then set on foot too late the Grandees of the Army at that time driving on another designe in order to his absolute destruction wherein the common Souldiers were to act their parts by those pernicious Instruments called Adjutators which was by making shew to frame certain Articles in order for setling the Liberties of the people and Interest of the Army and this to be called the Agreement of the people To which end they chang'd their Guards putting such upon him as were more strict and discharging well nigh all his Servants whom they had formerly admitted to wait on him The tenor of which Instrument called the Agreement of the people was to this effect 1. That there should be a more equal distribution by Counties Cities and Boroughs for election of their Representatives in Parliament 2. That the Parliament then sitting should be dissolved upon the last day of September anno 1648. then next ensuing 3. That the people might of course choose a Parliament for themselves every two year and to begin on the first Thursday in April then next following and to end upon the last of September ensuing 4. That the people were thenceforth to be declared the Supream-power whereunto that and all future Representatives should be subordinate and accountable This not pleasing the Members at Westminster was by them voted to be the very destruction of the Parliament and fundamental Laws of this Kingdome But no less active were they themselves though in private in framing an Impeachment against the King by the name of Charles Stuart a Committee being appointed to collect together all His Majestie 's Letters and other Papers taken at Navesby or elsewhere to the end they might be ready when the House should have occasion to use them Yet all this while Cromwell who was the very Soul of that party did so play the Ambodexter that he sometimes made shew to the King how well he was pleased with his late Answer to those Propositions from the Houses
was it will not be amiss to consider that Letter written by the Commissioners of Scotland unto the two Houses at Westminster dated the sixth of November then past in reference to the King together with that Answer of the Commissioners of the general Assembly of the Kirk unto certain Proposals made to them anno 1646. touching the King's coming into that Realm upon his exclusion from the Government in England in case of his leaving them without taking the Covenant he being then at Newcastle in custody of the dear Brethren of that Realm Being thus got away from Hampton Court he arrived in the Isle of Wiht upon the thirteenth of November whence incessantly desiring a safe and well-grounded Peace to these Kingdoms he soon sent another Message to the Members at Westminster wherein to shorten that Work he expressed his mind to this effect viz. That conceiving himself to be at much more freedom and security than formerly he thought it necessary to offer such Grounds to the two Houses for that purpose which upon due examination of all Interests might best conduce thereto And therefore as to the abolishing of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. he could not consent to it as he was a Christian and a King first being satisfied in his Iudgment that this Order was placed in the Church by the Apostles themselves and that ever since that time it had continued in all Christian Churches throughout the World till this last Century of years And in this Church in all times of Change and Reformation it had been upheld by the wisedom of his Ancestors as the great Preserver of Doctrine Discipline and Order in the Service of God Next as a King at his Coronation that he had not onely taken a solemn Oath but that himself and his predecessors in their confirmation of the great Charter had inseperably woven the Right of the Church into the Liberties of the rest of the Subjects Nevertheless was willing that it should be provided that the particular Bishops might perform the several Duties of their Callings both by their personal Residence and frequent Preaching in their Diocese as also that they should exercise no Act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent of the Presbyters and to limit their powers that they might not be grievous to tender Consciences Moreover that he could not consent to the Alienation of the Church-lands it being a Sin of the highest Sacrilege conceiving it also to be a prejudice to the publick good many of his Subjects having the benefit of renewing Leases at much easier rates than if those Possessions were in the hands of private men besides the discouragement that it would be to all Learning and Industry when such eminent Rewards shall be taken away yet considering the great distemper concerning Church-Discipline and that the Presbyterean-Government was then in practice to eschew confusion as much as might be and for satisfaction of the two Houses of Parliament was content that the said Government should be legally permitted to stand in the same condition it then was for three years Provided that himself and those of his Iudgement or any other who could not in Conscience submit thereto might not be obliged to comply therewith but have free practice of their own profession And that a free Consultation and Debate might be had with their Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majestie 's nomination being added to them whereby it might be determined by his said Majesty and the two Houses how the Church-Government after that time should be setled or sooner if differences might be agreed as should be most agreeable to the Word of God with full Liberty to all those who should differ upon consciencious grounds from that settlement Provided that it might not be understood to tolerate those of the Popish-profession nor to exempt those from the penalty of the Laws or tolerate Atheism or Blasphemy 2. As to the Militia though it was undoubtedly the inherent right of the Crown yet to evidence his desire to secure the performance of such Agreement as should be made in order to a Peace his Majesty was content that during his whole reign it should be disposed of by his two Houses of Parliament 3. As to the Arrears of the Army that he should concur in any thing that might be done without violation of his Conscience and Honour 4. As to the Disposal of the great Offices of State and Naming of Privy-Councillers he offered the disposing of them for the whole time of his reign by the two Houses of Parliament 5. For the Court of Wards and Liveries that it should be taken away so as a full recompence might be setled on his Majesty his Heirs and Successors in perpetuity 6. That he would consent to the making of all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either House of Parliament null and void So likewise of all Indictments and other proceedings against any person for adhering unto them And that he would pass a general Act of Oblivion 7. That for Ireland he would give satisfaction to them 8. That as to such Acts and Grants passed under his great Seal since