A Compleat HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF King CHARLES FROM His Cradle to his Grave Collected and Written BY WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq. LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley Richard Tomlins and George Sawbridge 1658. To the very Worthy and well-weighed Author of this Modern History WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq. SIR HISTORY may be well call'd the great Arbitress of Time and Truth a Tribunal that summons the Dead to judgement and a Court of Record to the Living Therefore among those industrious Spirits who by their Speculations and publique Writings do deserve well of their Countrey an Historian may march with the foremost I mean a knowing and faithfull Veridical Historian whereas an ignorant and false erroneous Chronicler is one of the worst Members that can be in a Common-wealth and indeed of Mankind in general for he wrongs the time passed the time present and the time to come But you Sir may be deservedly rank'd with the first for when you favour'd me with the perusal of this Modern History I finde that you have proceeded with that knowledge and Probity a prime vertue required in an Historiographer as also with that exactness and punctuality that you have confuted a late Paradox commonly repeated that it was impossible to compile the Story of these confus'd and entangled vertiginous Times without writing so many Volumes as would fill a Library I say that you have refelled this vulgar Error and while you bring our Royal Master to his grave you may be said to give him a Burial a Monument and a Resurrection Nor indeed was there any man more capable to pen this Story then your self being from your youth bâ—ed up at Court not only an Eye and Ear witnesse of most of those Transactions and Traverses of State you trasmit to Posterity but you were an Actor in divers of them having been imployed in so many Negotiations of good consequence both at home and abroad whereby you were par negotio But truly I mused much with my self when I observed the great discretion and cautionary prudence you use in your Comportment all along For though a great part of the Times you speak of were full of Tempests and Whirlewinds and that you were like one passing through a boysterous working Frete having on the Star-board side dangerous Rocks and Craggs and on the Larboard ill-favour'd Shelfs of Quicksands yet you skew the wind dexterously and steer your course so streight and steddy that you avoid splitting on either Lasty I finde that this elaborate work of yours which smells so much of the Lamp hath been cast into so good a mould and is so strongly limm'd the ingredients that went to the composition of it being so material and so necessary for our late Nephewes and all future Ages to know that by giving this Historical life to King Charls you may well promise to your self an Eternity For of all Sublunary things Chronology is of the longest extent having not only an affinity and commensuration with Time it self but makes the neerest approach to Immortality IAMES HOWELL The Introduction THUS far we are forward in our Compleat History successively continued from that exquisite Compendium set out by William Drummond Esq. of the Lives and Reigns of five the preceding Kings of Scotland James the 1. the 2. the 3. the 4. the 5. from the year 1423. unto 1542. At the end of which we have heretofore taken our Rise and Entrance having lately published the First and Second part from the birth of Mary Queen of Scotland to the death of her Son and Successour King James the sixth and after Queen Elizabeth of great Britain France and Ireland the first of that Name And now we proceed to the third part the Reign and Death of his Son and Successor King Charls the first But before we enter into his sad Story it may not be amiss to enlighten the Reader with the State and condition of these his three Kingdoms England Scotland and Ireland Of England King Iames having been imbarqued by consent of Parliament in a War against the House of Austria left this life and the Palsgraves hopes at a very low Ebb if not dispair while the Emperour and the Duke of Bavare shuffled the Cards and plaid the Game to others loss The Germane Army suppressing all the reformed Princes bandited the Palatine and forced the other Electors to make Bavaria one among them The wonder was why the Austrians should stand so stifly upon such an inconsiderable piece of that great Empire but through that Spot the Spaniard had free passage with his 〈◊〉 of Italy and other Parts to pass into the Netherlands to reduce them to obedience And this occasioned the Commotion and Combination of the Duke of Brunswick bringing in the King of Denmark and afterwards the King of Swede all which conversions were advanced partly by the assistance of King Charls with his monies returned to Hamborough and with other such meanes of vast expence even to his last ability and enforced his Councellors to invent and strain the waies of supply which advanced them but undid the King It was high time to endeavour the abating of the Austrian power which too long had disquieted the repose of Christendom and forced France at first and all Protestant Princes after with some Papists underhand to joyn in the Confederacy But mostly concerning the united Provinces who having long before through their just fears plotted the Bohemian Hubbub and invited the Palsgrave to the unhappy acceptance of that Crown bending all their wits to bring in the Swede assisted from England to patch up a peace for him with Poland These were the Foreign Engagements cast upon England which King Charls was enforced to espouse especially to oppose the Emperors inflexibility for the restauration of the Palatine And thus imbroyled the Parliament left him to shift for himself which his Privy Councellors undertake and therein possibly might wrest some Prerogatives for raising monies The Factious Clergy were at hand to make things worse not but that those times producing Learned and most Renowned able men at the Altar as ever any Age could parallel I mention those other young Wolves in Lambs cloathing who by their Lectures late Excrescencies led about the Vulgar under colour of depressing Popery to the destruction at last of the whole Church Between Papist and Puritan the honest Protestant was neglected for the Lords and Council not being byassed with one of these were so unhappily ignorant as to know little more then their own pleasure patching up their poor fortunes by unhandsome courses Others of them wrought their ends rather by the Bow then the string basely bending to private Advantage by dishonourable shiftings became odious to honest men forfeiting their honours by falsifying their words and lastly failing in their Duty Allegeance and all The Duke of Buckingham had been his Fathers Favourite and now became his by former engraffing and his late Loyal service to him in Spain A person he was most
King affianced by former contract to the Princess Henrieta-Maria Sister to the French King Lewis the 13. And therefore to him first is principally dispatched Emissaries of his Fathers decease and so to other Princes and States in Amity with all but the House of Austria upon the score of restauration of the Palatine and his Inheritance And with this advice he orders Letters of Procuration or Proxie to the Duke of Chevereux of the House of Guise and so neer of Extraction to King Charles that Chawd of Lorain the first Duke of Guise maried his Daughter Mary to Iames the fifth of Scotland Grandfather to Iames the sixth and She Great Grand-mother to King Charles To this Duke Chevereux he sends for espousing his Mistress to make her his Consort which was celebrated on Sunday the first of May our stile and of theirs the eleventh day in their Church of Nostre-Dame at Paris She being given up his Queen by her two Brothers the King and Monsieur But to fetch her over there arrived a Fortnight after the Duke of Buckingham in Commission with our Ambassadors there the Earls of Carlisle and Holland with a train of the best of Quality to attend him the Earl of Mountgomery was pickt out to be one who had a larger Purse than Head-piece and being much troubled to come behind those in ranck before whom those Earls he was in Peerage professed that his intent of Journey was to see the Monarch of France where now he finds three English Kings besides for in pomp of State and Vestments they were said to equal any The second of Iune the English Queen sets forward from Paris and so to Amiens where she staied 14. dayes A City of some circuit without the walls because a Town of War and a Frontier memorable for entertainment of many persons as now for great Princes and heretofore an Army of English Guests feasted by King Lewis the eleventh not onely King Edward of England and his Military Grandees but even to the common Souldiers to please them for a patcht peace made up with their Prince whose Camp lay very neer It lasted four dayes the common chambers were the canopied streets and in all houses of Retail for Victuall or Wine scot-free The number of the English and all armed were accompted by some Authors nine thousand and might have this way stoln a Victory over a Town though with loss of their honour The Citadel is of great strength built by Henry the fourth of France so soon as he won it from the Spaniard seated neer upon his Territories and therefore now a jealous Town 500 in pay to guard the Citadel and 200 of the City that watch themselves every house finding one 12 mights a year The Duke of Chawny hath the title Vice-dame of Amiens and Governor of the Citadel made so by his Brother Favourite Luines from being before but Mr. Cadineâ— But the Cathedral Nostre-Dame the most glorious magnificent Fabrick in the World and but questionable if of the Quire more Majesty in that of Amiens or more beauty in Ours of Henry the seventh Chapel at Westminster this the more exquisite that the more glorious both Miracula Mundi Tam bene conveniunt et in una sede morantur Majestas Amor. But for the Front the Divinity of Art far beyond our famed Wells or Peterborough Invisuram facilius aliquem quam Imataturam so infinite beyond imitation And all these together is the Seat of a Bishop But here the Queen takes leave of her mother whose indisposition of health had arrested her there in punishment of that malice wherewith she dissembleâ— it too long at the first through the extreme desire she had of coming to the Sea-side But Monsieur accompanied his Sister to Boloign not so neer for passage over as Calais but the infection there turned them thither where she received the Countess of Buckingham the Mother and a train of Ladies from England To her Mounsieur descended to give a visit at her lodging and the Duchess of Chevereux that great Princess of Match and blood did perforce give her precedence with all imaginable honor for her sons sake A pittiful reason for Toby Matthew thereby not to be discouraged from bearing devotion to the blessed Virgin when he saw as he taies that women sick of love towards the son are put by a law of Nasure into pain till they revenge themselves on the Mother This Town is divided into La haute ville and La bass ville high and low Town distant one hundred paces from each other The Upper Town upon the Hill the other declining to the Sea-side this though bigger and better built Trade hath increased it so by the Haven yet but a Town the other the City made so by Henry the second and a Bishops Seat anno 1553. And here was the plague now also but the infection abated for the Queens presence by a Grand Proâ—â—ssion ad placandam Dâ—i tram Processions first instituted by Pope Stephanus anno 752. but the Letany of it was comprized by Pope Leo the first anno 1060. Not in respect of sickness but of Earthquakes which in all France are frequent But their charity to the infected dead corps continues to this day the Covent de la charite being bound to bury them and so they say themselves are free from infection for in truth they are so aged no disease can catch them but death yet by after mingling with the people they infest others which they teach the ignorant not to believe Wondrous jealous they are of the English to walk their Wall since Henry the eighth of England possessed it Their Garrison now 300. their Governor Monsieur d' Amont son to the Marshall It hath a Tower de Ordre built by Iulius Caesar at his second expedition into Britain then the Watch Tower but now worn out and only used for a Pharos by night and a Sea-mark by day called the Old man of Boloign It seems so an aged piece and ere long by the waves of the Sea upon the ruin of the Basis may be supposed not of long lasting The Town was taken by Henry 8. anno 1545. with more expence than profit of 44000. foot and 3000. horse 100. field pieces and for them and provision 25000. draught horse and so kept it against many French Attempts all his life time but was lost by Contract of a Treaty to the French Forces for 800000. Crowns tempore Edw. 6. being ingaged then against the Scots and Kit the Norfolk Rebel besides Here the Queen finds a Convoy of the English Royal Navy 21 Ships the most admired then for State and Service and had need to be so to wast over hither the most eminent persons of both nations Her passage might preâ—age the Intemperate success to Her and Us thereafter so were the Seas then the most tempestuous like the last time that wafted Queen Mary of Scotland who came from Calais Triste et lugubre
an enterprize For those your donatives are all disburst to a penny and I am enforced to summon you hither to tell you that neither can the Army advance nor the Fleet set forth without further aid Consider I pray you the eyes of all Europe are defixt upon me to whom I shall appear ridiculous as though I were unable to outgo muster and ostentation if you now desert me Consider it is my first attempt wherein if I sustain a foyl it will blemish all my future honour If mine cannot let your own reputation move you deliver and expedite me fairly out of this war wherewith you have encombred let it never be said whereinto you have betrayed me I desire therefore your speedy supply speedy I call it for else it will prove no supply The Sun you know is entring into his declining point so it will be soon too late to set forth when it will be rather not too soon to return Again I must minde you of the mortality now regnant in this City which should it as so it may and no breach of priviledge neither arrest any one Member of either house it would soon put a period both to consultation and Session so that your own periâ—litation necessitates an early resolution In sum Three of the best Rhetoritians Honour Opportunity and Safety are all of a plot and plead you see for expedition Perhaps it may be expected I should say something in way of account of my Religion as also of the temper and tenour of my future Government But as I hope I have not been guilty of any thing which may justly start the least question in either so I desire you would repose in this assurance that I will in neither vary from those principles wherein I have been instituted at the feet of that eminent Gamaliel my late Father And ending his Speech he with his hand moved his Crown Not usual saies one with any his predecessors to vail it Nor did he but the massy Gold and precious stones gave him cause to ease his browes of that weight and of which he complained when he came home without any other observation then which yet hath begot so much comment now as to be called Calamitous Presages no less then a dozen in the Kings future Reign which we shall remember as we meet them in order hereafter and for the present examine the Note of Mr. Prins telling That the King on his day of Coronation was clothed in White contrary to the Custome of his Predecessors on that day clothed in purple the Regal colour of Kings the Robe of Majesty the other of Saints the Robe of innocency And to this as to the other a great plague had driven the greatest trades men out of the City and the Kings Mercer infected and fled No Purple Velvet to be had on the sodain and so the colour of his Robes was changed by Necessity yet to the better by his own observation But to the matter of the Kings Speech Money for a War with Spain upon the former score of Quarrel the Palatinate which ingaged King Iames in Justice and honour and so this King To a War is required a Iust Quarrel Wars are suits of Appeal to the Tribunal of Gods Justice where there are no Superiours on Earth to determine the Cause Yet do the Princes of this World endeavour to declare the reasons of their defiance to ballance with the opinions of a righteous cause England had at this time two just Grounds of War with Spain 1. The recovery of the Palatinate 2. A just fear of subversion of our Civil Estate I have no mind to mention the Third so usually pretended viz. Fear of subversion of our Religion for though the House of Commons the first Parliament of King Iames voted that for a reason to make a War upon Spain the King was so wise as not to involve into a quarrel against him upon that score lest he should be necessarily drawn into a defiance likewise with all the Roman Catholiques of Christendome and so that vote was dasht out of the Record by the Register But we shall take the two for granted That Just fears are indeed true Defensives as well as actual Invasions but offensive Wars for Religion King Iames was of opinion are never just Not to force the Conscience which Guides the Soul with the power of the Sword which is but humane and though he was by his Title Defensor â—idei if oppugned yet he was not thereby authorized to quarrel with another mans belief For the first Ground the concernment of the Palatinate as there was no color in that Prince Elector to accept of the Kingdom of Bohemia so no Justice in the house of Austria to retain the Palatinate from him For though an Elective Monarchy cannot be so free as anâ— Hereditary yet if yoâ—â—â—ke to boot the Customes transactions and privileges of that Kingdome of Bohemia It will appear as positive as Soveraigns Descendent But leaving that Title as disputable I shall not offer at it though I were able to master the Question And then the Quere will follow whether an Offensive War being made unjustly the Defendant may not by diversion invade and master the undubitable possession of the Aggressour who is now turned Defendant of his own Surely he may and enjoy the conquest lawfully and is not bound to restore it but by force which force is as lawfull to be done as the other The Spaniard in eighty eight invaded our Seas and designed it upon our Land also was not our expeditions thereupon against Lisbone and Cadiz a just war surely it was And truly King Iames held these Opinions which put him into Treaties for the Palatinate upon terms and conditions of a mariage with Prince Charles his Son and the Infanta of Spain wherein being some years deluded it was just in him to begin the way by force which he did as it is now for King Charles to endeavour the like regaining it for his Brother-in-law by a War which he now intends For Wars are Vindictae Revenges Reparations like to cross suits in civil pleas sometime both of them just And thus much for the Palatinate The Second Ground A just fear of subversion of our Civil Estate The overgrowing Greatness of any neighbour Nation is a necessity imposed upon anothers fear of violation which becomes defensive Christian Princes have a just invasive War against the Turk as a grand Enemy indeed not for cause of Religion no good ground for that but upon a just fear because the fundamental Law in that Empire is to propagate their Mahometan faith by any War So saies the Persian for his belief two opposite enemies upon that ground and the Christians are as well upon the Preventive as the Defensive War All men know the great endeavours of the Spanish Monarchy to aspire new Acquests and to be absolute The History of the Triumvirate Kings Henry the eighth of England Francis the first of
all retired to Bugden where he lived very Hospitably and in manner and order of the good Bishops not without an eye and ear over him of such as were Intelligencers of Court And at Westminster Hall the Ceremony begun towards the Abbey Church in order thus 1. The Aldermen of London by couples ushered by an Herauld 2. Eighty Knights of the Bath in their Robes each one having an Esquire to support and a Page to attend him 3. The Kings Serjeants at Law Solicitor Atturney Masters of Request and Iudges 4. Privy Councellors that were Knights and the chief Officers of the Kings Houshold 5. Barons of the Kingdome bare-headed in their Parliament Robes with Swords by their sides 6. The Bishops with Scarlet Gowns and Lawn sleeves bare-headed 7. The Vice-Counts and Earls not in their Parliament but in their Coronation Robes with coronetted Caps on their Heads 8. The Officers of State for the day whereof these are the Principal Sir Richard Winn Sir George Goring The Lord Privy Seal The Archbishop of Canterbury The Earl of Dorset carrying the first Sword The Earl of Essex carrying the second Sword The Earl of Kent carrying the third Sword The Earl of Mountgomery carrying the Spurs The Earl of Sussex carrying the Globe and Cross upon it The Bishop of London carrying the Golden Cup for the Communion The Bishop of Winchester carrying the Golden Plate for the Communion The Earl of Rutland carrying the Scepter The Marquess Hamilton carrying the Sword of State naked The Earl of Pembroke carrying the Crown The Lord Maior in a Crimson Velvet Gown carried a Short Scepter before the King amongst the Serjeants The Earl of Arundel as Earl Marshall of England and the Duke of Buckingham as Lord High Constable of England for that day went next before his Majesty The King entred at the West Gate of the Church under a rich Canopy carried by the Barons of the Cinque Ports His own Person supported by Doctor Neil Bishop of Durham on the one hand and Doctorâ— Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells on the other His train six yards long of Purpleâ—Velvet held up by the Lord Compton Master of the Robes and the Lord Viscount Doncaster Master of the Wardrobe Here he was met by the Prebends of Westminster Bishop Lawd supplying the Deans Place in their rich Copes who delivered into the Kings hands the Staff of King Edward the Confessor with which he walked up to the Throne Which was framed from the Quire to the Altar the King mounted upon it none under the degree of a Baron standing therein save only the Prebends of Westminster who attended on the Altar Three Chairs for the King in several places first of Repose the second the antient Chair of Coronation and the third placed on an high square of five steps ascent being the Chair of State All settled and reposed the Arch-bishop of Canterbury presented his Majesty to the Lords and Commons East West North and South asking them if they did consent to the Coronation of K. Charles their lawful Soveraign The King in the mean time presented himself bareheaded the consent being given four times with great acclamation the King took his Chair of Repose The Sermon being done the Arch-Bishop invested in a rich Cope goeth to the King kneeling upon Cushions at the Communion Table and askes his willingness to take the Oath usually taken by his Predecessors The King is willing ariseth and goeth to the Altar and is interrogated and thus answereth Coronation Oath Sir Sayes the Arch-bishop will you grant and keep and by your Oath confirm to the People of England the Laws and Customes to them granted by the Kings of England your lawful and Religious Predecessours and namely the Laws Customs and Franchises granted to the Clergy by the glorious King St. Edward your Predecessor according to the Lawes of God the true profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdome agreeable to the Prerogative of the Kings thereof and the antient Customes of the Realm The Kings answer I grant and promise to keep them Sir Will you keep Peace and Godly agreement according to your power both to God the holy Church the Clergy and the people I will keep it Sir Will you to your power cause Law Iustice and discretion to mercy and truth to be executed to your Iudgement I will Sir will you grant to hold and keep the Laws and Rightfull Customes which the Comminalty of this your Kingdome have and will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God so much as in you lieth I grant and promise so to do Then one of the Bishops read this Admonition to the King before the people with a lowd voice Our Lord and King wee beseech you to pardon and to grant and to preserve unto Vs and to the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and do Law and Iustice and that you would protect and defend Vs as every good King to his Kingdomes ought to be Protector and Defendor of the Bishops and the Churches under their Government The King answereth With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my Pardon and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and due Law and Iustice and that I will be your Protector and Defender to my Power by the Assistance of God as every good King in his Kingdom in right ought to protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their Government Then the King ariseth and is led to the Communion Table where he makes a solemn Oath in sight of all the people to observe the premisses and laying his hand upon the Bible saith The Oath The things which I have here promised I shall perform and keep So help me God and the Contents of this Book Then were his Robes taken off and were offered at the Altar He stood a while stripped to his Doublet and Hose of White Sattin Then led by the Arch Bishop and Doctor Lawd the Bishopâ—of St. Davids he was placed in the Chair of Coronation a Close Canopy spread over him the Arch-bishop anointing his Head Shoulders Arms and Hands with a costly ointment the Quire singing an Anthem of these words Zadook the Priest anointed King Solomon Hence he was led up in his Doublet and Hose with a White Coife on his head to the Communion Table where the Bishop of St. Davids Deputy for the Dean brought forth the antient Abiliments of King Edward the Confessor and put them upon him Then brought back to the Chair of Coronation he received the Crown of King Edward presented by the Bishop of Saint Davids and put on his Head by the Archâ— Bishop of Canterbury the Quire singing an Anthem Thou shalt put a Crown of pure Gold upon his head whereupon the Earls and Viscounts put on their Crimson Velvet Caps with Coronets about them the
into one Opinion that thereby no reason given to the House their Restraint was an Arrest of the whole Body and a breach of Priviledge must needs follow which was so remonstrated to the King and they therefore released But what ground â—r Presidents had the Judges a late law of their own making for it is well observed That in the Parliament 35. Eliz. Sr. Peter Wentworth and Sr. Henry Bromley by petition to the Upper House to be supplicants with them of the Lower House unto her Majesty for entailing the succession of the Crown the Bill being drawn by them These two were summoned before Sr. Thomas Henage one of the Privy Councel and commanded to forbear the Parliament and to stand secured to their Lodgings and after further examination before the Councel were committed Wentworth to the Tower Bromley and other Courtiers to the Fleet. Another instance Mr. Morice Attorny of the Dutchy of Lancaster for moving against the justice of the Courts of Ecclesiastical Iudges Subscriptions and Oaths was taken out of the House so saith another Authour and committed to Prison for whose release Mr. Wroth humbly moved the House to be petitioners to her Majesty But was answered That the Queen must not accompt for actions of Royal Authority which may be of high and dangerous consequence nor can it become them to search into the Prerogative of Soveraigns These Members were five in all and might have been Precedents for the King and his five Members in due place hereafter But this course now taught the Lords to resent the like indignity to them in the Earl of Arundels case who lay committed to the Tower as before said and so they would sit still without motion to any matter till that he might be reâ—admitted which was instantly done To ballance with the Dukes Enemies Three Persons his confederates were made Barons to compeer in the Lords House the Lord Mandevil the eldest son to the Earl of Manchester created by Patent Baron Kimbolton Grandison son to the created Baron Imbercourt and Sr. Dudly Carlton made Baron Tregate being newly returned from his Trade of seven years Leiger Ambassadour abroad in Venice and Holland But it is said That the Lords found out an Old Order to Counter checque that designe That no Creations sedente Parliamento should have power to vote but onely to sit Not to Iudge but to learn to understand during that Session so that their Suffrages were excluded But I am assured of the contrary for they sate and voted Hence it is truly observed That in the late Parliament 1640. Seymor Littleton and Capel were so created sedente Parliamento and Digby Rich and Howard of Charlton called by special Writ were also admitted their votes and afterwards the last of the nineteen Propositions to the King at York for the King to passe a Bill to restrain Peers made hereafter to sit and vote in Parliament unlesse with consent of both Houses To which the King absolutely refused But however they were admitted the Duke was put to his own Innocency partially stiled impudency and lodges injustice on the Peers whose ill opinion he sayes deprest him and partial affection elevated the other who received the Attornies charge with undaunted spirit and returned so home an Answer as the House was amply satisfied of which take his own so saying for we hear not a word more nor other of it than that he saies so But the Dukes defence came quick to the Lords the eighth of Iune Who he sayes sequestered him from the House until his cause was determined upon which he was much dejected when really of himself he had forbore the House And therefore this morning had resolved to send it but was advised to present it himself which we shall finde to this purpose The Commons Impeachment and Declaration against the Duke of Buckingham FOr the speâ—dy redresse of the great evils and mischiefs and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the Honour and Safety of our Soveraign Lord the KING and of his Crown and dignities and to the good and welfare of his people the Commons in this present Parliament by the authority of our said Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against GEORGE Duke Marquesse and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon great Admirall of the Kingdoms of ENGLAND and Ireland and of the principalitie of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoigne and Guyen Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant Generall Admirall Captain Generall and Governour of his Majesties Royall Fleet and Army lately set forth Master of the Horses of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Waâ—den Chancellour and Admirall of the Cinque-ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover Castle Iustice in Eyre of all Forests and Chaces on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckingham-shire Steward and Bailiffe of Westminster Gentleman of his Bed-chamber and one of his Majesties honourable Frivie Councel in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprised in the Articles following And him the said Duke do accuse and impeach of the the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes ARTIC I. The Duke 's 1. Reply THat he the said Duke being young and unexperienced hath of late years with exorbitant ambition and for his own advantage procured and engrossed into his own hands severall great Offices both to the danger â—f the State and prejudice of that Service which should have been performed in them and to the discouragement of others who are thereby precluded from such hopes as their virtues abilities and publique employments might otherwise have obtained THat his late Majesty did of his own Royal Motion bestow them upon him and he hopeth and concieveth he may without blame recieve what his bountiful Master conferred upon him if the Common-wealth doth not suffer thereby Nor is it without precedents that men eminent in the esteem of their Soveraign have held as great and many Offices as himself But if it shall be proved that he falsely or corruptly hath executed those Offices he is and will be ready to resign them with his life and fortunes to his Majesties dispose II. Reply 2. That in the 16. year of the Reign of the late King he did give and pay to the then Earl of Nottingham for the Office of Great Admiral of England and Ireland and of the principality of Wales and Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdomes and for the surrender of the said Offices to the intent the said Duke might
Ships richly laden in their usual course of Trade the Duke moved the Lords then assembled in Parliament to know whether he should make stay of those Ships for the Service of the State which motion being approved by the Lords the Duke accordingly did stay those ships and after procured a joynt Action to be entred in the Court of Admiralty in the name of the late King and himself as Lord Admirall against 15000 lib. pretended to be Pyratically taken by some Captains of the said Merchants ships and in the hands of the said Captains and accordingly an Attachment was served upon the said Merchants Whereupon the said Merchants being urged to bring in the 15000 lib. or to go to Prison made new suit to the Duke for the release of their ships who pretending that the Parliament must be moved therein the Merchants much perplexed and considering that they should lose much by unlading their ships and the losse of their voyage resolved to tender to the said Duke ten thousand pounds for his unjust demand who by colour of his Office extorted and exacted from them the said ten thousand pounds and upon receipt thereof and not before released the said ships That the motion in Parliament about the stay of the East-India ships was onely upon apprehension that they might be serviceable for the defence of the Realm That the Action entred in the Court of Admiralty against the East-India Company was not after as is suggested but divers moneths before that motion in Parliament yea before the Parliament began That the composition mentioned in this Article was not moved by the Duke but made by the late King and that the Company without any menaces or compulsion agreed to the Composition as willing to give so much rather then to abide the hazzard of the suit That of the said sum all but two hundred pounds was imployed by his late Majesties Officers for the benefit of the Navie And lastly that those ships were not discharged upon payment of the said sum of ten thousand pounds but upon an accommodation allowed that they should prepare other ships for his Majesties service whilest they went on their Voyage which accordingly they did VII Reply 7. That the Duke being great Admirall of England did by colour of the said Office procure one of the principall ships of the Navy-Royal called the Vant-guard and six other Merchants ships of great burthen to be conveyed over with all their Ordnance Ammunition and apparel into the Kingdom of France and did compell the said Masters and Owners of the said ships to deliver the said ships into the possession and command of the French King and his Ministers without either sufficient security for their redelivery or necessary caution in that behalf contrary to the duty of his Office and to the apparent weakening of the Navall strength of this Kingdom That those Ships were lent to the French King without his privity that when he knew thereof he did what appertained to his Office That he did not by menace nor any undue practice by himself or any other deliver those ships into the hands of the French that what errour hath since happened was not in the intention any way injurious to the State nor prejudicial to the interest of any private man VIII Reply 8. That the Duke knowing the said ships were intended to be imployed against the Rochellers and the Protestants else-where did compel them as aforesaid to be delivered unto the said French King and his Ministers to the end that they might be imployed against those of the Reformed Religion as accordingly they were to the prejudice of the said Religion contrary to the intention of our Soveraigne Lord the King and to his former promise at Oxford and to the great scandal of our Nation That understanding a discovery that those ships should be imployed against Rochel he endevoured to divert the course of such imployment and whereas it is alledged that he promised at Oxford that those ships should not be so imployed he under favour saith he was mis-understood for he onely said that the event would shew it being confident in the promises of the French King and that he would have really performed what was agreed upon IX Reply 9. That he hath enforced some who were rich though unwilling to purchase honours as the Lord Roberts Baron of Trure who was by menaces wrought to pay the summe of Ten thousand pounds to the said Duke and to his use for his said Barony He denyeth any such compulsion of the Lord Roberts to buy his honour and that he can prove that as the said Lord did then obtain it by the solicitations of others so was he willing formerly to have given a great sum for it X. Reply 10. That in the 18. year of the late King he did procure of the late King the Office of High Treasurer of England to the Viscount Mandevil now Earl of Manchester for which Office he received of the said Viâ—count to his own use the sum of 20000 l. of money and also did procure in the 20. year of the late King the Office of Master of the Wards and Liveries for Sir Lionel Cranfield afterward Earl of Middlesex and as a reward for the said procurement he had to his own use of the said Sir Lionel Cranfield the sum of 6000 l. contrary to the dignity of his late Majesty That he had not nor did receive any penny of the said sums to his own use that the Lord Mandevil was made Lord Treasurer by his late Majesty without any Contract for it and though his Majesty did after borrow of the said Lord 20000. pounds yet was it upon proviso of repayment for which the Duke at first past his word and after entred him security by Land which stood ingaged untill his late Majesty during the Dukes being in Spain gave the Lord satisfaction by Land in Fee-farm of a considerable value whereupon the Dukes security was returned back And that the 6000 l. disbursed by the Earl of Middlesex was bestowed upon Sir Henry Mildmay by his late Majesty without the Dukes privity who had and enjoyed it all entire XI Reply 11. That he hath procured divers Honours for his kindred and Allies to the prejudice of the antient Nobility and disabling the Crown from rewarding extraordinary virtues in future times That he believeth he were rather worthily to be condemned in the opinion of all generous minds if being in such favour with his Majesty he had minded only his own advancement and had neglected those whom the Law of Nature had obliged him to hold most dear XII Reply 12. That he procured and obtained of the late King divers Mannors parcels of the Revenues of the Crown to an exceeding greâ—â— value and hath received and â—o his own use disbursed great sums of money that did properly belong unto the late King and the better to colour his doings hath obtained severall privie Seals from
supposed to be framed before their dissolution Wee have been Ingenuous and clear in the particulars of Buckingham and Bristow in which the Historian may be susspected partially affected with his distinctions though he seems in his Paragraph of reference to his former Story to vindicate the King and Buckingham as if he meant to forestall the Readers judgement with his own opinion such presumption not consisting with the duty of a just Relator And he will seem to intimate that by this sudden Rupture of the Parliament the Duke scap'd a scouring And because Bristow may be thought to have hard measure now imprisoned at the Kings mercy where he lodged under the Notion of a high Delinquent to the King and State for his former mis-actions in Spain but time wrought upon his discretion and by his private means and submission he was afterwards reprived to his Countrey House Sherbourn and after taken into favour and became a faithfull servant to his Master But to cleer this story the passages are heretofore sufficiently laid open in the History of King Iames their proper place where both in Germany and Spain He and others acted so much in the Match to which I refer the Reader We shall onely conclude That he was no sooner returned home but brought under strict Examination of twenty Interrogatories full and home to which he gave Answer in writing to King Iames long and tedious in twenty sheets of paper And by that Narration the several Treaties of the whole Match from first to last are amply opened and may hereafter see light by it self By which it is apparent that when able and prudent men come to act their own parts they are then mostly not of the clearest sight and commonly commit such errours as are both discernable and avoidable even by men of mean abilities And it was thereupon considered whether the tendring him any further Charge unto which he might be able to frame a probable satisfactory Answer would not then rather serve to declare his Innocency than to prepare his Condemnation and so instead of pressure upon him reflect back with disadvantage upon the proceedings against him which were intended by Star Chamber Whether it were not better to desist from further questioning him without blemish to the Princes honour or prejudice to the service And though Bristol in sundry places of that his intended Answer seems diversly to violate the Rule of the provident Mariner who in foul weather and storm to prevent Shipwrack rather puts down than sets up his sailes Yet it was considered either to have him quick and roundly put to it or to proceed slowly and moderately permitting him for a time to remain where he was reprieved to his own house laid aside and in the way to be forgotten a state of being no doubt by his complexion and so apprehended by himself equivalent to the severest and sharpest censure that could be possibly afflicted on him And in this condition he found means from the Parliament to set upon the Duke to prevent the Kings design who first by his Attorney accused Bristol of Treason And thus much of their quarrel which ended with this Parliament And happy it was for Bristol to end so for though it is supposed That he had the better head-piece and the other only the better back Certainly the Dukes head was too hard for him and his brains more quick and nimble Besides other advantages for Bristow's own Creatures stole his papers into copies from time to time which were communicated to the Duke who had he lived would have undone the Earl Lewis of France some years since having a designe against Italy and the Valtoline and upon that score obtained of King Iames the loan of a gallant ship of his Navy-Royal the Vantguard and the Merchants consent for six of their own ships to joyn with that But in the Interim before they was fitted for that purpose K. Iames dies He dead and Lewis finding the cause of the Hugonots too strong and violent to be mitigated by Treaty and the Card. Duke Richlieu intent to bring them under by success of former designs plotted his main force against those of Rochel a strong maritain city in France forâ— countenanced into a firm revolt by the practice of Count Subize upon Sundry Overtures heretofore and now waxed formidable and fit for subjection But this violent resolution had been palliated by Embassies of King Iames and very lately by two more of King Charles the Earl of Holland and Sir Dudley Carlton his Assistant in Commission who pacified that high difference upon which the power and design of the Hugonotes depended And gave a real resolution for Lewes to advance greater forces against the Valtoline then very hotly pursued by advantage of Confederation with England in enmity against Spain also and gave the suddain occasion to hasten those former ships lent to the French in that design and Sir Iohn Pennington a Gallant Sea Commander intrusted Admiral over them Subiâ—e an Out-lodger in Revolt had gotten together a scattered number of small Ships which unawares surprized the Isle of 〈◊〉 and some Ships in that Harbour even at the instant when the French Army was ready to March into the Valtoline But the Duke of Vendosm not far off with Forces of the French King got thither some Troops and prevented of the seisure of the Fort Lewes neer Rochel And now not trusting to any Overtures evermore counterfeit from that City for the time only to palliate their Rebellion All possible speed was resolved upon to bring them under by power and to turn the present Design for Italy upon Rochel And first Lewes finds means to him shipping of the Dutch pretended for the Valtoline demanding of Pennington now in the French Port The delivery of those Ships agreeable to former promise which he utterly refused But was ready to receive a Commander in Chief and a competent number of Land Men not exceeding the English and so to be imployed in the French Kings service Nor could he be courted from this into any other conditions of yielding up his Masters Ships though he did at last which was urged against the Duke of Buckingham as a great crime by his permission But the passages we discover from Penningtons own Letters to the Duke from Stokes-Bay and afterwards at Diep in answer to Letters sent Express to him by his own Secretary Nicholas peremptorily to deliver these six Ships to the hands of the French Kings Command and according to his Masters pleasure signified by Secretary Conway and to take security of the French for their valuation dated 21. Iuly 1625. And at that time a Letter from the French King to receive his Cousin the Duke of Momorancy and his Souldiers aboard to join with his great Fleet against his rebellious subjects and to have possession that night Pennington offered to accept of all particulars but not to quit his Ships and dispossess himself of their Command T is true
water perished The third landed at fort Lewis neer Rochel half dead but recovered well rewarded with Annuall Pension He relates from Toras their provisions quite spent the Mills destroyed each souldier but an ounce of bread a day the miseâ—y of their souldiers lodging uncovered having but five hundred boards Gallant French-men when the English had none at all and yet continually in the open air Buckingham now begins to summon Toras but thus Civilly SIR That Naturall good affection I have to all Men when occasion calls for it shall alwayes call me to attest in what esteem I place Choice and Illustrious souls and render me to them benigne and courteous Conceiving that I have carried my self after that form in what concerns you so far as the laws of arms would allow me With this intent that before I would utterly destroy by enforcement of the necessity of war to intreat you To consider with your self those heavy chances you have indured with an excellent and earnest courage and are likely to suffer more if you rely on the vain hope of Relief and refuse the offer of safety which will trouble 〈◊〉 to put upon you And therefore I thought fitting freely to 〈◊〉 you to render your self and those who serve under you 〈◊〉 such honourable conditions as you may not expect hereâ—fter if by opposing you judge it better to dispute it at the swords point in our hands Expecting your Answer I subscribe Your very humble and obsequious servant BUCKINGHAM To which Toras makes quick Answer SIR Your Excellent and virtuous disposition is known to all men which as your Custom is you present with delight to render them puissant doing all which is praise-worthy But to me Nothing is or can be imagined more praise-worthy than to sacrifice my life for my Princes safety To this end here I am thus guarded with stout Souldiers of whom the very meanest and most unmanly should be accounted unworthy of his Charge if he did not with undoubted courage defend this Castle against the worst of difficulties Insomuch as no distrust of promised Aid nor extremity of present danger nor fear of death shall affright me from this noble resolution I can not imagine my self to have premerited the oblation of this honour by you unlesse I should betray my trust of which be the event whatever it must be glorious to me And the more that honour shall be considered by you the more obliged you shall finde your most humble and obsequious servant TORAS These Letters exchanged into Ceremonies Toras demanded of the Messenger whether the Melons in the Island were preserved which being told Buckingham he sent Toras Twelve which he rewarded with twenty Crowns to the bringer and the next day sent Buckingham six pots of Orange-Flower-Water twelve boxes of Cyprian perfume which Buckingham rewarded with Twenty Iacobus's in gold so that in fine it was said That their freindships were in earnest and the War in jest Auxiliaries arrived from England and Ireland under command of Sr. Ralph Bingles and Sr. Piercy Crosby yet Buckingham thought fit not to alter his former Resolve to force the Enemy by Hunger Others perswaded to assault the Meden-Castle defended by Baniere But our men were spent by death and weak by sicknesse and those left out to be spared Therefore the English erect an Engine in form of a Block-house and a moveable greater instrument for nearer approach made of the Keels of ships handsomly joyned together upon this poized with Anchors he mounts seven great Guns fencing them with twigged Baskets stuffed with earth and advanced towards the Tower Ordering his small Barks in safety under defence of his greater ships which were to batter the French Navy and so to hinder the Enemies violent Assault from the Main But the Engine battered and shaken with winde and waves fell in pieces then some Masts of ships and large pieces of Timber bound together with Cables crossewise as a hedge or inclosure should be set as a defence of the Sea which yet was ript and torn assunder At length ships with ships are fastened together with some empty Vessels bound with ropes and so disposed that by the ships motion they might sink or swim above or under water But the windes stormy and tempestuous they were separated and unserviceaâ— Lastly we sunk some small ships laden with stones at the Mouth and Haven but not of such bulk or Number as to stop the Enemy from all entrance Sixteen ships procured by the French from Spain First 6 and then four of ours met them but though plying sails and oars they got into a neighbour Port And Abbot Marsilane furnishes a fresh subsidiary Navy under command of Valine but wanted Mariners and why Isnard saies That the bodies of the Sea-men which the English had taken bound them two and two together and so drowned and dead were cast on shore so gastly a spectacle that few men could be got on ship-board But with these and thirteen Pilots he adventures the sea The nights still and dark a great calm the passages was evermore attempted and their way directed by Torch light on the top of St. Martins Tower diligent at their sails and oars their small ships sometimes compassing or passing by Ours of burthen now at Anchor strangely deceiving us and our small shallops crossing uncertain aims and some of our ships waying anchor the Enemy sooner got into Saint Martins then we could possibly reach them No great piece of work or mastery in the French for at the siege of Ostend both the Hollanders and Auxiliary English Ships at noon day in spite of Bucques and his deadly Guns at the very mouth of the Channel relieved the Town But the French here never attempted any passe by Moon shine Many other attempts of theirs were frustrate and some fell into our hands The besieged by this means refreshed they send out all their sick or wounded and women with Valiane and Ambelvile to the Duke of Orleans who sayling as silently as they could by the shore of the Island escaped us and got safe to the Continent which Valiane boasted to be able to do at pleasure And told Mr. Ashburnham then at the Kings Court of whom anon the very time when in despight of us he would carry another supply which so vexed our Sea men that were heedful we intercepted some of their Convoies laden with provision their Pilots Souldiers and Sea men wounded or slain Great scarcety also afflicts our own souldiers all provisions of the Island exhausted The succours so often desired by Messengers into England and as often promised still failing Mutinies not without cause suspected To wrest and deliver himself Buckingham sends Mr. Ashburnham his Kinsman into England And a fair occasion is offered by Toras who suffering under the same mischief desires that Sansimine might passe from the Castle to the Court and to return again And to obtain his desire the witty Mounster makes some
spoken assunder and agreeing together made up a full proof That no testimony may be neglected in matters of Treason That if any part of the charge was denied by the Defendant and proved by the Appellant it might convince him in a manner of the Whole And urged the offence of Ramseys challenging Rey. But more of that hereafter But Doctor Reeves prosecuted the matter for that Ramsey's Councel endeavoured to prove that he might decline the Combate or forbear answering because of some words which reflected upon my Lord Rey as matter of reproach that Rey had uttered words of Treason to catch Ramsey and then to turn Informer But said he No office can be accounted base when the King and Kingdoms safety is concern'd citing a story out of Livie that the Romans confederate with the Sanubies were to undergo a base office that stood not with Honour and resolved so long as it was advantagious to the Romane State it might with Honour be undertaken Doctor Eden was earnest to excuse himself for putting in these words against the Lord Rey saying that his Client enforced to have them inserted But being a point of Honour the Earl Marshal iuterposed That true it was the best man may not refuse the basest office to preserve a King and Nation But again it was most unworthy the degree of honour for any man to angle and intrap another and then to present him to that Kings Iustice. Then the Pleaders argued concerning Meldrams Testimony That no proof ought to be omitted for the King But it was offered for Ramsey to joyn issue upon that point in Law for the Bill was laid against him not general but particular to Place Time and matter viz. That in May last in a Ship and afterward at Amsterdam then again at Delph Ramsey should say such and such words which if Meldram would justifie besides himself they ought to be admitted otherwise it was no good matter but must refer to a new Bill That the Defendant had answered fully for that the Lord Rey profered his service to the Marquesse without pressing to know any designe That nothing in the Letters could convict Ramsey That the Lord Rey standing upon his great offices under the King of Swede and so not necessitated to serve the Marquess He had not those places of command then but since and that since his coming into England he said that he would have served under the Marquess and concluded that Ramsey and the Marquess might use such words and yet not intend Treason to his Majesty But having in this Tryal medled so much with the Marquess the Court was fain to enter an order or Protection to clear the Marquess his words or actions from dishonour Then the Court proceeded to Examine witnesses viva voce Archibal Raukin was to prove the challenge as the Bringer upon these questions he confessed That he was in Ramseys chamber at Richmond the last of October That Ramsey did not imploy him to carry any challenge to the Lord Rey But at that time Ramsey told him that it was his grief to be restrayned not to meet Rey who was a Trayterous villain and wished to meet him in the open fields at Barn-Elms he would make him dye for it and tear his heart with other such words of reproach and wished this Deponent to tell Rey so much which he did but it was three weeks after and then not until the Lord Rey told him that Ramsey had sent him a challenge so that said Ramsey my Message was but a relation not a challenge But Rauken was observed to falter from what he affirmed before Dr. Reeves and others viz. to have carried the challenge and that Ramsey could not deny it so that Rauken was threatned not to accuse Ramsey Gilbert Seaton deposed That Ramsey said he had made it come to Rey's ears to have ended this businesse without troubling the King or Lords Then Doctor Duck summoned up all the proceedings observing that formerly in the presence of the King Ramsey had with deep protestations and oath denied the time place and matter which he now confesseth and though then not examined upon oath yet in France and other Countreys the very holding up of the hand is an oath and so Tertullian sayes of the Romanes and Ramsey confessing part he might be guilty of the whole charge Doctor Eden said That Rey was not a competent witnesse against Ramsey though for the King for he was particeps criminis Capitalis Inimicus for the first his Bill made him so for it Ramsey spake Treason so did Rey for the second it appeared by Reys violent prosecution and if all failed his sword must make it good and so the Defendant was not bound to answer nor to accept the challenge unlesse he will to which he is so willing But Doctor Duck said these Reasons did not currere quatuor pedibus Some of the Conspirators with Cataline were revealers of the Treason and allowed as witnesses Doctor Reeves concluded that although some of the Lord Reys witnesses did not affirm what they might it would encourage him to set a sharper edge upon his sword when he entered the Lists and that the God of right would so weaken the heart of Ramsey that it should fail him when he took his sword in hand The Holy-daies of Christmass drawing nigh The Court ordered that either party might repair to Sr. Henry Martin and possesse him with further proofs out of these witnesses already Examined but of no other And so adjourned the Court till Monday the ninth of Ianuary when after some small debates but no further Matter or Proofs the businesse was briefly determined to be referred to the Kings pleasure Which came to this Account That Hamiltons power with the King got all favour for Ramsey and well rewarded in due time And Rey having done the duty of a Loyal Subject left the Court and Kingdom and returned to his Command in Sweden But this story though tedious will enlighten us further to the truths of the Scotish affairs This Year increased Discontents in the Clergy at Oxford University First many conceived that the renovations reducing their use of primitive times in Divine service was now no lesse than Innovation against which they bitterly Invected in their Pulpits and Pasquils Their very texts giving just cause of offence and mutiny as Let us make us a Coptain and return into Egypt And he cryed against the Altar in the word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar and many such reflecting upon the Persons of the most Eminent in the Church and violating the Kings Declaration for depressing Arminian controversies some of the offenders being convented before their superiours the vice Chancellor Appeal to the Proctors Bishop Laud mistaking these retrograde proceedings in appeals from Ascendents to Descendents caused the King at Woodstock to order the difference and censured the offenders to be expelled the University The