the 22th of May 1642. and confirming such as had been passed under that made by the two Houses he would give satisfaction in what might reasonably be desired 9. That for confirmation of all these and whatsoever else might be proposed by the two Houses and also of what he should propose on his own part he did earnestly desire a personal Treaty at London with Honour Freedom and Safety 10. And that the Proposals of the Army concerning the Succession of Parliaments and their due Elections should be taken into consideration 11. So likewise that as to what concern'd the Kingdom of Scotland he would apply himself to give all reasonable satisfaction After the sending of this Message by his Majesty the next thing observable that hapned was a Petition through the influence of the Presbytereans presented to the two Houses at Westminster by the Common-Council of the City of London acknowledging the Parliament for by that Title they then call'd those Members sitting at Westminster to be the Supream Power in this Kingdom and inter alia praying that the Covenant might be duly observed No wonder then that his Majestie 's gracious Message of November the xvjth was so little regarded as that he had no Answer at all thereto upon the sixth of December following he therefore put them in mind of it still pressing for a personal Treaty Whereunto insted of an Answer they sent him four Bills to be assented unto by him as preparatory to a Treaty These were those four Dethroning Bills which if passed into Acts as they required might have saved the labour of a Treaty Unto which for Answer his Majesty made these most prudent and rational Observations 1. That the Commissioners of Scotiand had openly protested against them 2. To allow of that great Seal made by them without his
authority before consideration should be had thereupon in a Treaty might afterwards hazard the security it self 3. That these Bills did not onely contain the devesting himself of all Sovereignty and that without possibility of recovering it either to Himself or his Successors except by Repeal of them but also making his Concessions guilty of the greatest Pressures that could be upon his Subjects as in other particulars so by giving an arbitrary and unlimited Power to the two Houses for ever to raise and levy Forces for land or sea service of what persons without distinction of quality and to what numbers they should please and likewise for levying money for their Pay So that these their Proposals being thus destructive to Himself and his Successors he in that his Answer declared That neither the desire of being freed from that tedious and irksome condition of life he had so long suffered nor the apprehension of what might befall him in case they would not afford him a personal Treaty should make him change his resolution of not consenting to any Act till the whole Peace were concluded still earnestly pressing for a personal Treaty with them It being now visible enough that Independency grew up every day more and more the Brethren of Scotland became so sensible thereof that the Assembly of Divines of that Kirk wrote to those sitting at Westminster passionately desiring them to adhere unto the Covenant and constantly to endeavour the extirpation of Heresie and Schism in the Church of England And to second that came another Letter to the Members of both Houses sitting at Westminster from the scotish-Scotish-Commissioners wherein was inclosed a large Declaration in which are these Expressions There be some things which properly concern the Kingdom of England their Rights Laws and Liberties But there be other matters which in their own nature as being common to both or by Covenant or Treaty concern both Kingdoms wherein unless we should forget our duty to God to the King's Majesty to our native Kingdom and to this Nation our common Concernment and Interest cannot be denyed For as Scotland was invited and engaged in this War upon grounds and reasons of common Interest so we trust it will not be offensive that in making Peace we claim from the Houses an improvement of the very same principles and a performance of the Treaties they have made with us that the same measure of conjunction of Interest be given to us which was had of us and promised unto us wherein the very Law of Nations and the Rules of common Equity doth plead for us Yet in the application of this Rule we shall not stretch our selves beyond our lines the express condition of our Solemn League and Covenant the duty of our Allegeance and the Treaties and Declarations between the Kingdoms which are so many strong Obligations as all who have Honour or Conscience must acknowledge should be inviolably observed Having laid this as a most just and solid ground of our proceedings we shall speak of the best and most probable means to procure a good agreement with the King for setling Religion and a lasting peace and next to the Propositions which are to be the foundation of the peace and safety of both Kingdoms And it is still our opinion and judgment that the most equal fairest and just way to obtain a well-grounded Peace is by a personal Treaty with the King and that his Majesty for that end be invited to come to London with Honour Freedom and Safety And as it is far from our thoughts and intentions in expressing our differences upon the Propositions to provoke or give offence so we trust that our freedom in discharge of the trust committed to us proceeding from our Zeal to Religion Loyalty to the King and Love to Peace shall receive a candid interpretation from the honourable Houses and that they will in their Wisedoms not slight the desires of a Kingdom who in the time of England's greatest danger esteemed no hazard too hard for their assistance and are now seeking nothing but the performance of the mutual Obligations Declarations and Treaties between the two Kingdomes and to prevent the danger which may ensue upon the violation and breach of so solemn Engagements The Houses of Parliament have frequently professed that the cheif end of their wars was the Reformation and Establishment of Religion according to the Covenant and they have often promised and declared to the King and to all the world not without deep attestations of the name of God that no trouble or success should ever make them wrong or diminish the power of the Crown which were the chief motives and arguments that induced Scotland to engage with them in this war Let therefore that be given to God which is God's and to Caesar that which is Caesar's whereby it may be evident that you are not unmindfull of the solemn Vows you made to God in the time of distress for Reformation of Religion and it may also really appear that the advantages and power which success hath put into your hands hath not lessened your loyalty to the King And according to our many professions and near relations let us really and cordially cherish and strengthen the union between the two Kingdomes under His Majesty by all pledges of reciprocal kindness that so Religion and Righteousness may flourish and both Kingdomes languishing under the heavy pressures and calamities of an unnatural war may live in peace and plenty As we cannot agree to this way of sending those four Bills to His Majesty for his assent before any Treaty upon the rest of the Propositions so we are extremely unsatisfied with the matter of those new Propositions lately communicated unto us for the reasons expressed in our answer unto them which we do herewith deliver unto your Lordships to be presented to both Houses of Parliament And we do desire that they would take the whole business into their farther consideration and that there be a personal Treaty with His Majesty here at London upon such Propositions as shall be agreed upon with advice and consent of both Kingdomes according to the Treaty This in general was their Declaration but the particular desires which they exhibited were these viz. that the honourable Houses would establish the solemn League and Covenant and that His Majesty be desired to give his royal assent for confirming the same by Act of Parliament That the setling of Reformation and an uniformity in Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland be inserted in the new Propositions And in particular that the Confession the Directory for worship form of Church-Government and Catechisme agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines be established That effectual course be taken by Act of Parliament for the suppressing of Blasphemy Heresy and Schisme and all scandalous Doctrines and practises as are contrary to the light of Nature or to the known principles of Christianity or the power of Godliness or which may
solemn Fast. in St. Margarets Church at Westminster four of the most zealous Lords being present thereat and of the House of Commons at least Twenty where their Pulpit Buffoon Hugh Peters Preacht to them of bringing the Children of Israel out of Aegyptian Bondage whereunto he Parallel'd the State of this Kingdom And the better to shew how they should be brought out of this Bondage having put his hands before his eyesâ— and laid his head on the Cushion thence rasing it up again after a while he told them that he had a Revelation how to do it which was by Extirpating of Monarchy both here and in all other places In order whereunto they removed the King to Windsor-Castle where it was concluded on by his Guards that all State and Ceremony towards him should thenceforth be forborn and his attendants lessened At the same time also it was first moved in the House of Commons that they should proceed Capitally with the King Whereupon Oliver Cromwell stood up and said that if any man moved this upon design he should think him the greatest Traytor in the World but since Providence and Necessity had cast them upon it he should pray God to bless their Councils though he was not provided on the sudden to give them Council But no long after he was for being a great Pretender to Enthusiasms and Revelations he told them that as the was praying for a Blessing from God on his undertaking to restore the King to his pristine Majesty his Tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth that he could not speak one word more which he took as a return of Prayer and that God had rejected him from being King And to others he did impudently assert that it was lawful to circumvent a wicked man with deceit and fraud Whereunto the very next day Mr. Thomas Scott brought in the Ordinance for Tryal of the King which was then read and recommitted three several times and the names of the Commissioners consisting of some Lords some of the House of Commons some Citizens of London and some Officers of the Army added thereto Which Ordinance being soon agreed on and sent up to the House of Lords by the Lord Grey of Groby was by them rejected Whereupon the Commons fell to voting again and declared That all Members of that House and others apointed by order of that House or Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament to act in any Ordinance wherein the Lords were joyned should be impowred and enjoyned to sit and act execute in the said several Committees of themselves notwithstanding the House of Pâ—â—rs should not joyn with them therein Some of then being so fierce against the Lords for this their refusal as that they moved for an Impeachment to be framed against them for thus favouring the grand Delinquent of England And that they might not fall short in imitation of their Parent the Presbyterian which first laid the Foundation of all this mischief they brought upon the Stage such another Prophetess as the Brethren of Scotland produced in order to the carrying on their Blessed work in An. 1638. whereof I have then taken notice viz. a Godly Woman out of Hereford shire the News-book of that Week calls her a Virgin who coming to the General and Council of War at White-hall said she had a Revelation from God whereby she was inâ—ited to encourage them to go on in their designs Of which they made no small advantage approving thereof as most seasonable at that time and accordingly proceeded First Voting that the people were under God the Original of all just power Secondly That the Commons of England in Parliament Assembled being chosen by and representing the people were the supream power of the Nation and Thirdly that what soever is enacted or declared for Law by the House of Commons Assembled in Parliament hath the force of Law In pursuance of which monstrous Votes they fram'd a bloody Ordinance whereby they constituted these Persons whose names I have here inserted or any Twenty or more of them to be Judges for the Hearing Trying and Judging of the Kings Sacred Majesty which were thereby also constituted and called an High Court of Iustice. ¶ Thomas Lord Fairfax General of the Army * Oliver Cromwel Lieutenant General Henry Ireton Commissary General Philip Skipton Major General * Colonel Valentine Walton * Colonel Thomas Harrison * Colonel Edward Whalley * Colonel Thomas Pride * Colonel Isaac Evre * Colonel Richard Ingoldsby * Sir Henry Mildmay Kt. Sir Thomas Honywood Kt. * Thomas Lord Grey of Groby Philip Lord Lisle * William Visc. Castlemaine aliter Lord Munson * Sir Iohn Danvers Kt. * Sir Thomas Maleverer Bar. * Sir Iohn Bourchier Kt. * Sir Iames Harrington Kt. Sir William Brereton Bar. * Robert Wallop Esq * William Heveningham Esq * Isaac Pennington Alderman Thomas Atkins Alderman * Colonel Rowland Wilson Sir Peter wentworth Knight of the Bath * Colonel Henry Martin * Colonel William Puresey Colonel Godfrey Boswell Iohn Trenchard Esq * Colonel Mathew Tomlinson * Iohn Blakeston Esq * Gilbert Millington Esq * Miles Corbet Esq * Sir William Constable Kt. * Colonel Edward Ludlow Colonel Iohn Lambert * Colonel Iohn Hutchenson Sir Arthur Haselrigg Bar. * Sir Michael Livescy Bar. Richard Soloway Esq Humphery Soloway Esq * Colonel Robert Tichburne * Colonel Owen Roe Colonel Robert Manwaring * Colonel Robert Lilburne * Colonel Adrian Scrope * Colonel Richard Deane * Colonel Iohn