the States preferred to the Throne and a fair occasion was offered to signalize his Inauguration and to be the terrour of his enemy the Muscovite who having done much spoyl in Lituania besieged the Polish Town of Smolensko The War was high and either party endeavour their succour Both of them in this quarrel indifferent to Great Brittanes Interest unlesse the Scots will afford the Pole their favour for countenancing their pedling trade of Land Merchandizing from Fair to Fairs And indeed they have reception there also for such of them as have been souldiers of fortune But the English upon a double account have increased their Naval trade to the Muscovite and our Merchants thereby inriched into an Incorporate Company setled in the time of Queen Elizabeth and so that great Duke or Emperour solicits King Charles for Assistance in his intended War and siege of Smolensko where because the English and Scots both had entertainment on either side they shall not want a Remembrancer The King of Swede at his first descending into Germany fomented this quarrel willing he was to engage Poland and all our neighbour Princes and States in any War the better to prevent their assistance to the Emperour countenancing and enâ—â—uraging divers of his own Officers strangers to take pay on either side The Muscovite sends abroad his Ambassadours for aid with particular Letters to King Charles for Men and Officers who recommended Colonel Thomas Sanderson which for a compleat double Regiment of two thousand English by the North Cape the first that ever transported Military men to that Nation by sea to the Town of Arch Angel the North part and Port to the Musco and the place where all Merchants strangers keep their Staâ—le There they land the sixth of August 1632 Commissioners are appointed to receive them upon such conditions as never were more noble for Souldiers the Colonels own single pay near 200 l. sterling a Moneth And being received and Carressed at Musco the whole Army march to Smolensko a strong Town in the borders of Poland formerly taken by Sigismund from the Muscovite with a two years siege like that of Ostend in Flanders if we consider the length of the siege and the number of the slain which amounted as Authours reckon to more than twenty thousand men and now was the Muscovite resolved to bid fair for the Game with an Hoast of fifteen hundred thousand Souldiers And being come after some Skirmishes the King of Poland in person draws down his whole Army thither to besiege the Besiegers Entrenching himself which was all he could do for the present against such a powerful Army of 120 thousand and so by degrees he cuts off all provisions which put the Musco General to quicken the siege and to make several attempts upon the strong Town And at last having summoned his Councel of War And amongst them of several Nations Colonel Sanderson Colonel Alexander Lesly a Scot differing in opinions fell to quarrel which the General opposed saying These that will not fight the Enemy let them keep their own quarters But gave command to countenance Colonel Sanderson with 3000 Foot to fall upon the Polish quarters weakened by drawing off their choisest Horse and Foot to Dorogobuse to prevent their Muscovite provision of relief and the General privately took Sanderson crosse the River to get a secret view for the best advantage of the designe When suddenly an Alarm came to the General who commanded Sanderson with speed to his quarters who passing by the brow of an Hill where Lesly drew out into Order and seeing Sanderson without any guard with a dozen of Horse followed him that took no heed of any Treason but minding his enemy before his face Lesly came close behinde him and with a brace of bullets shot him by the nape of the neck into the head stark dead the second day of December 1633. Upon which Murther the English drew into a Body with resolution of revenge upon Lesly and his Scots but for the instant were both commanded into a truce with great protestation that the Murtherer should be subject to severe punishment and so submitted him to a Guard of which the enemy having knowledge takes the advantage falls upon the Muscovite and in this disorder put them to a great losse and kills six thousand enforcing them to a Parly and to these base unheard-of conditions That an Army of an hundred and twenty thousand should cast their Arms and Colours at the feet of this King a Monster of Victory He pardons them all the strangers near fourteen thousand are never to bear Arms against the Crown of Poland and all Arms and Ammunition submitted to the Conquerour And not long after the general peace was ratified between them That the King of Poland should relinquish his Title and pretensions upon the great Duchy of Musco and the grand Duke his upon Smolensko and other such places formerly depending on the Muscovite These dishonourable conditions fell heavily upon the General who was at his return home soon-beheaded His Son the Lievetenant General whipt to death about the streets and his family banished for ever into the Countrey of Ibera there to catch Sables for the Emperours profit a customary punishment of such as have relation and dependance upon Traitours Nay the King of Swede had called in the Turk who to besiege Poland was entred into the Countrey but the King had timely gotten this Victory to put fire in the Turks tails beating them out again and forcing them also to beg a peace upon most honourable terms for the King at that same time when the third part of Constantinople was burnt to the ground with incredible losse a Prodigie threatning the Turk with that misfortune which afterward befel him The Murtherer Lesly after some time of imprisonment with great summes of money wrought his release there and to be sent Prisoner to the justice of King Charles whose subject he was Here he was cast into prison and suffered under the trial onely of the High Court of Honour where being arraigned he produced the Kings pardon who was pleased thus to excuse and that truly That being the Murther was committed in a foreign Nation the Laws of England could not reach to punish with death which said the King having passed a formal Tryal may give caution to his Subjects not to execute the like The pardon being onely to shadow from publick knowledge the weakness of our Laws against such foreign Offenders But the Hand of Heaven prosecuted this Murther for He wandring in foreign Wars came over hither again with some command in the Queens forces which She brought over from Holland for assistance of the King in the late Civil War where upon his first service he was 〈◊〉 and maimed in his Murtherous hand Then he returns into Muscovia where but for suspicion of Treachery he was imprisoned in a Tower and from the top was flung 〈◊〉 sharp stakes and lingred out a reasonable time of
restrictions and bounded the writ at the first but to Maritime Counties as mostly receiving the present benefit of security from Pyrates but that not sufficient for the common necessity the wits became afterwards Generall to all Counties and so did the quarrel The whole amounting unto two hundred thirty six thousand pounds in lieu of all payments came but to twenty thousand pounds per mensem The Clergy never pleaded but indeed they muttered their case to be free from all secular and civil charges And to prevent the boldness of any pretence the Laws made disputes of the three fold necessity binding all Clergy and Laity viz. aid in war building of Bridges and raising of Forts Nor had they any Execution that which the Arch-bishop did for them was upon their just Complaint of their unequal Tax by their Neighbour therefore the Sheriffs were required not to tax the Clergy of Parsonages above a tenth part of their Land-rate of their several Parishes and no doubt we may easily believe the Inlanders might mutter as conceiving it strange to be concerned in the Sea But in truth the main Exception was to be taxed out of Parliament against the late Petition of Right and indured long debate in Courts of Iustice thereafter whilest the first Mover Noy the Attorney having set the Wheel a going took his last leave in August to rest for ever from the toil of an Attorney General And now was the great Design of the Swedes quarrel in Germany prosecuted and Ambassadours abroad to all the Neighbour Allies for assistance and Axel Oxenstiern the great Chancellour and Guider of those affairs of State sent hither his Son in Ambassy impowred with Credential Letters no doubt from his Sovereign Queen or from interest of the Chancellour of which our King could not pretend ignorance for in all outward reception he appeared so I was present in the Banquetting-house at White-hall when he had Audience of his tedious peremptory Oration But indeed whether because his Address had been before to the French King from whom he had large promises and a great Present or whether because our Reasons of State gave slender hopes to engage against the Emperour with whom we were in Treaty concerning the Palatinate he refused our Kings Present of equal value with that of France and returned not well pleased The state of Ireland in some disquiet dangerously now divident between Papist and Protestant the wise Lord Deputy Wentworth being necessitated to summon a Parliament for the supply of a fresh Contribution for the Army the former of twenty thousand pounds per annum determining the next year and provision must be assured before hand to discharge the Kings Debt of eighty thousand pounds besides It is most true that there was no ill Husbandry of former Governours that caused a contraction of this Debt but the wisdom of the Sovereign not to charge the Nation with Levies for they had granted but one Subsidy since primo Iacobi the Kingdom in good condition since the Wars and their Estates being by the King so lately setled they could do no less than raise their Purses with their plenty and give the King Subsidies which they did The Civil affairs well forwarded the care was to setle the Ecclesiastick by Assembly of a Synod The Design was not more politick as pious to repeal the Body of Articles formed Anno 1615. and to substitute those nine and thirty Articles of the Church of England in their room and the rather because the nine Articles of Lambeth were included with the Irish which in truth had been purposely inserted by King Iames to ballance against the Tenets of Arminians and were evermore started by the contrary Opinions where the Points of Predestination and the Lords Day Sabbath had found free acception to these indeed the Alteration seemed strange some referring it to power others to piety and reason also the reason might be in relation to the Papists who made a wonder that the Churches of three Kingdoms united being under one chief Head and Governour there should be three several and distinct Confessions of Faith and yet all pretending to one Religion and the conclusion and concession not huddled but canvased and with some advantage in Vote for the Church of England although as some say the Primate of Ireland interposed his Negative The Scots are busie fomenting sundry pretended Designs of State against their Liberties they became very bold endeavouring to blast the Kings Proceedings in their last Parliament as indirect charging him with corrupting and suborning the then Votes and evermore of some tendency in favour of Papists and to publish it in print they framed a Libel which passing through malignant hands and so vented but the Lords of the Council there searching narrowly for the Authour it fell upon one William Hagge and he escaping his Abetter was brought to the Board being the Lord Balmerino the Son of a Father of small Conscience and less Religion but Secretary he had been to King Iames who shuffled a Letter of his own contriving amongst others for the Kings signature too much complementing with the Pope Clement in favour of the Catholicks which Letter being so sent and some years after mentioned by Cardinal Bellarmine to the Kingâ—s prejudice and Balmerino questioned for it did ingeniously confess the same and after some outward sufferings had his pardon and preferment but time discovering the Policies of State another way it is now averred that the Letter was then devised by the Kings command in some reason to gain upon the Romish party in reference to his interest in England where the Papists were prevalent and more powerfull abroad but now this Lord the Son whether by nature perfidious or made so by Revenge elapsed into the like crime indeed and suffered the same Trial and Eviction and found the same mercy the Kings pardon and preferment for the present but fell more foul in offending some years after But the Kings Pardon to him gave great encouragement to the discontented Party in Scotland having now found by experience the Kings inclination either by fear or affection to be wrought upon if not mastered and having continual intelligence from his Majesties Bed-chamber the bane of the King by persons near about him Scots of all passages in England concerning the interruption of three Parliaments imprisoning the Members and other civil Distractions sufficient to discover a discontented condition in England also but it appears not who gave the first invitation for assistance to each other of a War Either party Scots and English so forward as that it seems they met joyn'd at last in an unnatural War with their dread Sovereign And yet untill 1637. that the Service-book was imposed on the Scots both parties lay dormant without any perfect correspondence that I can meet with till that time or a little after And then also Cardinal Richelieu sent over his Chaplain Chambers a Scotishman to stir up the
Councel at Hampton Court the case was concluded for the Arch Bishop as the greatest reason not to rule themselves having suffered such an Inconvenience there without so much as taking notice much lesse reforming It had been more then fifteen moneths that the Writs of Ship-money were issued out to divers Counties many Men and in special Mr. Hambden of Buckingham Shire being Assisted by the Sherifâ— made default of payment this Person well known and supposed a stake for others not without a resolved factious assistance of powerful parties And therefore the King this Michaelmas Term not precipitate into a quarrel advised the opinion of his Judges stating the Case by Letter to them To our trusty and well-beloved Sir John Bramstone Knight Chief Iustice of Our Bench Sir John Finch Knight Chief Iustice of Our Court of Common Pleas Sir Humphrey Davenport Knight Chief Baron of Our Court of Exchequer and to the rest of the Iudges of Our Courts of Kings Bench Common Pleas and the Barons of our court of Exchequer Charls Rex Trusty and well-beloved we greet you well taking into our Princely consideration that the Honor and safety of this Our Realm of England the preservation whereof is onely entrusted to Our care was and is more dearly concern'd then in late former times as well by divers councels and attempts to take from Us the Dominions of the Seas of which We are sole Lord and rightful Owner or Propriator and the losse whereof would be of greatest danger and peril to this Kingdom and other Our Dominions and many other wayes We for the avoiding of these and the like dangers well weighing with our self that where the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger there the charge and defence ought to be born by all the Realm in general did for the preventing so publique a mischief resolve with our self to have a Royal Navy prepared that might be of force and power with Almighty Gods blessing and assistance to protect and defend this Our Realm and Our Subjects therein from all such perils and dangers and for that purpose We issued forth Writs under our Great Seal of England directed to all Our Sheriffs of Our several Counties of England and Wales Commanding thereby all Our said Subjects in every City Town and Village to provide such a number of Ships well furnisht as might serve for this Royal purpose and which might be done with the greatest equality that could be In performance whereof though generally throughout all the Counties of this Our Realm We have found in Our Subjects great chearfulnesse and alacrity which We gratiously interpret as a testimony as well of their dutiful affection to us and our service as of the respect they have to the Publique which well becometh every good Subject Nevertheless finding that some few happily out of ignorance what the Laws and Customs of this Realm are or out of a desire to be eased in their particulars how general soever the charge be or ought to be have not yet paid and contributed to the several Rates and Assesments that were set upon them And fore-seeing in Our Princely wisdom that from thence divers Suits and Actions are not unlikely to be commenced and prosecuted in our several Courts at Westminster We desirous to avoid such inconveniencies and out of Our Princely love and affection to all Our People being willing to prevent such Errours as any of Our loving Subjects may happen to run into have thought fit in a case of this nature to advise with you Our Judges who We doubt not are well studied and informed in the Rights of Our Sovereignty And because the Trials in Our several Courts by the Formalities in Pleading will require a long protraction We have thought fit by this Letter directed to you all to require your Judgments in the Case as it is set down in the inclosed Paper which will not onely gain time but also be of more authority to over-rule any prejudicate opinions of others in the Point Given under Our Signet at our Court of White-hall the Second Day of February in the Twelfth Year of Our Reign 1636. CHARLS Rex CHARLS Rex VVhen the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concern'd and the whole Kingdom in danger whether may not the King by VVrit under the great Seal of England command all the Subjects in his Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victuals and Munition and for such time aâ— he shall think fit for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom from such Danger and Peril and by Law compel the doing thereof in case of Reâ—usal or Refractoriness and whether in such case is not the King the sole Iudge both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided The Judges return their Opinions thus May it please your Most Excellent Majesty we have according to your Majesties Command severally and every Man by himself and all of us together taken into serious consideration the Case and Questions signed by your Majesty and inclosed in your Letter And we are of opinion that when the Good and Safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in Danger your Majesty may by Writ under your Great Seal of England command all the Subjects of this your Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victual Munition and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom from such Peril and Danger And that by Law your Majesty may compell the doing thereof in case of Refusal or Refractoriness And we are also of opinion that in such Case your Majesty is the sole Iudg both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided John Bramston John Finch Humphrey Davenport John Denham Richard Hutton William Jones George Crook Thomas Trever George Vernon Robert Barkly Francis Crauly Richard Weston Thus they subscribe which was inrolled in all Courts at Westminster Hall and without doubt Warrant sufficient for the King to proceed against any Defaulters specially singly against Hambden who appeared upon Process and required Oyer of the Ship Writs and so being heard he demurred in Law and demanded the Iudges opinion upon the Legality of those Writs which being argued in the Exchequer all the Iudges and those Barons except Crook and Hutton were of opinion for the Writs and the Barons gave Iudgment accordingly against Hambden who under hand advised held up the Quarrel by Intermissions till further time and conveniency The Queen bare the Princess Ann the seventeenth of March the third Daughter to the King This Midsummer Term were censured in Star-chamber three Delinquents confederate A medley of Mal-contents The one a Divine Mr. Burton who is a mistiled Sometime Tutor to the King which he never was nor any
to Dr. Balcanqual the penner of that Declaration a Creature of Hamilton and pâ—rfect hater of the Arch-Bishop who hindered his preferment to an English Bishoprick out of an innate disaffection to the Scots Nation but offered him a poor Scots Bâ—shoprick that he might dispose of his Benefices in England of 1200 l. per annum A fit Instrument he was to drive on Hamiltons designes being of a nimble Wit and clear expression dissolute of life and easily drawn to do evil for preferment which in part the Marquesse procured him to be Master of the Savoy and Dean of Durham the latter falling to him after the Declaration which the Scots say was his reward for betraying their Church therein And because it discovers their juggling to the life they forced the King in his necessity and time of declension by his act of oblivion first and then to call it in as containing untruths But they have not disproved any passage therein of the true Narrative part unlesse in too much respect and favour to Hamilton and his Complices See great Declaration page 324 326. But to pacifie these Distempers Hamilton must be designed the Kings high Commissioner into Scotland In which trust how treacherously he managed the Kings Interest hereafter follows The Bishops and others of the royal party advised the King to have delegated the Marquesse of Huntley his high Commissioner to manage the affairs of Scotland but by Morton Roxborough and Trahair Hamilton had that honour with the treacherous help of the Scottish Grooms of the Bed Chamber Mall Murrey and Maxwel who for all their falsities were made Scotish Earls for their reward Hamilton thus intrusted abuses the King in that Commission trifling the time from the three and twentieth of Iuly 1637. untill the sixth of Iune 1638. with Declarations Proclamations Messages Letters whilest the Scots raised Officers Arms Ammunition from abroad four Moneths more till the nine and twentieth of November in vain Disputes and three Journeys to the King and back again with the expence of so much Money as might have reduced them by reward or power Treachery always mercenary even to Liberty Life and all For by this time their General Lesly and other Commanders and Officers from far that never had or ever would come home again but by Design being likened to a Puff of Winde behinde that never returns and William Dyck Merchant at Edinburgh and Thomas Cunningham Factor at Camphere provides them Arms for which they were afterwards knighted and Cunningham preferred also Conservator an Office of trust taken from an honest man Sir Patrick Drummond without Law or Trial having served King Iames many years and ever since till now in that Place with good repute And although these Noble-men and others were main Enemies to the Scots Bishops yet they flattered them most into temporal Places of Judicature in the Council Exchequer and Sessions and were Suiters to the King for their Preferments thither as best able to serve him on purpose thereby to pick out matter of Exceptions for the Peoples hatred so that of fourteen Bishops eleven of them were thus invested And although sundry of the Nobility and Gentry were joyned with them in Judicature even in their High-commission Court the other were induced to forbear that the odium of Fines and Confinements might lodg on the Bishops alone the most of them very weak in temporal and most ignorant in State-affairs And to promote the Covenant the Countess of Roxborough a cunning old Courtier of Queen Anns being sent for from Scotland insinuates into this young Queens favour Lady of the Bed-chamber and Governess to the Princess Mary the chief Marian to mannage their Designs amongst the Women giving intelligence to her Husband a subtil old Fox who the rather resided with her at the Nursery-court St. Iames's the Rendezvouz of Scotish Designs against their Bishops Roxborough not in duty to Religion but in fear to lose his Lordships rich Abby of Kelso with the Demeans and seven and thirty Parish-churches impropriate a small Bishop himself and it not all to be returned to the Church yet the improprlate was in hazzard and so intimated towards the erection of the new Bishoprick of Edenburgh And with this Countess all the chief leading Covenanters in all Designs had their private Consults The honest Duke of Richmond mis-lead by Trahair and almost all the Scots in Court favouring the Covenanters Thus was the King amused to the time that the War commenced Iune 1639. before the King marched to Berwick and the Earl of Arundel made General by Land and Hamilton Admiral by Sea a considerable Fleet with Land-forces likewise of five thousand Foot and sent to the Frith sufficient enough to have reduced the Covenanters onely by hinderiâ—g their Commerce and forreign Trade had he not been false and a considerable Army of a few Scots standing for the King for the present aâ— Aberdene but much suspected since to be designed for themselves But Hamilton keeping intelligence under hand with the Covenanters and his Mother like a Virago riding with Pistols at her Saddle-bowe to encourage them and all his Kindred and Vassals Covenanters and this great Fleet doing no harm onely Colonel Gun was sent Northwards with a Regiment to betray those of the Kings Friends for which he was knighted at London The Scots Army incamped at Dunslow having before scattered in England a cunning Declaration to withdraw the People from assistance of the King alleging their taking Arms was for his Defence against wicked Bishops and their Episcopal War which Declarations were sent into the Kings Camp and divulged even by his Scotish Servants of the Court But the King came and the Treaty began Hamilton leaves his charge in trust to another posts to the Kings Camp promotes the base patched Pacification sudden and upon any terms the Covenanters assured that the Kings Army once disbanded their onely aim it would not be easie for his Majesty in these Times of the general Distemper of both Nations to raise another themselves resolving to keep theirs intire still whereas had but the King marched towards Edingburgh it was generally believed the Scots durst not have opposed him having five thousand the most accomplished Cavalry the prime Gentry of England and sixteen thousand well appointed good Foot The Covenanters not more than two thousand Nags hunting Saddles Scots Pistols no Back nor Breast or Head-piece and not twelve thousand Foot raw and ill armed But here begins their Pacification and ends the Quarrel for that time which was in Iune 1639. Thus much in brief the Particulars follow The Covenanters pretend their first cause of Rebellion was the Service-book imposed on their Kirk by the Kings immediate Authority All Christian Kings being they themselves confess Custodes utriusque Tabulae Nursing Fathers to the Church Episcopi extra Ecclesiam as Constantine is stiled by Eusebius in the first Nicene Council Vos estis Episcopi intra Ecclesiam Ego vero extra And
French in the time of Treaty and he deserved as he found by a strict guard of Horse and Foot no better than others to be so imprisoned And whilest we are abroad we may mention our other neighbours with their two Fleets Spain and Holland in the English Roade the Downs the one seventy Sail intended for a recruit of men and money for Flanders and to land at Dunkirk But by the way they meet with the Hollanders Vice-admiral with seventeen gallant men of War And the seventh of September were forced to a fight whereas the Hollander over powred and unable to hold out with the loss of two Ships sunk got to Windward and went along with them towards Dunkirk presuming to meet his Admiral who lay before it and to that end gave warning by firing his Ordnance all the way upon the Enemy And as it was intended the next morning the Admiral hears the Reports and came up to his Vice-admiral and joyns his Fleet between Dover and Calais being now five and twenty Sail in all who encounter the Spaniard in sharp Fight till past Noon having much the better by taking two Gallions sunk another and shattered the rest enforcing them on the English Coast near Dover and so bore off for the Coast of France till they should consult whether here to force them any further The Spanish Resident importuned the King to keep the Hollanders in subjection but two Tides whilest the Spaniard might have the means to get back into Spain and withall under hand here had hired some English Ships to transport their Souldiers and Treasure to Dunkirk but upon Complaint and Opposition of the Hollands Ambassadour the King being in amity with both was resolved to stand Neuter with command that no Spaniard should be taken in or pass beyond Graves-end without licence And thus both Enemies at gaze devising by what Designs to eithers prejudice the Spaniard found means and opportunity in the night to convey to Dunkirk fourteen Ships and in them four hundred thousand pounds And then the King sends the Earl of Arundel to the Admiral of Spain Don Antonio D' Oquendo desiring him to retreat upon the first fair winde as not willing they should ingage within his Seas but the Easterly Winde not usual so long at this time held them here and helped the Hollander near him with fresh Supply till they were complete and hundred Sail incompassing their Enemy within Pistol-shot so near arriving as kept not long from ingaging for on the eleventh Day of September the Dutch Admiral Van Trump charged the Spaniard with his Cannon and Fire-ships so furiously as that they cut their Cables and being fifty three in number twenty three ran a shore and stranded in the Downs whereof three were burnt two sunk and two perished on the shore one of these was a great Gallion the Vice-admiral of Gallicia Don Andrea de Castro with fifty Brass Pieces of Ordnance in her The remainder of the twenty three deserted by the Spaniard who went on Land were mann'd by the English to save them from the Dutch the other thirty Spanish Ships under the command of Admiral Oquendo and Lopus of Portugal went to Sea and kept in close order untill a great Fog fell upon them when the Dutch taking the advantage interposed betwixt the Admirals and their Fleet and fought them valiantly till the Fog cleared up when the Admiral of Portugal began to flame being fired with two Holland Fire-ships which Oquendo perceiving he forthwith bent his course towards Dunkirk with the Admiral of that place and some few Ships more for most of the rest were taken and of these thirty eleven of them were taken and sent into Holland three perished upon the Coast of France one near Dover five sunk in the Fight and onely ten escaped to câ—â—ry the News home to Spain And this Narration came from Van Trump himself and sent to Ioachim the Dutch Lieger here I must confess we are yet to seek of the Spaniards Design and can but ghess as many differently did At their first appearance upon our Coast they were esteemed like the invincible Armado in Eighty Eight and simply conceived these for an Invasion for in likelihood the imbarquing of twenty five thousand Souldiers in that Fleet too great a number for a Recruit in Flanders as was suggested and imagined that by the Admiral of Naples his Refusal to shew his Commission being required by the King bore but an evil consequence wondring why the Town of Dunkirk should so much dispute the Reception of four thousand which were conveyed thither unless the Cardinal Infanto gave express command If those Forces had been purposely designed for their Recruit yet those Souldiers were unarmed very few Officers and the whole Fleet so poorly accommodated for any Invasion as wanting Pouder for their own defence so that they being at Anchor at the Downs London was their choice Magazine from whence they had their daily Supply This Quarrel in both the Enemies fell foul upon the Rule of State observed by all Princes not to suffer a Fight in their own Harbours as the Downs are to the English and this the first and greatest Affront that ever the Kings of England suffered in the Narrow Seas especially to consider it as begun and attempted by our next Neighbour the Hollander when it was a good occasion and a notable advantage of the English to have destroyed their whole Fleet and therefore whether it were silently connived at by some of our English Counsellours or whether as is suggested that â—â—rquess Hamilton his curiosity onely to take view of their â—leets or that Sir Iohn Pennington our Vice-admiral of the Narrow Seas did not do his duty certainly the effect might and partly did encourage the rebellious Scots to adventure upon the Kingsâ—â—nity â—â—nity that were so bold not long after to baffle with their Sovereign And because we will clear our home-affairs together we may take notice here though at this time that Sir Thomas Coventry Keeper of the Great Seal of England died the tenth of Ianuary after the managing of that Office fifteen years excellently well qualified for that Place both for Law and a good conscience though some have since spoken more freely than justly that he wisely took leave of this life before it should be taken from him Imagining that the liberty of that great trust might dispose him to unlawfull gain few of the same Dignity that came off without censure if not guilt the two last Viscount Saint Albans and the Bishop of Lincoln very eminent Delinquents in that Office were accounted Foyls to set him forth in a large measure as to himself As for Sir Iohn Finch Chief Iustice of the Common Pleas that succeeded him could not hold out so many Moneths as he did Years from being in hazzard to have forfeited his head which he saved by his light pair of heels the next year And that you may understand the temper
the French and other strangers assistance the Iesuit in particular had combinations with the Covenanters not in love to them but in policy to ruine the right Reformed Religion by setting up the Presbytery and so all Schism to succeed and a Plot was pretended to bring it about The Narrative of this Design was sooner sent abroad than by Master Pryn or the other after him and needs not the credulity of Sir William Boswel 's Relation as to the thing but whether the Indictor devised this Narration and himself onely the Plotter as usual with politick Pretenders is much suspected yet it is confessed to be framed square enough to publick fame to be believed for truth and thus it was for I have met with some different Copies commonly transcribed which yet need not for they were scattered in Manuscript from the very Authours A Noble-man of Boheme Andreas ab Habern-field now become Physician to the Lady Elizabeth the Palsgrave relict made it known by a Friend to Sir William Boswel and by his means sent to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Most Illustrious and Reverend Lord We have willingly and cordially perceived that our Offers have been acceptable both to his Royal Majesty and likewise to your Grace This is the onely Index to us that the Blessing of God goeth along with you whereby we are the more extimulated chearfully and freely to declare and discover those things whereby the hazzard of both your lives the subversion of the Realms both of England and Scotland the tumbling down of his Excellent Majesty from his Throne is projected Now lest the discourse should be enlarged with superfluous cicumstances we will onely premise some things which are meerly necessary to the matter First be it known to them that this good man the Informer of the ensuing discoveries was born and bred in the pontifical Religion and spent many years in Ecclesiastical Functions At length being judged a fit person for carrying on the present designe by the advice and command of the Lord Cardinal Barbarino he was made co-adjutor to Con the then Popes Nuncio to whom he appeared so diligent and sedulous in his office that hope of great preferment was given to him But he guided by a better inspiration was not wun by those sugar baits and conscious to himself of the vanities of that Religion whereof he had sometimes been a strenuous Defender having also observed the malice of rhe Romish party found his Conscience much oppressed for ease whereof he resorted in his belief to the Orthodox Religion And thought it his best way to reveal a plot tending to the destruction of so many Innocent souls conceiving his minde would better repose should he vent what he knew into the bosom of some confiding Friend This done he was seriously admonished by that Friend to give manifest tokens of his Conversion and to deliver from imminent danger so many innocent souls To this counsel he willingly consigned himself and delivered the subsequent matters to Writing whereby the Articles lately presented to your Grace may be clearly explicated and demonstrated 1 That the main of the businesse may be known it is to be considered that all these Factions which this day make Christianity reel have their rise from the Iesuitical off-spring of Cham which branch it self into four Orders The first are Ecclesiasticks these take into care the promotions of Religious affairs The second are Polititians their office is to take care for the raising of civil combustions in and refoming of Kingdoms The Third are Seculars who are properly designed for to intrude into offices of near relation to the persons of Princes to insinuate themselves into Civil affairs of the Court as Bargains and Sales The Fourth are men of a lower Orb Intelligencers and spies then to creep into the services of eminent persons Princes Earls Barons or the like and endevour to pervert or cheat them A Society of so many Orders the Kingdom of England nourisheth For scarce all Spain France and Italy can yield so great a multitude of Iesuites as London alone Where are found more then fifty Scotch Iesuites there the said Society hath elected for it self a seat of iniquity and hath conspired against the King and his greatest confidents especially against the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and likewise against both Kingdoms For it is most certain that the said Society hath resolved upon an Universal Reformation in the Kingdoms of England and Scotland And the determination of the end necessarily inferreth a determination of the means For promotion therefore of the undertaken villanny this Society is dubbed with the title of The Congregregation for the propagation of the Faith with acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome for their principal and Cardinal Barbarino for his Substitute and Deputy The chief patron of this Society is the popes Legate who hath special care of the business into his bosom this rabble of Traytours weekly deposite their Intelligences The Residence of this Legation was obtained at London in the name of the pope by whose mediation it might be lawful for Cardinal Barbarino to work so much the more easily and safely upon the King and Kingdom For none could so easily circumvent the King as he who should be palliated with the popes Authority Seignior CON was at that time the Popes Legate the Universal Minister of that conjured Society and a vehement promoter of the plot whose secrets as likewise those of all other intelligencers the present Informer of all these things did receive and dispatch as the business required CON tampered with the chief men of the Kingdom and left nothing unattempted by which he might corrupt them all and incline them to the Romish party he enticed with many various baits the very King himself he sought to delude with gifts of pictures Antiquities Idols and such like trumperies brought from Rome which yet prevailed nothing with the King Thus familiarly entertained by the King oft at Hampton-Court and at London he was intreated to undertake the Cause of the prince Palatine that he would interpose his authority and by Intercession perswade the Legate of Colen that the Palatine in the next Diet for the Treating about peace might be inserted into the conditions which hee promised but performed the contrary He intimated indeed that hee had been solicited by the King to such an effect but did not advise such consent lest peradventure the Spaniard should say that the Pope of Rome did patronize an heretical Prince In the interim CON smelling from the Arch Bishop the Kings most Confident that the Kings minde was altogether pendulous and doubtful resolved to move every stone and bend all his strength to gain him to his side being confident hee had prepared the meanes For he had a command to make offer of a Cardinals Cap to the Lord Arch-Bishop in the name of the Pope of Rome and that he should allure him also with higher promises that he might corrupt his sincere minde Yet
height as the Crown-customes increased five times greater in fine not onely to subsist of our self but to contribute to the English Exchequer and to make some retribution of those vast expenses from hence for four hundred years past The main assistance to this War came from the Gentry of England all Knights and Gentlemen holding Lands in capite of the King were to send Horse and Men answerable to their abilities so that the Aids completed the royal Army where of the Earl of Northumberland was appointed General and the Earl of Strafford his Lieutenant General but in truth Northumber land fell extreme sick and therefore not to disorder the form of the other Officers the King took the Command upon himself Generalissimo for I never read of a Royal Army and the King present but himself was chief the Earl of Northumberland his General and the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant General and having seen the Queens safe delivery of a Son born the twentieth of Iuly and christened Henry after created Duke of Glocester He hastens his Rendezvouz and the twentieth of August takes leave of London Two days after he declares the Scots to be Rebells by Proclamation That by all ways of mildness and clemency he hath endeavoured to appease the rebellious courses of his Subjects of Scotland who upon pretences of Religion have sought to shake off his Regal Government and now do take up Arms and invade his Kingdom of England and therefore his Majesty doth now declare that all those who have already entered or shall presume to enter in war like manner in any part of England and their Adherents and Assistants shall be adjudged and are hereby denounced Rebels and Traitours against his Majesty nevertheless if they will yet acknowledg their former crimes and crave pardon and yield obedience for the time to come he tenders them his gracious pardon they retiring home and demeaning themselves as loyal Subjects for the future August 22. 1640. And a Prayer is published for the Kings Majesty in his Expedition against the Rebells of Scotland to be said in all Churches c. viz. O Eternal God and mercifull Father by whom alone Kings reign thou Lord of Hosts and Giver of all Victory we humbly beseech thee both now and ever to guide and preserve our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charls to bless him in his Person with health and safety in his Counsels with wisdom and prudence and in all his Actions with honour and good success especially against those his traiterous Subjects who having cast off all obedience to their Anointed Sovereign do 〈…〉 His Army was marched before hastening to meet the Scots who were entered England already for being come to North-alerton in the way to New-castle he was met by the Lord Conway with the ill News of a Defeat at Newburn upon Tine the Day before which was thus The Lord Conway Commander there in chief advising to secure the most considerable Passes had upon August 27 drawn out 1200. Horse and 3000. Foot placing the Infantry under shadow of a Breast-work to gall the Scots in theirâ— Pass over the River Tine near Newburn but their General Lesly over night had planted nine Pieces of Ordnance on his side of the River and blinded them with Bushes from sight of the English and in the morning craves leave of the Lord Conway to pass with his Petition to his Majesty he was admitted to pass with a considerable number but not with his Army but Lesly must not divide his Forces and so fords over 300. Horse which were by those behinde the Breast-work enforced to retire and Lesly to acquit them plaid his Cannon from the Blinde so furiouâ—ly as drove them from their Poast and like raw Souldiers cast down their Arms and fled Then their Cavalry re-advanced upon Mr. Wilmot Commissary General of the Horse accompanied with prime Gentlemen and stood to the Charge of Horse and Cannon also which so galled them and over powred by number as they retired in disorder 300. slain and imprisoned and Conway fain to retreat with this ill News to the King and because New-castle was not tenable against the Scots Army Sir Iacob Ashley the Governour was forced to desert it and two days after they possessed Durham And now comes the Earl of Strafford who brought up the Rear of the Army retreating to York whom the King staid and where there was time afforded to examine and conclude this Miscarriage upon Conway notwithstanding his best art of flourish and stout animosity to vindicate his either Cowardice or Treachery or both for so he was accused During this time the English Garison at Barwick issued out and recovered some Pieces of Cannon which had been left by Lesly at Dunse as over-usefull for his Train which gave Allarm to the Earl of Hadington commanding in Loâ—thian and the Merse with two thousand Horse and 〈◊〉 to pursue and rescue the Cannon and carried them to Dâ—nglass but the next day Hadington and twenty more â—nights and Gentlemen in an instant were all slain by an accident of â—ire which blew up the Magazine of Vaâ—lt that lay in a 〈◊〉 on the other side of the Court twelve score from his Lodging not slain therein very frolick and merry but were come out into the midst of the Court and there killed by the Stones that flew from the Vault which made it the more miraculous but whether by Accident or Design was never known But during these military actions the Scots gaining ground upon the English and now â—eated where they would be in warm Quarters with New-castle Coal good Fires Meat Drink and Lodging of the best and all these in great plenty They now take time to petition the King intâ—tuling it The humble Petition of the Lords of the last Parliament and others his Majesties loyal Subjects of Scotland Complaining in general of their sufferings for relief whereof they are constrained to come without prejudice to the peace of England or any the Subjects therein untill they are pressed with strength of Arms to oppose their Passage at Newburn and now present themselves to his Majesties goodness for satisfaction of their full demands and repair of their wrongs and losses with the advice of the Parliament of England to be convented To all the King answers by his Secretary of Scotland the Earl of Limrick that the King expects their particular Demands having already summoned the Peers of England to meet at York September 24. and commands them to advance no farther York September 5. LIMRICK Three days after comes their Demands directed to the Earl of Limrick in terms humble enough but very peremptory as to the Points Right Honourable As nothing on earth is more desired of us than his Majesties favour so we shall desire nothing herein but what may suit to his Majesties honour and peace of his Dominions The Particulars we should have expressed in our Petition but that they
allowing to the King onely Primus accubitus in coenis And why onely Stephen Was it not voted by Act of the Parliament at Oxford and concluded in several Articles That Edward 2. life was taken away by Bishop Thorlton The story is that this Man Adam de Orlton was Bishop of Hereford took a Text 2 Kings 4. Caput meum aegrotat My head my head aketh whereby he advised the cure of a sick head of the Kingdom to be cut off and therefore must be guilty of his Murder afterwards Indeed there was an enigmatical Verse fathered also upon him Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est which Verse the Bishop utterly denied Then comes he to Edward 3. that Iohn Arch-bishop of Canterbury incited the King and Parliament to a bloudy War with France And why John Was it not voted in Parliament where all the Peers were as hot upon it as he Indeed because the Clergie in those days spake better sense than an ignorant unlearned Lord many Historians father the ill success of former actions upon them Promotors of the Designs as if in re stulta sapientes and in malo publico facundi That in Parliament the Laity offered Richard 2. a Fifteenth if the Clergy would also give a Tenth and a half which William le â—ourtney Arch-bishop opposed as not to be taxed by the Laity and thereupon the Lords besought the King to deprive them of their Temporalities thereby says he to humble them to humble them and damn the Authours of Sacrilege and cruelty yet were they mercifull not to take away all Spiritualities also Then follows H. 4. an Usurper he says and that the Bish. of Carlile opposes him in a Speech and therein so reasonable was the cause just I cannot say that the Lords combined to depose him for there were living of the House of Clarence Title to precede his of Mortimer for whom five other Bishops went Ambassadours abroad to get assistance and those Bishops also scape not the censure of doing evil by justifying this others Right to the Crown and deposed him also but then it was so voted in Parliament and therefore not all the blame to be laid upon those Bishops that acted but their part and it is true that in a Parliament in that Kings Reign a Bill was exhibited against the Temporalities of the Clergie but not passed Parliamentum indoctorum says one and the Commons fitter to enter Common with their Cattle Henry 5. succeeds he says who was incited by Arch-bishop Chidley to revive his Title to France with the effusion of much bloud and ill success And was it not true that the King had good Title to France And the same cause had Edward 3. And as just was it against the domestick Title of Henry 4. and so in sum in either of the Bishops by their Council You say it was not the Office of Bishops to incense Wars either Domestick or Foreign But then Policy is pickt up for a Reason being you say to divert the King from reforming the Clergy That in the time of Henry 6. the Protectour Duke of Glocester accused Beaufort Cardinal of Winchester But then take all the story he was also Chancellour of England great Uncle to this King Son to John of Gaunt and his Brother Cardinal of York and the greatest Crime intended was because of his greatness which the Protectour durst not trust and therefore devised a Charge of which he was not guilty but acquitted by Parliament Edward 4. follows who was taken Prisoner he says by Arch-Bishop Nevil declaring him an Usurper and entailed the Crowns of England and France upon Henry and his Issue male and in default upon Clarence disabling King Edward's eldest Brother He was a party in the Plot if there were any but then take the Junto of the Authours it was the power of that great Warwick and others that did create and unmake Kings at pleasure the confusion of the right submitting to power whether right or wrong Edward 5. his Crown was by the Prelates placed on his murderous Uncle Richard 3. the Cardinal Archbishop taking the Brother Richard out of Sanctuary that so both of them might be taken away That Cardinal was a great Actour therein but the Duke of Bukingham did the business upon whose head the Cardinal would have set the Crown who had no right thereto Henry 7. he says was perswaded by the same Cardinal Morton and prevailed to the Crown He might assist therein what honest English man would not have done so But to say that the Cardinal was the main Instrument we shall want the force of all Arguments but Gods good Providence Henry 8. called the Bishops half Subjects to him Wolsey and Campeius refused to give Judgment for his Divorce Numbring up against them the Petitions Supplications and Complaints of godly Ministers Doctour Barns Latimer Tyndal Bean and others And were not some of these godly men Bishops also That the Statutes of 31 Henry 8. yet in force against them That in Anno 37. Letters Patents were granted to Lay-men to exercise all manner of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction as the Kings Officers not the Bishops Let us never deduce Reason or Iustice from that Kings Actions more like an Atheist than a Christian either Ecclesiastical or Temporal besides the Mutation and Change of Religion then not affording any good President in either kinde But thus much as in excuse was in time of Popery He proceeds to others no less detestable he says nay more heinous since the Reformation but with this Proviso that in the Reigns of all the succeeding Sovereigns to this present he charging those reverend Bishops good men chief Pillars of the Church great Lights of Learning they doing those things as Bishops which he believes they would not have done as private Ministers to hold their Bishopricks to please great Lords Princes Kings and Emperours have not onely yielded but perswaded to introduce Idolatry to dis-inherit right Heirs to Kingdoms and force good Princes to Acts unnatural and unjust But he is not against Episcopacy or a Church-government but so much degenerate it is from the first substance Vox praeterea nihil yet would not have it demolished till a better Model be found out God-a-mercy for that And presently he charges Arch-bishop Cranmer and Bishop Ridley for perswading Edward 6. that the Lady Mary might be permitted Mass in her own Chapel more like Politicians than Divines though not prevailing with that pious Prince She was the right Heir apparent to her Brother and the onely right Issue to the Crown begotten no doubt in lawfull Matrimony bred up in Romish and the might of Charls the Emperour would and did in Reason and Policy afford her liberty of her Profession without any scandal upon those Bishops for their opinion therein her Mother had suffered too much injustice and it was no justice to have denied to her Daughter this desire After Edward 6. those two Bishops Cranmer and Ridley says he
their affairs and was resolved to be relieved the recruit of the Parliaments Army was too slow for the service the London trained bands must do the deed and shop-windows must be shut up and trading suspended the expedition cried up out of every Pulpit and an Army was raised in an instant and upon their March Against whom Prince Rupert is sent from the siege at Glocester to retard their speed untill the King might rise and be gon which was upon the fifth of September and the Rear guard had fired their huts The Earl of Essex came to the brow of the Hills seven miles from the City and gave his warning piece but the Town had no minde to hinder the King being glad of his departing when all his indeavours were now prepared ready for a storm the besieged in want their Amunition consumed to three Barrels of powder but the Towns loss of men were not many not one hundred say they and two or three Officers Captain Harcus and his Ensign the King lost many more and especialy his precious time to no purpose had he waved Glocester and Marched to London directly whilst the Parliament had no Army in the Field London full of discontent and disorder and their actions of Council unresolved The Kings Northern Army under the Earl of Newcastle there also prevailing but it was his fate to be overtaken with this idle siege Sir Nicholas Crisp One of the Farmers of the Kings Customs of England had a high command also both in the Army by Land and afterwards in the Navy by Sea He being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse and his first service took the charge of Convoy of the train of Artillery sent from Oxford to the siege of Glocester and brought it in safety to the Kings Camp and there very much esteemed He was quartered in Rouslidge near Glocester at a Knights house where finding Sir Iames Enyon and other Gentlemen of no Command in the Army and had taken up so much of the house as was Incommode to the Colonel yet he continued then there with much civility Not long it was that the Guests had some horses missing out of the Pastures and so charged upon default the Colonels Souldiers and indeed very ruffly demanding the accompt from the Colonel himself who promised indeavours to finde them out buâ— refused to draw out his Regiment for that purpose onely to satisfie Sir Iames who urged it for his friend himself no otherwise concerned But being a person of eminency and of a Spirit answerable impatient of any delay or orderly proceedings departs and sends a Gentleman with this summon to Sir Nicholas Crisp to meet him with his sword in a field near the Quarters and with this express addition That if he did refuse upon any pretence he would pistoll him against the wall Upon which sharp and suddain summons of an hours warning the Colonel accompanied with a Gentleman findes Sir Iames at the place with him that brought the challenge and as it became a Christian desired to understand the true reason of the meeting professing that his Duty to the King in the charge he had there of present service might justifie his refusal to fight Yet he told him he was come to give him all satisfaction first as a Christian if he had done him Injury of which he professed ignorance Sir Iames shortly replied He came thither to receive no other satisfaction but by the sword which instantly he drew out and as soon so don by the other whose fortune was at an encounter to give a pass that pierced Sir Iames about the rim of the belly of which he was caried off to the same house in eminent danger But whilst he had life and memory the Colonel gave him a visit beseeching him to put by all passions and receive him infinitely afflicted at this misfortune unwillingly provoked to this mischief and so with Christian reconciliation they parted and he died two daies after Hereupon a legal trial was offered for any complainant to prosecute the matter And after some time on Munday the second of October a Council of war being set thereupon gave their opinion and sentence thus In the cause depending against Sir Nicholas Crisp Knight concerning the death of Sir James Enyon Knight slain by him in a Duel in September last The Court being informed that an Affixer was duly set up upon the Court house door according to their Order of the eight and tewentieth of September last and the affixer afterwards taken down and brought into the Court and Proclamation being made and no man appearing against him according to the Affixer yet upon examination of all the matter and difference between them and that the friends of the slain taking notice thereof The Court proceeded to sentence That although the Court doth condemn all manner of Duels and utterly disallow them yet in this particular case of Sir Nicholas Crisp in consideration of the great injury he received in his own Quarter and how much he was provoked and challenged the Court hath thought fit to acquit him from any punishment in this Court and doth leave and recommend him to his Majesties mercy for his gracious pardon the second of October 1643. Forth Lord Lieutenant general and President Dorset Bristol Northampton Andover Dunsmore Jacob Astley Arthur Aston William Brumchard John Byron Who all reported to the King the whole matter and brought him to kiss his hand and received a Pardon under the great feal of England and to confirm him in the Kings affection He had a Commission to be Admiral of a Fleet at Sea set out by himself and was undon for his Masters service The solemn League by Oath and Covenant being ordered to be sworn unto by all and divers consciencious persons excepting against the same and refusing were therefore committed and sequestred to their utter undoing Amongst many Doctor Featly that excellent and learned Divine and Minister at Lambeth had given by Letter to the Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland an accompt of his demeanour in this business of the Scotish Covenant and was therefore committed to the prison in the Lord Peters house in Aldersgate Street as many other noble houses turned into Jayles both his livings given away and his books bestowed upon White of Dorchester It was the Doctors reasons that raised all this stir He first excepted against these words We will indeavour the true reformedâ— Protestant Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Discipline worship and Government according to the word of God These words said the Doctor imply that the Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland is according to the word of God which said he is more than I dare subscribe unto much less confirm by an Oath for first I am not perswaded that any Plat form of Government in each particular circumstance is Jure Divino Secondly admit some were yet I doubt whether the Scots Presbytery be