Okey Colonel Robert Overton Colonel Iohn Harrison Colonel Iohn Desborough * Colonel William Goffe Colonel Robert Duckenfeild * Cornelius Holand Esq * Iohn Carue Esq Sir William Armine Kt. * Colonel Iohn Iones * Miles Corbet Esq * Francis Allen Esq Thomas Lister Esq Benjamin Weston Esq * Peregrine Pelkam Esq Iohn Gourdon Esq Francis Thorpe Serjeant at Law Ihon Nutt Esq Thomas Chaloner Esq Colonel Algernon Sidney * Sir Hardres Waller Kt. * Colonel Iohn Barkstedeâ— Iohn Anlaby Esq * Colonel Iohn Mooreâ— Richard Darley Esq * William Say Esq * Iohn Alured Esq Iohn Fagge Esq Iames Nelthorpe Esq Sir William Roberts Kt. Colonel Francis Lascels Colonel Alexander Rigby * Henry Smith Esq Edmund Wilde Esq Iames Chaloner Esq Iosias Barnes Esq Dennis Bond Esq * Humphrey Edwards Esq * Gregory Clement Esq Iohn Fray Esq * Thomas Wogan Esq * Sir Gregory Norton Kt. * Iohn Bradshaw Serjeant at Law * Colonel Edward Harvey Iohn Dove Esq * Colonel Iohn Venn Iohn Fouke Alderman of London * Thomas Scott * Thomas Andrews Alderman * William Cauley Esq Abraham Burrell Esq * Colonel Anthony Stapeley Roger Gratwick Esq * Iohn Downes Esq * Colonel Thomas Harton * Colonel Thomas Hamond * Colonel Geotge Fenwick Robert Nicholas Serjeant at Law * Colonel Iohn Hewson Robert Reynolds Esq * Iohn Lisle Esq * Nicholas Love Esq * Vâ—cent Potter Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. Iohn Weaver Esq Iohn Lenthall Esq Sir Edward Bayton Kt. Iohn Corbet Esq Thomas Blount
the late Wars being Apprentices and not served out their times and others that had so served the Common-wealth who were fit for Trades should exercise any Trade that to such as had served the Parliament and Common-wealth in England Scotland or Ireland by the space of four years at any time since the year 1642. and before the third of September an 1651. and not revolted to the Kings-party or deserted the service or that had served two years in the Wars of Scotland or Ireland in the Service of the Common-wealth since the third of September 1651. and before the first of August 1654. Likewise a third Act appointing Visitors for both Universities Also for the Schools of Westminster Winchester Merchant-Tailors-School and Eaton-Colledge-School CHAP. XXXVII THEN he called a Parliament to meet at Westminster upon the third of September and on the day following went thither from White-Hall in State the manner thus First a Marshall with his Staff Then all the Life-Guard and his Domestick-Officers with some well-affected Citizens viz. his Draper and other Tradesmen in rank three and three on Foot bare-headed Next a rich Coach drawn by six Horses in the hinder end whereof he himself sate the Lord Lambert on his left side and the Lord Lawrence President of his Council on the right the Lord Strickland and Captain Howard Captain of his Life-Guard walking on Foot Then the Lord Claypole Master of his Horse on Horseback leading the Horse of State with a Rich Saddle curiously Embroydered with Gold and Pearl Next a War-Horse led with Pistols at the Saddle After this another rich Coach wherein sate the Lord Keepers of the Great Seal and two Serjeants at Arms with their Maces Then another rich Coach wherein rode the Secretaries of State Thus with all his Guard of Gray-coats having new Halberts and twelve Footmen in like Liveries they went to the Abby-Church at Westminster where Mr. Iohn Goodwyn Preacht and from thence on Foot to the Painted Chamber the Lord Lambert carrying the Sword before him Where standing by a rich Chair set by the Wal on that side the Room towards the Lord's House he made a long speech to them wherein using many canting expressions he told them they came that day to settle not only the Interest of three great Nations but of all the Christian-people in the World he talkt likewise very much of Healing and Setling and of the danger by the Levelling party Also of those who had only a form of Godliness but not the power thereof He likewise complain'd of an Extremity that as formerly he said none having a good Testimony and who had received Gifts from Christ might Preach if not Ordained That then on the other hand many who were Ordained had Antichristianism stampt upon their calling so that he ought not to Preach nor be heard As also that there was inveighing against such as denyed Liberty to those who had earned it with their Blood who had gained civil liberty and Religious also Next he toucht upon those many honest people as he call'd them whose hearts were sincere many of them as he said belonging to God viz. the mistaken notions of the fifth-Monarchy men a thing pretending more to Spirituality than any thing else affirming that Liberty and Property were not the Badges of the Kingdom of Christ who instead of regulating Laws would have Laws subverted and bring in the Judaical Laws He told them also of the advantages which the common Enemy id est the Royalists did make by those their divisions Likewise of the endeavours here by the Emissaries of the Jesuits of the decay in their Trade by the War with Portugal Dutch and French and the remedy applyed was that Government calculated for the Interest of the people instancing what Reformation had been aimed at by it that is to say the Reforming the Laws and putting the administration of them into the hands of just men Also to put a stop to every man who would make himself a Preacher and that That work was committed to the trust of persons both of the Presbyterian and Independent judgments of as known ability and integrity as any this Nation then had Men as he said who had put such into that great imployment who had received Gifts from him that ascended on high and had Gifts for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. He told them also that That Government had been instrumental to the calling of that Parliament which they saw there that day Saying it was a free Parliament He told them likewise what Peace they had with Neighbour Princes and of a people which were brought out of Aegypt towards the Land of Canam but through unbelief murmuring and repining and other temptations and sins wherewith God was provoked they were fain to go back again and linger many years in the Wilderness He also added that they had cause to take notice how that they were not brought into misery but that a door of Hope was open And that if the Lords blessing and his presence went along with the management of affairs at that meeting they would be enabled to put the top Stone to their work and make the Nation happy He likewise told them that they were like to the people under Circumcision but raw their Peace being but newly made and that it was one of the great ends of calling that Parliament that their Ship of the Commen-wealth might be brought into safe Harbour perswading them therefore to a Sweet Gracious and holy understanding of one another And concluded that he had not spoke those things to them as one that assumed to himself Dominion over them but as one that did resolve to be a fellow-Servant with them to the Interest of those