the Savoy who succeeded Mr. White in the Mastership or Ministry there did preach to his Auditory That they ought to contribute and pray and do all they were able to bring in their Brethren of Scotland for the setling of Gods cause I say saith he this is Gods â—ause and if ever God had a cause this is it and if this be not Gods cause then God is no God for me but c. Such Blasphemy followed as I forbear to insert This Speech was then frequently reported nay imprinted and to this hour pretends to be justified by divers of his Parishioners and others and if the party be innocent he might do well to vindicate himself from such Aspersion in hope of which I forbear to name him Yet Sir George Chidleigh of the West and earnest sometime he had been for the Parliament ingeniously acknowledges his opinion of the Cause in a purposed Declaration written by himself to satisfie his Friends That Petitions of Right are commendable and Remonstrances may be lawfull but Arms though defensive are ever doubtfull My Lot saith he fell to be cast on the Parliament side by a strong opinion of the goodness of their Cause which to my judgment then appeared to be so Religion and the Subjects Libertie seemed to me to be in danger but the Destruction of Kingdoms cannot be the way to save it nor can the loss of Christian Subjects nor the Subjects loss of their Estates by Plunder or Assesment concur with pietie nor yet with proprietie as for Religion which is the chief his Majestie whom God long preserve hath given us unquestionable Securitie I have cast my self at my Sovereign's feet and implored his gracious pardon I will contend no more in word or deed And this my Resolution with the undisputable grounds thereof I thought good to declare to my Friends and Countreymen that they may understand my sitting to proceed from no compulsion The Earl of Holland having been of the Parliaments cause and in Arms against the King from the first beginning was conscious it seems of the Cause and therefore without taking leave accompanied onely with the Earl of Bedford was come to the King at Oxford where he had but slender Reception for the present although he put himself in a posture of Arms with the King in the Field but that not prevailing after nine Weeks he as privately returns back again to London the sixth of November and in some hope to be readmitted into the House of Lords he made the best means he could by his Friends but without the favour of admittance then by weak counsel advised he publishes in print his Reasons of stepping aside to the King and the best Arguments he could for his Return to the Parliament again with whom he professes to live and die By which the Parliament were sure to have him devoted to their service if they should accept of his proffer which being retarded and he not constant to himself to attend the time he most unfortunately engaged afterwards against the Parliament was taken Prisoner arreigned and this Apology of his the greatest Evidence to conclude him guilty and suffered death as hereafter in its due place The King had sent to the Marquess of Ormond Lieutenant General of his Majesties Forces in Ireland for the present Transportation of a part of his Army into England Novemb. 13. every Officer and Souldier taking Oath to maintain and defend the Protestant Religion the King and his just power against the Forces under Conduct of the Earl of Essex and all other Forces against the King These Irish Forces coming under command of Sir Michael Ernley an experienced Souldier in the Low Countreys And being landed in Wales were saluted by Letters from the Parliament Commanders there left either party might be mistaken in the publick Quarrel telling them That we apprehend and are assured your Voyage into Ireland was to fight against Popish Rebells and for the Protestant Religion and we imagine you are not fully informed of the cause to be engaged against us and if you be the same you were when you went over we doubt not but to procure satisfaction from the Parliament for your faithfull Service there with like Preferment here Wrexam Novemb. 18. 1643. Your affectionate and faithfull Friends c. To which the five Colonels from Ireland return this Answer Gentlemen We were not engaged in the Service in Ireland otherwise than by the Kings command The Service we have done none â—ares extenuate And although we are very sensible how unworthily we have been deserted by your pretended Parliament yet we are not returned hither without his Majesties special Commission and Authoritie If you have the like from the King for the Arms you carry we shall willingly treat with you otherwise we shall bear our selves like Souldiers and loyal Subjects Hawerden Novemb. 20. 1643. Michael Ernley c. Postscript That Officer of your Armie which came into our Quarters without safe Conduct we detain till his Majesties pleasure be further known And these English from Ireland not long after take in Hawerden Castle near Chester being soon yielded up to them by the greater number of Souldiers within which lately came out of Ireland and enforced to the Parliaments Service surrender to their old Comrades At this time was the Cessation of Arms with the Rebells in Ireland concluded by the Kings command for one whole year from the fifteenth of September 1643. at twelve a clock And because it was then and since charged home upon the Kings account and the effects of evil counsel we shall endeavour to lay down some Motives and Grounds inducing to the Cessation and the Articles themselves with the opinion of sundry of the Noblemen and Officers of the Kings Army there It was I confess the greatest Argument with which the peoples affections have been infected by the subtilty of the Contrivers of the Civil War of England The Kings neglect of his poor Protestant Subjects in Ireland Though we may remember his several Messages and Importunities to the Parliament in that business his Offer to engage his Person in that War his consenting to all Propositions for raising of Men and Money till it was evident that under colour of those Men and Money to quench that Rebellion were both imploied in kindling and maintaining the unnatural War at home nay the King grants his Commission to such as the Parliament named for managing the Irish affairs according to their own Instructions but none of them performed So then afterwards about November last 1642. the King had been advertised by the Privy Council in Ireland and by several Petitions and Remonstrances of all the principal Commanders and Officers of his Army there of the miserable condition of his Forces in want of Money Victuals and Ammunition Apparel and what not of either of which they were not like to be supplied from the Parliament of England that undertook for all The very Men
Parliament at Edenburgh but Montrose and his friends do not appear The Covenanters out vote the Royal party by seventy voyces assuming all Soveraign power with the King and ordain to Levy a powerful Army against the King in ayd of the English Parliament And now again they deal with Montrose who to work the Kings interests the better he accepts and is caressed by Alexander Henderson the Covenanters Apostle to satisfie his conscience who to sift the secrets with Napier Ogleby and Keer meet neer Sterling To those Henderson discovers that it was resolved to send an Army in ayd of their brethren in England against the King that for his own part he was happy to be a Minister and Mediatour in so blessed a businesse entreating Montrose to speak his minde freely and to commit the affairs to him effectually to manage it with the Parliament for profit and honour to them all To which Montrose returns a hopeful answer In company of Henderson comes one Sir Iames Rolloch chief of an ancient Family and Kinsman to Montrose who assures him that Henderson had instructions from the Parliament to treat Montrose acquaints all his friends who though passionate for the King yet his loss being without recovery and themselves unable to act they would be lookers on But he and Ogleby post's to England and arrive at Oxford whilst the King was at the siege of Glocester to the Queen they communicate all but she over-affected to the interest and power of the Hamiltons neglects them who go to the King at Glocester and inform him that of necessity the strength of treasons ought to be broken ere it grew to big The King in distresse what to doe to struggle with the deep-rooted confidence he had of the Hamiltons the subtil devices of desperate Courtiers who daily buzzed in his ears too Montrose's prejudice in ballance with Hamiltons and so returns to his winter quarters at Oxford where the publique reports of Scotland fixed Montrose's discoveries to be true the Scots Army being raised 18000. foot and 2000. horse and upon the borders then Hamilton in Scotland posts his Letters of discovery to the King with this excuse that he and his friends had prevailed to prevent an invasion the last Summer but now winter is come and the Army marching The King shews these Letters to Montrose and commands his advice and counsel to recover him from the treachery of such â—o whom he had intrusted his greatest concernments It was with several daies counsel thus concluded That the King should send some Souldiers out of Ireland inâ—o the west of Scotland to order the Marquesse of Newcastâ—â— the Kings General of his Northern Forces in England to assist Montrose with a party of Horse to enter the south of Scotland and so into the heart of that kingdom That the King of Denmark might be dealt with for some Troops of Germane Horse And Montrose to have some Army from beyond seas into Scotland All these the King would undertake to effect and gave assured trust in Montrose his valour faith and good fortune And instantly sends for the Earl of Antrim of Scotish extraction descended of the Noble and ancient Family of the Mac-donalds and lately matched in mariage to the Duke of Buckinghams Widow and being driven out of Ireland resided at the Court at England Antrim confirms this Counsel with assurance to Montrose that he would be in Arguile a part of Scotland bordering upon Ireland by the first of April 1644. and this was in December And Sir Io. Cockram is sent forthwith to the King of Denmark for Horse and Arms and post is sent to the Marquesse of Newcastle to prepare for Montrose's coming who is instantly Commissioned to be Governour of Scotland and General of the Kings Army there But presently comes Hamilton and his Brother the Earl of Lanerick post from Scotland and gives out by the way that they were banished their Countrey for Loyalty to the King and were forced to fly to him for succour With much adoe the King was advised to forbid them the Court Lanerick stayes in Oxford and suddainly gets to the Parliament at London and afterwards to the Scotish Army so soon as they entred England and ever since to do them service And thereupon Hamilton is sent prisoner to Pendennis Castle in Cornwal Montrose having intelligence of several Scots Counties suspected of disloyalty advised the King to invite the Scots in Court to a Protestation heartily to detest the courses of the Covenanters and condemned the coming in of the Army into England against the King and the Laws of the Land as an act of treason promising and vowing to acquit themselves of that scandal and to the utmost of their power and hazard of their lives and fortunes to oppose those that were guilty But as the most Scots took this Protestation so the Earl of Traquair and Mr. William Murray of the Bedchamber a while refusing for fear of the Covenanters yet afterwards engaged themselves by solemn oath to aid Montrose in Scotland by a day prefixt which Oath they basely broke Montrose hastens to the Marquesse Newcastle who discourses of nothing more then the necessity of his Army the Scots having spoiled his Recruits and were quartered within five miles of him that he could not spare a Horse but if hereafter he should winde himself from this present danger he would not be wanting in the best of his service to Montrose and so in much necessity he affords him 200. Horse with 2. brasse field pieces with Orders to all the Kings Forces to aid him in his journey to Scotland and was met by the Counties of Cumberland and Westmerland with 800. Foot and three Troops of Horse and he had got together some noble friends with 200. Horse more and enters Scotland the 13. of April 1644. where we leave him to that yeare It was this year that the French were famous for the Battle of Rocroy being besieged by Don Francisco de Melo with an Army so compleat as nothing additional could be devised But ere he sets down he creates the Duke of Alburquerque General of the Horse a young Portugâ—ese and God knowes a pittiful Souldier whom the Officers did not obey But when the French fell on they need not fight for the enemy began to rout and then to run and the other to follow their execution And this service was done by the fate without fighting of the Duke of Anguien now Prince of Conde He had the glory but General Gassion did the work and was the cause of the taking of Theouville But Melo was therefore turned out of command though of himself a gallant person but ill successe must be punished to please the Fates for the King of Spain was constrained thereby to call him home and to give the Government to Castel-rodrigo till the Arch Duke Leopold came himself thither But as the French won the day here so oftentimes they lose others these Two Monarches shuffling for the Goal
as many or if you shall finde that any way inconvenient to come in person that then your Lordship will appoint such or so many to meet with the like number from hence that may consider of all means possible to reconcile these unhappie Differences and misâ—understandings that have so long afflicted this Kingdom And for the securitie of your Lordship and those that shall come with and be imploied by your Lordship we do engage our Faith and Honour and do expect the same from your Lordship desiring withall your speedie Answer which must be a Guide to our Proceedings concluding that if this shall be refused we shall hold our selves justified before God and Men whatsoever shall be the Success so we rest From the Armie Aug. 8. 1644. Your Lordships humble Servants Maurice Thomas Wentworth Lindsey Lord Hopâ—on Nothampton Cleveland Thomas Blagge Joseph Bamfield Anthony Thelwel John Owen Thomas Stradling Robert Howard John Stocker Edward Porter Gilbert Armstrong Richard Nevil Thomas Pigot John Brown Ad. Scroop Amy Polard James Hamilton Richard Thornhill John Toping James Dundasse Giles Strangways R. Smith Ja. Cary Brainford Piercy Jacob Ashley Richard Cave Bernard Stuart Bernard Astley Theophilus Gilby William Leighton William Murrey Thomas Blackwell Thomas Bellingham Richard Page Bar. Jenkins Henry Miller Richard Fielding Thomas Weston Paul Smith G. Mouldsworth Phil. Honywood Thomas Culpeper William Leak Jo. Lunther Jo. Monk Cha. Fawlk Richard Samuel Arthur Slingsby George Goring Joseph Wagstaff Thomas Basset Charls Lloyd George Lisley William St. Leager Henry Lundsford Barth Pell Henry Shelley Thomas Paulet Thomas Kirton Anthony Brocher Devery Leigh David Stringer Ja. Mowbray Charls Compton Edward Not Alexander Standish Jo. Rideck Jo. Stuart Jo. Gambling Jo. Greenvile Arthur Henningham Ja. Haswith W. Maxwel And after his defeating Essex in Cornwall he writes from Tavestock To the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament C. R. It having pleased God in so eminent a manner lately to bless our Armies in these parts with success we do not so much joy in that blessing for any other consideration as for the hopes we have it may be a means to make others lay to heart as we do the miseries brought and continued upon our Kingdoms by this unnatural VVar and that it may open your ears and dispose your minde to imbrace those Offers of Peace and Reconciliation which have been so often and earnestly made unto you by us and from the constant and firm endeavours of which we are resolved never to desist in pursuance whereof we do upon this occasion conjure you to take into consideration our too long neglected Message of the fourth of July from Evesham which we again renew unto you and that you will speedily send such an Answer thereunto as may shew unto our poor Subjects some light of Deliverance from their present calamities by a happie Accommodation toward which we do here engage the word of a King to make good all these things which we have therein promised and really to endeavour a happie conclusion of this Treatie And so God direct you in the waies of Peace Given at our Court at Tavestock Sept. 8. 1644. These Messages were in his Marches the like he continues at his Return and setling at Oxford often times ere he could procure a Treaty as in dâ—e place here after in Ianuarie But as yet no endeavours of his could prevail and it hath been urged the jealousie of mutual confidence in eithers performance certainly the mystery was whether the King should trust to Essex and his Army or Essex to his and the difficulty might be how to advise in either It was said that Essex made some Overtures fair enough but how secure I shall not conclude Essex had it expresse in his Commission To take the King from his evil Counsel he urged therefore to be voluntarily trusted with the Kings person and the Kings Army to disband upon this assurance that then his Army being on foot he would not disband untill all things were performed to the general content and peace of the Kingdom So then the difficulty how to do what each party desired to be done kept on the War to the destruction of all Besides there was a providence or fate as we say therein which the Lord Digbie in a Letter calls His superstitious Observation concerning the hand of God in the cause of the Earl of Strafford 's death And the King from thence inferres in a Letter to the Queen That nothing can be more evident than that Strafford 's innocent bloud hath been one of the greatest causes of Gods just Iudgments upon this Nation by a furious Civil War Both sides hitherto being almost equally punished as being in a manner equally guilty but now this last crying blâ—ud being totally theirs I believe it is no presumption hereafter to hope that his hand of Justice must be heavier upon them and lighter upon us looking now upon our Cause having passed by our Fault The Estates of the Netherlands had sent their Ambassadours to the Parliament but not well instructed how to make their Address it took up some time for them to have new Instructions both for the Title of their Letters and Commissions from their Masters And so after these circumstances were setled they had Audience and being the first Address of note the Parliament referred it to a Committees direction which was upon the twelfth of Iulie the Master of the Ceremonies conducted them to both Houses apart and Chairs of State were set up for their repose one in the withdrawing Room by the House of Lords the other in the inner Chamber of the Court of VVards by the Commons where reposing a while they were brought to each House delivering their Embassie first in French and after in English in effect That the high and mightie States of the United Provinces had sent them to declare their earnest desire they had to interpose and mediate a Reconciliation of the Difference between the King and Parliament of England for which purpose they had already addressed themselves to his Majestie and were now come to declare it to the Parliament They further insisting upon the great effusion of Protestant bloud both in England and Ireland as a presaging inducement of their Desires to have a Peace accorded between the King and Parliament that so they might concur together for the Extirpation of Poperie and setling of the Protestant Religion in all the three Kingdoms and with the assistance of the States to defend it against all foreign powers The Ambassadours had received Letters from the Kings Court at Oxford intimating the Kings Successes in the North which the Parliament desired to correct and to evidence their Victories eight and fourty Colours of Horse and Foot were received from their Northern Commanders the Scots General the Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas and lay in their view in the House of Commons which was no otherwise resented than that they might as well have made the number
Forces as formerly 14. That all Honours and Titles conferred on any since the Great Seal was conveyed from the Parliament May 21. 1642. be made null and that those that shall be hereafter made Peers by the King shall not sit in Parliament without consent of both Houses 15. That an Act be passed to confirm all the Treaties between England and Scotland and a Committee of both Houses to be nominated Conservators of the Peace between both Kingdoms 16. An Act for establishing the Declaration of both Kingdoms of the thirtieth of January 1643. with the qualifications as follow The first Qualification That these persons shall expect no pardon In a word all the persons of Honour and Quality that have taken up Arms for the King in England or Scotland which because the Treaty took no effect is but frivolous to insert And all such others as being processed by the Estates for Treason shall be condemned before the Act of Oblivion be passed Then follows the second Qualification All Papists and Popish Recusants who have been now are or shall be actually in Arms or assisting against the Parliaments of either Kingdoms and by name the Marquess of Winton Earl of Worcester Lord Herbert Lord Brudnel Lord Arundel of Warder Earl Castlehaven and seven Knights and Gentlemen The third Qualification All persons that have assisted in the Rebellion of Ireland except such as are come in to the Parliament of England The fourth Qualification Herein are named above fifty Knights and Gentlemen that were at Oxford and it follows All such of the Scotish Nation as have concurred in the Votes at Oxford against the Kingdom of Scotland and all that have assisted in Arms against Scotland Then follows three Branches of this Qualification The fifth Qualification That all Iudges Officers and Practicers of the Law that have deserted the Parliament be incapable of Office or Practice in the Law the like of the Clergie With other Qualifications and Branches depending too tedious to insert and esteemed of all indifferent persons most improper for the King to consent unto And now comes the juggling French Agent Montril from the Queen in France with Letters to the King to make peace with his Parliament by any conditions reasonable And that the Prince of Wales is arrived at Paris without the Kings knowledg whom he designed to have come to him to Newcastle The Parliament had written to the King to give Warrant to his Lieutenant General Ormond in Ireland for disbanding his Forces andre ceive this Answer CHARLS R. That as none can be more deeply affected than his Majestie with the calamities of his Kingdom of Ireland so he will apply all future Remedies And as to the delivering of the City and Castle of Dublin Drogheda and all other Garisons in Ireland held for his Majesty into the hands of the Parliament of England He is most willing that all these places may be so disposed as they may best be secured from the Rebells and most for the safety of his good Subjects doth again earnestly press the Propositions so long expected expecting that they will contain the readiest means not onely of preserving those places which are already in his power but likewise of reducing the rest of that Kingdom possessed by the Rebells to his obedience all which will be setled upon the conclusion of a happy Peace which he will heartily endeavour Newcastle July 11. Which Message met the Commissioners on the way with the Propositions to the King The French Ambassadour Extraordinary had his first Audience of the 17. of Iuly in effect That he had a command from the Queen Regent and King of France to endeavour a composure of the Differences between the King and Parliament but understanding that Propositions are gone to his Majesty he hath no more to say to the Parliament but to take his leave and to desire their Pass for him to the King and to the States of Scotland and had this Answer That the Parliament receive with thankfulness the good Intentions of the King of France to these Kingdoms for ending of the Differences they had done their Endeavours and will so continue to do But they could not agree that any Foreign State interpose in the present remaining Differences nor that his Majesty of France in particular by his present Extraordinary Ambassadour And are very willing the Ambassadour have a Pass and be used with all respect and civility But the Ambassadour staid so long for this ceremony that he was gone towards the King without it The three and twentieth of Iuly the Propositions were presented to the King and the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery being the best Man though the least able told the King That he knew well how unfit a Spokesman he was and desired that Mr. Goodwin might speak for them The King instantly asked If they had any power to treat They answered No. Then said he Saving the honour of the business an honest Trumpeter might have done as much I hope you expect not a present Answer to this high concernment They told him Their time was limited to ten Days And the French Ambassadour Balieme and Montril the Agent had Audience the next day and very private with the King We may easily believe how the King was beset with Petitions and Prayers hand over head to consent to all these Propositions by the English and Scots about him And how the Commissioners resented it appears in a Letter to the Speaker of the Commons We are sorry we cannot acquaint you with so good success as we desired having this Morning his Majesties Answer Negative with a Paper containing Offers to come to London and treat which we thought not fit to send because we know not the Parliaments pleasure whether or no they will take notice thereof as being no Answer to the Propositions We have taken leave and hasten home Earl Hepsley Goodwin Robinson August 2. 1646. It is likely they were sorry and said so but see what the King says for himself and concerning them dated a day before theirs and sent to the Houses a quick and sudden Answer to their tedious Propositions C. R. The Propositions tendered to his Majestie by the Commissioners c. to which the Houses of Parliament have taken twice so manie moneths for deliberation as they have assigned daiâ—s for his Majesties Answer do import so great alterations in Government both in Church and Kingdom as it is very difficult to return a particular and positive Answer before a ful debate wherein these Propositions and the necessarie explanations true Sense and Reasons thereof be rightly weighed and understood and that his Majestie upon a ful view of the whole Propositions may know what is left as well as what is taken away and changed In all which he findes upon discourse with the said Commissioners that they are so bound up from anie capacitie either to give Reasons for the Demands they bring or to give ear to
for his labour Then the Scots select a Committee of their own Lowthian and others to move the King once more for all to take the Covenant and sign to the Propositions which they did endeavour but could not prevail For the Kings intention to escape was thus proved out of several Letters of the Kings to Hudson whilst he was out of prison by way of direction how to manage the design with great promises of reward to such as should assist therein Hudson sends a Copy of this Letter inclosed in one of his own to Major Gen. Langhorn a Commander in Wales and tels him what a great value the King had of his worth and desires his assistance with other his friends to restore his Majestie to his Rights This letter was sent to Mr. Gibb late of Lincolns Inn who sent it to Mr. Price in Wales who delivered it to Langhorn And had the King escaped it was conceited that he was to be received into a Holland Ship that had lain off at Sea near the Shields this two moneths to carry him God knows whither for none on earth could imagine But now the Scots are ready to deliver up their King and Soveraign to Commissioners appointed by the Parliament to receive him and to convey him to Holmby Viz. the Earls of Pembroke Denbigh and the L. Mountague Sir Iames Harrington Sir Io. Hollyland Siâ— Walter Earl Sir Io. Cook Mr. Crew and Major General Brown And the servants to attend the King in Ordinary were Voted to be Sir Thomas Herbert Mr. Maxwell Mr. Astley Mr. Harrington Mr. Patrick Marel Sir Foulk Grevil Mr. Middleton Serjeant at Arms and Doctor Wilson Physician Mr. Marshall and Mr. Caryll to attend them as Chaplains The Parliament of Edenburgh had some debate concerning the King and Queries put to the General Assembly of Ministers Queries If the King shall come to this Kingdom and that the Kingdom of England shall exclude him from the Government there for his leaving them without granting their Propositions whether or no it will be lawfull for this Kingdom to assist him for the recovery of the Government he not granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Convenant and not giving a satisfactory Answer to the rest of the Propositions They answer The Quere presupposeth the Kings coming into this Kingdom which Case we humbly conceive should not be put into the Question and therefore we desire your Lordships to go about all means to prevent it as a matter of most dangerous consequence to Religion this Kirk and Kingdom and to the King himself and his Posterity But if the Question be stated simply in these terms 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 rest of the Propositions whether in that case it be lawfull for this Kingdom to assist him for the Recovery of the Government or if it be not lawfull Being put to it we cannot but answer In regard of the Ingagement of this Kingdom by Covenant and Treaty Negative Hereupon the Parliament of Scotland resolve 1. Resolved upon the Question That the Kingdom of Scotland shall be governed as it hath been these five last years all means being used that the King may take the Covenant and pass the Propositions 2. Resolved That the taking of the Scots Covenant and passing some of the Propositions doth not give warrant to assist him against England 3. Resolved That upon bare taking the National Covenant we may not receive him 4. Resolved That the clause in the Covenant for defence of the Kings person to be understood in defence and safety of the Kingdoms 5. Resolved That the King shall not excute any power in the Kingdom of Scotland untill such time that he hath granted the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and given a satisfactory Answer to both Kingdoms in the rest of the Propositions presented to him by both Kingdoms at Newcastle 6. Resolved That if the King refuse to pass the Propositions he shall be disposed of according to the Covenant and Treaty 7. Resolved That the Union be firmly kept between the two Kingdoms according â—o the Covenant and Treaties And to shew you the consequence hereof see the joint consent of the Estate of Scotland together with the Army for delivering up of the King If the King have any thoughts of coming to this Kingdome Scotland at this time he not having subscribed the League and Covenant nor satisfied the lawfull desires of his loyal subjects in both Nations we fear the consequence will be very dangerous which we desire may be timely prevented Neither is it possible but that our receiving him in this present posture of affairs will confirm the suspition of the English Nation of our under dealing with him before his coming to our Armies and make them not without cause to think that we purpose to dispose of him without their consent Which is contrary to the profession of those that were in trust at the Kings first coming to the Scots Quarters and overthroweth all the Arguments that have been used by the Commissioners of our Parliament in their Papers concerning the disposing of his Majesties Person by the consent of both Kingdomes given in to the Parliament in England Nor do we see how we can vindicate such a practice from a direct breach of our engagement to them by Covenant and Treaty which were not onely to expose us to the hazard of a bloody war but to involve us in the guilt of perjury And what greater disservice could be done to the King and his posterity than to give way to a course that might prove prejudicial to their Interest in the Crown and Kingdome of England and conclude Our carriage now for many years past in the midst of many temptations hath put us beyond all suspition in the point of our Loyaltie Ianuary 14. If otherwise let the world judge And yet the King put some Queries to the Scots Commissioners at Newcastle Ianuary 14 It is a received 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 dispute but I am sure if I am not free I am not fit to answer your or any Propositions Wherefore you should first resolve me in what state I stand as in relation to freedome before I can give you any further answer the reason of this my answer 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 necessary that I be not to seek what to do when this Garison shall be surrendred up to demand of you in case I go into Scotland if I shall be there with Honour Freedom and Safety or how being ready to give you a farther and more particular answer how
rule as King I was alwaies bred to more modest and I think more pious Principles The consciousnesse to my Spiritual defects makes me more prize and desire those pious assistances which holy and good Ministers either Bishops or Presbyters may afford me especially in these extremities to which God hath been pleased to suffer some of my Subjects to reduce me so as to leave them nothing more but my Life to take from me and to leave me nothing to desire which I thought might lesse provoke their jealousie and offence to deny me then this of having some means afforded me for my Souls comfort and support To which end I made choice of men as no way that I know scandalous so every way eminent for their Learning and Piety no lesse then for their Loialty Nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against them but only this That they may seem too able and too wel-affected toward me and my service But this is not the first service as I count it the best in which they have forced me to serve my self though I must confesse I bear with more grief and impatience the want of my Chaplains then of any other my servants and next if not beyond in some things to the being sequestred from my Wife and Children since from these indeed more of humane and temporary affections but from those more of heavenly and eternal improvements may be expected My comfort is that in the enforced not neglected want of ordinarie means God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his gifts and graces If his Spirit will teach me and help my infirmities in praier reading and meditation as I hope he will I shall need no other either Orator or Instructer The general inquirie was whether now we shall have Peace or a new War Most men imagine the old quarrel at an end but another between Presbyters and Independent We will have Uniformity saies the one and all to submit to the Covenant Liberty of Conscience saies the other and that in his sense is agreeable to the Covenant and Gods Word to back is But as the Quarrel grew high Pamphlets were published for either party Another to settle the brains of either of them or any besides offers the Reconciliation in his advice Intituled The Temple measured wherein are discussed the Questions about Constitution and Government of the visible Church the solution of such questions which he propounds and numbers them all the Objections against the Model of Ecclesiastical policie and particularly there is debated the unity of the Church the Members thereof the form of the Church and Church Government the power of the Church the Officers of the Church and their power The powers of Magistrates about the Church some Church Acts as admission of Members c. Tedious enough and all this set out for the final satisfaction of all differences by that Orthodox Divine the Lecturer at Newbery in New-England Mr. Noyes What a pretty pass we were come unto to fetch our Church-government from the West Indies And although Mr. Symson was silenced by Order of Parliament for dissenting from the Assembly of Divines it was now held fit to Null that Order and Symson admitted and why for his zeal it is said to the glory of God and edification of his Church and so upon this general ground he and others of any strain became admitted to the Pulpit We grow near an end of this year now the 19. of Mar. he Parliament Voting the Modeling of the Army into less Many Garisons dismantled some Forces Disbanded rather to be rid of the men than to spare the expences Much muttering there had been by the Officers and Souldiers very high in the esteem of their own power which increased as the Parliament lessened And therefore the Forces at their own dispose draw near together towards the City of London and Westminster which put the Citizens to advise at their Guid-hall and the whole number in Common Councel conclude of a Petition to either House but both alike To settle the Affairs of this long distracted Kingdom That his Majesty being come nearer in person to his Parliament they hope he will come home to their desires in the Propositions National and solemn League and Covenant That Malignants may be removed out of the City And here say they we should have ceased but that the Army which they hoped ere this should have been disbanded is now drawn so suddenly and quartered neer the Parliament and this City Besides that in this same juncture of time a most dangerous and seditious Petition is set on foot to be presented to this Parliament the Copy thereof is annexed which doth exact this addition from the Petitioners And pray That the Parliament would give command that the Army be forthwith removed and after with all speed to be disbanded the annexed Petition suppressed and that the City may make annual Election of the Members of their own Militia Soft and fair the Citizens ride post 'T is true the Petitioners had thanks of both Houses but they reckon without their Host the Army which we shall hear of to another tune The old Prince Henry of Orange died the 14. of March of a Fever sixty three years of age the most approved Commander in the Christian world and answerable in wisdom for State Government of an infirme body with the disease of the Gout the pain whereof increasing he fell into a Fever His only Son succeeded General and Admiral of the Forces of the united Provinces A faithful friend he had been in the assistance of the King contracted in the Mariage of his Son with the Kings Eldest Daughter and great sums of money and Ammunition had been sent to him in these Civil Wars of England and when he sees the King undone he dies deplored of all leaving his Son the hopefull Issue of such a Father And so we end this year 1646. The Scots Army is gone and left us the Bone to gnaw their Ecclesiastical Presbytery to which Reformation we were forward in forming of our selves This Discipline of Government in the Scotish Kirk had been long time a framing in Scotland according to the Tenets of the Church of Geneva and devised and setled there as afterwards in Scotland by treasonable practices against the power of Magistracie and Soveraignty The Prerogative of a King and the liberty of Subjects are consistent and dependent the one from the other Certainly the Kings power is primarily derived from God for the Subject He to establish good Lawes for Church and State they to obey them And it is true too that the chief of the Church Bishop or Presbyter have a power which the Supream Power hath not in Spiritualibus resting only in their persons But the King is in the External Affairs of the Church to call Synods Assemble Divines for ordering of the Church by Canons and Edicts and he hath a power also to punish the Ministers offending
of Lemster and Ulster Novem. 1646. That the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion be in Dublin and Drogheda and in all the Kingdom of Ireland as free as in Paris in France and Bruxells in Flanders That the Council of State called the Councel-Table be of Members true and faithful to his Majestie and such as may be no fear or suspition to go to the Parliaments party That Dublin Drogheda Team Newby Catherly Carlingford and all Protestant Garisons be manned by their Confederate Catholicks to maintain and keep the said Cities and Garisons for the use of our Soveraign Lord King Charls and his lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland That the present Councel of the Confederators shall swear truly and faithfully to keep and maintain for the use of his Majesty and his Lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland the abovesaid Cities and Garisons That the said Councellors and all Generals Officers and Souldiers whatsoever doe swear and protest to fight at Sea and Land against the Parliaments and all the Kings Enemies and that they will never come to any convention or agreement with the said Parliamentiers or any of the Kings Enemies to the prejudice of his Majesties Rights or of this Kingdom of Ireland That according to our Oaths of Association we will to the best of our power and cunning defend the Fundamental Lawes of this Kingdom the Kings Rights the Lives and Fortunes of the Subjects Owen O Neal Tho. Preston The Lord Lisle designed Lieutenant General of Ireland is but now this day taking leave of the Parliament to goe to Ireland Ian-28 and ere we can hope of his arrival there he writes to the Parliament he is willing to return for they had Debated his return before and so he came home again April 1. But the Parliament Vote the sending over more Forces into Ireland and with all vigour to carry on a Defensive War in that Kingdom with seven Regiments of Foot consisting of eight thousand four hundred besides Officers with three thousand Horse and one thousand two hunded Dragoons And all these to be taken out of the General Fairfax Army which was the occasion of much distemper between the Armies and the Parliament as will appear the next year But according to our former Method we may not omit the Kings affairs Military in Scotland under the Conduct of the Marquess of Montrose this year 1646. Montrose his late successe made him famous abroad which soon came to the Kings knowledg and although he were not able to send him supplies sufficient to Arm against the great power of his Enemies yet it was thought very fit to comply with him in Complements and therefore the King ot caresse him in some way sends from Oxford several Letters and Messengers to Montrose whilst he continued at Bothwel four miles East of Glascow amongst whom was Andrew Sandiland a Scotish man but bred in England a Church-Man faithful to the King and beloved of Montrose with whom he continued to the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood Son President of the Session in Scotland and now the Kings Secretary for that Kingdom The Instructions by all of them were to this effect That it was the Kings Pleasure Montrose should joyn unto himself the Earls of Roxborough and Traquair and to confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity there was no question to be made That he should hasten towards the Tweed the River that runneth to Barwick and divides the Kingdoms where he should meet a party of Horse instantly sent by the King out of England with which he might safely give Battel to David Lesly if he should march that way with the Covenanters Horse as was suspected he would Each Messenger said as much and the King evermore over credulous confirmed the same by his Expresse which Montrose resolves to obey And here he receives a larger Commission from the King by Spotswood wherein he was impowered to give the honour of Knighthood which he did to Mack Donel at his departure Montrose intends the Kings commands and Journies to Calder Castle when the Earl of Albony whether Montrose would or no carries away with him his own men and all others of the Northern Forces Montrose passing by Edenburgh led his small Army through Louthian and in Straithgal joyns with Dowglasse whose forces mouldred daily In that coast Traquair himself came to him pretending faith and Loyalty to the King and the next day sends to him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant Party of Horse as if to be under his Command that by that like pledg he might the better shadow his Villany which he intended the ungratfullest person to him and in him also to the King And now Montrose within twelve miles of Roxborough and Hume without any caresse from them and therefore mistrusting he resolves to seek them out and to bring them to reason But they cunningly send to David Lesly who by that time was come to Barwick with all the Scotish Horse out of England and willingly give him leave to pretend to the seizing of the Earls as Enemies to the Covenanters which was done the day before Montrose came to them Then comes Lesly over Tweed marching East of Lothâ—â—â— Montrose knowing their Wiles and fearing to be blocked up from passing to the North and Highlanders marches into Armindale so to Niddesdale South-westwards and the County of Ayre to raise Horse the Enemies strength being therein And from Kelsor comes to Iedburgh and Selkirk where he Quartered busied in some dispatches all night to the King and although he appointed the best of his Scouts who it seemes were false and suffered the Enemy with all their Forces to come within four miles ere he had warning Lesly that day when Montrose departed from Iedburgh mustâ—ered his Men upon Gladsmar in Lothianshire and marched straight to Serathgale to surprize Montrose upon the borders of Tweed and Linton had private Order from Traquair his treacherous Father to withdraw his party of Horse from Montrose and the Enemy within half a mile with six thousand the most Horse charged his Wing disorderly got together but Valiantly defended themselves until the third charge disranked routed the Foot after some resistance and over powered many who were all put to the sword after by Lesly's peculiar command and so to the very Women and Horse-boyes most of the Horse and some Foot shifted well and came to Montrose the next day An honest Irish Man seeing one of the Kings Standards engaged valiantly rescued it and stripping the staff wrapped it about his middle and brought it to Montrose who honoured him with the bearing thereof ever after The other Standard also born by William Hie Brother to the Earl of Kinole stript it off the staff and conveyed it with him to the borders of England and after when the coast was clear brought it to the North to his General But in
that they should furnish him with Shipping and all things necessary these things were transacted the 1. of August and to imbarque at a port in Angus but their Ship not ready being so designed to engage his neglect he hired a Norway Man of Birgen thither he sends his friends Sir Io. Hurrey Iohn Dromond Henry Graham Iohn Spotswood Iohn Lily Patrick Melvin Geo. Wiseheart Doctor of Divinity Divid Gutlery Pardus La-sound a Frenchman Rodolph a German men pickt out for their abilities he sends them before and himself clad in a course suit he passed disguised as a servant to Iames Wood his worthy Chaplain from the haven of Montrose which flows to Brechen in Angus And from this time the State of Scotland had Elbow room without any Enemies at home The Scots Army being returned home out of England kept up a Body under colour of Civil diffentions there And their General David Lesley had Command of all and having notice that his Enemy Kilketto was retreated out of Arguile into Cantire and the Earl of Antrim into the Isles he drew off from Perth and came to Dundain and Arguile himself retreated to Inerne Castle quartering between Sterling and Dunkel The general Kirk Assembly of Scotland met Iuly 6. and ordered a publick Fast upon these Reasons That Gods hand is stretched out against them in the judgement of the Pestilence mainly increasing The great danger of Religion in the work of Reformation in both Kingdoms from the number and the Policy of Sectaries in England like to overturn the Foundation there laid with the expence of so much blood and pains And therefore they resolve to cleave to the Solemn League and Covenant against all the purposes and endeavours and underminings of their Enemy and pray for the Parliament of England and the Synod of Divines and the good effects and fruits of Truth and Peace which they now had for Montrose was gone But in this distempers of England the Scots increased their Forces and put England into fears and jealousies so that Allarm was often devised to see in what posture the English should be for seven thousand of the Scots were drawing Southward for fresh Quarters and are come over Spey River with Lesley Middleton in the East and Arguile's in the West and the Highlanders keep the Hills And not long after Lesley is come to Iaddard within fourty miles of Newcastle with fifteen hundred Horse and three thousand Foot for his part But notwithstanding the States of Scotland pretend to Disband unless their Kingdom be in danger of trouble the person of the King in any hazard or their Kingdom thereby dishonour'd and therefore for the present they raise two hundred thousand pounds Scotch for the present Sept. 27. but having knowledge by their Commissioners in England of the affairs here they will not Disband for at the beheading of the Lord Hart-Hill at Edenburgh one who had been for the King in the time of Montrose He scattered some Papers there to the people which mention the particulars of great troubles likely to be in England But to caress them and to see what they do 2. of the Lords and 4. of the Commons House are speedily to Post with Instructions to the Estates of Scotland where we leave them till the next year and proceed to a summary of the affairs of Ireland this year The Parliaments Commissioners are gon to Ireland to take possession of Dublin for the Marquess of Ormond and landed them the seventh of Iune and with them were Colonel Iones Captain Merridith Captain Parsons four hundred and fifty Hoâ—se and one thousand Foot commanded by Colonel Kinaston and four Captains mist at the time that Sir Charls Coot defeated a party of the Rebels The Parliament there now sitting gave good reception to the Commissioners in Iune Colonel Iones is made Governor of Dublin and much troubled by mutinies for advance mony and pay of arrears but were appeased and the old eleven Regiments of Foot reduced to seven viz. the Earl of Kildares Lord Moor Tichburn Benlace Willoughby Baily and Flowers in all about four thousand Many skirmishes are daily in several parts of the Provinces winning and loosing as the fate of war falls out but the complaint comes sad on the Parliament of England that their monies are gon their provisions in the field cannot last six daies and are forced to leave the field and go to garison for want of bread that Owen Roe the Rebel is with great forces in Connaught and Preston is marching against Dublin against whom Colonel Iones marches out with three thousand Horse and Foot and faced each other about twelve miles from Dublin the Enemy being eight thousand who fell on and forced Iones to retreat and then to fly and were pursued four miles taken prisoners and killed many the whole forces being in very sad condition But the eighth of August it was revenged by Colonel Iones upon Preston neer Trim killed five thousand four hundred and seventy Foot Souldiers three hundred of the Gentry seven thousand Arms taken four pieces of ordnance and great pillage with one hundred and fifty Oxen. About twelve a clock the Armies joyned battell continuing two hours Iones his Horse of two wings and some Foot having broken both wings of the Enemies the main body also advanced and did as much against theirs then the Enemy about three thousand drew up into a Bog and in abody whom Iones surrounded the Foot fall in and killed them those that came forth fell into the Horse and were all slain It was the greatest overthrow that we can boast of since the first war of the English against the Irish but not long after he rallies and joynes with Owen Oneal But the Lord Inchequin and his Souldiers understanding the differences of the Parliament and Army in England make their declaration and Remonstrance also yet they resolve to go on against the Rebels but will not admit of any alteration in Martial Government untill their arrears be paid them what is due both in England and Ireland And the Scots are called upon to Recall their â—orces out of Ulster in Ireland there being no further need of their forces the Parliament of England resolving to prosecute that war with the forces of England onely for Colonel Iones was successfull and had taken from the second of October to the nineteenth Castle Ricard Port Castle Athby Grucesfort the Mabber Belliloe Cabbrough Castle War Danmock Carrat Matrose Castle down and Castle Amoin And Inchequin hath his share of success in the Province of Munster the thirteenth of November neer Megallo and Clancard and killed two thousand five hundred upon the plain divers wounded and taken prisoners so that the Enemies loss is reckoned four thousand but at the close of these events the English cry out for recruit of men relief of Provisions and oft times ready to starve but the Kingdom of England are not at better leisure to help them being in much distemper at home