great affairs and of the people of these Nations And so dismissing them they went to the House of Commons and chose William Lenthall their Speaker But instead of falling to work as the Protector had directed in his Speech so great was the Ambition of those who had been Members of the late long Parliament to get the sole power into their hands again that after some private discourses amongst one another they fell to clandestine plots for the pulling down this their great Master and setting up themselves in their old Tyrannical Dominion again To which end they fell to making Speeches in derogation of the Lord Protector 's Authority pressing earnestly that those Members of the good old Parliament as they call'd it which were then by Gods providence as they said so met together should forthwith declare for and reassume their just and rightful Power Which motion being backt with many plausible Arguments found at that time such favourers in the House that the promoters of it hourly got ground upon those of the contrary party The debate therefore holding on with much eagerness and drawing very near to a dangerous issue did so awaken the Protector who discern'd his own certain ruine
if it ever came to the question his party in the House being then too weak for the other that having first sent his Souldiers to shut up the Parliament doors and to signifie to the Members that he would meet them again in the Painted-Chamber he came thither accordingly and with a stern but troubled Countenance said that at his last being there he did acquaint them with the Rise of that Government which had so call'd him thither and with the Authority thereof as also that he then acknowledg'd they were a free Parliament And so you are quoth he whilst you own the Government and Authority which call'd you hither But discerning what they drove at which toucht him so near he farther plainly told them that he now came to magnifie his Office which before he had not been apt to do saying that if God would not bear it up let it sink Adding also that if a duty were incumbent on him to bear his own testimony unto it which in modesty he had till then forborn he was in some measure necessitated thereunto Then he went on and affirmed that he called not himself to that place but that his calling was from God and the people of these Nations and that his calling being such God and the people should take it from him else he would not part with it To manifest therefore that such was his Call he proceeded and said that being a Gentleman by birth he had been called to several imployments in the Nation First in Parliament then in the late Wars Which being ended by that great Victory at Worcester he said he did hope to have god leave for retiring to a private life and beg'd again and again to be dismissed of his charge calling God above as witness thereto but expressing that he could not therein obtain what his Soul long'd for And farther added that he pressed the Parliament as a Member to put a period to themselves again and again nay ten and twenty times over and said that he told them that the Nation loathed their sitting and that so far as he could discern that when they were dissolved there was no visible repining at it no not so much as the Barking of a Dog Affirming that they aim'd to have perpetuated their sitting to the Worlds end and that under their arbitrary power poor men were driven like flocks of sheep to confiscation of goods and estates Also that the seeming remedy which those Members then offered was to have had a succession of Parliaments always sitting whereby the Liberties Int'rests and Lives of the People should still have been judg'd by an arbitrary power Likewise that the remedy by so dissolving them as they had been was fitted to the disease And that thereupon he desiring to see if a few called together for some short space of time might not put the Nation into some way of certain settlement he therefore called those persons together out of the several parts of the Nation and this he did that he might have had an opportunity to lay down the Power which was then in his hands wherein he appealed to God as he said before persons who knew God and what Conscience was as also what it was to Lye before God A desire he said sinful enough he was afraid to be quit of that Power which God had most providentially put into his hands before he called for it again and before those honest ends of their fighting were attained and setled he being by Act of Parliament General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland But that meeting not answering the hopes of it and they bringing him an Instrument of Resignation of that Authority so placed upon them whereof he professed he knew nothing before it was brought and tendred to him he was then exceedingly to seek what to do his Power then being as General of all the Forces in the three Nations as boundless as before At length therefore as he said divers Gentlemen consulting seriously together did frame that model of the then present Government he being not at all privy to their Councils and having so done told him that except he would undertake the same Blood and Confusion for lack of a settlement would break in upon them Yet nevertheless that notwithstanding this their offer he denyed it again and again till at length weighing that it did not put him into an higher capacity than he was in before being also bounded and limited as appeared by the Instrument he then accepted it instancing the publick formality of that his acceptance in the great Hall at Westminster and in the presence of the then Lord Mayor of London Aldermen c. and divers Persons of quality Adding that what he had then expressed was a Narrative discovering to them the series of Providence and Transaction which had led him into that condition Then he went on and said that he did not bear witness to himself being far from alluding to him that said so but that he had a cloud of witnesses instancing the Officers of the Armies in the three Nations as appeared by their respective Remonstrances and the consent of those persons that had somewhat to do in the World who had been instrumental by God to fight down the Enemies of God and his People in the three Nations Likewise that for farther witness he had the City of London manifested by their congratulatory Entertainment of him at Grocers-Hall upon Ashwednesday 1653. And of the Grand-Iuries from several Counties Also of the Iudges who received Commissions from him and all the Iustices of Peace in England Nay all the People in England he said were his Witnesses and many in Ireland and Scotland Moreover all the Shireeves and all that came in upon Processes Issued out by the Shireeves yea the return of Elections to the Clerk of the Crown by the Inhabitants of all the Counties Cities and Boroughs and lastly themselves as returned upon those Elections the Instrument of Government being distinctly read at all places of such Elections wherein was that special proviso viz. that the persons so chose should not have power to alter the Government as then setled in one single Person and a Parliament Farther adding that he was then in possession of the Government by a good right from God and Men and that he did not know why he might not ballance that providence as in the sight of God with any Hereditary-Int'rest as being less subject to those cracks and flaws they are commonly incident to and which had cost so much Blood He told them likewise what Liberty of Conscience they had by that Government and that all the Money of this Nation would not have tempted men to fight if they had not had hopes of Liberty better than from Episcopacy or Presbytery Concluding that considering that this Government was thus owned of God approved by men and testified to as afore hath been said that in relation to the good of these Nations and