some are set awork to advise the Duke of Yorke's escape which was thus The Royal Family were all at St. James's under government of the Earl of Northumberland and his Lady the Duke of York had been tampering not long since with Pen and Ink and framed a Letter in Ciphers to the Queen his Mother the rather to let her see how capable he was of Intelligence The Parliament blamed him for medling with writing without leave of his Governour but his ingenuity soon confessed his first fault and promised to offend no more in that kind nor did he and therefore had great freedom to walk within the walls in his sisters company the Princess Elizabeth of whom he seemed very fond His pretty sport was in the long covered Walk the Statue Row in the Privy Garden where a door opens into the Park there he walks and sports There was one Colonel Bamfield come over from the Queen and closely sent a Message to the Duke that at the said door in the Walk he would shadow himself without and whisper to him at the Key-hole his Mothers Message to trust his escape to his design The Duke borrows of the Gardner the Key into the Inner Garden because of his being often out of the way and with safety enough for it was out of minde the other door into the Park The evening come he accompanies his Sister very late and to have the more freedom he usually had the sport of Hide and Keep childrens play which shadowed his missing till very late and he was gone out at that door where Bamfield receives him on foot to the waterside that night and instantly habits him in womans apparel and down the River towards a Barque at Anchor neer Margates By the way in a Barge the Steersman peeps in behinde and sees Bamfield take off his Garter George under the Petticote which discovers so much that the man steers round and demurs but his mouth was made up and on they Rowed and boarded the Barque already under sail and safely landed at Dort in Holland a welcome guest to his dearest Sister the Royal Princess of Orange Tumults increase in several Counties and are seasonably allayed some by force or flattery others surcease of themselves But now to the purpose which the people drive at A Petition of the Grand Jury and many thousands of Knights Gentlemen and Freeholders of Essex presented to the Parliament 4. of May. That it is impossible that the sad and direfull effects of this late War should cease without the principal causes be taken away His Majesties absence from his Parliament hath been pretended the main cause of increasing Iealousies and misunderstandings between them And conceive that a timely concession to the King for a personal Treaty might remove all fears which are yet the only obstacles of peace And for the Army they pray That they may have their Arrears and so Disband them And that the Parliament would consider of that unum necessarium and condescend to the Royal Intimations of his Majesty for a personal Treaty without which no hope of peace or quiet of the Kingdom And after them comes another of Surrey That the King may be restored to his due Honour and Rights according to the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and to be established in his Throne according to the splendor of his Ancestors To come forthwith to Westminster that he may Treat personally for composing of the differences That the Free-born Subjects may be governed by the known Laws now in force That the War beginning may be prevented that the Ordinances for preventing free Quarter may be duly executed and speedily to disband the Army having their Arrears due and paid them The Petitioners were many and numbers of them at present in the Hall whilst the Petition was debated and as usual some slight occasion is taken to Mutiny against the Guard of Subscribers one or two slain many hurt and the Tumult increasing by Abetters at hand on both sides more force of Horse and Foot were called from White-hall and the Mews but night came and parted the Fray And therefore to suppress these Tumults about London and in many Counties of the Kingdom and Wales all the Ordinances against Malignants are rigorously pursued against them and yet would not prevail But as these Petitions were conceived Mutinies So the City thought it time to be serious in one of theirs And very modestly acknowledge the high favours of Parliament in communicating sundry their Votes to the City wherein to their great comfort are expressed the Parliaments Resolutions not to alter the Fundamental Government of the Kingdom by King Lords and Commons And to preserve inviolably the Solemn League and Covenant and the Treaties between England and Scotland in the Propositions agreed upon by them both and preservation of their union according to the Covenant and Treaties And in the end thereof are much grieved for their Magistrates and fellow Citizens a long time under restraint and the City thereby deprived of their service Praying That the Parliament would improve the prosecuting and perfecting the said Votes and preventing a new and bloody War and that the Citizens and Recorder now prisoners may be released 23. May. The Parliament had proceeded against those of the City and against some Lords and other Members of the Commons who had tart and bold defences as refusing to be tryed by the Lords or by Councels of War but stand upon the tryals at the Common Law and by Juries of their own And in truth Tumults increased in each Counties that the Parliament knew not whether hand to turn unto so that to begin their clemency they are over intreated or rather wearied out to release the City Prisoners first and by degrees the rest And to remove the Lieutenant of the Tower and to pâ—t in Mr. West a Citizen to afford them their security of their own Militia and to caress them into some quietness who began to be angry Indeed the Presbyter now takes heart But among many Insurrections that of Kent increased formidably so that the General was desired to march upon them and was now Rendezvouzed on Black-heath The Kentish men for King Parliament and Kingdom offer a parley by Letter signed with several hands Sir Thomas Payton their Lieutenant General and Esquire Edward Hales their General to which they had this Answer from Fairfax SIRS I received a Message from you for a Pass for some Gentlemen as Commissioners to come treat according to an Order of Parliament To which I Ans. That I know not of any such order nor any authority in you to appoint Commissioners for such a purpose But I finding you and them in Arms against the Parliament I cannot admit of Treaty but if ye shall forthwith lay down your Arms and retire home I doubt not of the Parliaments mercy to such as have been deluded into this rebellion and their exemplary justice to the
Sanderson Shelden Hamond Oldsworth Turner Haywood Lawyers Sir Tho. Gardner Sir Orlando Bridgman Sir R. Holburn Mr. Ieffery Palmer Mr. Tho. Cook Mr. Io. Vaughan Clerks and Writers Sir Edward Walker Mr. Phil. Warwick Mr. Nich. Oudart Mr. Charles Whittane To make ready the House for Treating Peter Newton The Commissioners nominated to attend the Treaty for the Parliament were the Earls of Salisbury Pembroke Middlesex Northumberland and the Lord Say And of the Commons were the Lord Wainman Mr. Hollis lately re-admitted into the House Mr. Perpoint Sir Harry Vane Jun. Sir Harbotel Grimston Mr. Brown Mr. Crew Mr. â—lin lately re-admitted into the House Sir Io. Pots and Mr. Bulkley And the King desired a safe conduct for Commissioners to come out of Scotland to joyn in the Treaty with him viz. the Lord Carnagy Sir Alexander Gibson the Lord Clerk Register and Sir Iames Carmichel The two first were refused as having been in arms against the Parliament of England And that four Bishops might attend him Armagh Exeter Rochester and Worcester and for Doctor Ferne and Doctor Morley And for his Advocate Sir Thomas Reves and for Doctor Duck Civil Lawyers but none of these aforesaid the Kings friends were intromitted into the Scene or to speech but to stand behind the Hangings and in the Tâ—ring-room so that the Kings single solitary self opposed all the other party And Order is given to Colonel Hamond to free the King of his imprisonment to ride abroad where he pleaseth upon his engagement to return at night to Sir William Hodges House the place appointed to Treat where galloppiâ—g down a steep Hill 14 Septem and reining his Horse too hard the Bridle broke and he without a Curb ran with speed endangering the King whose excellent Horsemanship saved him from the terrible effects which amazed the beholders And it is remarkable that long before this Lilly had foretold in his Astrological Predictions pag 15. lin 31. And were his Majesty at liberty it shews or threatens danger to his person by inordinate Horsmanship or some fall from on high Friday the 15. of September the Commissioners of Parliament are come to the King and Saturday was kept a fast by him and all his Family and Friends assistant with the ancient service of the Book of Common Prayer and preaching with this particular Prayer for a blessing on the Treaty O Most merciful Father Lord God of Peace and truth we a people sorely afflicted by the scourge of an unnatural war do here earnestly beseâ—ch thee to command a blessing from Heaven upon this Treaty brought about by thy providence and the only visible remedy left for the establishment of an happy peace Soften the most obdurate hearts with a true Christian desire of saving those mens blood for whom Christ himself hath shed his O Lord let not the guilt of our sins cause this Treaty to break off but let the Truth of thy Spirit so clearly shine in our mindes that all private ends laid a side we may every one of us heartily and sincerely pursue the publick good and that thy people may be no longer so blindly miserable as not 〈◊〉 see at least in this their day the things that belong unto their peace Grant this gracious God for his sake who is our peace it self even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The King told the Commissioners that he was glad of their coming to treat with him for a Peace and desired God to perfect that good work professing that he was in charity with all men not willing to revenge upon any nor to delay the hopes of a blessed issue and concludes to begin the Treaty on Munday morning 9. a clock 18. Septemb. The Treaty begins and to make it more difficult to Peace Occasion is given to oppose four Demands or Bills to the Kings demands which as a pledge of trust should be granted before whereto if the King assent they promise to commence a Treaty to the rest 1. To order for the future the Militia without the Kings consent to raise what Arms they please and that all others upon the pain of Treason shall not assemble to the number of thirty persons without the Authority of Parliament 2. That the Houses may sit and adjourn and assemble to what place and at what time at their own discretion 3. All Oaths Interdictions and declarations against the Parliament to be declared void 4. Whomsoever the King had dignified with Titles from the time himself departed and conveyed away the great Seal of England be degraded of their honours And these must be first ratified and to command them to be passed into Laws Then they go on with the Preface the matter of the Treaty For as much as both Houses of Parliament have been necessitated to undertake a War for their just defence and for the prosecuting thereof have bound themselves in a Covenant be it enacted by the Kings command The Propositions were in number eleven 1. That all Declarations and Proclamations against the two Houses of Parliament or their Adherents and all Judgments and Indictments c. against them be declared Null 2. That a Satute be Enacted for abolishing of all Arch Bishops and Bishops out of the Churches of England and Ireland for the selling of their Lands and Revenues As also that the calling and sitting in Synod of the Divines be approved 〈◊〉 the Royal assent the Reformation of Religion for England and Ireland according to such Models as the Members of Parliament have or shall decree consultations first had with the said Divines In particular that the King grant his assent that the Act of both Houses formerly made concerning the Directory as concerning the publick Celebration of Gods worship throughout England and Ireland for the abolishing the Ancient Liturgie for the form of Church Government and Articles of Religion with the Catechisms the great and the less for the more Religious observation of the Lords day for supressing of Innovations in Churches and Chappels for the incouraging of the publick Preachers to their duties by a just reward for prohibiting of Pluralities of Benefices and non-residence to Clergy-men henceforth pass into Statutes or Laws That the King would set his hand to the National League and Covenant and suffer himself to be bound by the same that by publick Act it be enjoyned all the Subjects of both the Kingdoms of England and Scotland to be bound thereby under a penalty to be imposed at the pleasure of both Houses That it may belong to the Houses of Parliament to visit and reform the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge the Colledges also of Westminster Winchester and Eaton That it be provided by Statutes that Jesuites Priests and Papists disturb not the Common-wealth nor elude the Laws as also for the discriminating of them an Oath be administred to them wherein they shall abjure the Pope of Romes Supremacie Transubstantiation Purgatory Image-worship and other Superstitious errors of the Church of Rome That
which on the contrary command obedience to Princes Nor by mans Laws nor by the Laws of our Land sith the Laws of England injoyn all accusations to be read in the Kings name nor do they indulge any power of judging even the most abject subject to the lower or Commons House Neither lastly does their power flow from any Authority which might be pretended extraordinary delegated from the people seeing ye have not asked so much as every tenth man in this matter The President ever and anon as before interrupting his Speech now very unhandsomly if not insolently rebukes the King bids him be mindful of his doom affirming That the Court was abundantly satisfied of their Authority nor was the Court to hear any Reasons that should detract from their power But what saies the King or where in all the world is that Court in which no place is left for reason Yes answered the President you shall finde Sir that this very Court is such a one But the King presses That they would at least permit him to exhibite his Reasons in writing which if they could satisfactorily Answer he would yield himself to their jurisdiction Here the President not content to deny grew into anger commanding the Prisoner to be taken away The King replyed no more to these things then Remember saies he That 't is your King from whom you turn away the ear In vain certainly will my Subjects expect justice from you who stop your ears to your King ready to plead his cause The 3. daies Tryal Tuesday was in effect the same the same Demands of the Court and the like Answer of the King and so adjourn to the next morning Wednesday ten a clock but they were so busied in the Painted Chamber before in the examining of witnesses as they said that an Officer came out to the people and told them so and that they should finde the Court there upon Summons for as yet they were not resolved when to sit For it was Saturday after 27. Ian. before they Assembled and 68. of the Tryers answered to their names The President in Scarlet Robe and as the King came the Souldiers were directed to cry out for Execution of Justice Execution belike to forwarn the King of what he should now expect The King speaks first and desires to be heard a word or two but short and yet wherein he hopes not to give just occasion to be interrupted and goes on A suddain Iudgment saies the King is not so soon recalled But he is sharply reproved of contumacy The President profusely praises the pâ—â—ience of the Court and commands him now at length to submit otherwise he shall hear the Sentence of death resolved upon by the Court against him The King still refuses to plead his cause before them But that he had some things conducing to the good of the people and peace of the Kingdom which he desires liberty to deliver before the Members of both Houses But the President would not vouchsafe him so much as this favour lest it should tend he said to the delay or retardation of Iustice Whereupon the King replies It were better sustain a little delay of a day or two then to precipitate a sentence which would bring perpetual Tragedies upon the Kingdom and miseries to children unborn If saies he I sought occasions of delay I would have made a more elaborate contestation of the cause which might have served to protract the time and evade at least the while a most ugly Sentence but I will shew my self such a Defender of the Laws and of the Right of my Countrey as to choose rather to dye for them the Martyr of my people then by prostituting them to an Arbitrary power go about to acquire any manner of Liberty for my self but I therefore request this short liberty of speaking before a cruel sentence be given for that I well know 't is harder to be recalled then prevented and therefore I desire that I may withdraw and you consider They all withdraw The King to Cottons House the Tryers into the Court of Wards and in half an hour return And the President with the same harshness as he began proceeds into a premeditated Speech to hasten Sentence which the King offers reason to forbear whilst he may be heard before his Parliament and this he requires as they will answer it at the dreadful day of judgement and to consider it once again But not prevailing the President goes on wherein he aggravates the contumacy of the King and the hatefulness of the crimes he asserts Parliamentary Authority producing examples both Domestick and Foreign especially out of Scotland wherein the people had punished their Kings He affirms that the power of the people of England over their King was not less That the guilt of this King was greater than of all others as being one who according to Caligulas wish had attempted to 〈◊〉 off the neck of the Kingdom by a War waged against the Parliament for all which the Charge calls him Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publick Enemy to the Common-wealth and it had been well Sir saies he if that any of all these terms might have been spared if any of them at all This wrung a start from the King who astonished could not Answer but with an Interrogatory how Sir And the other goes on to argue that Rex est dum bene Regit Tyrannus qui populum opprimit and by this definition he lodges on the Kings Arbitrary Government which he saies he sought to put upon the people His Treasons he stiles a breach of trust to the Kingdom as his superiour and is therefore called to an account Minimus majorem in judicium vocat His Murthers are many all those that have been committed in all the War between him and his people are laid to his charge all the innocent bloud which cannot be cleansed but by the blood of him that shed the blood so then for Tyranny Treason Murthers and many more crimes And so as a Iudge indeed uses to Iayl birds he wishes the King to have God before his eyes And that the Court calls God to witness that meerly their conscience of duty brings them to that place and this imployment which they are resolved to effect and calls for Gods assistance in his Execution The King offered to speak to these great Imputations in the charge but he was told his time was past the Sentence was coming on which the President commanded to be read under this form Whereas the Commons of England in Parliament have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Tryal of Charls Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other crimes and misdemeanours was read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England c. as in the Charge which was read throughout To which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was
according to the prescript of his word which hath long since been miserably convulst and disjoynted And this a National Synod duly called and freely debating will best effectuate To the King namely my Successor you will render full right if you restore those things which by the clear letter of the Law stands expressed Lastly you will put the people in their rights and due Liberties not by listing them in the consort of the Throne and sway of the Scepter but by recovering unto the Laws their Authority and the peoples observance to the abrogating of which by the enormous power of the Sword when as by no means I could be induced I was brought hither to undergoe a Martyrdom for my people So his last breath gently dissolving into a most meek prayer the Bishop of London promps him â—hat if his most excellent Majesty pleased he would openly profess what he thought touching his Religion not that any one alive could suspect it of which himself at all times throughout the whole space of his life had given manifest testimony but for custom and the peoples satisfaction Hereupon saies the King That he deposited the testimony of his faith with that holy man meaning the Bishop or else expected defence on this behalf of all men who well knew his Life and profession Namely That I dye saith he in the Christian faith according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left me by my Father of most blessed memory Then looking about upon the Officers Having saies he a most gracious God and most just Cause that I shall by and by â—â—â—ange this corruptible Crown for an Immarcessible one I both trust and exult and that I shall depart hence into another Kingdom altogether exempt and free from all manner of disturbance Then preparing towards the Circumstances the Bishop put on his night-cap and unclothed him to his Sky-colour Satten Wastecoat He said I have a good Cause and a gracious God and gave his George Order to the Bishop bidding him remember to give it to the Prince There is but one Stage more Sir saies the Bishop this is turbulent and troublesome and but a short one but it will soon dismiss you to a way further even from Earth to Heaven there you are assured of joy and comfort I go saies the King from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven mildly praying to himself he stooped down to the Block as to a Prayer Desk and most humbly bowed down his generous neck to God to be cut off by the vizarded Executioner which was suddenly done at one blow Thus fell Charles and thus all Britain with him Tuesday 30. of Ianuary about the minute of two a clock afternoon There are those persons who have seriously observed some passasages afterwards against the Corps which they stile barbarous in relation to his blood shed thereabouts nay to the Block and to the Sand distained therewith and to his Hair the ground whereof was 〈◊〉 those things were procured by the Royal party well-affected even for a price Certainly there were very many such that coveted any thing as a Relique which evidenced his Martyrdom as they esteemed it And to this day there are divers Devoters that affirm the effects of Cure by application of those things distained with his bloud we need not go farre to finde out the truth hereof if we take the Narrative of the Woman-patient at Dedford near the City of London being thereby cured of her blindness and many others of like infirmities His Head and Trunk was instantly put into a Coffin covered with black Velvet and conveyed into the Lodgings at Whitehall There it was imbowelled by Chirurgions of their own but a Physitian privately thrusting himself into the dissection of the body relates that Nature had designed him above the most of Mortal men for a long life And all sides manifested by those that beheld the admirable temperature almost all ad pondus of his body and mind Then they bear it to St. Iames's House and Coffin it there in Lead About a fortnight after some of the Kings Friends the greatest of Nobility and Honour the Duke of Lenox Marquess of Hartford the Earl of Southampton and the Bishop of London begged the Body to bury it which they conducted to Windsor Chappel Royal and interred it there in the Vault of King Henry the eighth having only this Inscription upon the Coffin Charls King of England From the Bishop of London long time kept Prisoner they take away all the Kings Papers ransack his Coffers and clothes for Scripts and Scroles but Almighty God in his providence hath preserved a Volume of the Kings own a Posthume work of which if any man or Broughton shall impartially weigh the matter the Elegancy of the Stile the nerves of Reason the ardour of Piety even envy it self will confess he deserved the Kingdom amongst Writers and though his own is wrested from him the mercy of his Lord and Saviour hath given 〈◊〉 Crown of Erernal Glory He was a King worthy to be numbred amongst the best of Princes in al-beading ages a strength of will but of more and greater Endowments of vertue of a most strict temperature in the natural disposition of flesh and blood and by the effects of Divine grace the most exact observer of Conjugal Rites and therein for his continency much admired His personage comely of an even well timber'd tallness which assisted him to be excellent in all exercises and therein to be indefatigable for the minde or body None of the Kings no not one not of Britain only but also all as many as any where sat on Throne ever left the world with more sorrow for his his luck women miscarried men fell into melancholly some with Consternations expired men women and children then and yet unborn suffering in him and for him The Pulpit places of all Sects and Opinions lamented even the same men in vain bewailing the losse of him whom they strove heretofore who should first undoe now they extoll and compare to Iob for patience to David for piety to Solomon for prudence most worthy he was of Government if otherwise it had not been his due to Govern herein he performed that great piece to Act one man in every place with the same Tenor of Vertue and condition The same Mean in the most different fortunes without any mutation of the temperature of the mind He addulced as with Charms his Enemies to be made his adorers Reproaches he converted into Praises He in a word excelled in goodness of whom this world was not worthy and therefore the Heavens have him there He had his failings of perfection in the first years of his Reign not so well versed in the affairs of State but that he being put to it trusted too much to others
great Account 355 c. a Plot in Scotland 464. their Answer to the Kings Letter 516. Declaration of their Council 517. their Army kept up 554. their Declaration in Answer to the Parliament in England 563. their Army enter England 669. their Declaration 670. their Army Voted to be gon 904. their Letter to the Parliament 906. Declaration against their papers 914. their Army intend to return home 921 922. they urge the King with their Propositions 923. Letters of complaint against their Army 924. one years account of their Army 927. their Papers concerning the dispose of the King 930. Quaeries of their Parliament 936. and Result touching the King 937. their Declaration concerning the King 939. Horse from the Scots Army come into Engl. 968. their Commissioners Messenger staid at Newcastle 1005. their Letter to the Speaker 1014. their Estates disagree 1071. their Committee of danger vote a War ibid. their Army comes to Penreath and engages 1073 defeated at Preston 1074. and disbanded 1077. they dissent as touching the Kings Tryal 1120 they declare against it 1122. their private instructions touching it ibid. A new Seal voted and framed 622 1119 Fight near Shaw 737 Sherborn seized by the Marquess of Herford 576. taken by Storm by Sir Tho Fairfax 828 Fight at Sherburn in Yorkshire 835 Shipmoney debated 197. Lord Keepers Speech to the Iudges concerning it 204. again debated 213. Iudges questioned about it 429 Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliament 798 Earl of Somerset confined 140 Overtures of Peace with Spain 139. which is concluded 144. the Spaniards design 281 〈…〉 Spine 737 Spoâ—swood executed 1045 Stafford taken by treachery 658. Earl of Stamford proclaimed Traitour 546 Sir Philip Stapleton dies of the plague 1003 〈◊〉 â—tar appears at noon day 142 Col. Stephens surprizing is surprized 788 Stode taken by Tilly 105 Sir John Stowel taken prisoner 930 Lord Strange impeached of high Treason 566 The Earl of Stratherns Descent and Title 230 raised to his Ruine ibid. County of Surrey Petition 1062 Fight at Sutton field 820 Swansey summoned 702 King of Sweden enters Germany 146. â—beats the Emperialists at Frankfuâ—t â— 147. is slain at Lutzen 189. his Character ibid. Ambassadour from Swedeland 199. Swedes displeased 208. Peace made with them 798 Synod began to sit 604 T. TAunton besieged by the Kings Forces 802. Relieved and again besieged 804 Tax of weekly meals 698 Tenby surprized 1056 besieged and surrendred 1060 Term adjourned to Reading 21. Mich. Term adjourned 567 Mr. Thomas his speech against Bishops 416 Tinmouth Caslte revolts and is taken 1073 Tomkins and Chal. hang'd at Lon. 621 â— of Traquair 191. is treacherous 225 Tilly defâ—â—ted 52 〈◊〉 with neighbouring Nations 18 Tredagh fortified 447. besieged 452. and in distress 455. is relieved ibid. invaded again 456. yet the besieged make several Sallies 457. have fresh supplies by Sea 459. the Siege raised 460 Tumults at Westminster for justice against the Earl of Strafford 402 Turin lost 371 V. LOrd Francis Villiers slain 1069 All Uâ—ster-pâ—ssessed by the Rebels 440 Treaty at Uxbridge 756. 758. Directions to the Kings Commissioners there 757. Observations concerning the Treaty 762 W. WAllestein murdered 190 Sir William Waller defeated at Lands down 625. and by Prince Maurice near Teuxbury 655. and at the Devices 657 He is set to take the King 706. and defeated at Copredy Bridge 708 Court of Wards and Liveries voted down 865 Lord VVentworth sent Deputy to Ireland 189. Impeached of High Treason 336. his condition examined ibid. charge against him 342 374. his Tryal at VVestminster 375. Conclusion of his defence 396. the Commons justifie their Charge against him by Law 397. he answ by Council but is nevertheless voted guilty of High Treason 398. Bill of Attainder against him 399. the Kings Speech in defence of him 400. voted guilty by the Lords 406. his Letter to the King upon the Tumult of the Apprentices and his Speech upon the Scaffold to p. 409 VVestchester besieged and surrendered 861 c. Mr. Whites Letter 421 Williams Arch Bishop of York against the King 889 VVinchester taken by Cromwel 833 The â—â—dy VVinter summoned to yield 705. her Answer ibid. Sir John VVinter recruited 805 Sir Fran. Windebank gets away 338 Col. Windebank shot to death 802 Withers complained of 892 Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely committed to the Tower 429 Y. YEomans hanged at Bristol Duke of York born â—â—4 brought 〈◊〉 London 891. escapes beyond Seas into Holland 10â— Arch-Bishop of Yorks Letter to the Lord Ashley 858 The County of York Petition the King and are Answered 506 The Articles of Neutrality for Yorkshire infringed 567. York relieved by Prince Rupert but the Siege is renewed and it surendered 719 c FINIS Anno. 1625. King James dies His Funeral Amiens described Boloign described Puts to Sea Lands at Dover Canterbury Hist. of King Charles pag. 7. A Parliament summoned H. 9. Ob. 28. Parliament siâ— The Kings Speech Hist. pag. 11 Observ. p. 28. Of Wars Petitions Answered Subsidies granted Dr Mountague questioned Caballa p. 115. Lord Mordant made Protestant Parliament at Oxford Observ. 34. Parliaments Petition Kings answer And urges for Supply Observ. p. 35. Cabal p. 107. Parliament dissolved Hist. p. 16. Treaty abroad Ill successe of Gades voyage H Pa. 18. Pa 19 Cabella pa. H. p. 17. Ob. p. 36. Term adjourned to Reading Of Coronation of Soveraigns Hist. 20. Kings 11. 12. Hist. 20. Ibid. Hist. 21. The Scaâ—â—old 2. February Epis. Hist. p. 16. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Sworn Annointed Crowned A Parliament called Lords Petition The Kings Answer Earl of Arundel committed 1626. The King demands supply Anno 1626. Mr. Cook aâ—d Dr. Tâ—rners insolent speeches The Lord Keepers speech The Kings Speech The Commons Reply The E. of Bristows charge against the Duke Articles against the E. of Bristow Ob. p. 45 Hist. p. 45. Ob. p. 49. His ingrossing great Offices By buying the place of Admiralty And Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Not guarding the Seas Stay of the St. Peter of New-haven And of the East India Fleet. Lending the Vant guard to the French To be imployed against Rochel Selling of honour And Offices Procuring honors for his Kindred His applying Physick to K. Iames. Hist p. 53. Parliament dissolved E. of Bristow Committed to the Tower Hist. p. 54. England and France at difference Hist. p 56. The French Insolent here at Court Sr. Dudly Carlton sent to complain Mcro Fr. Du Châ—snâ— Ill news abroad Our fleet comes home Hist. p. 63. Loan monies Hist. p. 69. Hist. p. 64. Ob. p. 41. Proposition for a more Toleration of Papists in Ireland Hist. pag. 65. The Clergies Protestation against Papistry Primate of all Ireland his Speech Abroad At home Pat. 13. H. 3. in Tur. Lond. Pat. 13. H. 3. membran 9. Pat. Gascony 1 Ed. 2. memb 25. in dorso Bishop Andrews dies 〈…〉 〈…〉 Anno 1627. The Dukes Manifesto The cause of this War Isâ—ardus pa. 1. Isnard p. 16. The
third appointed this form To be chosen by six Princes of Germany Three Ecclesiastical Arch-Bishops Moguntia Colen and Trevine Three Temporal the Duke of Saxonie the Count Palatine of the Rhene and the Marquesse of Brandenburgh and when those six voyces should happen equally divided that then the Duke of Bohemia before it was a Kingdom should determine the Election this was approved by all the Germain Princes and other Christian Princes and Estates of this world And the manner and conditions are these After his Election he is called onely Caesar and the King of the Romanes and not Emperour till he be Crowned and takes his Oath presently after his Election To defend the Catholick Religion and Pope of Rome To minister Iustice to keep the Lawes of the Empire c. and so is anointed and with some prayers upon him a drawn sword put in his hand a Ring on his finger a scepter in his other hand and three Bishops set the Crown Emperiall upon his Head Then all the Princes take Oath to him In Polonie after the same manner In Spain of late the Kings are not Crowned but have another admission equal and performed by the Arch-Bishop of Toledo Primate of Spain In France they have some alterations from their ancient manner by Lewis le Ieune who ordained the 12. Peers of France Six Ecclesiastical and six Temporal The Arch-Bishop and Duke of Rhemes anointeth and Crowneth the King The Bishop and Duke of Lava bears the Glasse of sacred Oyl The Bishop and Duke of Lanques the Cross. The Bishop and Earl of Beauvais the Mantle Royal. The Bishop and Earl of Koyon the Girdle The Bishop and Earl of Chaalons the Ring The Duke of Burgundy Dean of the Order holds the Crown The Earl of Gasconie and Guiennie the first Banner quartered The Duke of Normandy the second Banner quartered The Earl of Tholosa the Golden spurs The Earl of Campain the Banner Royal or Standard of War The Earl of Flanders the sword Royall And this day the King is severally apparelled three times First as a Priest Secondly a King and Warriour Thirdly as a Iudge He takes his Oath by the Arch-Bishop of Rhemes to the Church and to the people c. and so vested with the Mantle Girdle Ring Ointment and Crown with declaration what each signified And though this Ceremonie of sacring and Anointing Kings be more ancient than the Christian Kingdom of France yet is it the most ancient for particular Majestique manner and most of the Neighbour Kingdoms have affinity from her especially in England being the very same in effect The sacredness of the Hebrew Kings depended much upon their being anointed Anointing added a divine Majesty to their Kings and made them sacred and allied unto God exercising power and authority over things divine the virtue of the sacred Ointment being communicated to them formerly compounded by Moses of Aromatick ingredients and was yet for Initiation and Consecration till Iosiah hid it under ground in the Temple in the same secret place where the Ark of the Covenant Aarons rod Urim and Thummim and the Manna were laid up in preservation against the overthrow of the Temple by the Assyrians as had been prophecied and so lost to posterity in time of their Babylonish Captivity And therefore the King resolves on the day 2. February which is censured For a vanity though serious and the wisest Monarchs are very idle in it as not conferring one dram of solid grandure to the Throne and yet he acknowledgeth that as the King enters recognizance and stipulateth with the people to govern by Law so they acclaim him their King And is all this but vanity Though the Scriptures also exemplifies it in the Iews their first King Saul after the manner of all Nations and after him David Solomon Iehoash The Highâ— Priest anointing him with solemnities as you may see of Gods own appointing and the Ceremony to our Saviour when the Iews crowned him was no doubt in imitation of other Kings and may be a pattern for Christians But the day come which began his solemnitie conveyed him by water from White-Hall to Westminster not in usual state through the streets from the Tower the onely reason the dregs of the Infection not clearing the danger of such concourse of people which is put upon his frugality to save money And though it belonged to the Dean of Westminster Bishop of Lincoln to officiate some chief parts of the Celebrity yet he being under a deserved displeasure and in October last put out of his office of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England and intrusted unto Sr. Thomas Coventry who sat in Chancery two Terms before much of his duty was conferred upon Dr. Laud Bishop of St. Davids not of Bath and Wells till September after And then concerning the alteration of the Prayer The very Committee for managing the particulars of the Coronation resumed then those ancient particulars of the Prayer till Henry the sixth's time Ut obtineat gratiam huic populo c. like Aaron in the Tabernacle Elisha in the waters Zacharias in the Temple Sit Petrus in Clave Paulus in dogmate and were suitors to the King not to suffer the Dean to that duty and had this answer Who was not worthy to keep the seal lesse deserving to Minister now to his Soveraign Nor was he admitted to the next Parliament nor had summons by Writ so no Proxy to appoint a suffrage though it is said and evilly mentioned by an Historian That the Dukes Mother intruded who loved the Bishop if fame belies her not better then was fitting But this scandal I have answered sufficiently See the Life and Death of King Iames. And his own letters will discover the truth dated the seventh of Ianuary 1625. to the Duke and signed Iohn Lincoln so then he was not Chanceller and saies that he is come to do service for the preparation to the Coronation c. and craves of the Duke to receive a creature of your own struck dead with displeasure and by him to be brought to kiss the Kings hands And another Letter to the King complains that he hath not received his Writ of summons unto the Parliament that he might make his Proxie c. Nor can he go into the County as he had done long since but in expectation of this Writ and that in his absence in this Parliament no use may be made of the Kings Name to wound the reputation of a poor Bishop Cabala 107 108. and so our other Historians are mistaken in this And the manner of his Delivery of the Seal was thus Sir Iohn Suckling was sent from the King to demand it but charily he locked it up in a Cabinet and sent it and the Key by the Knight inclosed in a Letter to the King and so was outed of the Seal but kept his Bishoprick of Lincoln and the Deanary of Westminster which indeed he had for his life and after
his late Majesty and his Majesty that now is warranting the payment of great sums of money by him as if such summes were directed for secret service of the State when as they were disposed of to his own use and hath gotten into his hands great sums which were intended by the late King for the furnishing and victualling of the Navy-Royall to the exceeding diminution of the revenues of the Crown to the deceiving and abusing of his late and now Majesty and detriment of the whole Kingdom That he doth humbly and with all thankfulness acknowledge his late Majesties bountifull hand to him and shall be ready to render back into the hands of his now Majesty whatsoever he hath received together with his life to do him service But for the value suggested in the charge he saith there is a great mistake in the calculation as he shall make evident in a Schedule annexed to which he referreth himself Nor did he obtain the same by any undue solicitation or practice nor yet a Release for any sums so received But having severall times and upon severall occasions disposed divers sums of his late and now Majesty by their private directions he hath Releases thereof for his discharge which was honourable in them to grant and not unfit for him to desire and accept for his future indemnity XIII Reply 13. Lastly That he being a sworn servant of the late King did cause and provide certain Plaisters and Potions for his late Majesty in his last sicknesse without the privity of his Majesties Physicians and that although those Plaisters and Potions formerly applied produced such ill effects as many of his sworn Physicians did dis-allow as prejudiciall to his Majesties health yet neverthelesse did the Duke apply them again to his Majesty Whereupon great distempers and dangerous symptomes appeared inhim which the Physicians imputed to those administrations of the Duke whereof his late Majesty also complained which was an offence and misdemeanour of so high a nature as may be called an act of transcendent presumption And the said Commons by Protestation saving to themselves the liberties of exhibiting hereafter any other accusation or impeachment against the Duke and also of replying unto what the Duke shall answer unto the said Article do pray that the said Duke may be put to answer all and every the premises and that such Proceedings Examinations Tryals and Judgements may be upon every of them had as is agreeable to Law and Justice That his late Majesty being sick of an Ague a disease out of which the Duke recovered not long before asked the Duke what he found most advantagious to his health the Duke replied a Plaister and Posset-drink administred to him by the Earl of Warwick's Physician whereupon the King much desired the Plaister and Posset-drink to be sent for And the Duke delaying it he commanded a servant of the Dukes to go for it against the Dearnest request he humbly craving his Majesty not to make use of it without the advice of his own Physicians and experiment upon others which the King said he would do and in confidence thereof the Duke left him and went to London And in the mean time he being absent the said Plaister and Posset drink were brought and at the Dukes return his Majesty commanded the Duke to give him the Posset-drink which he did the Physicians then present not seeming to mislike it Afterward the Kings health declining and the Duke hearing a rumour as if his Physick had done his Majesty hurt and that he had administred Physick without advice the Duke acquainted the King therewith who in much discontent replied They are worse then Devils that say so This being the plain clear and evident truth of all those things which are contained in that Charge He humbly referreth it to the judgements of your Lordships how full of danger and prejudice it is to give too ready an ear and too easie a beleef unto a Report or Testimony without Oath which are not of weight enough to condemn any Also he humbly acknowledgeth how easie it was for him in his young years and unexperienced to fall into thousands of errours in those ten years wherein he had the honour to serve so great and so open-hearted a Soveraign Master But the fear of Almighty God his sincerity in the true Religion established in the Church of England though accompaninied with many weaknesses and imperfections which he is not ashamed humbly and heartily to confesse his awfulnesse not willing to offend so good and gracious a Master and his love and duty to his Countrey have restrained and preserved him he hopeth from running into any hainous misdemeanours and crimes But whatsoever upon examination and mature deliberation they shall appear to be least in any thing unwittingly within the compasse of so many years he shall have offended He humbly prayeth your Lordships not onely in those but to all the said misdemeanours misprisions offences and crimes wherewith he standeth charged before your Lordships to allow unto him the benefit of the free and general Pardon granted by his late Majesty in Parliament in the one and twentieth year of his Reign out of which he is not excepted And also of the gracious Pardon of his now Majesty to the said Duke and vouchsafed in like manner to all his Subjects at the time of his most happy Inauguration and Coronation which said Pardon under the Great Seal of England and granted to the said Duke beareth date the tenth day of February now last past and so here shewed forth unto your Lordships on which he doth humbly relie And yet he hopeth that your Lordships in your Justice and Honour upon which confidence he putteth himself will acquite him of and from those misdemeanours offences misprisions and crimes wherewith he hath been charged And he hopeth and will daily pray that for the future he shall by Gods grace so watch all his actions both publick and private that he shall not give any just offence to any However that that an Authour hath descanted on this defence It doth really appear prudential modest and humble and no doubt a Reply might be intended In the interim the Kings affaires requiring a quicker supply for the publique than these lingring proceedings could admit he demands the speedy producing their Bill of Subsidy to be passed to which they were forced suddenly to conform not unlikely to prevent their present dissolution which otherwise they suspected And resolving to make work they were hammering a tedious Declaration of Grievances which was allowed by the House before the Bill of Subsidy Whereupon with huge indignation the King the very next day Iune 15. dissolves them with this positive answer to some Lords that were sent to intercede for longer sitting not a minute And the same day Bristow was committed to the Tower and Arundell confined to his House with a Proclamation for burning all Copies of the Commons Declaration which was
and so quit the place for we think it a hatefull thing that any mans leaâ—ing the Bishoprick should almost undoe the Successor And if any man shall presume to break this Order we will refuse him at our Royall assent and keep him at the place which he hath so abused Ninthly Lastly we command you to give us an Accompt every year the second of Ianuary of the performance of this our Command Dorchester Our Naval forces now Compleat the Duke of Buckingham is resolved to satisfy their expectation who heretofore complained of his great neglect being Admiral of England in committing the late Expeditions at Sea to other Commanders and stay behind himself He is now therefore made General also of six thousand Horse and foot in ten ships royall ad ninety Merchant-men and set sail from Portsmouth the 27. of Iune and his MANIFESTO came out the one and twentieth of Iuly following as it was there published in France declaring The emergent causes of his Majesties present Arming What part the Kings of Great Britain have alwaies taken in the affairs of the reformed Churches of France and with what care and zeal they have laboured for them is manifest to all and the Examples of it are also as ordinary as the occasions have been The now King my most honored Lord and Master comes nothing short of his Predecessors therein if his good and laudable Designs for their Good had not bin perverted to their Ruin by those who had the most interest for their accomplishment What advantages hath he refused VVhat parties hath he not sought unto that by his alliance with France he might work more profitably and powerfully the restitution of those Churches into their antient liberty and splendour And what could be best hoped by so strick an alliance and from so many reiterated promises by the mouth of a great Prince but effects truly royall and sorting with his Greatness But so far fails it therein that his Majesty in so many promises and so strait obligations of Friendship hath found means to obtain Liberty and surety for the Churches and to restore peace to France by the reconciliation of those whose breath utters nothing else but all manner of obedience to their King under the liberty of the Edicts that contrarywise they have prevailed by the interest he had in those of the Religion to deceive them and by this means not only to unty him from them but also to make him if not odious to them at the lest suspected in perverting the means which he had ordained for good to a quite contrary end VVitness the English Ships not designed for the extirpation of these of the Religion but to the Contrary express promise was made That they should not be used against them which notwithstanding were brought before Rochel and were imployed against them in the last Sea-fight what then may be suspected from so puissant a King as the King my Master so openly eluded but thorough feeling equal and proportioned to the Injuries received But his Patience hath gone beyond Patience and as long as he had hope that he could benefit the Churches by any other means he had no recourse by way of Arms so far that having been made an Instrument and Worker of the late Peace upon Conditions disadvantagious enough and which would never have been accepted without his Majesty's Intervention who interposed his credit and interest to the Churches to receive them even with threatnings to the end to shelter the honour of the most Christian King under assurance of his part not onely for the accomplishment but also for the bettering the said conditions for which he sends caution to the Churches But what hath been the issue of all this but only an abuse of his goodness and that which his Majesty thought a Soverain remedy For all their forces hath it not brought almost the last blow to the ruin of the Churches It wanted but little by continuing the Fort before Rochel the demolishing whereof was promised by the violence of the Souldiers and Garrisons of the said Fort and Isles as well upon the Inhabitants of the said Town as strangers In lieu whereas they should wholly have retired they have daily been augmented and other Forts built and by the stay of Commissioners in the said Town beyond their Term agreed on to the end to make broils and by the means of the Division which they made to open the gates to the Neighbouring Troops and by other withstandings and infractions of Peace Little I say failed it that the said Town and in it all the Churches had not drawn their last breath And in the mean while his Majesty hath yet continued and not opposed so many Injuries so many faith-breakings but by Plaints and Treatings until he had received certain advise confirmed by intercepted Letters of the great Preparation that the most Christian King made to showr upon Rochel And then what could his Majesty do less but to vindicate his Honor by a quick arming against those who had made him a Party in their Deceit and to give Testimony of his Integritie and zeal which he hath alwayes had for the re-establishing of the Churches which shall be dear and precious to him above any other thing This was not published until the first assault of the Castle of Saint Martins in the Isle of Rhe about the 21. of Iuly following And because I have laboured the Truth of this Expedition from the calumnies of our Adversaries I shall name them now to direct the Reader in the examination and crave the patience to excuse the length of the story in some measure to vindicate our Honour The first is Anonymus and the Title Ladiscente des Anglois somewhat ingenious The French Mercury or Vulgar Fragmentarian herein despicable the brand of Malice and Immodesty The third was Isnardus the Parisian Advocate whose contumelies even the best of them were censured culpable as being published after a perfect Peace was established by the polite Polititian Cardinal Richlieu And the last of them was Monetus a Iesuit more close and wary yet blasting the beauties of our best Martialists But because this Action of the English might not lodge upon mistakes of our too hasty quarrelling without just cause I shall enter the Reader by remembring former passages and state the cause as it now stood between Us and France King Iames succeeding Q. Eliz. his Neighbors and Him courted each other into friendship and confederacy so that no plot or frame of domination invaded each other by jealousie or envy and so soon as Henry 4. was murthered how often and sundry waies did King Iames assist Lewis the 13. his Son and Successor quieting his Civil Wars and after such a League entred into with the Emperour as neither affinity with the Palsgrave utility with aiding the Spaniard or Religion by assisting the Hugonotes could in him any way dissolve and so became Arbiter and Umpire of Europe Yet cause we had
to use the help of the French in the publique affairs of restoring the Palatinate Our Auxiliary Forces granted to Mansfield to whom the French promised free passage and to joyn with some horse were miserably frustrated and forced upon the coast of Holland where they suffered in life and loss of that design Then of late neer 100 of our Merchants ships imbarqued at Bourdeaux no just cause given And lastly the afflicted estate of the Reformed Religion in France for whom the last Peace was granted and King Charls warranting the observance yet their presâ—ures and Injuries were exceeding the power of those poor people to indure And therefore a War was necessary and against the Isle of Rhe concluded as lying at the mouth of Rochel the most famous Mart of the Reâ—ormed and so a ready passage thence upon Spain in case the French were forced to a Peace and so the English began to Master an Army and Rig a Navy But Lewis the 13. having intelligence prepares store of Foot and Horse ready upon the frontiers of Poictois and the Duke of Anâ—oulesme set down with 3000. Foot and 300. Horse for security of the Fort Lewis upon the continent neer Rochel and had cunningly taken up more Quarters in the Neighbour Villages than would contain 15000 men which startled the Rochellers in fear of far greater forces and forthwith the Duke of Buckingham had intelligence for over into England comes Sobiez and hastens the expedition to Rhe who upon former slaughters made there was now fled and banished and no doubt was able to act as much as he promised but much more than he performed But the Summer season affording but Gentle gail and such as lagged coming late only two and twenty Ships appeared at the Isles of Oleron who supposed them of Dunkirk attending for the fleet of Hollanders their enemies then in the Road who not taking Alarum and their number increasing they were known to be the English and forthwith a dozen ships fell down to guard Port Breton the rest sailed on to the Fort de la Prie upon the Isle Ree making approaches with their Canon so near as Musket shot of the Shore and though Sieur de Tora Governour of the Citadel St. Martin sent out all his Forces to hinder the English the Ordnance keeping them off for freedome to land yet Sir Iohn Burroughs Sir Alexander Bret Sir Edward Conway and Sir Charles Rich the first that set foot on shore landed 1200. which incountred 1000. in seven partitions horse and foot that came on like French Gallant voluntiers whom our English Cannon saluted traverse all the advantage we could make to mate their fresh and sodain Sally This was quick and the fiery French fell either slain or prisoners and upon the second Sally the accompt is thus cast up Isnardus names the French Restringler brother to Toras Chastalois Canfes Naval and worthy Tatlian Bassacies Son Mountain Savignie Heustebie of the noble and first Rank 60. in number A hundred and fifty of the foot Boisoneer Condamine Captaines and sundry Lieutenants and Ensigns Scarce one of the Captains and officers of the better note without some wound So saies he Of the English we confess Sir Tho. York Sir Wil. Heyden Sir Tho. Thornay Sir Geo. Blundel Kts. and of lesser note Courtney Glyn Whaley Powel Woodhouse Goring Blundel and with them six Captains Reformadoes and of the Common-souldiers 100. And these Isnard calls 500. But it is confessed we kept the field and the dead bodies of both sides and so can best accompt for them And amongst the wounded that we may remember their merits who yet recovered were Rich Conway Hawley Greenvile Abraham Rainsford Wellome Thorp Marileus and Bennet The Duke removes his camp to make good his publication there in French of the reasons of the War as before is said which he was to perform with so small Forces and by report of their fugitives the whole Island was furnished with French and their main Army on the Main This Island is stored with Wine and Salt and Villages in which the Islanders being driven out the English plant Garrisons But though they found no forage yet it 〈◊〉 said to be plentiful in provisions and seemed commodious to the Merchants of Rochel being seated at the mouth of their 〈◊〉 who gaped after it and was reduced by Gallant Momerancy but two years since under the power of that Lewis 13. and for the advantage of his affairs built two Castles St. Martin a Kingly structure the less called Mede but of like strength against which the chief Martialists advised the siege but the voices carried the design against St. Martin which being won the other would yield A Messenger from Toras hastened our Journey who affirmed that his Master would meet the Duke who marches to St. Maries Church thence to La Flotta a small Village resting that night the Enemy not appearing and the next day to St. Martin where were 120. men and 3. marching out before which Cunningham accepted and dared any to single Combate the Town set up ensigns of Peace being so forsaken by four hundred who were to defend this Town Their fortifications and out works with twenty great Guns were thus soon rendred up a miracle of cowardize in so many men 〈◊〉 custom to vaunt and vail in a moment And now returns Sobier with but three hundred from Rochel gallant men of the noblest not answering the great number expected and promised and did as little advantage to any affairs The Castle is in figure quadrangle with four great Bulwarks sharpened on the top by degrees with deep trenches that part excepted against which the sea washes and being no longer then a musketeer may reach at the extream thereof the water courses brought back a certain safeguard for the souldiers which secured them from all saving overthwart shot Of these Bulwarkâ—s the first calledâ— the Kings sconce the Queens Tor as and Antioch are of so great a Pile as to contain certain bands of souldiers which with Galleries and Parapets hurdled and twigged together stuffed with earth preserve them safe from all shot Neer the Trench from the deepest walls of the Tower which are mounted very high is a lesser wall as a fast securing the Tower round about and serves for an obstacle to all counter trenchings At the Skarfe there is a certain Rebate near the bank of the trench made strong with proper defence where as an Invironed or covered station they might be furnished against all Counter-Skarss and defends them in their watches both against assistants and defendants Lastly without those were certain for tresses raised in shape of half moons into which as fafe Refuges they might retire if by us overcharged And betwixt all these other works were raised crooked in form of an Elbow every one of them environed with trenches hundring any passage at all because every where the Tower was defended with great guns