viz. at Dunbar and Worcestrer it will not be amiss to take notice of somewhat concerning his Carcase which was wholly preternatural viz. that notwithstanding it was Artificially Embowelled and Embalmed with Aromatick Odours wrapt also in six-fold Cerecloth and put in a sheet of Lead with a strong wooden Coffin over it yet did it in a short time so strangely ferment that it burst all in pieces and became so noysom that they were immediately necessitated to commit it to the Earth and to celebrate his Funeral with an empty Coffin Which solemnity was performed from Somerset-House in the Strand unto King Henry the Sevenths Chappel at Westminster with that Grandeur and State upon the 23. of November following that it did equalize the greatest and most glorious of our Kings amongst which they laid the Corps of this infamous Regicide CHAP. XXXIX HEre should I go on in the path of my Story but because that reports have been so various and uncertain touching his Parentage and course of life before he became an Actor in this unparallel'd Rebellion it will not be improper to make a short digression and as briefly as may be to say somthing of both That his Extraction by the Fathers side was from Sir Richard Williams Kt. a Gentleman of eminent note in the Court of King Henry the VIII and son to Morgan ap William a Welchman by Sister to Thomas Lord Cromwel Earl of Essex the chief Agent in those days for the dissolution of the Monasteries is not to be doubted Who being by his Uncle preferred to the service of King Henry was for that cause and no other called Cromwel as is apparent enough from Testimonies of credit however some have fancyed otherwise which Sir Richard thereupon writing himself Cromwel alias Williams was then in such Favour and Grace with the King that having received the dignity of Knighthood for his Heroick behaviour at a Tilting in 32. Hen. VIII he had also the great Abby of Ramsey the Nunnery of Hinchinbroke with the Priories of Sautrey and Huntington given to him upon the disposal of the Monastery Lands All which he left unto Sir Henry Cromwel Kt. his Son and Heir Who making Hinchinbroke his principal Seat as more pleasantly situate than Ramsey is left Issue Sir Oliver Cromwel made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Iames and Robert Cromwel a younger Son with some other Children Which Robert though he was by the countenance of his elder Brother made a Justice of Peace in Huntingtonshire had but a slender Estate much of his support being a Brew-House in Huntington chiefly managed by his Wife who was Sister to Sir Robert Steward of the City of Ely Knight and by her had Issue this our famous Oliver stiled Protector of England Scotland and Ireland as hath been observed In his Youth he was for some time bred up in the University of Cambridg where he made no great proficiency in any kind of Learning but then and afterwards sorting himself with Drinking-Companions and the ruder sort of people being of a rough and blustering disposition he had the name of a Royster amongst most that knew him and by his exorbitances so wasted his Patrimony that having attempted his Uncle Steward for a supply of his wants and finding that by a smooth way of application to him he could not prevail he endeavoured by colour of Law to lay hold of his Estate representing him a person not able to govern it But therein failing for lack of better mantenance his aim was for New-England purposing there to fix as is very well known Observing therefore that most of those unquiet Spirits who were refractory to the Church-Discipline by Law Establisht here were the principal persons which had stored that new Plantation and that none but such Schismaticks were welcome guests thither for his better furtherance from those of that gang and the fairer acceptance upon his arrival there through the recommendation of those Godly Brethren he forthwith quitted his old Companions and betook himself to the acquaintance of the pretended Holy Tribe most formally canting in their demure Language and affected tone and frequenting the Sermons of the fiercest Boutefeus Amongst which as a blessed Convert in whom they much gloried he gained in short time a very high Reputation So that having better Natural parts than the most of that Sect and confidence enough to put forth himself upon any fit occasion he was especially made choice of by those who ever endeavoured the undermining of Regal Authority to be their Orator at Huntington unto the late Kings Commissiones of Sewers there in opposition to His Majesties most commendable design for the general drayning of that great and vast level of the adjacent Fenns In which adventure his boldness and Elocution gained him so much credit as that soon after being necessitated through his low condition to quit a Country Farm which he held at St. Ives and betake himself to mean Lodgings in Cambridg the Schismatical party there chose him a Burgess for their Corporation in that unhappy Long-Parliament which began at Westminster upon the third of November 1640. Wherein he bestirred himself with as much violence and heat as any Schismatical Bankrupt did in that mischievious Convention being well aware that a general imbroilment of the Kingdom by an intestine War might be of advantange to such necessitous and desperate people Whereupon in short time he did accordingly obtain his long desired ends for being one of the first of those who put themselves in Arms against the King he was made a Captain of Horse in the Earle of Essex's Regiment and afterward Lieutenant General to the late Earl of Manchester In which service his great strength of Reason accompanyed with no less Courage soon gained him such experience in the Discipline of War as that taking strict care for the well Arming of his men and preventing their disorder upon any hot pursuit such success attended him upon all occasions as at length gained him the Reputation of a skilful Commander by reason whereof he arrived to much higher advancements Where soon discerning the general humour of the Souldier and that many of them were possessed with conceited Revelations some expecting a personal Reign of Christ here on Earth fancying themselves the men who were to make way for his coming and to that purpose that they were to destroy the wicked and possess their Estates he chiefly applyed himself to the humor of those desperate Fanaticks and by his subtle arts in Praying Preaching Groaning and Howling amongst them got himself no less Credit than Mahomet of old did with his Followers And so by degrees ascending those steps of Command and Power whereof instance hath been given in the precedent Story raised himself at last to the highest pitch of Soveraignty as hath already been observed CHAP. XL. I Now proceed to Richard his Son Proclaimed Protector upon his death as hath been said Whose Title was for a
not sate therein since the year 1648. and had not subscribed the Engagement in the Roll of that House should not sit there till farther Order by the Parliament And by a general Vote declared That all such as were to be imployed in any place of Trust or Power in the Common-Wealth should be able for the discharge of such Trust and that they should be persons fearing God and who had given testimony to all the people of God of their faithfulness to that Common-Wealth according to the Declaration of Parliament of May the 7 th proceeding also in the Election of these whose names are here added for a Council of State Sir Arthur Haselrigg Sir Henry Vane Colonel Ludlow Colonel Iohn Iones Colonel Sydenham Thomas Scott Major Saloway General Fleetwood Sir Iames Harrington Colonel Walton Mr. Henry Nevil Mr. Thomas Chaloner Mr. Downes Bulstrod Whitlock Herbert Mortley Mr. Sidney Colonel Thompson Colonel Dixwel Mr. Reynolds Oliver St. Iohn Mr. Wallop All these being Members of the Old Long Parliament Unto which were added Iohn Bradshaw Colonel Lambert Colonel Desborow Fairfax Colonel Berry Sir Anthony Ashley Couper Sir Horatio Tounsend Sir Robert Honywood Sir Archibald Iohnston Iosias Berners As to the Actings of these old Members it is not a little observable that first they ordered the sale of all such Houses and Lands of the late King the Queen the Prince with Bishops Deans and Chapters or other then unsold and that they should forthwith be exposed to sale Also that such persons on whom any Title of Honour had been conferred by the said King should pay those forfeitures for the same as had been by their Acts and Ordinances in that case provided and bring in their Patents Amongst which Houses intended for Sale Somerset-House in the Strand was one the materials whereof to be pulled down and sold were valued at 5545 l. 1 s. 3 d. And now having some compassion on their late Lord Protector Richard Cromwel so outed of his Sovereignty as before is observed they Voted him an exemption from Arrests for six months Likewise the more to ingratiate themselves with the people they passed an Act of Indempnity but without benefit to any who should boggle at subscribing to a new Engagement against the Government by the single Person Kingship or House of Peers seizing upon divers persons in and about London and upon Horses and Arms pretending Trayterous designs against them by the Royalists the Preachers in their Pulpits crying out in this manner viz. The Lord stir up the hearts of his people to Prayer and sincere Humiliation and fill them with Unanimity and Courage in this evil time and make the people to see whatever fair pretences may be made use of by the Common Enemy to get power into their Hands yet should they prevail no man that hath been of a party against them heretofore yea no man that hath been a meer Neuter but must expect that his private Estate as well as the Publick Liberty shall become a prey to a desperate crew of Ravenous and Unreasonable men Certain it is that throughout the whole Realm the people were weary of their Oppressions and saw that notwithstanding these shiftings of the Dominion from one hand to another they were no whit eased of their Taxes and Burthens and therefore not only the Royalists but most of the Presbyterians being then out of play to rid themselves of that lingring slavery did privately engage to rise and accordingly began so to do in Cheshire putting themselves under the command of Sir George Boothe Baronet a person of a fair Estate in those parts Which so alarm'd the old Iuncto sitting at Westminster commonly called the Rump they being the fag-end or Tail of the Long Parliament as that they speedily sent down into those parts what Forces could soon be got together under the command of Major General Lambert publishing a Proclamation against them and their adherents as Rebels and Traytors Sir George in the mean time causing a Declaration to be Printed and spread abroad Whereby manifesting to the world that this Iuncto at Westminster had violated all Laws of God and men did profess that the defence of the Laws and Liberties was the chief thing he and those with him aimed at which would never be setled by those Self-Seekers at Westminster and therefore desired a new and Free Parliament But this good design was soon blasted for Lambert encountring them near to North-Wiche so over-powered them with numbers and more experienced Souldiers that he utterly routed and dispersed all their strength Which success so far elated this active General that he then thought of nothing more than his own personal advancement And to the end that he might the more endear the Souldiers to himself not only magnified their merits by Letters to the Parliament but when he had a thousand pounds sent to buy him a Jewel in token of their high esteem of that service he forthwith distributed it amongst his Common Souldiers And in farther order to that his design under colour of seizing all Arms thereabouts he subtilly got them into his own hands All which was no whit dissatisfactory to the Rumpers who then did not at all dream of Lamberts design and therefore having received Letters out of Scotland which gave them much assurance of General Monks reality they laid their Insurrection in Cheshire wholly to the Royallists charge and forthwith resolved upon an Oath for abjuring the Kings Title the formality whereof I have here added I. A. B. do hereby declare that I renounce the pretended Title of Charles Stuart and the whole Line of the late King James and of every other Person as a single Person pretending to the Government of these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging And that I will by the Grace and Assistance of Almighty God be true faithful and constant to this Common-Wealth against any King single Person and House of Peers and every of them and hereunto I subscribe my name And to shew how Zealous their Clergy were generally therein I shall only give instance of a precious pack of those in Leicestershire which personally came out of that County to the Parliament and presented to them a Paper Intituled The humble Representation of divers well-affected Ministers of the Gospel in the County of Leicester whose names are hereunto subscribed Which was so well accepted of that they being called in one of them as the mouth of the rest addressing himself to the Speaker said That being all Ministers of the Gospel in the County of Leicester faithful servants to the Parliament and imbarqued in the same bottom with themselves that some of them marched along with their Forces to suppress the late Rebellion of Sir George Boothe and others and that they well knowing how much it concerned them with all the true Godly of the Land to strengthen the Parliaments