the Room foreâ—shortened and looking downwards as from the clouds the rarest postures that late ages can paralel being the portraictures of King Iames in several relations with all Imaginary similitude of Him tending towards Eternity for which he was well rewarded with the honour of Knighthood to boot Indeed the Artist had an indifferent esteem for his skill and by his wealth was wise enough to receive Informations on both parts in reference to Peace but never to be Plenepotentiary of either side for truly I cannot call him so much as Agent for any unlesse we admit him Ambo-dexter-Ambassadour for he was the means that a greater man Don Carlos Colonas came after to do the work And I have some knowledge in the particulars that the other was rather set on by us when with that conveniency we had him here It was in Iuly That an Arrest was made upon one Billingham sometimes a Captain at the Isle of Rhe and an attempt made to his Rescue by some Templers being acted in their Quarters of Priviledge to their Houses and to their cost they were wounded by the opposition of the Lord Major and his City Bands that were wilde to flourish out their Ensigns against any Gentlemen their Patrons This undertaking increased to a hot skirmish of above five hundred Of the Majors Militia four were killed and sundry others hurt above an hundred on both sides and so the Evening parted the This uprore so neer the Court caused the King to speed Justice with an extraordinary Session to be held in Guild-Hall London for Arraignment of several of the Malefactors seized vpon in the quarrel And by ill hap laid hold on Two who were accounted Principalls because more publique Captain Ashurst and Iohn Stamford the late Dukes servant for it was no medling with the Students And though Stanford came by but by chance in a Coach and onely drew his sword without any part in the fray These Two onely were found guilty by the City Jury and executed at Tyburn Stanford had his pardon before being in company when a Watchman was killed at a Tavern called Duke-Humphreys and his relations to his late Master made his crime the more remarkable now exceeding the bounds of Reason so without the bounds of Mercy There had been a Manuscript Book contrived long since by Sr. Robert Dudly at Florence 1613. that discontented Catholique who descended from the Dudlies Earls of Warwick and so he stiled himself It was a Rapsodie of severall Projects for increase of the Kings revenue and somewhat in prejudice of proceedings in Parliaments Sundry Copies thereof were disperst by such as meant not much honour to the King and therefore suspected to contrive the Book though pretended for his Majesties Instruction as the manner had been to force such feigned discoveries and fix them for the Kings designes and therefore the Earls of Bedford Somerset and Clare Sr. Robert Cotten Mr. Selden and Mr. Saint Iohn were committed and an Information entered in Star-chamber against them But Sr. David Fowles upon oath cleered the suspition and discovered the Authour and so it ended William Herbert Son of Henry Earl of Pembrook dies in April He was the third Earl from his Creation 3 Elizabeth Baron Herbert of Cardiff Lord Parr Ros of Kendal Marmion and Saint Quintin Lord Warden of the Stanneries Governour of Portsmouth Knight of the Garter Chancellour of the University of Oxford and lately Lord high Steward of the Kings Houshold but not of England He married Mary the Eldest daughter and co-heir of Gilbert Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and dies without issue so that his honours descended to Philip Herbert his brother He supped the night before his death with the Countesse of Bedford at Bishops-gate upon the day of his birth fifty yeers since from thence he went home to Baynards Castle sitting up as usual very late for he was a hearty feeder and went to bed very well But not long after he fetcht a deep and deadly groan which startled his Lady that lay by and she not able to awake him called for company who found him speechlesse and so continued till eight in the morning and then died as a figure flinger had told him many years before We are told his Character in a high strain of Magnificence but we may give way to his good commendations in a reasonable measure A proper Person well set of graceful deportment his minde truly generous of the ancient stock and manner of Nobility His defects were in letters and Travel He had onely the breeding of England which gave him a conceited dislike of foraign men their manners and mode or of such English that professed much advantage thereby so that the Scots at Court and he were ever separate and therefore he was onely the old Courtier that kept close to the Commonalty and they to him and was therein trusted by his two Soveraigns as not over furnisht with abilities to be lesse then loyal which jealous Princes usually suffered In May 29 day the Queen was brought to Bed of a Son Surpassing joy there was of all true hearts and good subjects and in Iune the 27. baptized at Saint Iameses with princely Ceremonies and named Charles His Godfathers were the King of France and the Prince Elector represented by the Duke of Lenox and the Marquesse Hamilton the Godmother was the Queen Mother of France and her Person represented by the Duchesse of Richmond A man would stand amazed to believe that a sort of pretended sanctified subjects should not desire the King to have any issue I have my Author The Puritan-party that could not descern the cause of joy when the Queen was with childe God having better provided for us then we were aware in the hopeful Progeny of the Queen of Bohemia These men brought in the Reformed Religion Presbytery when it would be unâ—ertain what Religion the Kings children would follow And he observes to his own knowledge that when the most of the Parish gave publique signes of rejoycing with Bonefires Bell-ringing and mutual feasting onely the Presbyterian or Puritan party as he stiles them were shut up as on the day of general mourning And it may be remembred that afterwards as the Kings Issue increased the Common Prayer for the Kings onely Sister and her children was left out and in place thereof a Prayer compiled for preservation of the Kings Issue for though the Presbyterians hated the whole Book they would not stick to mention the one in their Prayer of the Pulpit and leave those other out of Gods blessing till by express command they were made to conform At his Birth there appeared a Star visible that very time of the Day when the King rode to Saint Paul's Church to give thanks to God for the Queens safe delivery of a Son upon which occasion these Verses were then presented Rex ubi Paulinas accessit gratus ad aras Immicuit medioâ— lucida stella
proofs of his manhood had a strong minde to a second Marriage and as if recovered of his former Impotency to exercise himself upon tryal with Betty Paulet as they called her daughter she was indeed of a Knight extracted from that Nobility of the Marquesse of Winchester but by what venture of descent we need not enquire She was pretty but poor Beauty hath price enough and a great portion would not have him In March he was Married but being mistaken in his own abilities of the Bed having it seems not excercised that kinde of Low Countreys manhood found himself failing and so retired out of Town as to give occasion for others to court his Countess and his advantage of a second Divorce and in truth he was easily drawn thereto by such as hung upon him in former time his Revenue now divided into Families Wife and Women-creatures shared the less to his Dependants Their Design was to watch their Countess who was wanton enough for such a Husband and by a Ladder to her Chamber-window saw so much as forcing the Door Master Udal was found sitting upon her Bed-side very late unbraced with heat as in pursuit of her Sister who in merriment after some questions he had been commanded to kiss her she being shadowed in the Ladies Chamber where he went to seek her but the conclusion was Divorce though her innocency was pleaded and sealed with all possible protestations and so generally believed untill she proved with childe and yet the Earl was so wise as to father it Marry then the Moon-calf must fall at the minute of his own account which no doubt happened just with the birth of the Baby a jolly Boy and so as best right for him to nestle who seized it from the Mother never like to see it long alive nor what became of it we need not doubt But why these his dishonours were not more resented at Court agreeable to his Extraction in a prophetick relation to all King Charls his future mishaps is more of the Authours wonder than I can make of it and concludes that he became the Head of an Army giving the King Battel in a Pitch Fâ—eld partly upon the score of those indignities before which he supposes was charged on the Kings account It was in Anno 1627. Therefore Feoffees were legally intrusted to purchase in the Impropriations with their own and other good mens money and with the profit to maintain a constant preaching Ministery where the Word was wanting They consisted of 4. Divines to perswade the conscience 4. Lawyers for the Conveyances and four Citizens for no other end but their money There was no need of Captains for Captain Michael's Sword was then sheathed There are in England 9284. Parish-churches endowed with Glebe and Tithes But 3845. were either appropriated to the Clergy or impropriated as Lay-fines to private persons which latter these Feoffees endeavoured to redeem and might have done it in fifty years by the large summs soon advanced and no wonder the subtilty was not then discerned for in time the Purchasers would become the prime Patrons for number and greatness of Benefices multiply their dependence and increase non-conformity and therefore the Attorney General Noy exhibited a Bill in the Exchequer to overthrow their Apocrypha incorporatum First Breach of Trust for erecting a Morning Lecture at St. Antholines London the Land of Goshen and not in other places far distant where Souls famished for want of Food Secondly preferred Non-conformists and so their proceedings were censured as dangerous to the Church and State pronounced illegal and dissolved and their money confiscate to the King which yet of late was accounted a pious Project Good men and bad are Examples fit for History the one to follow these to shun And the man of the first rank was Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castlehaven married to a second Wife the Daughter of the old Countess of Derby and Widow of the Lord Chandos by whom she had a Daughter married to the Lord Audley the Earls eldest Son This Earl upon Petition of his own Son and Heir the Lord Audley was committed in December last and indicted at Salisbury the County of his abode the 25. of March the first day of this year 1631. accused for causing one Skipwith of mean extraction and his Servant advanced by him to great preferment to assist him to ly with his Countess and to cuckold his Son Audley the Earl assisting and to hold his Wife whilest Brodway did ravish her and for acting Sodomy upon Brodway and Fitz Patrick his Servants a strange kinde of hideous monstrous quality in the sin of this Earl enforcing others to that wickedness wherein himself had no temptation for his excuse or inclination to the action which is the begining of sin no fruits or sensual pleasure for the present which is the act in sin no advance or profit in the future which is a reward to a mans self of his sin The uncouth baseness of the Rape the Master to serve the Servants to cuckold himself the highest horridity of a Wittal the Husband to ravish his own Wife nay to commit a Rape upon himself being both one a sin without former President or future belief so monstrous in the manner so execrable in the end The onely man of Nobility of infamous note that suffered judicial Execution by this King for I reckon not the Earl of Strafford under that notion These Crimes are bad enough we need not devise any more that he in Prison impudently told some Lords his whole delight was to damn Souls by inticing men the surest way to effect it which hath no credit and we shall lodg no other upon him but truths for certainly had he said this before his Trial it might have been remembred as all circumstances were then to advance his guilt And it becomes an Historian in dubious relations to admit the most Christian and charitable being more unlawfull to deceive Posterity by feigned narrative than to abuse a Judg by false Witness But of the other he was found guilty by Grand Inquest and so his cause put over to the Kings Bench and his Person sent to the Tower The manner of his Trial for Life was by a Court of High Commission delegated to some principal Person as chief Iudg constituted with a Power as being next to the King In some sort matching the Ephory amongst the Lacedemonians and therefore not to be longer intrusted than for the time of Trial for the business being done he breaks his Staff the Verge of his Power and Authority And Thomas Lord Coventry Lord Keeper of the Great Seal was by Patent of the thirteenth of April 1631. commissioned Lord High Steward of England for the Day being the five and twentieth of April And because it was the first and last Commission of this nature by this King we shall not spare the particular Narrative to rectifie mis-reports of many others herein It was at the
And have Auxiliary friendshâ—â— of the Great Tartar-Chrim from whose Ancestors Tamberlaâ—â— proceeded who though himself the Turks Scourg yet of late the Tartar takes Affinity from the fiâ—st Scythian Othoman And if the direct Line faile He challengeth the Proximity of succession for which purpose he keeps correspondence with the Grand Signieur Assisting him some time with one hundred thousand Tartars By whose and his own multitudes he hath prevailed against Iews and Christians possessing Ierusalem in Asia Grand-Cair in Africa and Constantinople in Europe And for the second Their admired Mosques Churches of oftentation works of charity and observant Holiness ad pios usus demonstrate not only their opinion of a Deity but their obedience also to their Mahumetan constitutions imploying their time and wealth to merit the more of the joyes of Paradise as they augment their Piety upon Earth So it seems by that wonderful History of Soliman the magnificent and the faire Roxellana contriving her manumission and obtaining to be overprest under a dissimuled Sanctity of erecting a Mosque in honour of that Prophet The principal Mufty Churchmen which the doctors of their Alcoran have greater access to the Emperour then either the Visier or the Bashawes And is more awed by them than by the Revolts or Mutinies of the tumultuary Ianizaries by whom alone the Atlas of his Monarchy is maintained secure from any daring attempts to disjoynt that frame But the occasion of the Polish war was thus whilst Sr. Thomas Glover was Embassador at Constantinople one Iasparo Gratiano a mean Man his Drogoman or Interpreter born in Austria and the Emperours Subject and heretofore servant to the Prince of Moldavia dispossessed of his Inheritance by contrivement Both of them became Imprisoned in the Black-Tower for complayning against the Visier who took part with the Princes Competitour but both of them escaped out of Prison and became suiters to most of the Christian Princes and here in England and had relief of Ten thousand Dollars by credit of our Merchants and so made his great Virtue Umbragious with the Malignity of tyme and covertly got winding up on the wheel of destiny Remember the Othoman glory Let it be thy virtue to be thankful and my fortune to impart this grace and benefit to a worthy Person Instantly sends for the Visier and Bashaws adjuring them to the Ratification of this his will and pleasure though he had children and so dyed a short time after Mustapha is forthwith advanced to the Diadem in which he enjoyed a while undisturbed untill Scander-Bashaw perceiving his own power in some 〈◊〉 under this gallant Prince plotâ— his designes to be Visier to depose Mustapha and so to set up the son of Achmate specially the lovely Osman of Nine years old and asks him if he be not the Eldest son of his father disputes with the Bashaws their two hasty Enthroning of Mustapha confers with the Visier and principal Mufty to dispose the other and set up Osman giving a Largess to the Ianizaries sends for divers Casawcks and Tymorites and all things prepared brings forth Osman and presents him to the people with wonderful applause they invest him in the Robes and proclaim him Emperour Impâ—ison Mustapha with a Guard of Capowches and instantly proposes the war against Polonia and Remembers them all of the charge of Achmate to Revenge their Darings to defend Moldavia and the house of Austria for the Emperours of Germany Rodulphus and Matthias being dead the Princes of Germany banding against the peace of Europe would be an occasion to advance their design and so the war was determined and Osman to go in person But first let us story out the state of Poland About the year 1609. One Stephen living then with the Visier at Constantinople pretended right to the Principality of Moldavia and either by favour or bribes seldome a sunder had asistance of Twenty thousand Turks whereby he prevailed against the sons of the late Prince of Moldavia whom they barbarously murthred and slew their Uncle Simeon And because the sons of Ierzay were reputed Bastards the King of Poland by contract with the Turk had the naming of a successor and Elected Constantine the younger son to the Vadvod which so displeased Mahomet Bashaw designed to rectifie their disorders that he slew Constrantine and set up another of his own faction which indignity to the Pole caused that King to assist the distressed People These wars lasted till Sigisâ—und King of Sweden was elected King of Poland a warlike Prince against the Moscovites and a continual friend to the Moldavians So that about the year 1618. the time of the Blazing Comet in the Heavens Osman mustred up a wonderous Army of Tartars the naturall Enemies of Europe To them were united the Countries of Dacia Servia Belgaria Illyria Thracia Epirus and the Tributary Provinces of Christians themselves forced thereto in fear of more slavery They marcht to the fields of Dacia and Belgaria where the Polacks with some assistance of the Russe Encounter them and with the fortune of Noble Sigismund and his excellent son in all their battels to have the victoryes And in 1620. gave the Tartars and Turks an overthrow as they transported their Army over the River that their numerous Bodies stopped the very stream and twenty thousand slain at three Encounters which so inraged Osman that he resolves in Person with an Invincible Host. The first year he was Intercepted by Plague in his Army The next year a Terrible Earthquake at Constantinople shook the ground overturning tops of houses and many Mosques amazing the Multitude with some other several mischances to the Person of Osman which retarded his speed But resolved it was with threatned Protestations and Vows and Invocation to Mahomet first to send Scander Basha his Fore-runner with an Army of two hundred thousand into Bogdania Sigismund soresees this Storm in earnest acquaints the Princes of Europe by Embassies to the Emperour at Vienna by way of Intercession of a Peace between him and Bethlem Gabor and to other Princes in great discord with the Empire And so other Ambassadours also to other Nations and Ossolinsky into England But after that the right noble Sigismund in four several Encounters had bravely defeated forty thousand Enemies and sundry Triumphs had passed in honour of his glorious Victories the Polonians over presumptuous in their last Battel of Bogdonia disranked themselves over secure giving occasion and courage to the Ianizaries and Caphies to rally the Tartars with fresh Numbers that enforced the Polonians to give ground and the Enemy advantage of their Retreat and totally to rout as far as Poldavia with the fearfull execution of thirty thousand besides cruelty Murders Rapines barbarously inhumane And thus stood the State of Poland in the last time of King Iames and now let us see their Proceedings at this time Uladislaus the fourth King of Poland was after the death of his brother Sigismund by consent of
annum which was now begged by the Great Ones without the least benefit to the King but much regret of the people And at this Parliament the King found the first sparks of a discontented party of the Nobles by their opposing of an Act granted to his Father King Iames and his successors in the year 1617. giving power to him and them to ordain any Habits for the Clergy and Judges Professions and this not repealed was valid The first that opposed this Act was the Lord Lowdon a bold young man of a broken Estate lately come from School their Coledge and a Master of Arts A deft Lord he was who missing of the Court to Civilize his studies must needs want morality to bring him to manners And being besides of a cavelling contradictory Nature Nothing would seem to him so positive in reason as his own opinion And therefore now as heretofore at School he argued with his distinctions duplici quaestioni non potest dari una Responsio Ita est sic probo And after his syllogisming in this kind he sits down with a challenge Responde Perge Urge Punge The King told him the Orders of the House not to dispute there but to give his Vote yea or nay which I do said he Negative and so sat down in a snuff yet the King had the major voices Affirmative Lowdon stands up and questioneth the Register scans the Calculation with great contest before the King could carry it Thus much for his Character being wee must be troubled with him hereafter The beginning of the next Moneth died Abbot Arch Bishop of Canterbury of whom I have heretofore in the History of King Iames spoken sufficiently when there was occasion to mention the Acts of so eminent a Person and truly I did discover whether his erudition all of the old stamp in the doctrine of St. Austin which ignoâ—ant men call Calvinism and so disrelished by the Arminians or whether the Characters bestowed upon him now or his merit somewhat spoken of by me then be his due yea or no I shall not now say any more But William Laud out of London was translated his Successor September 19. The Queen was delivered of her second Son the thirteenth of October 1633. and not upon the fourteenth of November 1634. He was Baptized ten dayes after and named Iames and Created Duke of York by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England in due form of Law and of which Title nothing but Treason can deprive him though some Writers seem to side with the News Books and sayes He was after stiled Duke of York as if it were afforded him in former time but of Favour which indeed is his due Title to his death Edward the fifth Son of King Edward the third was by Richard the second created Duke of York and his Son and heir Edward Plantagenet succeeded Duke of York and died without Issue Richard Plantagenet his Nephew was created Duke of York and after his death this Dukedom hath been by the Kings of England reserved to their second Sons As Edward the fourth created his second Son Richard Duke of York Henry 7. his second Son Henry King Iames his second Son Charles now King and He upon his second Son Iames and so to give him his due is to acknowledge him to be a Duke to his death What care King Iames took heretofore to rectifie Religious Worship in Scotland when he returned from his last visiting of them The like does King Charles so soon as he came home The foul undecent Discipline he seeks to reform into Sacred Worship And sends Articles of Order to be observed onely by the Dean of his private Chappel there as in England That Prayers be performed twice a Day in the English manner A Monethly Communion to be received on their knees Hee that officiates on Sundayes and Holy-Dayes to do his duty in his Surplice Which the Dean then Bishop of Dumblane durst not do for displeasing the people And here at home too it was necessary to look narrowly into the creeping neglect and duty of Religious Discipline in our own Churches The Communion Table in the body of the Chancel was now commonly used for the lolling elbow-ease of the Idle hearers and not onely so but to set their breech thereon or else loaden with caps and hats of every boy And whilest the Provision of Bread and Wine for the blessed Sacrament was on the Table the danger of ravening dogs have submitted it to their rapine or overturning of all These considerations might move the Dean and Chapter of Saint Pauls London to transpose the Communion Table in Saint Gregories Church to the upper end of the Chancel and placed Altar-wise which some few of the Parish opposed and an Appeal from their Ordinary to the Dean of the Articles and so by command from thence to the King and his Privy Counsel where the Act of the Ordinary was adjudged and confirmed and that the Dean of the Arches should confirm the act of the Ordinary And the King did then satisfie himself that the Rules and Ordering of the Church were no Innovations but the ancient Rules of the Church and this a renovation of a Right disused And in case there were occasion The Statute 1. Elizabeth Authorizeth the King by advice of his Metropolitan upon the happening of any irreverence to be used by the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by misusing the Orders appointed in this Book of Common Prayer to ordain and publish such further Rites and Ceremonies as may be most for advancement of Gods Glory the edifying of the Church and the due reverence of Christs holy Mysteries and Sacraments But hereupon what happened when it was commonly commanded 4. years after we shall then finde the effect See 1637. And in the same moneth the King reviving his Fathers Declaration anno 1618. for tolerating lawful sports on Sunday which was never by him called in nor by any till after by the long Parliament The reason that moved King Iames therein was by a Petition from the Ministers of Lancashire in his return from Scotland shewing the great increase of Popery in that County the People consisting of Papists and Puritans and that by the stricktness of Puritans not granting their Servants the least relaxation on Festival-days and so straitly observing the Sabbath as the Iews the Recusants having Recreations on both caused the others for some freedom from servitude to change their Religion and turn Papists The neglect of the Dedication Feasts of Churches and the inclination to Iudaism by barbarous Books maintaining the Indispensible Morality of the fourth Commandment and Iewish Sabboth and now by Puritans more severely yoaked to the Conscience of those poor Labourers than was ever laid upon the Iews by their Scribes and Pharises On Candlemass night the second of February the ordinary time of celebrating some extraordinary solemnity at Court and now the larger by the joynt
fire-coales into a flame the French being then upon a War with Spain and the Cardinal a great Statist knew that Englands best policy was ever to side with the weakest to ballance the biggest power neither of them to increase above the measure of moderation To that end Monsieur Montril was sent Emissary and Agent to work out the Design in England and Scotland as may appear by the Scots Letter to the French King as hereafter follows and that they had great incouragement from Richelieu but what assistance under hand I could never finde out fair promises and no doubt never to engage against them But Balmerino his great Enemy the Earl of Kinnol Lord Chancellour of Scotland took his leave of this life and left his Office to Spotswood Son to the first Superintendent formerly Arch-bishop of Glasgow and now Arch-bishop of St. Andrews aged above sixty years a learned moderate wise man as by his History appears the first of his Coat since the Reformation of that Dignity and that for the great advantage of the Church if rightly apprehended without that mistaken Vote never known before for three hundred years a Clergy-man to bear that Dignity I shall remember those that were Andrew Foreman 15 Iac. 4. James Stuart Brother to James the fourth James Beaton 10 Jac. 5. and Queen Maries Reign David Beaton Cardinal succeeded him Jo Hamilton Brother to the Duke of Chattleheralt was the last of the Popish Bishops and many more before those and all of them Arch-bishops of St. Andrews and Chancellours Then there were Willam Lowater anno 1412. Andrew Foreman Iac. 4. Gawin Dunbar Praeceptor to James 5 and after him James Beaton And these following were Arch-bishops of Glasgow and Chancellours Adam and Patrick Bishops of Brocher Chancellours annis 1360 1370. Thomas Spence Bishop of Galloway and Chancellour to Jac. 2. William Elphinston Bishop of Aberdene Chancellour to Jac. 3. Indeed in Scotland heretofore Justice was perâ—ormed by Itinerarie Courts like to the Judicature of Courts in England fifteen Judges in all seven Churchmen and seven Laymen and the President also a Churchman and the best offices of State were formerly in Bishops and Abbots which gave them abilities in purse to perform those great and pious works of charity honour and common benefit Abbies Churches Hospitals Bridges Causewayes and the like all Acts of the Clergy heretofore which now their successours destroy Death indeed was more indifferent with two Great Ones in England two Eminent Men of several factions the One Sr. Richard Weston Earl of Portland Lord High Treasurer of England the Kings great Favourite for his Abilities at this time the more useful in promoting Prerogatives and all advantages of raising money with some regret of the Commons for such services His place was therefore for the present put under power of Commissioners for some time after The other was Sr. Edward Cook a Common Lawyer and so bred up himself to please the people Increasing esteem on that score from his first rise Queen Elizabeths Attorney General chief Iustice of the Kings Bench under King Iames where he lost himself by too much liberty of Eloquence or Impudence and removed from that Court to his Countrey retirement in the County of Buckingham made high Sheriff to humble him towards this King with a clause in his Commission to avoyd his Election of being a Burgesse in Parliament of which he was the more ambitious because thereby the better able to shew his Enmity but he got it in Norfolk his birth-place and he a Law-wrangler was voted legally chosen notwithstanding his Commission of Restraint We may not forget the Affairs of Germany the Swede having a continued confederacy with the protestant Princes and the French assistance against the Emperour and Spain for although they fought and treated for a conjunction Duke Barnard had been so often bafled by former promises of Wallestien before his Murther that now he trusted to fair words no longer And the good Duke Francis Albert of Saxony Leumburgh the Instrument chosen to tye these two different dispositions into a Ligament was not his crafts master but was carried prisoner for many years to Vienna The King of Hungary for the Imperial party having cured the Army with good gold after the disorder of Wallestiens murther and taken new Oath of the souldiers when News came to his camp of a notable victory gotten by Arnem upon the Imperialists in Silesia and of his marching towards Prague whither the King sent so strong a supply Arnem was constrained to retire into Saxony at the same time that the Town of Ratisbone was regained for the Emperour in Iuly the brave and famous General Aldring being slain a little before at Lanshut He was of Luxenburgh obâ—curely born whose virtues and valour had raised thus high and eminent in many battels against Iohn de Wiert with successe And the businesse Military in Germany requiring all assistance for the Emperour against such a confederacy of friends Thither comes the Cardinal Infanto from Milan with the old Spanish Italian and Burgundian Bands through all Switâ—zerland soon reforming the riotous Swedes by their example into a true Military Discipline These forces joyning with the Imperialists marched into the Duchy of Weitemburgh but first must passe the fiery Tryal of a strong Town Norlington The Swedes and their Allies are likewise summoned together from all parts Horn joyns with Duke Barnard and advises to spare the Enemy a Town or two than to hazzard the publicque cause But the Duke would fight for it and designed the day the sixth of September and the rather because some private offer had been for Overtures of a Peace which the Swedes took for a good Augure what ere it presaged It procured to both Armies the most horred bloody fight that had been between Christians To the Protestants party were already arrived the forces of the Duke of Weitemburgh the Lantgrave of Hassia and Count Cratz He who was for Bavaria and should have betrayed Ingolstade to the Enemy and so being discovered was fled hither wanting none but the Rhingrave and his four thousand men The fight began early the most furious first shock was for a Hillock the storming of a mined fort lost many of the Swedes Infantry The Canon hidden behinde some bushes did mighty Execution also and the Swedes constrained to fly and their Cavalry pursued by the Duke of Lorain and Iohn de Wiert were utterly defeated eighty pieces of Canon three hundred colours and twelve thousand men slain and six thousand prisoners amongst whom that brave man Gustave Horn Nobly received by the King The fruit of this Battel began a peace short and sweet onely to let that miserable Countrey taste of the blessing which lasted not long when the revenger of blood opens the veins to let out more evil fumes This Victory might answer for their Eminent successe heretofore at Leipsick and Lutzen and as the Swedes did then so does
did call the Assembly pretended our humble and loyal Proceedings disorders our courses disagreeable to Monarchical Government nor the Castle of Edingburgh rendered which was onely taken for the safety of the Town of Edinburgh simply without assurance by Writ of their indempnity except for the trust we reposed in their Relation and confidence in his Majesties royal words which we believe they did not forget but will bring those which did hear the Treaty to a right remembrance thereof which Paper was onely written for that cause lest either his Majesty or his Subjects should averr that they spake any thing without a Warrant And yet the Lords of the English Council and of their party disavowed it openly at the Council-table And afterwards pag. 33. they say That the said Paper containing some of his Majesties expressions in the time of the Treaty which were put in the hands of the English and others have suffered innocently For first it was the means that brought about the Pacification and gave some satisfaction to his Majesties Subjects against certain words and clauses of the Declaration which without that Mitigation they would never have been able to digest Secondly it did bear nothing contrary to the Articles of Pacification but was a mollifying of his Majesties Declaration that it might be more readily received of the Subjects This is most untrue or else there would have been no question made of it Thirdly it had been extreme and more than imaginable impudency to put in the hands of the English Nobility a Paper professing what was openly spoken a little before in their own hearing that it might be remembered afterwards as occasion should serve and yet containing untruths and seditious Positions contrary to all that was done for Peace So it was done as they declared at the English Council-table Fourthly when there was great Murmuring and Exceptions taken at the words of the Kings Declaration our Commissioners were carefull to remember every lenifying sentence and word which proceeded from his Majesties mouth and the hearers were no less carefull to not all with their Pens which was by them related every man according as he was able to conceive And thus at first there were Relations somewhat different both in word and writ an evil very ordinary at such times till our commissioners joyning did bring all to their remembrance that neither more or less might be written than was spoken and what was written might be written to some of the English in futuram rei memoriam One thing it may be hath fallen further contrary to his Majesties desire that the Paper hath come to the knowledg of strangers which we may averr hath not been done by us and which was impossible for us to avoid for our Commissioners being about the desired Peace could not in their Relations conceal his Majesties gracious Expressions and these intended for our tranquillity coming into so many hands at home have possibly been divulged unnecessarily carried abroad contrary to our intended desires This in the simplicity of our hearts we â—o declare to be the plain truth of that which hath been before urged against us and is now so much noised and it is likely that the smoke of the fire and the hand of the hang-man have carried it to the knowledge of many who otherwise would never have known of it by the breath or hands of other And thus much concerning that Paper The Letter was written to the French King with this endorsment Au Roy To our King which in France is alwayes understood from those subjects onely to their Natural Prince Sire Vostre Majeste Cestant l'asyle sanctuaire des Princes Estates affligez c. SIR YOur Majesty being the refuge and sanctuary of afflicted Princes and States We have found it necessary to send this Gentleman Mr. Calvil to represent unto your Majesty the candor and ingenuity as well of our Actions and proceedings as of our intentions which we desire to be engraven and written to the whole world with a beam of the Sun as well as to your Majesty We therefore most humbly beseech you Sir to give Faith and Credit to him and to all that he shall say on our part touching us and our affairs being almost assured Sir of an assistance according to your wonted clemency heretofore and alwayes shewed to this Nation which will not yeeld the glory to any other whatsoever to be eternally Sir Your Majesties most humble most obedienâ— and most affectionate servants Rothes Montrose Lesly Mar Montgomery Lowdon Forrester To which the Scots make this Excuse This Letter is the Decumanus fluctus say they This is that French Letter so much talked of and insisted upon as to open a gate to let in foreign power into England which by what consequence can be inferred we would fain know when a people is sore distressed by sea and land is it not lawfull by the Law of God and Man to call for help from God and Man If there were no help nor assistance by Intercession by supply of money c. is all assistance by sword and men may not friends and equals assist as well as superiours we never had intention to prefer any foreign power to our native King whom God hath set over us The Proclamation at that time as may be seen by our Remonstrance page 34. was without example Great forces by Sea and Land were coming upon us Informations went abroad to foreign Nations to the prejudice of us and our cause This made us resolve to write unto the French King apprehending that upon sinister resolution his power might be used against us what kinde of assistance of men or mediation are best known by our Instructions ready to be seen and are signed also by the Lord Lowdons hand now in prison Ayd and assistance hath been given in former times as now in the return of our troubles upon Denmark Holland Sweden Poland or other Nations for help And when all is said or done the Letter is but an Embryo forsaken in the birth as containing some unfit expressions and not agreeable to our Instructions and therefore slighted by the subscribers Another Letter was formed consonant to the Instructions and signed by many hands but neither of them sent Their greatest trust was in their English brethren and Mr. Pickring was then and afterwards with them to assure them thereof until divers of them of better quality came there secretly and disguisedly and gave them more assurance from their party here in England and Nath. Fines the Lord Savil Mr. Cambden Mr. Lawrence and others as appeared afterwards in the petition of eleven Lords that posted to York in August 1640. and Treaty at Rippon because wee conceived it would come to late to France to avert the danger The Letter it self carrieth two tokens unperfected First That it wanted a date Secondly That it hath no superscription from us Both these are turned against us The blank date hath
habit and with a great Train wherewith they are disguised from notice yet are Jesuits and Members of the Conspiracy All the Papists of England contribute to this Assembly lest any thing should be wanting to promote the Enterprise upon whose Treasury a Widow Owner of the Houses where now Secretary Windebank dwelleth and dead above three years since conferred forty thousand pounds and for the driving on of the business others contribute as they are able Besides the foresaid Houses there are also other close Conventicles kept but very distrustfull of themselves lest they should be discovered First every of them one not knowing of the other are directed to certain Inns and thence led by Spies to the place of meeting being otherwise ignorant of the place for fear of surprise The Countess of Arundel a strenuous she-champion of the Romish Faith bends all her powers for this Universal Reformation nothing is done secretly or openly at Court but she imparts it to the Legate with whom she meets thrice a day sometimes at Arundel's house now at Court or at Tart-Hall The Earl himself being called about three years since this year must go to Rome without doubt to consult there of matters pertinent to the Design At Greenwich at the Earls cost a feminine School is erected which is but a Monastery of Nuns for the young Girls therein are sent forth hither and thither into foreign Monasteries beyond the Seas Master Porter of the Kings Bed-chamber most addicted to the Popish Religion is an utter Enemy of the Kings revealing all his Secrets to the Legate by his Wife for he rarely meets with him himself In all his actions he is nothing inferiour to Toby Matthew it is unexpressible how diligently he intends this business His Sons are secretly principled in the Romish Belief but open Professours of the Reformed the Eldest is now to receive his Fathers Place under the future King A Cardinals Hat is provided for the other if the Plot takes Three years since Master Porter was to be sent away by the King to Morocco but was prohibited by the Society lest the business should suffer delay He is a Patron of the Jesuits providing Chappels for them to exercise their Religion in both at home and abroad Secretary Windebank a fierce Papist is the greatest Traitour to the King of all He not onely revealeth the Kings greatest Secrets but also communicates Counsels by which the Design may be best advanced He at least thrice every Week converseth with the Legate in the Nocturnal Conventicles and revealeth what is â—it to be known to which end he hireth an House near to the Popes Legate to whom he often resorts through the Garden-door for by this vicinity the Meeting is facilitated He is bribed with Gifts to be a Partner in the Conspiracy by whom he is sustained that he may more sedulously attend his Charge His son is sent expresly to Rome on purpose to insinuate himself into his holinesse Digby and Winter Knights Mr. Mountague who hath been at Rome the Lord Sterlin a Kinsman of the Earl of Arundel a Knight the Countesse of New-port the Dutchesse of Buckingham and many others who hath sworn to this Conspiracy are all most vigilant in the plot Some are enticed with hope of Court others of Political Offices others attended to the sixteen Cardinals caps vacant which are detained so to feed with vain hopes those who expect them The president of the said Society was the Lord Gage a Jesuited Priest dead some three years since He had a palace adorned with wanton pictures as pretending to profaneness but palliating thereby a Monastery wherein fourty Nunns were maintained concealed in so spacious a Palace It is situated in Queens street The Jesuits have bought all this street and have reduced it to a quadrangle where a Jesuiticall Colledge is tacitely built with this hope that it might be openly finisht assoon as the General Reformation was accomplisht The Popes Legate useth a threefold Character one common to all Nuncio's Another peculiar to himself and Cardinal Barbarino A third wherewith he covers some greater secrets to be imparted Whatsoever things he receiveth from the Society or spies he packeth up in one bundle with this addresse To Monsieur Stravio Archdeacon of Cambrai from whom they are sent to Rome These particulars considered it will be evident to all 1. That the Conspiracy against the King and Lord Archbishop is detected and the means threatning ruin to them both is demonstrated 2. The imminent Dangers to both Kingdoms is declared 3. The Rise and Progress of the Scotish Fire is related 4. Means are suggested whereby their Troubles may be appeased for after the Scots shall see by whom and to what intents their Spirits are provoked they will speedily look to themselves neither will they suffer the Forces of both Kingdoms to be subdued lest a middle party interpose which seek the ruine of both 5. With what Sword the Kings Throat is assaulted even when these Stirs shall be ended Con's Confession and visible Demonstration sheweth 6. The place of Assembly in Captain Read's House is named 7. The eight Days Dispatch by Read and the Legate is described 8. How the names of the Conspiratours may be known 9. Where this whole Congregation may be circumvented 10. Some of the principal unfaithfull ones of the Kings party are notified by name and many whose Names occur not yet their Habitations being known their Names may be easily extorted from Read If these things be warily proceeded in the strength of the whole business will be brought to light so the Arrow being foreseen the Danger shall be avoided which that it may prosperously succeed the Almighty Creatour grant The matter of this Information is conform to their old practices in all former Times and in some respects to be likely enough but truly far from any wise mans faith to give it too much credit in the particulars which is so notoriously mistaken as it marrs the story And for that Objection and Result thereon that the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had too much favoured the Romish Faction not their Faith is his own opinion the Information says quite contrary But his Observatour and others have shewed how and upon what account King Iames and King Charls too had Reasons and in what manner to connive at the Popish Faction in reference to the favours afforded the foreign Reformed Churches And so the great Ministers and Officers in State doing but their duty therein might be thought to favour their Faith See History complete Mary Queen of Scots and King Iames. And to ballance the Puritan Non-conformist the ancient usefull Ceremonies of the Primitive Church were fuller restored in this Arch-bishops Time than of late before but not so thereby for the Arch-bishop to be forthwith cried up by the Romanists for their Proselyte for they know that this Reformation did in Ceremonies rather undo them No Sir it was the Scots first and Presbytery
others progress to an equal poise and in a word the same Ministers of State spurred on by ambitions and to raise their families from time to time have increased suspicions which have hatched these fatal wars through all Europe France styles her self most Christian but meddles least therein ordinarily attracting the Reformates to her interests and being enemies to the Pope and so to Spain which suffers not their doctrines in her dominions But Spain will be Catholique-zealous for her Religion and seldome declines her aid to any of her own unless by force proceeding from the necessity of State affaires through some new conjuncture Lewes the thirteenth attached the house of Austria with much authorâ—ty and power in so much that Richelieu the Angel Guardian of France by his puissant alliances begat an opinion that amongst polititians there he endeavoured the Universality for his Master and so to overthrow the Emperial house by the helpe of the Hollanders and his other underhand underminings which he could never so poise for any time but that the Scales were now up then down to his dying day The Earl of Strafford had passed upon him the Commons accusation and now it was time to form their compleat charge into twenty eight particulars and being ready Ianuary the thirtieth they were presented by Mr. Pym to the Peers in the presence of the Earl and although it was long two hundred sheets and so time would be taken up for engrossing and though the Treasons therein alleaged were of a standing time above fourteen years not suddainly to be answered unto yet the Commons were earnest for dispatch and he enjoyned such hast as by the four and twentieth of February it was read to the Lords in the Kings presence and the next day after to the Commons He craved aid of the Council which in cases of Treason is not allowed in plea de facto it may not but in matters de lege it may and so he had Councel And the place of his Trial could not be in the Lords House being of little Room to hold the House of Commons who desired to be present and to manage the accusation by their own members and in a full body of their house compleat which the Lords would not indure and they come as a Committe and so Westminster-hall was the place assigned and that not to big for this unparralel Trial the King Queen Prince and Courtiers being present and all the Parliament The scene was at the upper end reared of some heigth and above that a Chaire and cloth of State on either side a close private Gallery for the King Queen and Prince Before them seats for the Peers and on either sides Scaffolds mounted for all the house of Commons who sate bare headed and hundreds of others Auditors who could get leave to enter The command of the place and stage was ordered by the Earl of Lindsey not as he was made high constable for the day but as he was Lord great Chamberlain of England in right of his mother Mary the daughter of Iohn de vere the sixteenth Earl of Oxford who maried Peregrine Berty Lord Willoughby of Earesby by whom she had issue this Robert now Earl of Lindsey and thereby the disposing of all the Scaffolding as his fee when the Tryal was ended The Bishops being by ancient Canons disabled to be present at the sentence of blood and death but not from being assistants in examining and deposing of witnesses or giving Councel till now abridged by this Parliament to sit as Peers And it is observed that they were defended to have right of place presence by a Manuscript in many hands de jure Paritat is episcoporum and their Priviledges thereby asserted in this particular which yet they as the times were did not interpose but were contented to be absent giving advantage thereby to the Parliament to deprive them of their votes and after to destroy their calling On Munday the two and twentieth of March the day fixed for his appearing at Westminster-hall almost five moneths time since his first Commitment which it seems was taken up and spent for procuring proofs of witnesses purposely sent for from Ireland And in truth the rather for Intertaining some Overtures of the Court to take of the edge of his adversaries and the best and usual way was by their several preferments The Earl of Bedford to be Lord Treasurer Mr. Pym Chancelor of the Exchequer the Earl of Essex Governour of the Prince Mr. Hamden to be his Tutor the Lord Say Mr. of the wards and Mr. Hollis principal secretary in the place of Windebanck the Deputies place in Ireland also to another and the Earl of Warwick in some command in the Navy And it was in part prosecuted in relation hereto for the Bishop of London did deliver up the Treasury staff and the Earl of New-castle the governance of the Prince the Lord Cottington resigned up his offices in the Court of wards and Exchequer and it was not to be doubted that the Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Duppa would willingly quit his place of Tutor to the Prince But whether the Kings mind was herein mutable or what else intervened they thus concerned and baffled became irreconciliable to the Earls destruction and that this is true may be hinted from the Kings Declararion of the twelfth of August after what Overtures had been made by them saies the Declaration and with what Importunities for offices and preferments what great services should have been done for him and what other undertakings even to have saved the life of the Earl of Strafford So cheap a rate it seems might have saved that Incomparable Statesman The Earl of Arundel was made Lord High Steward and the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Constable and thus set as before said the Earl of Strafford was told by the High-steward that he was called thither to answer the Impeachment of High Treason preferred against him by the Commons of England and Ireland expressed in their accusation to which he had answered and both of them read took up this day and the Court adjourned to the next day when the house of Commons fell upon the first seven general Articles of subverting the fundamental Laws of both Nations and this was managed by Mr. Pym a paper sealed was opened and read which signified from the Parliament of Ireland that they had voted the Earl guilty of High Treason To which he in passion said There was a conspiracy against him to take away his life It would not admit of recollection and the Commons cried out for Justice against him who standing impeached of high Treason accuseth the Parliaments of two Kingdomes of a conspiracy against him for which inconsiderate words he humbly craved pardon not thereby intending either Parliament but meant it by some particular persons Mr. Pym craved that he should forthwith answer to three Articles more which were lately annexed to the charge But although the
proclamations viz. one dated the one and twentieth day of May in the eleventh of his Majesties reign and the other dated the one and thirtieth day of January in the same year thereby prescribing and enjoyning the working of Flax into Yarn and Thread and the ordering of the same in such wayes wherein the Natives of that Kingdome were unpractised and unskilful which proclamations so issued were by his Commands and Warrants to his Majesties Iustices of peace and other Officers and by other rigorous means put in execution and the Flax wrought or ordered in other manner than as the said proclamation prescribed was seized and employed to the use of him and his agents and thereby the said Earl endeavoured to gain and did gain in effect the sole sale of that native commodity The Earls Reply That he did endeavour to advance the Manufacture of Linnen rather than of Woollen because the last would be the greater detriment to England That the Primate of Ireland the Arch-bishop of Dublin Chancellour Loftus and the Lord Mount Norris all or the Council and Subscribers of the Proclamation were as liable to the Charge as himself That the reducing of that Nation by Orders of the Council-board to the English Customes from their more savage usages as drawing Hoâ—ses by their tails c. had been of former practise that the Project was of so ill avail to him as he was the worse for the Manufacture thirty thousand pounds at least by the Loom he had set up at his own charge The Fourteenth Article was not urged 15. That the said Earl of Strafford traiterously and wickedly devised and contrived by force of Armes in a warlike manner to subdue the Subjects of the said Realm of Ireland to bring them under his tyrannical power and will and in pursuance of his wicked and trayterous purposes aforesaid the said Earl of Strafford in the eighth year of his Majesties reign did by his own authority without any warrant or colour of Law tax and impose great sums of money upon the Townes of Baltemore Bandenbridge Talowe and divers other Townes and places in the said Realm of Ireland and did cause the same to be levied upon the Inhabitants of those Towns by Troops of Souldiers with force and arms in a warlike manner And on the ninth day of March in the twelfth year of his now Majesties reign trayterously did give authority unto Robert Savill a Serjeant at armes and to the Captains of the companies of Souldiers in several parts of that Realm to send such numbers of Souldiers to lie on the Lands and Houses of such as would not conform to his orders until they should render obedience to his said orders and warrants and after such submission and not before the said Souldiers to return to their Garrisons And did also issue the like warrants unto divers others which warrants were in warlike manner with force and Arms put in execution accordingly and by such warlike means did force divers of his Majesties Subjects of that Realm to submit themselves to his unlawful commands And in the said twelfth year of his Majesties reign the said Earl of Strafford did trayterously cause certain troops of horse and foot armed in warlike manner and in warlike array with force and armes to expel Richard Butler from the possession of Castle-cumber in the Territory of Idough in the said realm of Ireland and did likewise and in like warlike manner expel divers of his Majesties Subjects from their houses families and possessions as namely Edward Brenman Owen Oberman Patrick Oberman Sir Cyprian Horsfield and divers others to the number of about a hundred families and took and imprisoned them and their wives and carried them prisoners to Dublin and there detained them until they did yield up surrender or release their respective estates and rights And the said Earl in like warlike manner hath during his Government of the said Kingdom of Ireland subdued divers others of his Majesties Subjects â—ase to his will and thereby and by the means aforesaid hath levied war within the said Realm against his Majesty and his liege people of that Kingdom Testified by Serjeant Savil. The Earls Reply That nothing hath been more ordinary in Ireland than for the Governours to put all manner of Sentences in execution by the help of Souldiers that Grandison Falkland Chichester and other Deputies frequently did it Sir Arthur Teningham to this point deposed that in Falkland 's time he knew twenty Souldiers assessed upon one man for refusing to pay sixteen shillings That his Instructions for executing his Commission were the same with those formerly given to the Lord Falkland and that in both there is express warrant for it That no Testimony produced against him doth evidently prove he gave any Warrant to that effect and that Serjeant Savil shewed onely the Copy of a Warrant not the Original it self which he conceived could not make Faith in Case of Life and Death in that high Court especially it being not averred upon Oath to agree with the Original which should be upon Record That he conceived he was for an Irish Custome to be tried by the Peers of that Kingdom 16. That the said Earl of Strafford the two and twentieth of February in the seventh year of his now Majesties reign intending to oppress the said Subjects of Ireland did make a proposition and obtained from his Majesty an allowance that no complaint of injustice or oppression done in Ireland should be received in England against any unless it first appeared that the party made first his address to him the said Earl and the said Earl having by such usurped tyrannical and exorbitant power expressed in the former Articles destroyed the Peers and other Subjects of that Kingdom of Ireland in their lives consciences land liberties and estates the said Earl to the intent the better to maintain and strengthen his power and to bring the people into a disaffection of his Majesty as aforesaid did use his Majesties name in the execution of his said power And to prevent the Subjects of that Realm of all means of complaints to his Majesty and of redress against him and his agents did issue a Proclamation bearing date the seventeenth day of September in the eleventh year of his Majesties Reign thereby commanding all the Nobility undertakers and others who held estates and offices in the said Kingdom except such as were imployed in his Majesties service or attending in England by his special command to make their personal residence in the said Kingdom of Ireland and not to depart thence without licence of himself And the said Earl hath since issued other Proclamations to the same purpose by means whereof the subjects of the said Realm are restrained from seeking relief against the oppressions of the said Earl without his license which Proclamation the said Earl hath by several rigorous waies as by fine imprisonment and otherwise put in execution on his Majesties subjects as namely one Parry and
so many forward to engage against me who had made great Professions of singular pietie For this gave to vulgar mindes so bad a reflection upon me and my Cause as if it had been impossible to adhere to me and not withall part from God to think or speak well of me and not to blaspheme him so many were perswaded that these two were utterly inconsistent to be at once Loyal to me and truly Religious toward God Not but that I had I thank God many with me which were both Learned and Religious much above that ordinrie size and that vulgar proportion wherein some men glorie so much who were so well satisfied in the cause of my Sufferings that they chose rather to suffer with me than forsake me Nor is it strange that so Religious Preâ—ensions as were used against me should be to many well-minded men a great tempâ—ation to oppose me especially being urged by such popular Preachers as think it no sin to lie for God and what they please to call Gods cause cursing all that will not curse with them looking so much at and crying up the goodness of the end propounded that they consider not the lawfulness of the means used nor the depth of the mischief chiefly plotted and intended The weakness of these mens judgments must be made up by their clamours and activitie It was a great part of some mens Religion to scandalize me and mine they thought theirs could not be true if they cried not down mine as false I thank God I have had more trial of his grace as to the constancie of my Religion in the Protestant Profession of the Church of England both abroad and at home than ever they are like to have Nor do I know any Exception I am so liable to in their opinion as too great a fixedness in that Religion whose judicious and solid Grounds both from Scripture and Antiquitie will not give my Conscience leave to approve or consent to those many dangerous and divided Innovations which the bold Ignorance of some men would needs obtrude upon me and my People Contrarie to those wel-tried Foundations both of Truth and Order which men of far greater Learning and clearer Zeal have settled in the Confession and Constitution of this Church in England which many former Parliaments in the most calm and unpassionate times have oft confirmed in which I shall ever by Gods help persevere as believing it hath most of Primitive Truth and Order Nor did my using the assistance of some Papists which were my Subjects any way fight against my Religion as some men would needs interpret it especially those who least of all men cared whom they imploied or what they said and did so they might prevail 'T is strange that so wise men as they would be esteemed should not conceive That Differences of perswasion in matters of Religion may easily fall out where there is the sameness of Dutie Allegiance and Subjection The first they own as men and Christians to God The second they ow to me in common as their King Different Professions in point of Religion cannot any more than in civil Trades take away the communitte of Relations either to Parents or to Princes And where is there such an Oglio or Medley of various Religions in the World again as those men entertain in their service who finde most fault with me without any scruple as to the diversitie of their Sects and Opinions It was indeed a foul and indelible shame for such as would be counted Protestants to enforce me a declared Protestant their Lord and King to a necessarie use of Papists or any other who did but their Dutie to help me to defend my self Nor did I more than is lawfull for any King in such Exigents to use the aid of any his Subjects I am sorrie the Papists should have a greater sense of their Allegiance than many Protestant Professours who seem to have learned and to practise the worst Principles of the worst Papists Indeed it had been a verie impertinent and unseasonable scruple in me and verie pleasing no doubt to mine Enemies to have been then disputing the Points of different Beliefs in my Subjects when I was disputed with by Swords points and when I needed the help of my Subjects as men no less than their praiers as Christians The noise of my Evil Counsellours was another usefull Devise for those who were impatient any mens counsel but their own should be followed in Church and State who were so eager in giving me better counsel that they would not give me leave to take it with freedom as a Man or Honour as a King making their counsels more like a Drench that must be poured down than a Draught which might be fairly and leisurely drunk if I liked it I will not justifie beyond humane Errours and Frailties my self or my Counsellours they might be subject to some Miscarriages yet such as were far more reparable by second and better thoughts than those enormous Extravagancies wherewith some men have now wildered and almost quite lost both Church and State The event of things at last will make it evident to my Subjects that had I followed the worst counsels that my worst Counsellours ever had the boldness to offer to me or my self any inclination to use I could not so soon have brought both Church and State in three flourishing Kingdoms to such a Chaos of Confusions and Hell of Miseries as some have done out of which they cannot or will not in the midst of their many great Advantages redeem either me or my Subjects No men were more willing to complain than I was to redress what I saw in Reason was either done or advised amiss and this I thought I had done even beyond the expectation of moderate men who were sorrie to see me prone even to injure my self out of a zeal to relieve my Subjects But other mens insatiable Desire of Revenge upon me my Court and my Clergie hath wholly beguiled both Church and State of the benefit of all my either Retractations or Concessions and withall hath deprived all those now so zealous Persecutours both of the comfort and reward of their former pretended Persecutions wherein they so much gloried among the vulgar and which indeed a truly humble Christian will so highly prize as rather not to be relieved than be revenged so as to be bereaved of that Crown of Christian Patience which attends humble and injured Sufferers Another Artifice used to with-draw my Peoples Affections from me to their Designs was the noise and ostentation of Libertie which men are not more prone to desire than unapt to bear in the popular sense which is to do what every man liketh best If the divinest Libertie be to will what men should and to do what they so will according to Reason Laws and Religion I envie not my Subjects that Libertie which is all I desire to enjoy my self so far am I from the desire of
of Queen Elizabeth and himself a person not engaged in any publick pressures of the Common-wealth and therefore most likely to prove just and acceptable to the People The Papists likewise permitted privately to enjoy their Religion and a general good agreement between the Natives and the English in all parts In August the Popish party in Parliament grown high and incompatible with the present Government the Parliament was adjourned for three Moneths and then the Committee returned out of England and arrived at the end of August desiring that all the Acts of that Parliament might be proclaimed and sent down to the several Counties and so they retired to their places of abode In this great serenity and security the late Irish Army raised for the assistance of the Kings service against the Scots was disbanded and all their Army brought into Dublin Then there brake out upon the three and twentieth of October 1641. a desperate Rebellion universal defection and general Revolt of the Natives together which almost all the old English that were Popish totally involved A Rebellion so execrable as no Age no Nation can parallell the abominable Murders without number or mercy upon the Brittish Inhabitants of what sexes age or quality soever they were and this to be contrived with that secrecy amongst themselves that not one English man received any notice thereof before the very Evening of their intended Execution But though there were no direct appearance of the first Contrivers of this Rebellion yet I finde the Romish Clergy and the the Popish Lawyers great Instruments of the Fundamentals whereupon their bloudy Superstructions were reared The Lawyers standing up in Parliament as great Patriots for the Liberties of the Subject and Redress of Grievances boldly obtruding their pernicious speculations as undoubted Maxims of Law which though apparent to wise men yet so strangely were many of the very Protestants and others wel-meaning men blinded with an apprehension of case and redress and so stupified with their bold accusations of the Government as discouraged others to stand up to oppose them And then it was that the Parliament having impeached Sir Robert Bolton Lord Chancellour of Ireland of high Treason with other prime Officers of State that were of English birth and done their worst also against the Earl of Strafford in England Some of these great Masters and pretended Patriots took upon them impudently to declare the Law as they pleased to make new Expositions of their own upon that Text to frame Queries against Government Presidents they had enough of former proceedings in England they disdained the moderate qualifications of such as replied to them but those would not serve their turn New Model of Government they would have drawing it wholly into the hands of the Natives which they knew could not be compassed in a Parliamentary way they onely made preparatives there by desperate Maxims which being diffused would fit and dispose the people to a change Some of their Maxims they declared for Law that any one being killed in Rebellion though found by matter of Record would give the King no Forfeiture of Estate That though many thousands stood up in Arms working all manner of destruction yet if they professed not to rise against the King that it was no Rebellion That if a man were cuâ—lawed for Treason and his Land rested in the Crown or given away by the King his Heir might come afterwards and be admitted to reverse the Outlawry and recover his Ancestours Estate And many such were published this Session nay they presumed to attempt a suspension of Poyning ' s Act and at last the very abrogation of the Statute the best Monument of the English intire dominion over the Irish Nation and the annexion of that Kingdom to the Imperial Crown of England assuming a power of Iudicature to the Parliament in criminal and capital offences which no former age could presidence And so carried on their Session begun in May till the breaking out of the Rebellion and yet then they would hardly adjourn These and many other such which wise men fore-saw and since came to pass that Fools may run and read them They made the whole Body of State corrupt and ill-affected that the evil humours and distempers of the Kingdom required Cauteries This was the Disease as appears by all the Symptoms and the joint concurrence in opinion of all the pretended Patriots that held themselves wise enough to propose Remedies to so desperate a Malady But indeed although but pretences yet the King had condescended to their present relief giving much more satisfaction to their Agents lately in England than ever they could in any other time expect to receive or hope to enjoy but presently upon their return to Ireland this Conspiracy brake out Certainly the late successes of the Scots in their Insurrections gave encouragement to these they having happily succeeded in their affairs obtained signal Immunities from the King by their last Eruptions Our domestick garboils also might indulge them liberty to perplex the English the more and not the least advantage by the death of the late Deputy the Earl of Strafford whom the Irish equally pursued with the Zelots of Parliament in England and thereupon the unseasonable disbanding of the Irish Army eight thousand raised for the Scotish Expedition All these together added to them for their Design four thousand whereof were granted to Don Alonso de â—ardenes the Spanish Ambassadour to be transported from the danger of Innovation at home and the Officers and Colonels put out by the Parliaments commands might depart with their Regiments whither they pleased These were their Incitements and their Deceits followed they boast that the Queen was in the Head of their Forces that the King was coming with an Army that the Scots had concluded a League with them and to get credit therein they altogether caress the Scots that they were authorised by the Kings Commission which they counterâ—eited and produced at Farnham Abbey from one Colonel Plunket as appeared afterwards by several Confessions that they asserted the Kings cause against the Puritans of England And to their own Countrey-men they scatter Letters and Advertisements out of England that there was a Statute very lately made to compell all the Irish to be present at the Protestant worship under penalty of loss of their Goods for the first neglect the loss of their Inheritances for the second and their Lives for the third They gave there great hopes of recovering their Liberties and regaining their ancient Customes and to shake off the English yokâ— to elect to themselves a King of their own Nation and to distribute the Goods and Possessions of the English These Inducements made the Irish mad to perpetrate such hideous Attempts as no leading Age hath heard of They published also these Motives in print that our royal King and Queen are by the Puritans curbed and abused and their Prerogatives restrained diminished and almost wholly abolished
contrary to the rights and power of all Monarchical Authority and also the duty allegeance and consciences of all loyal Subjects which with grief we take to heart as faithfull and loyal Subjects ought to do The Catholick Religion suppressed and put down in England and the Catholicks persecuted with all rigour even to death and the like have the Puâ—itans of this Kingdom threatned to have brought hither That there is a Law against Catholicks in this Countrey whereby the Kingdom hath been often impaired and ruined with persecutions by means whereof the Catholicks are made uâ—capable of any Office or Place of commodity or profit to the great and extraordinary decay of the Catholicks in their Estates Education and Learning That the Goverment of the Kingdom is wholly in the hands of strangers who in their beginning are generally poor of birth and means and very quickly become Noblemen and men of great Estates by oppression and ruinating the poor Natives That there hath been great threatnings of late of sending great Scotish Forces with the Bible in one hand and Sword in the other to force our consciences or end our lives besides our private report of a sudden surprisal and cutting the Catholicks throats intending which way we know not but it hath been both written and spoken by several Protestants and Puritans That the Catholicks are not allowed to have any Arms or Munition as the Protestants and Puritans were but stood like dâ—admen not able to defend themselves in such desperate Dangers All which being by them considered they saw no way but to attempt to seize upon Arms where they could get them to save their lives maintain the King and Queen their Religion and Countrey It is true that for the first Days horrid Rebellion and Butchery the Irish did forbear the Scots Plantation there knowing their good Natures to be such as to sit still and see the English destroyed so they might hope to escape and to have more room for Colonies of their own Nation it being more easie for the Irish to deal with one Nation than with both and they knew that the Scots had then in Scotland some formed Forces standing which in few hours might be transported and so to distract them before their intended progress into Rebellion To that end for a time they were spared with life but not with Gudes and Geer and so â—ad leave to return to Scotland a worse transmigration than into the other World Some pretence they make declaring in the sight of God and the World their Intentions and Resolutions to the last Man with their Lives Estates and Fortunes to endeavour the advancement and preservation of his Majesties service and Interest in that Kingdom and of all those whoever that prosecute his quarrel having no other Design or Intent but onely the free exercise of their Religion On the contrary it was wonderfull to observe what Irritations stirred up the English to revenge the Death of the Massacred and to defend the lives of those that survived A Mass of Money 300000. pounds sterling was soon raised in England but otherways disposed and great Contributions for pay of the Souldiers and Provisions and many thousands of English prepare for that War And yet so eminent was the divine wrath over England that even upon this very account our Incongruities and Feuds at home were inflamed which amongst others how intense soever yet soulder a peace for some interim Hereupon those that aimed at Innovations infused into mens mindes scruples and suspitions and though the King most intent to suppress the raging cruelty of that Rebellion by his personal hazzard to scourge their insolencies the Parliament would not consent that the War be mannaged by his Authority nor to trust the Souldiers with their Allegeance to the King nor any of them that had served him in the Scotish Expedition but such as themselves affected and he disgusted yet rather than the War should linger on those Differences he submitted to the joint authority of mannaging the same and so Patents and Commissions were signed by both King and Parliament leaving himself without power either to make peace or grant them pardon without the Parliaments consent And so by this concurrence of Affairs concerning the Rebells and mischievous Distractions in England ripening into a civil War the Parliament seize upon the collected sums of hundreds of thousand pounds for Ireland and two or three Regiments raised for that service they convert to the suppressing of the Kings War against them nay the very Benevolence begged for the relief of the perishing Evangelius they turn into pay for their Souldiery Though the Kings Souldiers having seized on some provisions sent by the Parliament towards Chester as but designed for Ireland the King upon complaint soon restored it for that service And although there appeared no evidence of truth it was rumored to the Kings dishonour that he had been Authour of that Rebellion which the King endeavours with greater validity of Reasons to retort upon the Faction of some Members of both Houses Notwithstanding these Traverses hindered not our Auxiliaries to defeat the Irish by fire devastations and slaughter of some hundreds of thousands of the Natives and to wilder that Kingdom far and near which happened alike pernicious to our selves when afterwards that the civil War in England was at the heighth victuals provision cloaths and pay failing our Souldiers in Ireland it is beyond the reach of expression how miserably our Countrey-men suffered there and the Parliaments help failing their daily Invocations for relief the Privy Counsellours of that Kingdom Commanders and Souldiers by peâ—itionary Letters to the King earnestly beg leave to depart and to be remanded any where else save against such an Enemy as Hunger The King either for necessity or prudence the Scots coming into the Parliament he being thereby reduced to an inequality of fight here at home makes a Cessation with the Irish for a year onely and so endeavours a peace to ensue leaving sufficient Garisons behinde the Souldiers return for the Kings assistance whose part began to totter But the Scots party in Ulster refuse to be bound by the Cessation and some English in Conaught and Ulster of a like conniving Faction But the Lord Inchequin Commander in chief of the Munster Forces comes over with some thousands to the Kings aid but not well resenting his entertainment withdraws himself into Ireland and gains all the Kings party of Cork and Munster to the Parliament and to a detestation of the Cessation they instantly sending him and the Scots Forces fresh aid of money and provisions Against whom appeared three several parties though conjoyned in enmity to the English the Popes Nuntio Owen Roe and the other under command of Preston and Taff the last more moderate endeavouring the compliance with the King to confirm the Peace yet were over-born by the Popes Bull against the Cessation and Peace and so deterred their Souldiers from their fidelity and Colours
whereof six only were hanged Many treacherous designs of the Town Papists failed many Protestants fled to sea and although Docter Barnard their chief Minister had the conveniency offered him to be gon he would not desert his Congregation thin as they were telling them as St. Ambrose said to Iustina Non prodam lupis gregem mihi commissum hic â—ccide si libet At this time comes a competent strength of one hundred horse and ten hundred foot under command of Sir Henry Tichburn appointed Governour of the Town the fourth of November which the Catholiques resented coldly upon whom the Protestants had just suspition and therefore wearied succours were faine to stand Guard that Night And now it was time to name the Brat and call it a through Rebellion which till now was favoured with the interpretation of an Act of discontented Gentlemen Not long after the State added three companies of foot so beside the Town Arms they were compleat 1500. foot and 160. horse Not many nights after there was dropt in the street a faire Declaration of the Catholiques of Ireland framed upon presumption that the design contrived had been effected and by the way at each corner seems to have been fixed and this the most authentick that came to light Whereas we the Roman Catholiques of the Kingdom of Ireland have been continually loving and faithfull Subjects to his sacred Majesty and notwithstanding the several and heavy oppressions suffered by the subordinate Governments to the ruine of our lives honours and estates yet having some liberty of our Religion from his Majesty out of the affluence of his Princely love to us we weighing not corporal loss in respect of the great immunity of the soule are instantly resolved to infix our selves in an immutable and pure allegiance for ever to his royal Majesâ—y and successors Now it is That the Parliament of England maligning and envying any graces received from his Majesty by our Nation and knowing none desired of us as that of Religion and likewise perceiving his Majesty to be inclined to give us the liberty of the same drew his Majesties Prerogative out of his hand thereby largely pretending the general good of his Majesties Kingdoms But we the sad Catholicks and loyal Subjects to his Majesty do probably finde as well by some Acts to pass by them the said Parliament touching our Religion in which the Catholicks of England and Scotland did suffer as also by threat to send over the Scotish Army with the Sword and Bible in hand against us That their whole and studied Plots both was and is not onely to extinguish Religion by which we onely live happily but also likewise to supplant us and raze the name of Catholicks and Irish out of the whole Kingdom And seeing this surmise so dangerous tending absolutely to the overthrow of the liberty of our consciences and Countrey and also our gracious Kings power forced from him in which and in whose prudent care of us our sole quiet and comfort consisted and without which the fear of our present Ruines did prescribe opinion and premonish us to save our selves We therefore as well to regain his Majesties said Prerogative being onely due to him and his Successours and being the essence and life of Monarchy hoping thereby to continue a strong and invincible unity between his royal and ever happy love to us and our faithfull Duty and Loyalty to his incomparable Majesty have taken Arms and possessed our selves of the best and strongest Forts of this Kingdom to enable us to serve his Majesty and to defend us from the tyrannous resolution of our Enemies This in our consciences as we wish the peace of the same to our selves and our posterity is the pretence and true cause of our raising Arms by which we are resolved to perfect the advancement of truth and safety of our King and Countrey Thus much we thought fit in general to publish to the world to set forth our innocent and just cause the particulars whereof shall be speedily declared God save the King Upon the fifth of November the Lords and Council of Ireland sent their second Dispatch from Dublin unto the King in Scotland and several Letters also into England to the Parliament and Council and to the Earl of Leicester elect Lord Lieutenant setting down the particular Narrative of the Rebellion and so take together the success of both Dispatches The first Letters arrived at London the last of October and that Even were delivered and the next Morning the Upper House sent them down to the House of Commons by the Lord Keeper Privy Seal High Chamberlain Admiral Marshal Chamberlain the Earls of Bath Dorset Leicester Holland Berks Bristoll Lord Mandevil Say Goring Wilmot who had Chairs to sit while the Letters were read and so departed The House instantly resolved into a Committee and order That fifty thousand pounds be forthwith provided That the Lords be moved that Members of both Houses may declare to the City of London the present necessity to borrow fifty thousand pounds to be secured by Act of Parliament That a Committee of both Houses consider of the affairs of Ireland That Owen O Conally the Discoverer shall have five hundred pounds presently and two hundred pounds per annum Pension till provision of Land of Inheritance of a greater value That the persons of all Papists of quality in England be secured That no persons except Merchants shall pass to Ireland without Certificate from the said Committee To all which the Lords consented Then the House of Commons vote twenty thousand pounds for present supply A convenient number of Ships for guarding the Sea-coasts of Ireland That six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse be forthwith raised for Ireland and Officers to be appointed over them That Magazines of Victual be forthwith sent to Westchester to be sent to Dublin as occasion shall require That the Magazines now at Carlile be forthwith sent over to Knockfergus in Ireland That the Kings Council consider of a Pacification for Rewards to such as shall do service in Ireland and for a Pardon to such Rebells as shall submit within a time and of a Sum of Money for Rewards to bring in the Heads of the principal Rebells That Letters of Thanks be returned to the Lords Justices there That the Committee do consider how and in what manner to make use of Scotland here And a Bill to be prepared for pressing of Souldiers for Ireland An Ordinance passed for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to raise three thousand five hundred Foot and six hundred Horse and not to press our dear Brethren of Scotland any further than for one thousand Foot to pass from Scotland to the North of Ireland And Arms to be delivered out by the Master of the Ordnance out of the store for Ireland for eight thousand Foot and a thousand Horse Thus much was discoursed upon the first Letters And now upon the second Dispatch the Parliament voted two
acquainting this House That it is lawful for such Member or any person to assist him and to stand upon his or their guard of defence and to make a resistance according to the Protestation taken to defend the priviledges of Parliament The King being put to it hastens Articles of High Treason and other misdemeanours against those five Members 1. That they have trayterously indeavoured to subvert the fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdom and deprive the King of his legal power and to place on Subjects an Arbitrary and tyrannical power 2. That they have endeavoured by many foul Aspersions upon his Majesty and his Government to alienate the affections of his people and to make his Majesty odious unto them 3. That they have indeavoured to draw his Majesties late Army to disobedience to his Majesties command and to side with them in their trayterous designes 4. That they have trayterously invited and encouraged a foreign power to invade his Majesties Kingdom of England 5. That they have trayterously indeavoured to subvert the very rights and being of Parliament 6. That for the compleating of their trayterous design they have endeavoured as far as in them lay by force and terrour to compel the Parliament to joyn with them in their trayterous designs and to that end have actually raised and countenanced Tumults against the King and Parliament 7. That they have trayterously conspired to levy and actually have levyed war against the King And being told of the vote of the Commons against the seizure or arrest of their persons by any of his Officers he the next day in the morning repaires to the house himself with his guard of Pensioners and such of his Courtiers at hand intending to seize the persons of the five Members sitting in Parliament The door no sooner opened at his hasty knock but he enters commanding his guard to attend without This suddain assult upon the House amazed the whole body but the five Members having timely warning were fled into London The Speaker arises with all humility whilst the King views the House round and then sits down and tells them the fourth of Ianuary Gentlemen I am sorry for this occasion for coming unto you Yesterday I sent a Serjeant at Arms upon a very important occasion to apprehend some that upon my command were accused of High Treason whereunto I did expect obedience and not a message And I must declare unto you here That albeit that no King that ever was in England shall be more careful of the Priviledges to maintain them to the uttermost of his power than I shall bee Yet you must know that in cases of Treason no person hath a priviledge And therefore I am come to know if any of those persons that I have accused for no slight crime but for Treason are here I cannot expect that this House can be in the right way that I do heartily wish it Therefore I am come to tell you that I must have them wheresoever I find them and with that he casts his eye again round about Well sithence saies he I see all the birds are flowen I do expect from you that you shall send them to me assoon as they return hither But I assure you in the word of a King I never did intend any force but shall prosecute against them in a legal and faire way for I never meant any other And now sithence I see I cannot do what I came for I thinke this no unfit occasion to repeat what I have said formerly that whatsoever I have don in favour and to the good of my Subjects I do mean to maintain it I will trouble you no more but tell you I do expect as soon as they come to the House you will send them to me otherwise I must take my own course to find them The King no sooner gon out but the House was in an uproar that the King might hear them Priviledge Priviledge never such an unparelled action of a King to the breach of all freedom not only in the accusation of their Members former ransacking and searching of their studies and papers and intentionally their persons but now in an hostile way for the King to threaten the whole body they resolve and the next day vote this solemn Ordinance Die Mercurii the fifth of Ianuary Whereas his Majesty in his royal person yesterday did come to the House of Commons attended with a great Multitude of Men armed in warlike manner with Halberts Swords and Pistols who came up to the very Door of the House and placed themselves there and in other places and passages near to the House to the great terrour and disturbance of the Members thereof then sitting and according to their Duty in a peaceable and orderly manner treating of the affairs of both Kingdoms of England and Ireland And his Majesty having placed himself in the Speakers Chair did demand the persons of divers Members of the House to be delivered unto him It is this Day declared c. that the same is the high Breach of the Privileges of Parliament and inconsistent to the liberty and freedom thereof And therefore this House doth conceive they cannot with the safety of their own persons or the indemnity of the Rights and Privileges of Parliament sit here any longer without a full vindication of so high a Breach and a sufficient Guard wherein they may confide for which both Houses joyntly and this House by it self have been humble Suiters to his Majesty and cannot as yet obtain Notwithstanding which this House being very sensible of the greatest trust reposed in them and especially at this time the manifold Distractions of this Kingdom and the lamentable and distracted condition of the Kingdom of Ireland doth order that this House shall be adjourned untill Tuesday next at one of the clock in the afternoon and that a Committee be named by this House and all that will come shall have Voices which shall sit in the Guild-hall in the City of London to morrow morning at nine of the clock and shall have power to consider and resolve of all things that may concern the good and safety of the City and Kingdom and particularly how our Privileges may be vindicated and our persons secured and to consider of the affairs of the Kingdom of Ireland and shall have power to consult and advise with any person or persons touching the premises and shall have power to send for parties witnesses papers and Records And it is further ordered that the Committees for the Irish affairs shall meet at the Guild-hall aforesaid at what time they shall think fit and consult and do touching the affairs of Ireland according to the power formerly given them by this House And both the said Committees shall report the results of their consideration and resolution to this House Nor would this Preparation towards their Vindication serve their turn unless they do publish to the World the late high Contempt
witness that he shall not fail on his part Ian. 20. It is true that the misery of Ireland cried out for Relief and as often the King enforced the consideration offering Propositions very probable which the Parliament always declined But the Scots having a fair Interest there in their British Plantations and a Committee being a foot to that purpose the Scots seeming very forward to do somewhat and to involve their Propositions together with their general Proposals of the Treaty of Peace make these Offers to transport two thousand and five hundred Scots into Ireland meaning thereby to hasten the end of theâ—r Treaty But upon these Articles That Provisions of Victuals be presently sent to Carrickfergus to be sold to the Scots Souldiers answerable to their Pay They to have the command of that Castle and Town to remain there or to enlarge their own Quarters into the Countrey That Match Pouder and Ball be sent from hence but what Arms Ammunition or Artillery shall go from Scotland with their Forces the same shall be supplied into Scotland out of England That a part of the brotherly Assistance thirty thousand pounds be advanced to them presently which though in proportion came but to seven thousand and five hundred pounds yet they crave ten thousand pounds for their encouragement That their Pay which was condiscended to commence from the eight of December last may be advanced to the eighth of February next when they hoped to march To have Ships of Convoy And that all this may be done without prejudice to their Treatie Jan. 24. The two Houses having swallowed these Propositions the Kings consent was desired but excepts very sparingly against the third Article as somewhat prejudicial to the Crown of England and desires conference with the Scots Commissioners there which being long disputed and the strength of the Kings Argument implying too great a trust for Auxiliary Forces in them To which they reply that they hoped that his Majesty being their native would not shew less trust in them than in the Neighbour Nation seeing his two Houses had consented yet although the Reason bore little force as the Kings condition now stood yet to take away all Delays of Dispute he condiscended And the Scots Commissioners following the King out of Scotland interpose Mediation between the King and Parliament in several private Addresses and in some Propositions in writing so effectually to the Parliaments purpose and their Designing that Mr. Pym is sent specially to give them Thanks on Saturday the twenty second of Ianuary My Lords We are commanded to present to you their affectionate Thanks for your wise Counsels and faithfull advice given to his Sacred Majestie for the appeasing and removing of the present Distraction and Distempers of this State My Lords The House of Commons are very sensible and do tenderly and affectionately consider that this your dutifull and faithfull advice is a large testimonie of your fidelitie to the King affection to this State and of wisdom for honour securitie and peace of his Majesâ—ie and both Kingdoms and not onely very acceptable to this House but likewise of great advantage to both Nations They clearly perceive you rightly understand the causes of our Distempers and your carefull endeavours to complie with them in the quieting and removing of the same that the brotherly Communion lately confirmed by both Parliaments of England and Scotland binde them both to maintain the peace and liberties of one another being highly concerned equally therein as the assured means of the safetie and preservation of both and being so united the Disturbance of the one must needs disquiet and distemper the peace of the other as hath been often acknowledged by them both They are likewise sensible that those waies which you advise are the onely means to settle peace and unitie in this Kingdom viz. First to endeavour a right understanding between his Majestie and his People by which he may truly see the real causes of these Disturbances and their Authours who are his faithfull and loyal Subjects his faithfull and dutifull Counsellours and who not by which means the brotherly affection betwixt the two Nations shall be confirmed to the glorie of God and peace of the Church and State of both Kingdoms their unitie advanced and all mistakes and jealousies betwixt his Majestie and this Kingdom removed and the establishment of the affairs settled in perpetual peace and tranquillitie the Liberties and Privileges of his Subjects freely enjoyed under his royal Scepter which is the most assured Foundation of his Majesties honour and greatness of the securitie of his royal Person Crown and Dignitie Secondly the removal and prevention of all such plots and practises entertained by the Papists Prelates and their Adherents whose aim in all these Troubles hath been to prevent all further Reformation and to subvert the puritie and truth of Religion their constant endeavours have been to stir up Division betwixt his Majestie and his People by their questioning the Authoritie of Parliaments and the lawfull Liberties of the Subjects and really weakening his Majesties power and authoritie royal upon pretence of defending the same which mischievous Counsels Conspiracies and Attempts have produced these Distempers in his Majesties Kingdoms of England and Ireland Thirdly that his Majestie would be pleased to have recourse onely to the faithfull advise of his Parliament and to depend thereupon as the happie means to establish the prosperitie and quiet of this Kingdom and in his royal wisdom to consider and prevent these Apprehensions of fear which may possess the hearts of his Majesties Subjects in his other Kingdoms if they shall conceive the Authoritie of Parliaments and the Rights and Liberties of the Subjects to be here called in question My Lords these your faithfull and loyal Propositions is the greatest Demonstration of your affections faithfully united and devâ—tâ—d to the securitie of his Majestie and your heartie Wishes and Desires of the peace and prosperitie as well of his Majesties Kingdom of England as Scotland and Ireland these Propositions have been the onely endeavours and intentions of his Majesties high Court of Parliament to effect and make manifest to all men and in any other means whatsoever that shall by you be conceived necessary to the composing and settling of these present Distractions they declare themselves desirous to have the same communicated unto them and they shall be right joyfull and thankfull therefore and will willingly and chearfully joyn with you in the same The House of Commons having an itching desire of power had moved the Upper House to joyn with them for obtaining the command of the Tower and mannagement of the Militia and being refused therein yet they will not be beaten off but singly of themselves petition the King for them both and other principal Forts of the Kingdom and pray for his gracious and speedy Answer Ian. 26. That his Majestie having preferred to the Lieutenancie of the Tower a person
there a person much in favour with the King which so allarmed the Cardinal that finding him tripping in some counsel for accommodation with Spain and pressing for a peace so hatefull and dangerous to the Cardinal he was sent to Lyons with Monsieur de Thoü and there both beheaded The Duke of Bovillon was condemned on that score but saved by Intercession of the Prince of Orange who had rendered France remarkable service in Germany and so meriting no less than the saving of an innocent sufferer Thus this ambitious Cardinal choaked with the bloud of the French Peers and some coldness to him from the King took sickness and the fourth of December 1642. died His Life was like that of Sejanus their Death different this Man in his Bed who deserved violence He was born at Paris of noble Extraction took Priesthood at Rome where Pope Paul the fifth by his visiognomy told him That he should become the great Cheat of the Word The Queen Mother preferred him first to be Bishop of Laron where he wrote that Book of controversie full of wit and learning then she put him to the King and afterwards commends him to the Pope who sent him the Cap and after the famous Siege and forcing Rochel he became Commander of the King and Kingdom his policy made him ingratefull to his Mistress cruel to any that shadowed him from the Sun-shine of glory and ambition he cut off the Marillack's head and many others of the greatest eminency sparing none that opposed him pardoning none an accomplisht Machiavel if not exceeding beloved by the most zealous Protestants and hated by the most devout Catholicks His task was to ruine Lorain beginning with that of Guise and in deadly malice with Austria He was the Engine to imbroil this Monarchy of Great Brittain tampering with the Scots into their Rebellion and after with England the onely means to ruine Religion in which he observed so much setlement as that in fine it might have given a turn to the Romish And indeed he imbroil'd the World into Divisions that himself might govern by that means and thereby hath the honour of setling France by his superlative service His Life tyrannous cruel which caused him in continual fears and much disquiet He deserves a voluminous memory and he hath it made up a Medley of good and evil merit Most men expected a mighty change in that Government but he setled his Succession upon his Confident Cardinal Mazerine whom he so instructed that the work went on in the former Frame and so continues to this day But the French King outlived not long the Haresser of this his Journey to Catalonia but returning to Paris extreme sad and loth to die was forced the more to leave this life and to declare the Queen Regent or Governess of his young Son the King recommends the Cardinal to her who had received him long before This King was kept under by Richlieu who indeed did his work and made him outward glorious ambitiously hurried on to War his own good nature desirous of peace In whose time though the Hugonots were destroyed he assisted the Duke de Nevers to the Succession of the Dutchy of Mantua seized upon Lorain allied with Swede and the Protestant Princes against the Emperour and House of Austria disturbing the peace of all Europe In these great men ends this Year We begin this Year 1643. with a Treaty of peace for in truth honest men and wise men were weary of War and therefore Sir Benjamin Rudyerd said well in a Speech when he told the Parliament in February last The War would soon ruine all He did verily believe said he That the Vote already pass'd For the Disbanding the Armies the next Moneth will finde us no farther on our way than where we now are besides the ill Accidents thaâ— may happen and so much precious time spent as till then The main Business is whether we shall have a present Treaty or no and this concerns us in all that we have and Are. Since we refused a Treaty at Nottingham I do not finde that we have gotten much ground although our Army then was fresh full and full paid the People erect bountifull and forward to the War Now the Disposition of the Kingdom for the greatest part stands bent towards a Peace so that wheresoever the Refusal or Delay of the way to it shall be fixt the Disadvantage will fall on that side How clear soever the Intentions of the House are yet abroad it will be taken but as a Shew without Reality and so it will be returned upon us For the Propositions I have not known nor heard that all the Propositions in any Treaty of Importance were ever swallowed whole If some be harsh and rough they may be wrought and suppled by wise Treaters made fit for an acceptable Agreement If other be unpassable they may be totally rejected Those that are our unquestionable Rights may be so claim'd and held We have already tasted the bitter bloudy Fruits of War we are grown exceedingly behinde-hand with our selves since we began it â—f we persist there will such a confluence of Mischiefs break in upon us as I am afraid will ruine the King the Kingdom the Nation unless God be mercifull to us and do step in with a great Miracle for a little one will not serve our turn I have long and thoughtfully expected that the Cup of Trembling which hath gone round about us to other Nations would at length come in amongst us It is now come at last and we may drink the Dregs of it the worst which God divert There is yet some comfort left that our Miseries are not likely to last long For we cannot fight here as they do in Germany in that great large vast Continent where although there be War in some parts of it yet there are many other remote quiet places for Trade and Tillage to support it We must fight as in a Cock-pit we are surrounded with the Sea We have no stronger Holds than our own Sculls and our own Ribs to keep out Enemies so that the whole Kingdom will suddenly be but one flame It hath been said in this House that we are bound in conscience to punish the shedding of innocent bloud with bloud But Sir who shall be answerable for all the innocent bloud which shall be spilt hereafter if we do not endeavour a Peace by a speedy Treaty Certainly God is as much to be trusted in a Treaty as in a War it is He that gives wisdom to treat as well as courage to fight and Success to both as it pleaseth him Bloud is a crying sin it pollutes a Land why should we deâ—ile this Land any longer Wherefore Mr. Speaker Let us stint bloud as soon as we can Let us agree with our Adversaries in the way by a present short wary Treaty God direct us It was sound counsel and for the present begat a Treaty
the Breaches of the State without the Ruines of the Church as I would be a Restorer of the one so I would not be an Oppressor of the other under the pretence of Publick Debts The Occasions contracting them were bad enough but such a discharging of them would be much worse I pray God neither I nor mine may be accessory to either And now dies Mr. Iohn Pym a Member of the House of Commons and a notable stickler for the Parliament he was ever observed to be an high Prebyterian in profession whose subtilty managed the most of their publick affair and ended his days when he had wrangled for the Mastery and left all in great doubt which party might overcome not without some regret and repentance they say that these Differences which he hatched should prove so desperate as he now too late fore saw would undo this Nation In the midst of May it was that Colonel Nath Fines Governour of the City of Bristol had discovered a Plot of the Inhabitants to betray the Town which after much Examination lighted upon Robert Yeomans and George Bourchier who had secretly provided themselves of Arms intending to kill the Centinels by night and possess the Main Guard whereby to master the greatest part of the other side within the Town to kill the Mayor and many others affected to the Parliament and by that means to betray the City to the Kings Forces which should lodg near hand for that purpose two miles off but the Plot pretended was discovered and those men condemned by a Council of War to be hanged This was known at Oxford whereupon the Kings Lord Lieut. of all his Forces the Lord Ruthen lately made Earl of Forth writes to the Governour of Bristol I having been informed that lately at a Council of War you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriff of Bristol who hath his Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his Brother George Bourchier and Edward Dacres all for expressing their loyalty to his Majesty and endeavouring his Service according to their Allegeance do therefore signifie to you that I intend speedily to put Mr. George Mr. Stevens Captain Huntley and others taken in Rebellion at Cirencester into the same condition I do further advise you that if you offer by that unjust Iudgment to execute any of them that those here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie At Oxford May 16. 1643. To the Commander in chief of the Council of War in Bristol Forth The Answer comes from the Governour Colonel Nathaniel Fines and the Council of War at Bristol in effect That if you shall not make distinction between Souldiers of Arms and secret Spies and Conspirators we will not onely proceed against them but others and if by any inhumane and unsouldierlike Sentence you shall execute those persons you named then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts and Colonel Connesby and others whom we have here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie May 18. 1643. Nath. Fines President c. To Patrick Earl of Forth Lord Lieutenant General And so notwithstanding the Kings Letter also to the Mayor and Citizens in their behalf Yeomans and Bourchier were hanged May 30. There was a Plot discovered at London the last of May against the Cities of London and Westminster and by consequence the whole Parliament the chief of the Conspiracy were Mr. Waller a Member of the House of Commons Mr. Tomkins his Brother in Law and lately Clerk of the Queens Council Mr. Chaloner Mr. Hasel Mr. Blinkhorn Mr. White and others As for the Plot we have ravelled into the search of the truth but must take it from the Parliaments Declaration That they should seize into their custodie the Kings Children some Members of the Parliament the Lord Mayor and Committee of Militia all the Cities Out-works and Forts the Tower of London and all the Magazines Then to let in the Kings Forces to surprize the Citie and destroy all Opposers and to resist all payments of Taxes And much heartened they were by a Commission of Array sent from Oxford at that time and brought secretly by the Lady Aubigne Daughter to the Earl of Suffolk Widow of the late Lord Aubigne wounded at Edg-hill and died at Oxford the thirteenth of Ianuary This Commission was directed to Sir Nicholas Crisp and divers others This Plot was discovered the last of May. They were arreigned in publick at Guild-hall and all those four named condemned onely Tomkins and Chaloner executed the first 〈…〉 Door in Holborn the other in Corn-hill but the chief Conspirator Waller was by General Essex reprieved imprisoned a twelve-moneth in the Tower and after for a Fine of ten thousand pounds pardoned and for shame sent to travel into France The reason is much studied for satisfying the World why he the chief Actor the other but brought in by the by should receive such partial Justice because he was ingenious and confessed all and Mr. Pym had engaged his promise for his Life but certainly the most evident Reason is very apparent his great Sum of Money paid down and belike his ample confession of the particulars which the other at their death did not acknowledg Iuly 5. The Parliament having been put to it in want of the great Seal of England now at Oxford for confirmation of their Acts and Ordinances it had been oftentimes disputed and committed the making of another Seal for the use of the Parliament yet deferred the times not â—itted for so great a business the renewing of the Treaty being offered at on both sides But now the Parliament pass four Votes 1. That it is necessary the Great Seal to attend the Houses 2. That there hath been a failer of it at this Parliament 3. Much prejudice to the King Parliament and Kingdom 4. That the Houses ought to provide a Remedie thereof for the time to come Afterwards they made an Order That if the Lord Keeper Littleton upon Summons did not return with the great Seal within fourteen days he should lose his Place and whatever should be sealed therewith by him after that time should be null and vacate in Law A worthy Member desired the Serjeant at Law that ordered the Ordinance not to wade too far in the business before he did consult the Statute of 25 Edward 3. where Counterfeiting the Great Seal is declared high Treason To which the Serjeant replied That he purposed not to counterfeit the old Seal but to make a new Indeed the Parliament being the highest Court and Council had shewn their legislative power by passing Ordinances without the Kings assent to binde the Subject in the exercise of the Militia and that there wanted nothing but the executive part with a Great Seal for the administring justice in all Courts of Law and Equity which would sufficiently declare their power in all necessary Incidents of that supreme Council That since inferiour Courts had their proper Seals the
greatest should not be without one And so a new one was framed engraven thereon the Picture of the House of Commons and Members sitting Reversed the Arms of England and Ireland Cross and Harp Palie And presentlâ— after Mr. Henry Martin a Member without much authority forced an entrance into the Abby Church at Westminister with spoil upon the utensils and ornaments of the Church and broke open two Doors into a private Room near the place where the Regalia Crowns Scepters and other Ensigns of State used at Coronation of their Sovereigns but finding some obstacle that barred his entrance till Mr. Wheeler shewed him the secret that opened the passage to their seizure only prevented for that time by the Earl of Holland and some of the Commons House perswading Mr. Martin to forbear till further pleasure of the Lords concurring which he did by sealing up the Doors His Assistants saying Let us take the Crown and set it upon the Duke of Glocester 's head whom we have with us Tush quoth Martin ye are Fools to talk of Crowns or Kings of which there will be so little use hereafter But after dispute at a Conference the Lords were brought to this Reason That many superstitious things amongst the Regalia were sit to be removed as no longer usefull Whereto one unhappily made a prophetick Reply He doubted the King himself will ere long be some superstitious Monument of decayed Divinity and so thought fit to be removed the King not making the Crown but the Crown the King which being now in their hands they may bestow the Kingdom on whom they please The Earl of Essex hovering about Tame gave Orders about to Buckingham Forces to allarm the Kings Forces some Skirmishes had been on Saturday night Iune 17. and the nex moâ—ning Prince Rupert provokes a Body of Horse to appear early the next morning whom he wasted many Prisoners Captain Sheiffield Son to the Earl of Moulgrave the chiefest but their chief Commander Serjeant Major Gunter shot dead in the place and Mr. Iohn Hambden a principal Member of the fire died a Week after of those wounds he had in this Fight Iune 18. He was a Gentleman of good Descent in Buckinghamshire the great Incendiary from the first of these Troubles setting the Wheel on work in the great Sute of Ship-money against the King and so forward in Junto with the five Members so troublesome to the Kings proceedings then he takes Arms and is made a Colonel for Buckinghamshire whose interest in that County together with his subtilty fairly shadowed by his civil carriage he became the ablest Actor of all though Mr. Pym spake more in the Parliament this man gave best counsel And now he dies on the Bed of Honour being a Souldier but unfortunate and before he had brought his Engines to some end he had buried his Son and Heir and two Daughters and his Grand-childe two onely Sons surviving the one a Criple the other somewhat at like a Lunatick He received his deaths wound in Chalgrave Field the place where he first appeared to draw up his Men to shew himself a Commander in this unhappy War It was before that Captain Hotham had been taken Prisoner and escaped ten Days since from Nottingham thence to Lincoln and recovered Hull so opportunely that together with his Father Sir Iohn they were both seized upon and sent Prisoners to the Parliament and the Commissioner Sir Matthew Bointon for his pains therein took possession of the Town and Command for he coming thither unsuspected being Hotham's Brother in Law and much intrusted makes himself Master of the Magazine and the affections of the Souldiers eâ—e Sir Iohn had espied the practice but then too late he got out to Beverley where he was set upon by his own Souldiers corrupted by Bointon who pursued him back to Hull and at the Town-gate called Beverley the very place where he acted against the Kings person heretofore was himself knocked off his Horse by the But end of a Musket and taken Prisoner seizing hâ—s Wife and Children rifled his House and legally plundered him of all his Treasure which he had raked together in the Ruine and Ransack of his neighbour Subjects to the value of ten thousand pounds sending him and his Son Wife and Children in a Ship Prisoners to the Parliament to the effect of their future sufferings on the Scaffold the first of Ianuary 1644. Thus were the military actions managed this way whilest Sir William Waller was in the West with his whole Body upon the hither end of Lands-down in a place of great advantage whence he sent out a good party of Horse and Foot towards the Cavaliers Sir Bevil Greenvile and Sir Nicholas Slaining two gallant Gentlemen of Cornwall lining the Hedges towards their Champain and there advanced a strong party of Horse under protection of his Musketiers so that some of Greenvile's Horse being drawn out within Musket-shot retired in some disorder towards the Rear of his Foot whereupon the Cornish Foot advanced and bravely beat them out of the Hedges and the former Horse speedily rallying again recovered their ground Then a strong party of Waller's Horse drew into a large Field upon their Adversaries left Wing which were charged by their Horse and intirely routed the Cornish Foot likewise driving theirs from Hedg to Hedg through Woods and down steepy Hills back to their main Body and at last forced them from the brow of a Hill which they had barracadoed and whereon they had planted Cannon for the ground they had was advantageous an high Hill walled behinde and on both sides with Works on the Front the passage up very narrow and dangerous one side Wood the other side Hedges and both lined with Musketiers This ground Waller had got and stood in an intire Body his Foot within the Flank of stone-laid Walls through which he had made places for his Horse to sally being drawn up in Battalia at the Rear of his Foot before the other party Horse and Foot could be drawn up in order Waller charged them with his Horse played so thick with his Cannon and Muskets that he forced them from the Hill which yet was again assaulted twice nay thrice and the fourth time with very great difficulty the Hill was regained which Greenvâ—â—e himself maintained with a Stand of his own Pikes against the power of the others Horse and Foot and Cannon to the acknowledgment of his Gallantry and Honour even by his Enemies where he was unfortunately slain in the Front of his men with his Serjeant Major and Captain Lieutenant dead at his feet and in earnest I have heard it confest with as much Honour as ever was conferred on an Enemy Then the Cavaliers rallied their Horse and drew up their Cannon it growing dark but shot on all sides till Mid-night when their Adversaries stuck light Matches on the Hedges which received Volleys from each part of the Body but in stead