together and consult what we shall ask God next for he will give us whatsoever we ask and so he hath done these seven years And at Christ-Church Aug. 11. I will never believe said he that this Navy was made purposely for the breaking of our Neighbours in pieces and there an end we shall at last joyn together and do such work for God as was never done in the World We shall carry the Gospel with our Navy up and down to the Gentiles and afterwards we shall gather home the Jews out of the Isles first for those of them shall first be called and the Ships of Tharsis shall do it Beloved what this Tharsis is I have made a little search but I shall enquire farther They it seems shall be the first Active and I am sure there is none in such forwardness as ours at present The late Parliament they set their hands to the work then they job'd on again did a little and then stood still again Now we have got a company of Men together which are indeed Godly Men but they are Men of too narrow and low Spirits to do Gods work You see they have all this while been lifting at Tythes and cannot pluck them up for their lives God himself must be fain to put to his Hand We must agree together to ask something new for Iesus Christ for we have enough for our selves already we have Pence enough Prosperity enough and enough of every thing Also at Black-Friers Aug. 29. Divers of our Friends will say come let us sit still now and we may have a great deal of quiet and calm we shall enjoy our pleasant Orchards live upon our purchased revenues and sit under our Vines and Fig-trees only let us be content and stir no farther Beloved do not let us listen to them but tell them if they can go no farther so 't is for our parts we have a farther word of God which burns within us like fire and bids us go on still We did not at first believe for King's Lands nor for a Mannour of Deans and Chapters but we believ'd that Iesus Christ should be set up in his Kingdom Again at Black-Friers Sept. 5. O Lord when shall we hear the sound of Christ's Horse-heels And at Black-Friers Sept. 11. Thou gavest a Cup into the hand of England and we drank of it Then thou carried'st it to Scotland and Ireland and they dronk of it Now thou hast carried it to Holland and they are drinking of it Lord carry it also to France to Spain and to Rome and let it never be out of one or other of their hands till they drink and be drunk and spue and fall and never rise any more Let us be Active against the Kings and Princes of the Earth those Limbs and Claws of the cruel Beast In Order to the trayning up of more such Boutefeus soon after His Majesties Garrison of Oxford was delivered up to the Parliaments General divers of their chief Pulpit-men were sent down to that University to instill the Principles of Presbytery into the Students there as also to initiate them in such long winded Prayers before Sermon with the like Canting Terms as are usually practised by their own precise Gang. And after these seasonable Preparations imployed a number of confiding Persons part Clergy part Lay as Visitors of the several Colleges and Halls there with Authority to any five of them to expell all those Masters and Fellows which either refused to take the Solemn League and Covenant and Negative Oath or to submit to that holy Discipline contained in their new Directory for Worship by which means they made a clear riddance of a Multitude of Orthodox Men whose Learning and Piety had worthily rendred them of high esteem both here and in Foreign Parts The like did they in Cambridge Committing some to strict Imprisonment Of these Famous Preachers it is not unworthy Observation that divers of them were of the Assembly of Divines whom Thomas Lord Fairfax the Parliament's General stiled the Chariots and Horse-Men of Israel With the like Countenance also their Preachers did Preach and Pray thus they did Write and Print Witness their Pamphlets justifying the Mortality of the Soul and Doctrine of Divorce with many others of the like strain insomuch that the very Scots themselves began to cry out as is manifest from those Papers exhibited by their Commissioners to the two Houses at Westminster No Man said they can be so destitute of Sense and Reason as to think such an Anarchy and Confusion as now prevails over the Churches of this Kingdom to be the Ordinance of God No Christian can be so void of knowledge and Faith as to imagine such a monstrous deformity to be the beauty and glory of the Kingdom of Christ on Earth Whereunto I shall add the Report of Mr. Thomas Edwards one of their own Ministers of the Gospel as he stiles himself in his Epistle Dedicatory to the two Houses of Parliament then sitting at Westminster prefixed before his book Intituled the Gangrena containing a Catalogue of many of the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and pernicious practises of the Sectaries of that time vented and acted in England within the compass of 4 years viz. from 1642. till 1646. I am one saith he who out of choice and judgment have imbarked my self with Wife Children Estate and all that 's dear to me in the same Ship with you to sink and perish or to come safe to Land with you and that in the most doubtful and difficult times not only early in the first beginning of the War and Troubles in a Malignant place among Courtiers and those who were Servants and had Relation to the King Queen and their Children pleading your Cause justifying your Wars satis fying many that scrupled But when your affairs were at lowest and the chance of War against you and some of the Grandees and Favourites of these times were packing up and ready to be gone I was then highest and most zealous for you Preaching Praying stirring up the People to stand for you by going out in Person lending of Money in the latter going before them by Example And as I have been your Honours most devoted Servant so am I still yours and you cannot easily lose me Having given thus fair a Character of himself let us now hear him tell what a Blessed Reformation they had in so short a time as four Years produced Things every day saith he grow worse and worse you can hardly conceive or imagin them so bad as they are No kind of Blasphemy Heresie Disorder and Confusion but it is found among us or coming in upon us For we instead of Reformation are grown from one extreme to another fallen from Scylla to Charibdis from Popish Innovations Superstitions and prelatical Tyranny to damnable Heresies horrid Blasphemies Libertinisme and fearful Anarchy Our evils are not removed and cured but only changed One disease and Devil hath left