of answering these they ran quite away leaving the Field with five hundred Muskets fourteen Barrels of Pouder a whole Stand of Pikes with some Arms but their Cannon they got off This Fight lasted form two a clock afternoon till one the next morning These aforesaid we finde slain with eight Officers and some Gentlemen of note Mr. Leak Son to the Lord Daincourt found dead at day-light with his Enemies Colours about his arm Mr. Barker Lieutenant Colonel Wall Serjeant Major Lower Captain Iames Captain Chalwell and Mr. Bostard But then it is said that Waller's Foot were absolutely dispersed or cut off with great loss of Officers Horse and Foot modestly reported onely it is assured the Cavaliers kept the Field Arms and Pillage and such other signs of Victory And this was done the fifth of Iuly Whilest Waller fights their General Essex solicites the Parliament with Letters inclining to petition for a Peace which though it took well with some Lords yet being read to the Commons Mr. Vassal a London Burgess desired that their General should be pressed to speak more plainly and that if after the expence of two Millions of Treasure he had a minde to lay down Arms he should let them know it that as good a Souldier as he should take them up meaning Sir Will. Waller who was generally cried up by the City untill they heard of his Defeat near the Devises Round-way-down whither the King having sent some Troops of Horse towards the West which came within three Miles of the Devises were met with by Waller's Forces being on the Down between the Cavaliers and the Town to hinder their joyning with the rest of the Army Some Regiments of Horse on each side began the fight with equal success till Waller's Horse made â— Retreat to their Strength which lay on a Hill where he was and drew out his Foot and commanded the Onset but his Horse not enduring the hazzard left the Foot to their Enemies Sword or mercifull Quarter hundreds of them slain and more Prisoners taken four fair Brass Guns Ammunition and Baggage eight and twenty Colours and nine Corners I wonder at this Defeat for Sir William Waller had advantage of number in Men and Arms five Regiments of Foot six of Horse five hundred Dragoons eight Brass Guns It is confest that the Cavaliers were but fifteen hundred Horse additional to the other Forces with two small Pieces of Cannon And to adorn the Victory the Queen made her triumphant Entry into Oxford that day her Return from beyond Seas And on the other side to encourage Sir William Waller at this time when their Generalissimo was suspected the Parliament voted to make and confirm Leases of the Office of Botelier of England a Place of good profit and credit both The twelfth of August the Earl of Lindsey Great Chamberlain of England was welcomed to Oxford from his Restraint and Imprisonment since Edg-hill Fight being now received by the Queen Council and Court with all Expressions of Honour to him and more could not be done for the present in respect of the Kings absence at Gloâ—ester Siege The five and 20. of August the Earls of Bedford and Holland went from London towards Oxford and being gotten to Wallingford intrusted themselves with the Kings Forces untill their coming to submit to his Majesty in the mean time they are received by the Governour Colonel Blagge with honourable respect and so at last they were brought to the King professing their Duty and Allegeance and acknowledging their Errours this long time whom the King received with favour and forgiveness They held not out in this their Protestation but fled back again to the Parliament The Committees of Nottingham and Lincoln held intelligence with some Prisoners of theirs in the Marshals â—ustody at Newark whom they designed to blow up or to surprize the Magazine there whilest they had some favour and freedom of the Goaler their Letter conveyed to the Imprisoned discovers as much as will be necessary to know the men more than the matter Gentlemen and Prisoners for the Lord Jesus our long laboured Design is now ripe Your care is expected according to your faith and promise We doubt not but the opportunity of the Liberty afforded you may advance the good Cause The Magazine is near enough to you Give notice to our Brâ—thren under the Provost Marshall Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde so doing Matth. 24. 46. The appointed time holdeth which we hope to our hands Lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigh Luke 21. 28. Whereâ—ore comfort one another with these words 2. Thess. 4. 18. The rest will we set in order when we come 1 Cor. 11. 24. Greet all the Brethren 1 Thess. 5. 26. The Lord establish the Work of our hands upon us Work of our hands establish he it Psal. 90. is the Prayer of Yours in the Lord The Committee of Nottingham and Lincoln Scripture is often made use of by the Sectaries to factious and seditious ends and here to the hazzard of Murder the easiest terms I can afford them The Lecturers were the most busie meddling men even so as ever have been the Kiâ—kmen of Scotland and therefore Mr. Saltmarsh a seditious Minister contrived certain Propositions of Counsel which were read in the House amongst many were these 1. That all means should be used to keep the King and his People from sudden union 2. To cherish the War under the Notion of Popery as the surest means to engage the People 3. If the King would not grant their Demands then to root him out and the royal Line and collate the Crown upon some body else This last was too harsh to be swallowed by reasonable good men who excepted against it but Mr. Henry Martin said He saw no reason to condemn Mr. Saltmarsh adding That it were better one Family should be destroyed than many To which Mr. Nevil Pool replied That Mr. Martin might explain what One Family he meant Martin bold and beastly answers The King and his Children For which Speech before the time was ripe to discover that Secret he was voted a Prisoner to the Tower Mr. Pym himself urging upon him his extreme lewdness of life but this punishment was but to cool the heat of the House for that time for Martin was soon released upon the change of the Lieutenant of the Tower forthwith following The Recruits of the Army fell heavy upon the City of London who were caressed with all kindness to finish the Work and to set out Sir William Waller again and to win upon them Sir Edward Coniers was commanded to surrender his Lieutenancy of the Tower unto Pennington the Mayor of London and so Mistris Mayoress was quit with Mistris Ven that she should be Governess of Windsor Prison as she called it and thereby command over Souldiers which was a power she now might equal with hers
had their several successes and losses on each other recovered from suddain ruine by the assistance of either Allies their Colleagues for the French Swede and all the Protestant Princes against the Emperour and House of Austria who had the help of Spain with the most of Catholiques The Weymarians were well reinforced by the conduct of four Marshals of France with their French Troops and undertook to quarter in Bavaria and were thwarted by the Duke of Loraine whose sufferings from the French forced him to accept the Spanish Command he was accompanied with Iohn de Werde and the Baron of Mercy directors of the Cavalrie to spie out the enemy and in the end met with the Messieurs routed each quarter after other took the Marshals prisoners with four hundred Officers and one thousand common Souldiers without counting the pillage This defeat was as famous for the Spaniard and saved Bavaria from that storm intended and put the French to raise another Army under the same name Weymarian but with a new General for Guebriana was killed the day before the fight And this glorious battel takes name of Durling where it was disputed we shall not read of any such battels so memorable in this last age the first was in May and began the happy reign of Lewis 14 th The other in the end of November and these may stand parallel with those of Leipsick and Northingen the last year This Victory set up Lorain who was caressed into a treaty by the French without any fruit having been once at Paris to that purpose and abused back again to take revenge and marches away to the Low-countries takes Falconstia and leaves the Army to the brave Baron of Mercy who takes Rotweil and Uburling comes to Fiburgh and Brisquer where he meets with his match the Prince of Conde The Parliament having sent their Emissaries to the neigbour Princes and States to caress them for their friendships the King was careful likewise to satisfie them of the true cause of these differences And as they had sent to the King of Denmark so does he also by an expresse one Colonel Cockram with these instructions You are to inform the King â—f Denmark that by his Majesties command as to the nearest ally of his Crown his Unkle and who he believes will not be unconcerned in his affairs as well in interests as affections you are sent to give a particular account of the state of his Majesties affairs to renew the antient League and Amity between the two Kingdoms and Families Royal and to reduce it to more exact particulars such as might be useful to the present affairs of England and all occurrence of those of Denmark That the present affair of your negotiation is to demand an assistance from his Majesty such as the present state of the affairs of England requires against a dangerous combination of his Majesties Subjects who have not only invaded his Majesty in his particular rights but have laid a design to dissolve the Monarchy and frame of Government under pretence of Liberty and Religion becoming a dangerous precedent to all the Monarches of Christendom to be looked upon with successe to their design That the nature of their proceedings hath been such as hath not admitted any foreign treaty to be interessed in suppressing their design without giving them advantage of Scandaling his Majesties intentions and drawing away universally the hearts of his people whom they had insinuated under pretence of Reformation of particular abuses of Government and Ministers of Estate to concur generally with approbation of their proceedings and in which though the dangerous consequence aâ—d design were visible to his Majesty a present compliance was necessary lest any publick opposition on his Majesties part that might seem to defeat the great expeâ—tations which they had raised in the Commons in those plausible particulars might have occasioned a general revolt throughout the Kingdoms great jealousies being dispersed and fomented amongst them of his Majesties Foreign Treaties and Force to be used to oppose and suppresse those their desires and the movers therein Upon the credit they had herewith on the peoples opinions they proceeded under pretence of Reformation of Religion to disolve the Government of the Church according to its constitution in England a chief column and support to that Monarchy and Crown They lastly invaded his Majesty in all the prerogatives of his Crown and under pretence of ill Ministers and Councellours of Estate whom they pretended to remove endeavoured to invest in themselves in all times for the future the nomination of all Ministers of Estate and of his Majesties Family withdrew all his Revenue into their own hands and to confirm themselves in an absolute power of disposing His estate entred upon possessing themselves of the Militia of the Kingdom His Navy and Magazines in which his Majesty being forced to appear in opposition dangerous Tumults were raised against Him so that He was forced to forsake London for preservation of His Person His Queen and Children That since for the safety of the Queen He hath been forced to send her into Holland to retire Himself to the best affected party of His Subjects from whence by Declarations setting forth the sinister proceedings of that Faction discovering their designs of innovating the Government and falsifying the scandals they had imputed to Him He hath had the advantage generally to undeceive His people to draw to Him universally the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom But the other Faction still keeping up some interest and credit with the Commons in the desperate estate they finde themselves begin to make head against Him have appointed a General and are levying Forces to maintain their party committing divers acts of hostility violence and Rebellion That his Majesty having great encouragements given Him by the exceeding numbers of Gentry and Noblemen that resort to Him is already advanced near them with six thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot That the States of Holland have condescended to give Her Majesty the Queen a convoy of the greatest part of their Fleet now at Sea for her â—eturn into England That divers Forts and Counties upon his Majesties personal appearance have declared for Him so that His affairs at home grow daily into abetter estate as he likewise expects and hopes that all His Neighbour Princes and Allies will not look upon so dangerous a president to their own Crowns and Monarchies without contributing to suppressâ— this so pernicious a design begun within His Kingdom That to give His Majesty the juster ground to reflect upon the dangerous consequences in relation to His own interest of their successe it hath been by them publickly moved in the Commons House long since to interpose in the accommodation of the Dutch and to set out a Fleet to take away His Customs of the Sound That they have since imputed to his Majesty as a ground to scandal Him with His people that he did
negotiate the introducing by His Uncle the King of Denmark a foreign power to settle His affairs and under that pretext have given large Commission and particular instructions to the Fleet to visit search and intercept all such Danish ships as they should meet and to fight with sink or destroy all such as should resist them not permitting the same or to take and detain them having any arms or ammunition on board according to which they have searched visited and detained divers to the great prejudice and interruption of the Norway trade driven commonly in this Kingdom in their own Bottoms And that they did prepare force against others whom they permitted not to water nor any other accommodation being bound for the West-Indies and put in by stresse of weather in the West of England That in pursuance of their great design of extirpating the Royal blood and Monarchy of England they have endeavoured likewise to lay a great blemish upon His Royal Family endeavouring to illegitimate all derived from His Sister at once to cut off the interests and pretensions of the whole Race which their most detestable and scandalous design they have pursued examining witnesses and conferring circumstances and times to colour their pretensions in so great a fault and which as his sacred Majesty of England in the true sense of honour of his Mother doth abhor and will punish so he expects his concurrence in vindicating a Sister of so happy memory and by whom so near an union and continued League of amity hath been produced between the Families and Kingdoms That the particulars in which His Majesty doth desire his assistance are in the loan and raising of Men Money Arms and Ships all or such of them as may consist best with the conveniences of his own affairs and of such iu the first place as may be most requisite and are wanting to his Majesty That to set His levies on foot and to put him in a posture to protect his Subjects in all places that adhere to him and receive their contribution a hundred thousand pounds will be necessary for him which his Majesty desires by way of loan And for the restitution of it besides his Kingly word and solemn engagement upon this treaty he is contented of such his Crown Iewels as are in his disposure to leave His Royal pledge if it shall be desired The particulars of arms that he desires are six thousand Musquets fifteen hundred Horse-arms and twenty pieces of Artillery mounted Assistance of men he desires only in Hâ—rsmen and to know in what time thâ—y may be ready and how many That the Holy Island or Newcastle are designed for the landing of the said Horse and Magazin of the said provisions for reception likewise and protection of such his ships as he shall think fit to imploy for the countenance and security of those his Subjects that shall trade upon these Costs and for ascertaining the correspondency and intelligence between the two Kingdoms in which the number is left to be proportioned as may best sort and agree with his own affairs And for which the Holy Island is conceived one of the aptest Harbours in all his Majesties Dominions being capable of any ships whatsoever in a very great proportion an excellent rode at the entrance a ready out-let and a strong Fort under his Majesties command That in lieu of this assistance contributed by the King of Denmark his Majesty will oblige himself and ratifie in expresse Articles to restore into the Magazins of Denmark a like proportion of Arms and amunition to repay and defray the charges of the money leâ—t and levies of Horse and as soon as his affairs shall be setled and himself in a condition to do it upon all occasions to contribute the assistance of his Fleet in maintaining his Right and title to the Customs of the Sound against all persons whatsoever and to ratifie the Treaty thâ—â— was last made by Sir Thomas Roe to enter into a League offensive and defensive against intestine Rebellions In pursuance of which Treaty while the Negotiations and Articles may be severally perfected his Majesty doth expect this first Supply of Moneys and Arms present affairs not admitting a Delay in the same That in case the King of Denmark will lend Money upon Iewels there is in Holland a great Collar of Rubies and another of Rubies and Rearl that may be sent to him or delivered to his Agent here who may have order to pay the Money here or any other Iewels That there have been in Discourses several Propositions of Accommodation made by them to the King to which the King hath at all times made more Advances on his part than in reason could have been expected from him and the Difficulties have still risen on theirs And that whereas his Majesty doth understand that a person is addressed to the King of Denmark from his Parliament to insinâ—ate misunderstandings abroad with his Majestie 's Allies as they have done at home among his People his Majesty expects that he be neither received nor permitted to remain within his Dominions to become an Intelligencer and Spy upon the Treaty and Negotiations between their Majesties but that he be dismist and sent away so soon as ever he shall arrive These Instructions intend to state the affairs between the King and his Parliament which how truly rendered the History before doth express in particular The Parliament observe from hence that the King solicites Denmark making not onely Papists the Parliaments Enemies for Religions sake but all Princes though Protestants for Monarchies sake rather than fail of aid from thence And concerning the Rumour of his Mothers Queen Ann's chastity it is most true they did therein examine Witnesses upon Interrogatories most abusive base even to an Impossibility which yet was rumoured whispering to the great dishonour if possible of the memory of that virtuous noble Lady whom all Historians crown with glory and honourable Fame and which scandal I have not hitherto touched in this History nor would till now I finde his Majesty so sensible thereof that he signifies so much in private to the King of Denmark her Brother But the Parliament publish it in print to the World with their Paraphrase not to palliate the Injury but to increase the Scandal Sir William Waller had lain long at London for compleating his new Levies into a pretty Army and now he marches Commander in chief and as it was gotten without the Gen. Essex his good will so is he left at liberty without dependence on his direction And when he set forth from London his Expedition was accompanied with Fasting and Prayers and five several Sermons in one Church one day evermore recommending him The Servant of the State now going out to fight the Lords Battles against the Enemies of God And lest he should want Pay the Citizens will pinch their Bellies for the Parliament had put them by Ordinance to afford him one Meal a VVeek
which was assessed in Money proportionable to the condition of the Family The Scots are come and great care taken at Westminster for pay of that Army the twentieth part over all the North they have power to assess for themselves and all Malignants Estates that they can seize within their reach Nay several Counties and Associations are assessed for them Against whom the Marquess of Newcastle marched Northwards and to attack him in Yorkshire follows Sir Thomas Fairfax who was guided by his Father as the Father is by the grand Committee at Westminster as the Committee is by the Scots This dependency being very necessary to assure them good Welcome for so says their Letter to the Lord Fairfax My Lord VVe have taken into consideration the opportunity offered for reducing of Yorkshire whilest the Marquess of Newcastle hath drawn his Forces towards the North to oppose the Scots and how necessary it is to hinder his further Levies that Sir Thomas your Son march into the VVest Riding with all his Horse with two Regiments of Foot out of Lancashire and that your self take the Field with what Forâ—es you can and joyn with your Son for effecting these ends to hold a continual Intelligence with the Scots Army by drawing near Tees March 2. Northumberland Jo Maitland And here we see the great Earl of Northumberland invites the ancient Enemies of England into his own County and the Lord Fairfax into Yorkshire Cambridg University lay under the ordering of the Earl of Manchester Serjeant Major General of the Association where these Heads of Houses were turned out Dr. Beal Dr. Martin Dr. Stern in whose places were put in Masters of the Colleges Mr. Palmer Mr. Arrowsmith Mr. Vines as men more fit indeed such others as these were changed into the like I know not how more fit I am sure some of them are famous for false Latine Sir William Waller forward on his way to finde out the Lord Hopton who was drawn out of Winchester with sufficient Horse to oppose Sir William Balfore whom Waller had sent before to possess Alresford but came last for his Lordship was there first and forced Waller into small Villages in the morning Hopton drew down to Bramdean Heath and found Waller on a fair Hill and would not be forced thence till a long Dispute the Hill thus gained Colonel Lisle with his commanded Men kept it all night in this time of darkness Waller had mastered another Hill of greater advantage by the covert of Trees and Hedges which Colonel Appleford was to repossess and found it a hard Task to mount up against the powring shot of such as lined the Hedges not seen from whence it came Volleys well performed which yet were fain to give way to force which cost them dear enough for they paid a good price for it Here was a pretty breathing if Waller went off Hopton would follow to his undoing if they came on they would undo themselves but the Allarm was given by a mistaking Corporal of Hopton's who took his Enemies for Friends and so were engaged too far to seek throughout within their Ambuscadoes who now play their parts by this Advantage and put Hopton to a Retreat and neither parts had cause to cry Victoria for both sides were soundly beaten I intitle the Fight to the Lord Hopton but General Forth was there upon the other score he came in with the Lord Iohn Stuart sore wounded but I know not how concluded for dead yet Sir Arthâ—r Hasâ—erig called it A safe Deliverance though at London it was cried up for a Victory on this side Sir William Balfore in his Letter to his General â—ssex numbers then to be eight Commanders killed by him the Lord Stuart indeed and Sir Iohn Smith died afterwards of their wounds two gallant Gentlemen so did Colonel Sandys and Colonel Manning and Colonâ—l Scot Colonel Appleyard and Captain Pierson Sir Edward Stowel and Sir Henry Bard these were hurt and deserve honourable mention But at London they mention three Lords killed Stuart is confessed but not the General who they make a double one for his two Titles Forth and Ruthen And so they are described to be Gebal Moab and Ammon and to be utterly vanquished by the Servant of God Sir VVilliam VValler And the Parliament had some of theirs slain Dalbier wounded and Colonel Thomson had his Leg shot off by a Cannon Bullet And this happened upon a Friday March 29. The Cavaliers in disorder drew their Cannon off towards VVinchester but wheeled off unseen to Basing House VValler marches to VVinchester which was rendered to him upon Summons and Hopton is now at Oxford But a solemn Thanksgiving was ordered in London for this Victory and some Members sent to the City to encourage them for Supplies The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery told them That the City Auxiliaries had done their part and if they went but once more they would rid the Kingdoms of these Rogues the occasion of all our miseries And upon these preparations and success of the Parliament the King draws all his Forces to a Rendezvouz to oppose his Adversaries And as VValler had done such Encouragements heightened others to undertake Mountains Colonel Griffith commonly called Prince Griffith had the confidence to propose to the House of Commons That if he might have a Commission to command in chief of all North Wales next under General Essex and to have Delinquents Estates there by him to be discovered and the Income of such as he should conquer in North Wales not exceeding the Sum of fifteen thousand pounds he would engage his Life and Estate to raise such Forces as should reduce Wales to obedience Which was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms And he set out in all magnificence with his Silver Trumpets and guarded Coats But at his first Encounter with some of Prince Rupert's Forces whom he sought out for a single Duel Prince Griffith was totally routed which occasioned a merry Lady to tell him He looked sadly ever since he lost his Silver Trumpets And so cashiered he became debaucht and abused the Lady Herbert for which he was imprisoned but her honour much concerned he was released and so having spent a reasonable Fortune he was necessitated to travel beyond Seas where at Paris he was killed in a Tavern the end of his impudency We may enter this Spring with the setting out of General Essex and his Army to be recruited to seven complete Regiments of Foot and six Regiments of Horse and a constant Pay of thirty thousand five hundred and four pounds a Moneth for four Moneths And the Parliaments Navy to be complete for this Summer with addition of twelve Merchants Ships in the places of nine others unserviceable and fifteen small Catches to be added to the Fleet. And a new way of Contribution was devised for getting Moneys towards the charge of arming the Auxiliary Forces now raising within the City of London That all Inhabitants
refer you to my other Letter and for matter of Religion I doe hereby promise them and command you to see it done that the Penal Statutes against Roman Catholicks shall not be put in execution the Peace being made and they remaining in their due obedience and further that when the Irish gives me that assistance which they have promised for this suppression of this Rebellion and I shall be restored to my Rights then I will consent to the Repeal of them by a Law but all those against Appeals to Rome and Premunire mustâ—â—and This being in Cipher he is commanded to impart to none but to Brown the Lord Muskery and Plunket and that with injunction of strict secresie and concludes his Letter again for his speedy dispatch of the Peace of Ireland and his necessary supply fromthence 15. Decemb. 1644. Oxford Then so soon as the Treaty was on foot the King writes again to Ormond Upon the great Rumours and expectations now of Peace I think it necessary to tell you That the Rebels here have agreed to Treat and most assuredly one of the first and chiefest Articles they will insist on will be to continue the Irish War Which is a point not popular for me to treat on of which you are to make a double use First to hasten with all possible diligence the Peace there the timely conclusion of which will take off that inconvenience which otherwise I may be subject unto by the refusal of that Article upon any other reason Secondly by dexterous conveying to the Irish the danger that may be of their total and perpetual exclusion from these Favours I intend them in case the Rebels here clap up a Peace with Me upon reasonable terms and only exclude them which possibly were not counselable for me to refuse if the Irish Peace should be the only difference betwixt us before it were perfected there These I hope are sufficient Grounds for you to perswade the Irish to dispach a Peace upon reasonable terms assuring them that when you have once fully engaged my Word in the conclusion of a Peace all the earth shall not make me break it But not doubting of a Peace I must again remember you to presse the Irish for their speedy assistance to me here and their friends in Scotland My intentions being to draw from thenâ—e into Wales the peace being once concluded as many as I can of my Armed Protestant Subjects and desire that the Irish would send as great a Body as they can to land about Cumberland which will put these Northern Counties in a brave condition Provide all the Shiping you may as well Dunkirk as Irish Bottoms and remember that after March it will be difficult to transport into England the Rebels being Masters of the Seas 7. Jan. Oxford But the Treaty assigned at Uxbridge and the day neer at hand the thirtieth of Ianuary the King gives these Memorials to Secretary Nicholas First For Religion and Church Government the King will not goe one jot further then is by you offered already Secondly And so for the Militia more then what you have allowed by me but even in that you must observe that I must have free Nomination of the full half as if the total number Scots and all be thirty I will name fifteen Yet if the Parliameâ—â— will be so unworthy as to admit of ten Scots to twenty English I am contented to name five Scots and ten English and so proportional to any number As for gaining of particular persons besides security promise them rewards for performed Services not sparing to ingage for Places so they be not of great Trust not to dispossesse honest men but as much profit as you will with this last you are only to acquaint Richmond Southampton Culpepper and Hide And the King gives directions to his Commissioners in writing thus First concerning Religion In this the Government of the Church as I suppose will be the chief Question wherein these two things are to be considered Conscience and Policy in the first I cannot yield to the change of the Government of Bishops not only as I concur with the most general opinion of Christians in all Ages as being the best but likewise I hold my self particularly bound by the Oath I took at my Coronation not to alter the Government of the Church from what I found it And as for the Churches Patrimony I cannot suffer any diminution or alienation of it it being without peradventure Sacrilege and likewise contrary to the former Oath But whatsoever shall be offered for rectifying of abuses if any hath crept in or yet for the ease of tender Consciences so that it endammage not the Foundation I am content to hear and will be ready to give a Gracious Answer For the second Policy as the Kings duty is to protect the Church so it is the Churches to assist the King in the maintenance of his just Authority wherefore my Predecessâ—â—s have been alwaies careful especially since the Reformation to keep the dependency of the Clergy intirely upon the Crown without which it will scarcely sit fast upon the Kings Head Therefore doe nothing to change or lessen this necessary dependence Concerning the Militia After Conscience this is certainly the fittest Subject for a Kings quarrel for without it the Kings Power is but a shadow and therefore upon no means to be quitted but to be maintained according to the Ancient Lawes of the Land Yet because to attain to this so much wished Peace by all good men It is in a manner necessary that sufficient and real security be given for performance of Agreement I permit you therefore either by leaving strong Towns or other Military Forces into their possession until Articles be performed to give such assurance for performance of Conditions as you shall judge necessary for to conclude a peace Provided alwaies that you take at least as great care by sufficient security that Conditions be performed to me And to make sure that the Peace once setled all things shall return into their Ancient Channels For Ireland I confess they have very specious popular Arguments to presse this Point the gaining no Article more conducing to their ends then this And I have as much reason both in Honour and Policy to take care how to answer this as any All the world knows the eminent inevitable necessity which caused me to make the Irish Cessation and there remain yet as strong Reasons for the concluding of that Peace wherefore you must consent to nothing to hinder me therein until a clear way be shown to me how my Protestant Subjects there may probably at least defend themselves and that I shall have no more need to defend my Conscience and Crown from the Injuries of this Rebellion The Protestation consented unto and taken by his Majesties Commissioners appointed to Treat I A. B. One of the Commissioners assigned by his Majesty for this present Treaty at Uxbridge doe protest and promise
most considerable for his former wisdome discretion and valour and the first that reduced his Brigade into orderly obedience Him they now stile a worthy and valiant Member and one of the Saviours as God hath miraculously manifested him to be of this Israel from whom the House receives this account that since his coming to his Regiment the carriage of it hath been very obedient and respectfull to him and valiant a good testimony they lately gave against Longs Regiment And for any mutinous carriage to the Parliament they had expressed their hearty sorrow had desired him to send their humble petition to be received into former favour and for the quite removing the cloud of jealousie over them which they doubt not to clear by their valiant testimonies hereafter this was well taken and a President to others The Town of Newcastle Garisoned for the King had endured the utmost of Forces of the Scots Army and also of the Parliaments Northern Forces ever since the coming of the Scots And for many Moneths a most close and desperate siege to the great loss of the Besiegers by Sallies and other Executions Enduring such misery and yet with that resolution as can not be parallel'd by any other since these unhappy Wars Several Treaties and Cessations thereupon had been used by the Besiegers to win upon the Garison Then they fall to storming mining scaling and what not to enforce the Town Therefore on Saturday the 19 of October all the Scotish Forces with extraordinary violence assaulted the Town in several places at once and at the Evening became Masters thereof Sir Iohn Morley the Mayor with others got to the Castle and stood it out untill extraordinary necessity enforced them to a surrender upon good quarter The particulars you shall have from a Scot himself the Lord Humby directed to the Lord Chancelor and the rest of the Scotish Commissioners at London Right Honourable I should have gone into Newcastle on Thursday but was put off till Friday by these obstinate Miscreants especially the Maior of that Town Sir David Hume Iohn Rutherford and I went in on Friday at nine in the morning We had Commission from the General Lesley and Committee if we found real dealing to yield to honourable conditions The Maior Sir Nicholas Cole and Sir George Baker were treating with us they gave us big words do what we could they would not so much as come to speak of conditions of rendring up the Town And after three or four hours debate all that we could draw from them was that they would think upon our propositions and return them within three or four daies and that when all conditions were agreed upon they would give Hostages to surrender in case relief came not in twenty daies Nor would they so much as write to the General their own propositions so that after our return we sent to the Town these conditions forthwith to be accepted That all Officers should have liberty to stay or to march out in all honour with Arms bag and baggage to any Garison with a Convoy within sixty miles and all others not Souldiers should have the like liberty The Town to enjoy all their former Liberties and Charter with all manner of protection to the Inhabitants from plunder freedomes as any Town subject to the Parliament No free billeting imposed None to enter the Town but onely a competent Garison Signed by the General with this Caveat that they should send out Hostages by eight of the clock next morning for surrender of the Town before Munday 21. of October In stead of which they sent out to us a bitter invective Letter though they knew that all our Batteries and Mines were ready yet they boldly drew from us these enforcements Therefore this morning the Scots make three Breaches and to spring four Mines and so to fall on The Breaches were made reasonable low before three a clock after noon all the Mines played well and yet the Town stood out obstinate My Lord Chancellors Regiment and Backloughs entered a breach at Closegate The General of the Artillery his Regiment and that other of Edinburgh entered at a Mine under the White Tower Colonel Stuart and Gasks Regiments entered at a Mine but with hot dispute at Westgate this was our quarter Lieutenant General Baily had another quarter at Newgate with five Regiments his own Waughtons Cowpers Dunferlings and Dudhopes who entered by a breach many of our Officers killed Major Robert Hepburn much lamented Castles Kelhead Wedderburn Marshall and the Master of Yesters these had the third quarter Sinclare Aiton Niddery the Master of Cranston and the Lord Niddery had the fourth quarter who entered at two Mines They within made their utmost opposition with great Execution on us but we forced them and the Maior with others Gentlemen of quality got to the Castle more you shall hear within a day or two Octob. 19. 1644. Your Lordships humble Servant A. Humbie And presently upon this Letter Thanksgiving was made at London with hearty thanks to God for his great mercy in giving up the Town of Newcastle in England to our Brethren of Scotland And the 27 of October the Castle likewise surrendered with three hundred persons the Lords Craford Rea and Maxwell sent to Edinburgh to be executed and the Town taken by Onslought was plundered to the full and the Scots excused themselves that therein the Parliament of England would be the better pleased Basing House is the Seat and Mansion of the Marquess of Winchester and because it is no more now it is worthy the Record to Remember what it was It stands on a rising ground its form Circular encompassed with brick ramparts lined with earth and a very deep ditch but dry The lofty Gatâ—house with four Turrets looking Northwards on the right hand thereof without the Ditch a goodly Building containing two fair Courts before them is the Grange severed by a Wall and common Road again divided from the foot of Cowdreys down by Meads Rivelets and a River running from Basing-stoak a Mile distant from the West through Basing Town joyning upon the East the South side of the Castle hath a Park and toward Basing Town a little wood the place seated and built as if for Royalty having a proper Motto Aymez Loyalte Hither the Marquess first retired when the incivility of the War neither allowing neutrality or permitting peace to any enforced him to stand upon his guard not more then his Family yet twice the Parliaments attempts proved vain To him the King sends a hundred Musquetiers under command of Colonel Peak August 1643. against whom comes Colonel Harvey and Colonel Norton that very night but were beaten off to Farnham and after that it was re-enforced by Colonel Rowden with an hundred and fifty men more and the Marquess hath Commission to raise more November the sixth arrives Sir William VValler with his new levies seven thousand Horse and Foot and after nine daies
Common-man but sets him out even in what he saies with Eminent Vertues Piety to God Fidelity to his Sovereign a publique Soul towards the Church and State Constancie to his Friend and so little biassed by private interests that this age we may assure affords not many equals He was threatned for his life in March 1619. the Prologue to other Libels and Scandals year by year to Anno 1640. though the Scotâ— Remonstrance of their Invasion heretofore resolved then to ruine him And in the beginning of the long Parliament 1640. about December He was named for an Incendiary by the Scots Commissioners and accused of Treason by the House of Commons and ten weeks Prisoner to the Black Rod and after his Charge committed to the Tower March 1. And so from that time he endured there almost four years to his death In the mean time he is denied of his Servants 1641. and close Prisoner presently after Then they divest him and sequester his Rents 1642. Seize his Goods Books and Papers 1643. and as yet the Man unmoved For he besought God as Mr. Pryn confesseth to give him full patience and proportionable comfort and contentment with whatsoever he should send And himself hath said to his Friends that he thanked God that he never found more content in his greatest Liberty then in this time of his restraint It had been put to the Question in the Parliament to ship him over for New England there to expose him to the scorne of great Professors He had been often summoned before the Lords and as often appeared monethly for some years weekly for many moneths and daily remitted to farther Attendance upon the least pretence of ordinary businesse and so was thereby exposed to the common view and scorne of the Rabble sort of people a way they had to work down excellent Spirits if possible by ignominious experiments and trials But he was fixed to the end Indeed he was a perfect School-man a quick and ready Disputant and certainly he was not to learn that Maxim of Drexelius who wonders that any man a Logician should be troubled with afflictions For the Axiome in Logick is That Accident is such a thing that adest abest sine interruptione subjecti and argues it into a Syllogisme Tu homo es subjectum Et quicquid accedere potest est nisi accidens sed afflictiones sunt nisi accidens Ergo whether they doe adesse or abesse they should be sine interruptione subjecti At the Scots second Invasion Anno 1643. his Arraignment was revived 17. Ianuary and Mr. Pryn appointed to prosecute the Charge and therefore He who had been charged heretofore and a long time it was ere they could finde that he deserved either Death of Bonds until Serjeant Wilde found out his offences That he was guilty of so many and notorious Treasons so evidently destructive to the Common-wealth that he marvelled the people did not tear him in pieces as he passed between his Boat and the Parliament Had the rabble done so it would happily have excused the other in their way afterwards alike to him who was by them made guilty in the House of Commons 20. Novem. 1643. and the 17. Decem. 1644. guilty of high Treason as to the matter of Fact upon three Heads of his Charge His endeavouring the subversion of the Lawes subversion of Religion and the overthow of the Priviledges of Parliament And the fourth of Ianuary they passed their Ordinance of Parliament by both Houses to be drawn hanged and quartered on Friday the tenth of Ianuary the first man that ever suffered death by Order of Parliament On Tuesday before he petitions the Lords to have his Chaplain Doctor Sterne that worthy Divine admitted to administer with him to alter the manner of his Execution and to be beheaded To which their Lordships willingly consented and commended it to the Commons but they would not Only in care of his soul they would adjoyn Mr. Marshall as more sufficient then the Doctor and the Arch-Bishop refused him The Lords were angry to be thus denied and had much adoe to get their consent of beheading He had been a Confessor and must think it a release of misery to be made a Martyr and to be executed six dayes after That time he spent in Meditation and Prayers but the night before the Dismal day he refreshed his Spirits with a moderate Supper slept soundly till morning then at Prayer till Pennington and his Officers conducted him to the Scaffold on Tower-hill mounting that Throne whereon he was to receive the Crown of Martyrdom Then he spake to those about him Good People THis is an uncomfortable time to Preach yet I shall begin with a Text of Scripture Heb. 12. 2. Let us runne with Patience that race which is set before us looking unto JESUS the Authour and Finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Crosse despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God I have been long in my Race and how I have looked to JESUS the Author and Finisher of my Faith He best knowes I am now come to the end of my Race and here I finde the Crosse a death of shame but the shame must be despised or no coming to the right hand of God JESUS despised the shame for me and God forbid but I should despise the shame for Him I am going apace you see toward the Red-sea and my feet are now upon the very brink of it an Argument I hope that God is bringing me to the Land of Promise for that was the way through which he led his People But before they came to it He instituted a Passeover for them a Lamb it was it must be eaten with sower Herbs I shall obey and labour to digest the sower Herbs as well as the Lamb For I shall remember it is the Lords Passeover I shall not think of the Herbs nor be angry with the hand that gathereth them but look up only to Him which instituted that and governes these for men can have no more power over me then what is given them from above I am not in love with this passage through the Red-sea for I have the weaknesse and infirmities of flesh and blood in me And I have prayed as my Saviour taught me ut transiret Calix iste that this Cup of Red-wine might passe from me But if not Gods will not mine be done and I shall most willingly drink of this Cup as deep as He pleases and enter into this Sea yea and pass through it in the way that he shall lead me But I would have it remembred good people that when Gods Servants were in this boysterous Sea and Aaron among them the Egyptians which persecuted them and in a manner drove them into the Sea were drowned in the same waters while they were in pursuit of them I know my God whom I serve is as able to deliver me from
little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy mercies and passion hast broke through the jawes of death So Lord receive my soul and have mercie upon me and blesse this Kingdom with peace and plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them for Iesus Christ his sake if it be thy will Then laying his head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my soul which was the signal to the Executioner who very dexterously did his Office at a blow This one Note I may not forget as a truth from an Honourable person then present upon the Scaffold that though the Chinks were stopped yet there remained a small hole from a knot in the midst of a Board and in which his finger of the right hand happened to fall into and to stop that also that his desire might be fulfilled lest his blood might descend on the peoples head his soul ascending to Heaven and leaving his body on the Scaffold to the care of men imbalming it with their tears His body was accompanied to the earth afterwards with great multitudes of people whom love had drawn together to perform that Office and decently Interred in the Church of Allhallows-Barking a Church of his own Patronage and jurisdiction according to the Rites and â—eremonies of the Church England He deserved that honour at his death being the greatest Champion of the Common Prayer Book whilst he lived Nor need Posterity take care to provide his Monument It being well observed by Sir Edward Deering He who threw the first stone at him that St Pauls Church will be his principal Monument and his own Book against the Iesuite his lasting Epitaph and so I leave him to that comfort which the Psalmist gives him The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance and shall not be affraid of any evil report Psal. 112. 6 7. Take this though for the present Thy brave attempt on Pauls in time to come Shall be a Monument beyond a Tombe Thy Book shall be thy Statua where we finde The Image of thy Nobler part thy Minde Thy Name shall be thy Epitaph and he Who hears or reads of That shall publish Thee The Kings Party had Garisoned a repaired Castle at the Devises and Colonel Devereux had a Garison at Roudon House between the Devises and Malmsburie being set upon and Besieged Colonel Stephens in Wiltshire newly made by the Parliament Governour of Beverston Castle was willing to give aide to the Besieged at Roudon and sets upon the Besiegers with three Troopes of his own and some Malmsburie Foot without staying for Devereux assistance broke through the Cavaliers and Relieves the House with Provision and Powder and alighting would needs eate and refresh himself with his friends giving time to the Cavaliers Party to Rally and cast up a Brestwork before the passage and so he with 1400. Horse and Foot cooped up all together and so the Besieged more straitned then before News gets to Glocester from whence comes sixty Horse well commanded and were to joyn with one hundred Horse and Dragoons from Malmsburie to break through the Cavaliers and these added to the four hundred and thirty within the House were conceived to force a Passage through the first Sconce But then comes Sir Iacob Ashlie with three thousand Massie raises the County about Strodewater doing what he could to face the Garison at Cirencester and to divert the danger of the Besiegers but nothing prevailed and so they were faine to Surrender upon bad quarter The Cavaliers grow strong on all sides and a stream of ill success rushes in upon their enemies upon Colonel Hopton having raised sixty Horse and fourty Foot Garisoned Castle-ditch near Lidburie in Herefordshire a Party from thence of three hundred Horse and Foot in twenty four houres took him Horse and Foot Prisoners to Hereford Sir Iohn Winter hath Guards set round about upon him to straiten his Garison his own House in the Forest of Deane but they break out through all those Guards and joyn with a Party of Foot from Cheystow which Landed at Lancaught intending to make good the Passe over Wye and so to issue out of Wales at pleasure To oppose them all the Guards drew together thither Sir Iohn violently charged the Forlorn of Foot who gave back to let in their Foot and so both Horse and Foot fell upon him some were slain Colonel Gamne and Vangerris Colonel Pore of Berkley Castle drowned but Sir Iohn and his escaped being the industrious enemy to all his Parliament neighbours These things happened the latter end of the year February about the time of surprizing Shrewsburie by the Parliament Prince Rupert falls back out of Shropshire and comes upon Herefordshire with all his Army the greatest in the Kingdom being a confluence of these Forces his own formerly Prince Maurice Colonel Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashlie and Sir Marmaduke Langdale and yet impresse more men in aboundance in all the neighbouring Counties with store of Arms necessity casting them in such waies of violence and coercive power prest-men of suspected fidelity and lesse value often deceiving them in Battle yet the King was forced to these waies for conducing to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings affairs became desperate and so thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulk of a great Body when the Parliament had no such necessity to enforce rather a more cunning way to win upon that party the City of London being the undrained Magazine of Men and Money the common Asse that bare the burden and so ends this year A continuance of the brief Narrative of the Kings Affairs Military in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Montrose with considerable Forces enters Scotland 13. April 1644. comes to Dunfrize seises that Town expecting Antrims Irish but being there in some danger returns to Carlisle with his men for the Earl of Calander had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Leslie in England and now besieging York Montrose having beaten a Garison out of Morpith pillaged the Castle and took a Fort at the mouth of Tine He plentifully sent Victuals to Newcastle which come from Almwick And is now sent for by Prince Rupert then in his way to raise the siege of Yorke but could not possible get to him till the retreat from that unfortunate Battle of Marston-moor and so returned back to Carlisle with a few but faithful gallant men He sends the Lord Oglebie and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in disguise who return with sad news that all Strengths in Scotland were possessed by the Covenanters The Earl of Traquair contrary to his Oaths and promises to the King was an Agent for the Covenanters Yet this man was more in the Kings Favour then any Scotish except the Hamiltons Montrose in these Difficulties sends Oglebey with his earnest
Field but never I believe at the Bar of Gods Tribunal or their own Consciences where they are more afraid to encounter those many pregnant Reasons both from Law Allegiance and all true Christians grounds which conflict with and accuse them in their own thoughts then they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight against those Forces which sometimes God gave me VVhose condition conquered and dying I make no question but is infinitely more to be chosen by a sober man that duely values his duty his soul and eternity be yond the enjoyments of this present life then the most triumphant glory wherein their and my enemies supervive who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented by that horrid guilt wherewith their suspicious or now convicted Consciences do pursue them especially since they and all the world have seen how false and un-intended those pretentions were which they first set forth as the only plausible though not justifiable grounds of raising a War and continuing it thus long against me and the Laws established in whose safety and preservation all honest men think the welfare of their Country doth consist For and with all which it is far more honourable and comfortable to suffer then to prosper in their ruin and subversion I have often praied that all on my side might join true pietie with the sense of their Loialty and be as faithful to God and their own souls as they were to me That the defects of the one might not blast the endevours of the other Yet I cannot think that any shews or truth of pietie on the other side were sufficient to dispence with or expiate the defects of their Duty and Loialtie to me which have so pregnant convictions on mens Consciences that even profaner men are moved by the sense of them to venture their lives for me I never had any victorie which was without my sorrow because it was on mine own Subjects who like Absolom died many of them in their sin And yet I never suffered any Defeat which made me despair of Gods mercy and defence I never desired such victories as might serve to conquer but only restore the Laws and Liberties of my People which I saw were extreamly oppressed together with my Rights by those men who were impatient of any just restraint VVhen Providence gave me or denied me Victorie my desire was neither to boast of my power nor to charge God foolishlie who I believed at last would make all things work together for my good I wished no greater advantages by the War then to bring my enemies to moderation and my friends to peace I was affraid of the temptation of an absolute conquest and never praied more for Victorie over others then over my self VVhen the first was denied the second was granted me which God saw best for me The different events were but the methods of divine Iustice by contrarie windes to winnow us That by punishing our sins he might purge them from us and by deferring peace he might prepare us more to prize and better to use so great a blessing My often Messages for Peace shewed that I delighted not in War as my former concessions sufficiently testified how willingly I would have prevented it and my total unpreparednesse for it how little I intended it The conscience of my Innocencie forbad me to fear a War but the love of my Kingdoms commanded me if possible to avoid it I am guiltie in this War of nothing but this That I gave such advantages to some Men by confirming their power which they knew not to use with that modestie and gratitude which became their Loialtie and my confidence Had I yielded less I had been opposed less had I denied more I had been more obeied 'T is now too late to review the occasions of the War I wish only a happie conclusion of so unhappie beginnings The inevitable fate of our sins was no doubt such as would no longer suffer the Divine Iustice to be quiet We having conquered his patience are condemned by mutual conquerings to destroy one another for the most prosperous successes on either side impair the welfare of the whole Those Victories are still miserable that leave our sins unsubdued flushing our pride and animating to continue Injuries Peace it self is not desirable till Repentance hath prepared us for it When we fight more against our selves and less against God we shall cease fighting against one another I pray God these may all meet in our hearts and so dispose us to an happy conclusion of these Civil Wars that I may know better to obey God and govern my People and they may learn better to obey both God and me Nor do I desire any man should be further subject to me then all of us may be subject to God With this Paper all good men no doubt joyned hearts and hands for a blessing upon the intended Treaty of Peace which we refer to the next year being weary of this that now takes end Continuation of the Military Actions for the King in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse Montrose this year 1645. We left the last year at the Victorious Battle by Montrose against the Earl of Arguile at Campbells in the High-lands they being by this defeat loosened from the tyranny of Arguilâ— began to offer themselves more willingly to the Kings service Montrose refresheth his men here for a few dayes and measuring again Logh-Aber Hills and Westward to Logh-Nesse and by the way viewing Harrick Arnes and Marne came to the River Spey and passes to Elgin the chiefest Town of Minray beyond the Spey but the Enemy there fled at his aproach and he takes Elkin by surrender in February where the Lord Gordon Eldest Son to the Marquesse Huntley came openly with some choice friends and submitted to Montrose as the Kings Vicegerent who used him as an intire loyal friend Then he draws off his Army to raise the Counties of Ramgh and Aberdine and so with addition of men he now marched 2000. Foot and 200. Horse and passing the River Dee he came to Marne encamping neer Fettercarne At Brechen he meets Sir Iohn Hurrey General of the Covenanters Horse and the forces there who drawing out 600. Horse to take view of Montrose's Army who therefore made shew but of 200. Horse well lined with nimble Musketiers the Enemy draws up and charges but perceiving the Foot he retreats and brought off his men in the Rear most stoutly and fled twenty four miles to Dundee so far pursued with slaughter and then return to Fethercarne and the next day to Brechin and marches the convenient way by Gravesbane towards the River Tay and so for the Forth This design the Enemy knew and thither comes Hurrey with his Horse and one Baily of great account fetcht from England to be General here with a powerful Army yet Montrose offers them Battel but the others fell off so he went to the Castle Innecarity and Eliot and so into
Parliament no further Expectation of Aid from Ireland or any foreign Friend the Lord Ashley was onely in a Body but closely pursued by Sir William Brereton and Colonel Morgan Governour of Glocester and in the end not able to avoid the Quarrel they came to fight the one and twentieth of March where Ashley was totally defeated near Stow in the Wold upon the edg of Glocestershire himself taken Prisoner fifteen hundred Horse and Foot with his Baggage Ammunition and all and therefore he told them that took him Their Work was done they might go play Meaning that the King had lost all And it seems so by the hasty Vote of the Parliament to the Kings Letter which Message was in effect That he offers to come to his two Houses upon their Assurance for the safety of his Person and to advise with them for the good and safety of the Kingdom Provided that all those who have adhered to his Majesty may have liberty to return in peace to their own home to live in quiet without the Obligation of the National Oath or Covenant and Sequestration to be taken off from their Estates And that then his Majesty will disband all his Forces dismantle his Garisons pass an Act of Oblivion and free Pardon to all and give ample satisfaction to the Kingdom of Scotland March 23. But it is now too late and therefore they answer not at all unless he be willing to take notice of this Ordinance That in case the King shall contrary to the advise of Parliament already given to him come or attempt to come within the Lines of Communication that then the Committee of the Militia of London shall have power and are hereby enjoyned to raise such Force as they shall think fit to prevent any Tumult that may arise by his coming and to suppress any that shall happen and to apprehend and secure any such as shall come with him to prevent resort unto him and to secure his person from danger Nay more That all persons whatsoever that have born Arms against the Parliament are to depart the City by the sixth of April upon the penalty as followeth viz. The Lords and Commons taking notice of the great concourse and resort of Papist Officers and Souldiers of Fortune and such as have been in Arms against the Parliament of England from the Enemies Garisons and Quarters unto the Citie of London and Westminster and other parts within the Lines of Communication That such depart c. before the sixth of April next or to be declared against as Spies and to be proceeded against according to the Rules of War unless with licence of the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall and of the Militia of London and the Sub-committees are hereby to keep strict Guards and Watches to make frequent Searches Provided that this Act shall not extend to such as came in to the Parliament before the first of June last And that no Peer have licence but by the House of Lords And this Order to continue for a moneth after the sixth of April and no longer March 30. Then for fear that the King should come notwithstanding all their fore-warnings Letters are devised from several places of Intelligence That the King is resolved to come suddenly to London And with some Designs also hinted as might seem most dangerous to the Parliament and Kingdom Therefore the Parliament order That Letters shall be suddenly sent to the Prince as in answer to former received from him as also to the King that Commissioners will forthwith be sent to his Majesty with Propositions of Peace And now we have almost done fighting in the Field some Garisons onely stand out but others are daily surrendred And for these and such like Victories we have such City-feastings Bonefires and Bell-ringings as that we were imagined to be all mad which the Pay-masters of all the Aldermen and the rest expressed in the highest manner that could be as being the effects of joy union sweet harmony heavenly blessings and the like as indeed we want words also to express their conceits Then was there established a Court Martial in London with Articles published against such Inhabitants as were but tending to the malignancy of Cavaliery as that it was almost impossible for a conscionable Subject but to be liable to their punishment And withall comes out another Ordinance viz. That no persons whatsoever shall repair to the King Queen Prince or Lords malignant or to either of them or to any Commander or Officer of theirs or shall hold Intelligence with them or shall plot contrive or endeavour with the Enemie contrary to the Rules of War not to relieve any person that have taken up Arms against the Parliament not to assemble or mutinie And against such as have taken up Arms against the Parliament and have taken the Covenant no Officer shall desert his Trust none that hath been in Arms against the Parliament or assisted the Enemy shall come to London or Westminster without a Pass and shall not also within eight and fourty hours tender himself to the Parliament All these aforesaid shall die the death without mercie And this Ordinance to last for three moneths April 3. What should the Kings party his Souldiers and Friends do that had delivered up themselves and Garisons upon Articles and Quarter but to return home which indeed in effect was for all or the most to come to London for means for inquiry for subsistence and for courses to sell Lands raise Moneys to seek Relief and to compound multitudes of such are come and must suddenly be gone again others on their way to the City and ignorant of the Ordinances fell unwittingly under the Penalties and so are daily taken seized and hurried into Prisons or Goals and are utterly ruined ere they know for what This makes them repent their hasty Surrenders of Garisons rather to have been there slain in honour by the Sword than after all to be undone at home Aud to colour the cruelty it was surmized that probably these had some horrible Design against the Parliament City and Kingdom which was referred to other Committees to do and order the Cavaliers to dispose and command them as they should think fit A mischief to the Sufferers beyond all their former miseries thus to submit to a City Committee made up they said of Tradesmen and Tailours These Tidings reach to the knowledg of the King and his Council at Oxford who disorderly seek in private their own safety leaving the King to shift for himself But to make their own Jealousies of some colour and Punishments answerable thereto It is devised that the King notwithstanding the Refusal of his coming he is yet resolved to come some fix upon the Day others suppose it uncertain some say he comes disguised and others affirm positively that he is come and is to be seen at the Lord Mayors whether the City Wives went to visit my Lady Mistress Mayoress
such as he shall appoint and to this end you are authorized and required to compound and deliver such Articles and demands as now are or hereafter shall be given you for a full consent thereunto and to Treat from time to time upon such directions as shall be thought fitting upon the several Reports that ye shall make unto us c. Richard Lane Cust. Sigill Cottington Hartford Dorset Chester Southampton Seymor E. Nicholas Glenham Governour Never was Garison so long maintained so resolutely and so mightily opposed as this of Oxford during all the Treaty which did not exclude the power of Arms and the Articles not concluded untill the 25. of Iune the Surrender thus A guard of several Regiments were placed from the East Port on both sides the way to VVhately the way to march out in a very bitter and violent storm of an hour to the number of three thousand five hundred ordinary persons the Noblemen and Gentlemen had leave for some dayes to stay for Passes the whole number of the Garison supposed seven thousand Souldiers and Scholers in pay Thirty eight Pieces of Ordnance ready mounted the Works strong and large perillous to storm The Conditions were Noble and in Print but being slenderly performed afterwards by others not the Souldiers I leave it to the Cavalier to complain The Nobility were the Earls of Dorset Hertford Southampton The Lords Cottington Lane Dunsmore Secretary Nicholas and others who have sent Letters to the King of the Surrender Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice had conditions to transport themselves beyond Seas The Duke of York is to be conducted to the Parliament and so to St. Iameses to the rest of the Royal Children And the Prince Elector already at London had leave from the Parliament to his shame for being here to visite his Brothers Prince Rupert and Maurice which he did received their salutation with scorne Two daies after came up from the General the Seals of State which were delivered to him upon surrender of Oxford The Great Seal of England carried from Westminster to the King An. 1642. The Privy Seal Signet King-Bench Exchequer Court of Wards Admiralty and Navy and the Sword All which Seales were voted to be broken in peices but the Sword to be kept safe in the Wardrobe And were so done by a Smith in the House of Lords in presence of the Commons and the broken silver given in reward to the Speakers of either House And now the Parliament consider of a Term or Title to be given to the Commissioners intrusted with their Great Seal and are to be called Conservators of the Common Wealth of England The Duke of York included with Articles of Oxford and brought up to the Parliament the twenty eight of Iuly in some shew of honour to the view of the People but no sooner at St. Iames's with the rest of the Royal Children and under Government of the Earl of Northumberland and his Lady but all his Servants are turned away and others strangers put in their places where he stayed not long but got away into France some years hereafter In the like manner the youngest Princess Henretta-Maria was now convayed away from Oatlands by her Governess the Lady Dalkeith who complaines of the necessity that enforced her Take her own words to the Gentlewomen in that Family twenty fourth Iuly 1646. Gentlewomen You are witness with what patience I have expected the pleasure of the Parliament Impossible to finde any Iustice to her Highnesse or favour to my self or any of you I was no longer able to keep her but am forced to take this upon me You shall do well to repair to the King all of you which is the same service as to her Highnesse and enjoy the honour of serving him It will be a great mark of your faithfulnesse to her Highnesse for to conceal her absence as long as you can as if I had removed her to a better Air. All her Apparel and such peices of Plate belonging to her you may receive for your selves and believe me to be Yours A. Dalkieth So then the Eldest Son and the Youngest Daughter are with the Queen in France The two Dukes of York and Glocester with the Princess Elizabeth at St. Iames's The Prince in the West with his Army Mr. Withers the Poet had write a Pamphlet Iusticiarius Iustificatus against Sir Richard Onslow a Surrey Knight wherein he is accused but this Man being a Member poor Withers had the worst though he endeavoured to prove the Charge against the other Colonel Poines and Rossiter had a minde to Newark long since the last year but were not able to Manage the Siege with their slender forces and therefore the Scots were very much entreated before they would vouchsafe to descend so far Southward At last they were hired with the sum of thirty thousand pounds and came in December 1645. and then began the Siege And to entertain them with a Sally a fortnight after they fell upon Peat's Quarters beat them and carried in many Prisoners Two dayes after another encounter upon Colonel Thornies Troop and returned with Prisoners But now the Scots are lodged on the North side of Newark with two thousand Horse and three thousand Foot to make good Nuschams-bridg and the General Leven there in person upon some discontent left the Leaguer and went back to Newcastle Poines lay on the South side in this manner the Lincolnshire forces four Troops of Horse and six hundred Foot about Belvoir Rossiter and Le-hunt at Blechington and Claypool with the Leicester and Ely Foot five hundred lay at Benington Nottingham and Derby forces six hundred at Stoake The Parliaments Commissioners met with the Scots General at Nottingham who demanded two thousand five hundred and eighty pounds weekly for his Army at Newark consisting in all near ten thousand Horse and Foot He was offered ten thousand pounds part of their thirty thousand pounds faithfully promised but none as yet paid and so deep was the distaste that the Scotish Commissioners from London were fain to march thither to even this difference In the mean time not a day passed but some action happened The besieged fall upon Poines Quarters at Stoake beat his Horse and near surprised the Foot till Rossiter hearing Allarum came in and endeavoured to come between the Salley their home but were prevented and beaten to purpose many killed others hurt and return with fourty Prisoners But now the Siege grows hot and the Assailants are resolved to Storme and first to Summon which was done April the first and a stout and witty Answer returned by Bellasis the Governour and the next day such another Sally upon Poines's Quarters with notable Successe upon him many slain above fourty drowned Captain Iepson and Murrey slain by the winde of a Bullet and yet Poines gaines much upon the Queens Fort and turned the River Trent quite from the Town on the North side The
their eyes are wide open to see Heresies and Sects are so multiplied and Schism so much prevails that the Church after so many Miseries of a bloudy and long-lasting War will be in worse case than the former was From which it was pretended for a great happiness to be delivered And in a Treaty of the tenth of March 1641. the Scotish Commissioners had pressed unity and uniformity in matters of Religion in the three Kingdoms unto which the Parliament gave a hopefull Answer Thereafter Anno 1642. the general Assembly in Scotland renewed the same and received thanks for the Motives then further urged therein In fine the mutual Desires were concluded with a solemn League and Covenant and that translated in other Tongues as a Rule and Direction to other Reformed Churches All which considered the Commissioners did tell the Parliament That it would be a sin and shame to England that all sorts of Blasphemies Heresies and Sects now multiplied and liberty of conscience now pleaded for should have place nay that unity and uniformity so much preached should now be slighted and the Covenant it self wrested and perverted to speak any thing and the Churches further from uniformity and unity than ever before And they pray God that the Ruine of Religion and the consequence thereof do not forthwith follow There had been an Ordinance of Parliament March 14. 1645. and Directions thereupon August 19. then next following and now of late some Questions debated in the House of Commons and propounded to the Assembly of Divines at VVestminster touching the point of Ius Divinum as aforesaid the last of April in which the Commissioners of Scotland thought themselves concerned as being intrusted by the Church of Scotland first concerning The subordination of the Assemblies of the Church to the Parliament making no question but the Parliament to be superior to all Assemblies of the Church in place Dignity Honour and earthly power That civil powers are the Vicegerents of God on earth Ministers onely Servants and Ambassadours the Magistrate is Custos utriusque Tabulae and to compell the Ministers to perform their Duties and to account to the civil powers But yet somewhat troubled the Commissioners or rather Mr. Alexander Henderson First the expression of Subordination may be altered lest it should suppose that the relation of one Church-assembly to another and of the Assemblies to the Parliament and of appeals of one to another are of the same kinde and in the same line as if the civil power were not onely about matters of the Church and Religion but were formally Ecclesiastical to be exercised Ecclesiastically because some may interpret it such a Supremacy in the Church as sometimes was in the Pope and hath been as they pretend retained in substance in this Kingdom which they account to be the Fountain of the late High Commission and Foundation of other corruptions and because it is pretended against the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches which are next to the Scripture proposed they pretend in the Covenant as the Example of Reformation Secondly the provincial Commissioners for judging of Scandal there being no Warrant for such a mixture in Church-government from Christ who hath appointed his own Spiritual Officers to whom he hath committed the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and to whom the Reformed Churches conceive the judging of Offences and qualification of Communicants doth as properly belong as Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments Nor can it be supposed that some few civil men having no calling from God can be more able to judg of matters of this nature than the Assembly of the Church separated for the work of the Gospel The same Churches and particularly the Church of Scotland which all this time hath been in expectation of great purity and perfection of Reformation in the Church of England were in jealousies and fears that this may be the laying of a new Foundation of an High Commission Court or Episcopacie and so for a new partition-wall to divide the Church of England and Scotland into Schism and Separation Thirdly concerning the Meeting of the National Assemblie it was acknowledged that the supreme Magistrate may call a National Assemblie and the Church is to obey his call but then the Commissioners would have it withall acknowledged that this power of the Magistrate is accumulative or positive but it is not a privative or destructive power and therefore they would that the liberty of the Church from Christ be not restrained the safety of the Church being here the supreme Law And so they moved the Parliament to appoint fixed times for the Meeting of the National Assemblies otherwise what will become of the ill administration of Provincial Synods and of Appeals from them to the National Assemblies These considerations were discoursed and considered by them as being bound they say to endeavour the Reformation of the Discipline and Government of the Church of England and Ireland according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches And with these and the like Discourses Considerations and Exceptions was the Propositions of long time hammering and modelling into some kinde of Agreement without which the Commissioners themselves concluded and however we finde by the sequel all their Labours and our Sufferings were in vain the long consultations of the Divines of both Kingdoms fruitless and the Commissioners in a Labyrinth what to answer to the Church and Kingdom of Scotland returned home afterwards as wise as they were when they came hither of these Arrands So then we see that the Propositions of Peace have been seemingly a long time in preparation and several Debates thereupon evermore referring to the knowledg and consent of the Commissioners of Scotland here who must be allowed convenient time to send to the Assemblie and Parliament of Scotland and to stay for their Return of Answer but now that the Parliament of England were so prosperous not having hardly an Enemy left unless that of the Scots Army began to neglect their former dependence and concordance with Scotland which their Commissioners here well observing and that their Papers of reasonable Exceptions to some points of the Propositions would not take with the Parliament the Commissioners caused them to be printed published and justified they contained four papers of consequence 1. Their Answer upon the whole Propositions of Peace 2. Reasons touching the Militia 3. The Citations of several passages out of the Declaration of the Houses of Parliament concerning the Militia and Uniformitie in Religion 4. Reasons why the Result of the Committee of both Kingdoms at Edinburgh Novemb. 28. 1643. is a Treaty These were the Heads but the matter was accounted exactly satisfactory and reasonable to all indifferent apprehensions truly stating the several cases comprehended in these papers Which so troubled the Houses that out comes the Declaration concerning the Scotish Papers by the Commons onely for they were now entered and could do things
such desires as his Majestie is to propound as it is impossible for him to give such a present judgement of and Answer to these Propositions whereby He can answer to God that a safe and well-grounded peace will ensue which is evident to all the world can never be unless the just power of the Crown as well as the freedom and proprietie of the Subject with the just libertie and Priviledges of the Parliament be likewise setled To which end his Majestie desires and proposeth to come to London or anie of his houses thereabouts upon the publick Faith and securitie of the two Houses of Parliament and the Scots Commissioners that he shall be there with Freedom Honour and Safetie where by his personal presence he may not onely raise a mutual confidence betwixt him and his people but also have those doubts cleared and those difficulties explained unto him which he now conceives to be destructive to his just Regal power if he shall give a full consent to these Propositions as they now stand As likewise that he may make known to them such his reasonable demands as he is most assured will be very much conducible to that peace which all good men desire and pray for by the setling of Religion the just priviledges of Parliament with the freedom and proprietie of the Subject and his Majestie assures them that as he can never condiscend unto what is absolutely destructive to that just power which by the Laws of God and the Land He is born unto So he will cheerfully grant and give his assent unto all such Bills at the desire of his two Houses or reasonable demands for Scotland which shall be reallie for the good and peace of his people not having regard to his own particular much less of any bodies else in respect of the happiness of these Kingdoms Wherefore his Majestie conjures them as Christians as Subjects and as men who desire to leave a good name behind them that they will so receive and make use of this Answer that all issues of blood may be stopped and these unhappy distractions peaceably setled Newcastle August 1. 1646. POSTSCRIPT Upon assurance of a happy agreement his Majesty will immediately send for the Prince his Son absolutely expecting his perfect Obedience to return into this Kingdom This Answer so suddain and so home to the business may deserve some observation where were his Malignant Councellors as they were called Not one of them nor any other Servant or and others Authorized by his Majesties said Roman Catholick Subjects the 6. of March 1645. or the other part We the said Lord Lieutenant and Council do by this Proclamation publish the same and command all his Majesties subjects in Ireland to obey the same in all parts thereof And as his Majestie hath been induced to this Peace out of a deep sense of the miseries of this Kingdom and out of a hope that it might prevent the future effusion of his Subjects blood redeem them out of all the miseries and calamities under which they now suffer restore them to all quietness and happiness under his Majesties most Gracious and quiet Government deliver the Kingdom in general from those Slaughters Deprecations Rapines and Spoiles which alwaies accompanie a War encourage the Subjects and others with comfort to betake themselves to Trade Traffique and Commerce Manufacture and all other things which uninterrupted may increase the wealth and strength of the Kingdom beget in all his Majesties Subjects of this Kingdom a perfect unitie amongst themselves after the too long continued Division amongst them So his Majestie assures himself that all his Subjects of this his Kingdom duly considering the great and unestimable benefits which they may finde in this Peace will with all duty râ—nder obedience th ereunto Given at Dublin 30. July 1646. Rich. Bolton Chancelor Roscomon Dillan Lambert Louther Willoughby Forth Dublin Cloine Chichester Titchburn Lucas Ware It is true that the Scots offer to be gon upon a reasonable account for their expences here we cannot forget how chargeable they have been heretofore and now a petty summe would send them packing The reckoning came in a Letter of the Scots Commissioners residing here and amounted to a Million not a peny more nor less besides their losses their Free Quarter not accounted And yet notwithstanding they would be content to accept of a Summe in gross for the full discharge of their Arrears The House of Commons hereat was in a Hubub at this monstrous demand and urged them positively to set down their sum that it might be known how to to be answerd Aug. 18. And had it stated to be no less then five hundred thousand pounds two hundred thousand at their advance and the other three at a twelve-moneth end Then came a Petition aud Remonstrance of the Scots General Assembly to the King of the old and usual stamp tedious and impertinent which we shall understand by his Majesties Answer Upon perusal of the Petition we require to see the Commission by which the Messenger who brought it or the persons who sent him are qualified to intermeddle in Affairs so Foreign to their Jurisdiction and of so great concernment to this our Kingdom Upon examination whereof and in defence of the Laws and Government of England we must profess that the Scots Petitioners or the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland have not the least power or authority to intermeddle in the affairs of this Kingdom or Church which are setled and established by the proper Lawes of this Land and till they be altered by the same competent power cannot be revived again without a due sence of us and this Nation much less can they present any advice or Declaration to our two Houses of Parliament against the same or to that purpose to send any Letters as they have now done to any Minister of our Church here who by the Laws of this Land cannot correspond against the same As for Uniformity in Church Government we conceived the answer formerly given by us to the former Petition in this argument was sufficient viz. That the Government here established by Lawes hath so near a relation and intermixture with the Civil State which may be unknown to the Petitioners that till a composed digested form be presented unto us upon a free debate of both Houses in a Parliamentary way whereby the consent and approbation of this whole Kingdom may be had and we and all our Subjects may discern what is to be left in or brought in as well as what may be taken away We know not how to consent to any alteration otherwise then to such an Act for the â—ase of tender Consciences in the matter Ceremonies as we have often offered c. Of many Bills offered to us for Reformation we shall not now speak they being a part of these Articles upon which we have offered and expect to Treat But we cannot but wonder by what authority you
Tyranny neither Soul Body nor Estate can be in peace Of their Government in practice the Scotish Form of Church-government hath been studiously endeavoured of many men by importunity of divers Petitions to the Parliament to be established in England upon pretence of the Solemn League and Covenant but the Parliament hath artificially declined that establishment by ordaining Commissioners in every County to superintend the Presbyteries and to receive Appeals from them and by reserving the supreme power of the last sentence in themselves and from this their Ordinance the Scots could never remove them The reason of this great difference in judgment between persons so considerable is by considering the Frame of it as it is set down in that Model of Discipline contained in their Psalm Book and in the two Books of Discipline and the Confession of their Faith by which we may see the Inference and the Evidence to be pernicious to Civil power grievous to the people and destructive to the common peace And first of the power of their Government 1. They challenge a power absolute and independent of the King to convene in Assemblies at their own pleasure time and place 2. Book of Discipline cap. 7. 2. They claim power to make Constitution Ecclesiastical without the Christian Magistrate ibid. 3. To abrogate the Laws of the Land touching Ecclesiastical matters if they judg them hurtfull or unprofitable ibid. 4. The civil Magistrate must be subject to their power 1. Book Discip. cap. 7. so that all the power they allow the civil Magistrate in Church affairs is onely to be the Executioner of their Decrees 5. It is true they hold that to disobey or resist any lawfull Authority is sin whilest they pass not the bounds of their Office and from hence no doubt the Inference is good but see the dangerous Consequence at this time in the general disaffection of Regal power supposing them to have no other Drift than to clip the Wings of Sovereignty a gross Mistake for whosoever shall be invested with that civil power which shall be taken from the King be it in the Parliament or in any other Protection must succeed him in the enmity which this Presbyterian power will exercise against the civil power against the civil Magistrate in common when it complies not with them So that if they have a minde to call a general Assembly though the King and Parliament finde it needless inexpedient dangerous as the times may be they will over-rule and must be obeyed and all their Constitutions and Canons yielded unto or to repeal all Laws concerning the Church If opposed by King and Parliament they will incite the people against them 6. If the civil Magistrate punish not with Death whom they think deserve it the Church may excommunicate the Offender not onely for his Crime but as suspect to have corrupted the temporal Judge and so the Judge hereby deâ—amed See their Psalm Book 7. They determine that the temporal Magistrate before the Statute is bound to punish Adultery with Death by Gods own Law If this be true why are we not bound to all the Judicials of Moses to punish Theft not with Death but Restitution besides others touching Inheritances Purchases and other temporal things which would confound our temporal Laws 8. They hold it unlawful for the Civil Magistrate to pardon capital Offenders 1 Book Discip. cap. 9. which puts such a Tie upon Soveraign power as robs them of their noblest vertue Mercy inclining Offenders to be desperate 9. They exact it a Duty in the Magistrate to maintain the Ministry with his own Rents if need require and themselves being Judges of this need if the Minister be not relieved out of the Kings Rents they may warrant his Subjects to take Arms against him 2. Book Discip. cap. 10. In a word they may deal with all civil causes for a spiritual end as the Pope expresses In ordine ad bonum spirituale and these Presbyters In ordine ad bonum Ecclesiae The persons in whom this power is placed are partly of Ministers who admit no superiority but a parity and partly of Lay Elders who joyn with the Minister in the Government of the Kirk and all Government and Discipline is exercised joyntly by them by plurality of Voices in the several Parishes who are subordinate to a Classis made up of the Ministers and Layâ—Elders of the Parishes within the bounds thereof as the several Classes are to the Provincial Assembly consisting of Ministers and Elders out of every Classis within the Province and Provincial Assemblies are in like manner subordinate to the National Assembly chosen out of all the Provinces in the Kingdome and this National Assembly acknowledgeth no Superiour upon Earth Now if the Presbyterian power it self be so pernicious as it appears in several particulars expressed in their Book of Discipline surely to put it it into such hands as by this Model it must needs make all impartial men averse from it 1. For first it admits of no superiority but requires a parity of those that govern of manifold inconvenience The Resolutions in publick and private affairs will be very slow The difference of Opinions and Interests is like to breed Factions and Contentions often corrupt and Reason and Experience teach us that amongst many Equals popularity will make some one Leader of the rest and he will offend more than any Bishop laying the blame upon others 2. Secondly the mixture of Lay-men and Ministers is like to breed Emulations whilest each one sides with his own Order against the other and men grosly ignorant in Divinity must be Judges of Doctrine and others submit to their Judgement who neither know right nor are willing to do it for where the minde that should rule is weak the corrupt passions that should be ruled break into all disorder These men must be trusted with others souls besides their quiet Reputation and Purses exposed to blinde Malice Revenge Envy Covetousness Partiality Insolence 3. The kindes of persons to be chosen Lay Elders we shall finde them to be either for activeness or greatness the active men in a Parish have commonly neither wealth wit nor honesty and thereby likely to bring all to confusion If great men in Estates or Honour they may use that power to enthral their Tenants Husbandmen and Yeomen of England to the same slavery as that sort groan under in Scotland 4. 'T is true Appeals seem to give Remedy but see the trouble and charge from Parish Session to the Classis thence to the Provincial Assembly thence to the general Assembly and then to the Parliament and there to a Committee to examine thence to their Report and there it may lodge till you have Relief Never And lastly if this Church-government be in the hands of Ministers and Lay Elders of ten thousand Parishes and the State see it necessary to alter it to another Form they shall never be able to wrest this power out of
if the French or any other Nation should be called in thither it might be of dangerous consequence for so the Irish Rebells now threatned in case they should be put to extremity The Picts called for the Scots out of Ireland to assist them against the Britains and having done that Work they fell upon the Picts themselves and destroyed them and so took possession of that part of North Britain which from them ever since takes name of Scotland The like did the Saxons or rather a Rout of Pirates and Sea-Rovers they were no better invited to assist the miserable Britains against the barbarous Scots and put a final stop to their Incursions and after by Surprize of the Nobility of Britania and slew them The Remain of the people fled into the Mountains of Wales and Cornwall where they remain ever since and left the best of the Land to the insulting Saxons Nay did not Heraclius the Greek Emperour call for aid of the Rake-Hell Rabble of Scythians to assist him against the Saracens but no sooner got footing in the Empire and in process of time seized Constantinople slew Constantine the last of the Imperial Race of Paleologs and now possess that Seat the chief Residence for the great Turk descended of those Saracens But these were Pagans and Infidels we are all Christians Truly they can practise the old Rule Si violandum est jus regni causa violandum est in caeteris pietatem colas To gain Kingdoms we may bid Conscience good night And so it was happy for the King that his party called not over the French to fight for him nor would the Parliament at any time make Peace with the Irish wise enough they were to keep down the pride of the treacherous Scot that had good footing there in Ireland See before Anno 1643. the Treaty at Siginstone Septemb. 15. But the Parliament of England had considered of the order and manner of governing of Ireland by a Lord Lieutenant General and whom should they pick out but the Lord Lisle Son to the Earl of Leicester to command all the Forces raised and to be raised in and for reducing that Kingdom with a Council about him both at home and abroad the better to enable him for the Government but not as the Motto sets out Caesar this General went thither and so came home again as hereafter is mentioned The English Forces there in some distress the British in the North in great want but the happiness was that the Rebells were at difference amongst themselves And the thirteenth of May the Lord Lisle had order to beat his Drums to raise six thousand Foot and eight hundred and fifty Horse in England and Wales and for maintaining of these Forces it was ordered Six thousand pounds every six moneths end to the Treasurers for Ireland News came the fifteenth of Iune of the great Defeat given to the English and Scotish Forces in the Province of Ulster and the Parliament ordered five thousand Foot more fifteen hundred Horse to be added to the former Forces ordered in May and Arms Amunition and Victuals speedily to be sent over And notwithstanding the Parliamentary proceedings in Ireland by their advice and directions to such of their own party the King likewise had a particular party under the publick Government of the Marquess of Ormond Lieutenant General of his Majesties Forces for the Government of Ireland to whom he writes for the discharging all further Treaties with the Irish Rebells for any Peace as the Parliament advised the King to write the eleventh of Iune The Lord Broghall and the Lord Inchequin were particularly for the Parliament Broghall had intermixed several Successes against the Rebells he took Castle Lions and Inchequin Castle near Yougball then his Horse marched to Dungarven returning with five or six hundred head of Cattle and besieged the Garison of Blarnly Castle and the next Night gained the Out-works and the next Day set threeâ— Battering Guns against one of their new Flanks sixteen foot thick within the Castle their Powder took fire and blew up and spoiled twenty of their Men which with the bold Attempts of the Besiegers the Castle was surrendered the next Day the fifteenth of Iune two hundred persons to march away who left this exceeding strong place being held by faint hearts for a small space and now delivered up to slender Forces Musgrave was General for the Rebells and with the greatest Army of theirs was set down besieging Banratty against whom they sally out daily with very good Success Notwithstanding the Kings Letters at Newcastle whilest he was under durance That Ormond should not treat with the Rebells yet it seems he had finished and articled into a Peace with them August 1. That the Irish be not bound to take the Oath of Supremacy A Parliament to be held before November All Acts against the Roman Catholicks to be repealed Places of Strength to be in the hands of men of merit But the reason might be the wonderfull misery of the English and Scots Forces there impossible to hold out without any reasonable Food for Man or Horse And it was conceived there by Ormond and the Kings party that it was most convenient for the general good of the Protestants for it soon occasioned a Breach amongst the Rebells the Popes Nuncio and that Clergy protesting against it as being done without their privity and the chiefest of their Towns oppose the Peace as Limrick Waterford Wexford Lemster and Galloway And herein Ormond according to the Articles on either side was to assist against the Opposers of the Peace the fourteenth of Septembeâ— who marching with some thousands towards Kilkenny had intelligence by the way that a party of the discontented Rebells against the Peace had a Design against his person which made him suddenly to return to Dublin Concerning the thirty Articles the Popish Clergy disclaimed them and at a Supream Council ordered That all and singular Confederate Catholicks who shall adhere to the said Peace or consent with the Favourers of it or after any other manner shall entertain and imbrace it are absolutely to be accounted perjured specially for this reason because in these Articles there is no mention made of the Catholick Religion and the security thereof nor any regard had of the Consecration of the Priviledge of the Countrey as it was promised by the Oath But that all things are rather referred to the judgement of our most renowned King From whom in this present estate we can have nothing setled and in the mean time the Armies Weapons and Fortifications and the Supream Councel of the Confederate Catholicks it self are subjected to the Authority and Command of the Council of the State and the Protestant Officers of his Majestie from whom that we might be secure we have taken Oath For which and many other causes being moved only by our Consciences and having God before our eyes that it may be known to all and singular as
Commons in their Liberties of Parliament to which the City will contribute all their Power and Service and pray with all submission that he will please to send such a Guard of several Regiments as may conduct them to the Parliament in safety and that the Passes and Ports shall be set open for them and what else to his Excellencies command 3. Aug. But on come the Brigades into Southwark to encompass the City and Rainsborough Hewson Pride Thistlewel Marched without opposition but rather heartily welcome till they came to the Bridge-gate of the City which was shut and the Portcullis let down and a Guard within They make a stand and plant two pieces and set a Guard without then Hewson Marched into St. Georges Fields sends a Summons to the great Fort in the Highway to Lambeth which was suddenly Surrendred by eight a clock that morning The Common Councel now sitting post away Messages to the General who slowly comes on and demands all the Forts of the West side of the City to be Commanded by him before six a clock at night To which the City submit Professing how ready they are to comply with the Army and have given order to their Militia for drawing off all Forces and Ordnance accordingly and speedily to be effected And that now next under Almighty God we doe râ—ly upon your Excellencies honourable word for our safety and protection 4. Aug. The King this while fast and loose on all sides thought it good to be as forward with the Army professing in his Letter that he acquits himself of the scandal cast upon him concerning the Tumults of London accounting it a dishonourable action to be brought to his City in Tumult desiring rather to rely on the General and the Army as more safe and honourable excusing that this Letter came but now which was writ the day before this agreement between the General and the City But he comes on and at Kensington is met by the City Commissioners by the Members of both Houses who had been driven away by tumult And forthwith a Declaration is published of the mutual joyning of the Parliament and Army making Null all Acts passed by the Members at Westminster since the 26. of Iuly last and so all March together towards Westminster And by the way in Hide Park waits the Lord Mayor and his Brethren to congratulate the good composure between the Army and City and then to Westminster thus First Regiment of Foot and Rich his Horse next the Lord General Cromwels Regiment of Horse and then the General of Horseback with his Life Guard the Lords in Coaches with the Speaker of the Commons and their Members Tomlinsons Regiment of Horse brought up the Rear-Guard and you must note that each Souldier had a green branch in his hat and at Charing Cross stood the Common Council humbly ducking to his Excellency and so went on to the Parliament And being sat in both Houses their first duty was to Enact the General to be High Constable of the Tower of London The next was for a Festival day on all sides which the sorrowful City must nevertheless pay for Then was the General sent for to receive thanks of both Houses for his preservation of their Liberties And to caress the Army a months pay is given to them as a largess for this great grace and favour And the next day the General with the whole Army Horse and Foot Marched in Triumph through the City from eleven a clock till eight at night the Generals Quarters went to Croyden and the Army all about in Essex and Kent from this day being Saturday till Munday When the General comes to takes possession of the Tower and the City Guard were turned out and after Dinner the City Committee did congratulate their happiness in his care of the City and could wish that the Records of the Tower might in time to come make known to the World this their safety in him being now made visible in subjection to the Souldier they crave pardon for not waiting upon him to the City in such equâ—page as he merited nor with such a present as the shortness of preparation could possibly admit and therefore they were now come to bid him to Dinner And in the end of all they desired that Mr. West might continue his Deputy Lieutenant But they were answered He had intrusted it to one of his own and a Citizen Colonel Titchburn Then he took view of the Amunition the strength of the White Tower and last of all of the Records where he was told of the great Charter of England Which he had a great desire he said to see And being shewed it with some Ceremonies he took off his Hat This is that said he which we have fought for and by Gods help we must maintain Some smiled to see his simple and single intention the sense of all pretenders which while we fight for we fly from And having done what they would do they begin again to think of the King the great expectation of the Kingdom and so he resides at his Quarters at Kingston August 13. But first the Parliament must undo what the City had lately done in their Apprentices Ordinance so called and voted unwarrantable and in a world to unravel and null all Acts in their absence and to prosecute Examinations and Punishments against the Actours in the late Insurrections And the King is come from Stoke to Oatlands August 14. But the Members were not well at ease unless some Setlement were made for them by Orders and Ordinances against the usurping Members from Iuly 26. to Aug. 6. to be forced and no free Parliament At last after long Debate the Question was put Whether the Question should be put or not And concluded Affirmative by two Voices Then Whether the Proceedings were forced and that Sitting no free Parliament And it was carried in the Negative by three Voices August 17. And the Army remonstrate the practice of the late force upon the Parliament That not any of those Members which did sit in the absence of their Speaker shall presume to continue in the House till satisfaction be given of their intention to raise a new War and imbroil the Kingdom by contriving the King to come to the City and they brought to condign punishment by the judgment of a free Parliament And so they have Letters of Thanks from both Houses for this Remonstrance August 20. But take it in effect Whereas there was a visible horrid insolent and actual force upon the Houses of Parliament Munday the six and twentieth of July last whereby the Speakers and many Members were forced to absent themselves and could not return and fit before the sixth of August and that the Ordinance of the six and twentieth of July for revoking and making void of the Ordinance of the three and twentieth of July for setling the Militia of London and all other their Votes
must be the best and only remedy to remove our troubles That without a Treaty the Propositions may be esteemed Impositions That the King might have some just desires to move for the Crown and for himself and that every thing in the Propositions might not be of such importance as that the not granting it might hinder a peace That a personal Treaty is the best way to beget a mutual confidence between the King and Parliament And amongst other Protestations they aver That if Scotland had apprehended that the least injury or violence would have been committed against his person or Monarchical Government had they not received assurances from the Parliament to the contrary certainly all the threatnings and allurements in the world could never have perswaded them to have parted from the King and that it was their brotherly confidence in the Parliament fellow Subjects and the assurance that they had from both Houses that made them leave the King Then they complain of a vast deformity or multiformity of Heresies and sects endangering the ruin of Religion in this Kingdom But what ere the Scots have said in this Declaration the Parliament afterwards found out such Members at leisure that formed into a Committee for that purpose gave them a sound Answer But the King in the general Interest of all conceived them so unreasonable to be positively assented unto before a Treaty or dispute of some part or either of them as that he refused Giving his Reasons in a Letter or Message sealed up to the Commissioners for the Parliament to open But the Earl of Denbigh the cheif Commissioner desired the King that although they were intrusted only to bring the demands in writing and not to Treat yet they hope his Majesty would distinguish them from ordinary Commissioners and suffer them to see what was written professing that his Majesty should not receive disappointment or prejudice thereby The King Commands Ashburnham to read them aloud in these words C. R. The Necessity of complying with all engaged interests in these great distempers for a perfect settlement of peace his Majesty findes to be none of the least difficulties he hath met with since the time of his afflictions Which is too visible when at the same time that the two Houses of the English Parliament do present to his Majesty several Bills and Propositions for his consent the Commissioners for Scotland do openly protest against them So that were there nothing in the case but the consideration of that difference his Majesty cannot Imagine how to give such an Answer to what is now proposed as thereby to promise himself his great end A perfect Peace And when his Majesty further considers how impossible it is in the condition he now stands to fulfil the desires of the two Houses since the only ancient and known wayes of passing Laws are either by his Majesties personal assent in the House of Peers or by Commission under his great Seal of England He cannot but wonder at such failings in the manner of addresse which is now made unto him Unlesse his two Houses intend that his Majesty shall allow of a great Seal made without his Authority before there be any consideration had thereupon in a Treaty Which as it may hereafter hazard the security it self so for the present it seems very unreasonable to his Majesty And though his Majesty is willing to believe that the intentions of very many in both Houses in sending these Bills before a Treaty was only to obtain a trust from him and not to take any advantage by passing them to force other things from him which are either against his Conscience or Honour Yet his Majesty believes it clear to all understandings that these Bills contain as they are now penned not only the divesting himself of all Soveraignty and that without possibility of recovering it either to him or his Successors except by repeal of those Bills but also the making his Concessions guilty of the greatest pressures that can be made upon the Subject 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 or quality and to what numbers they please And likewise for the payment of them to levy what monies in such sort and by such wayes and means and consequently upon the Estates of whatsoever persons they shall think fit and appoint which is utterly inconsistent with the Liberty and Property of the Subject and his Majesties trust in protecting them So that if the Major part of both Houses shall think it necessary to put the rest of the propositions into Bills his Majesty leaves all the World to judge how unsafe it would be for him to consent thereunto And if not what a strange condition after the passing of these four Bills his Majesty and all his Subjects would be cast into And here his Majesty thinks it not unfit to wish his two Houses to consider well the manner of their proceeding That when his Maiesty desires a personal Treaty with them for the setling of a Peace they in Answer propose the very subject matter of the most essential part thereof to be the first granted A thing which will be hardly credible to posterity Wherefore his Majesty declares That neither the desire of being freed from this tedious and Irksome condition of life his Majesty hath so long suffered nor the apprehension of what may befall him in case his two Houses shal not attend him a personal Treaty shall make him change his resolution of not consenting to any Act till the whole Peace be concluded yet then he intends not only to give just and reasonable satisfaction in the particulars presented to him but also to make good all other concessions mentioned in his Message of the twenty sixth of November last Which he thought would have produced better effects than what he findes in the Bills and Propositions now presented unto him And yet his Majesty cannot give over but now again earnestly presse for a personal Treaty so passionately is he affected with the advantages which peace will bring to his Majesty and all his Subjects of which he will not all dispair there being no other visible way to obtain a well grounded peace How ever his Majesty is very much at ease within himself for having fulfilled the Offices both of a Christian and of a King and will patiently wait the good pleasure of Almighty God to encline the hearts of his two Houses to consider their King and to compassionate their fellow Subjects miseries Carisbroke Castle Decem. 28. 1647. For the Speaker of the Lords House c. Herein the Commissioners found what pinched the Parliament and no sooner had the Parliaments Commissioners taken their leave and were gone towards Newport but Hamond turns out all the Kings Servants out of the Castle The confusion was so great that the King demands of
signal compliance with the Army and their interest and what of importance my complyance was to them and their often repeated Professions and Ingagements for my Iust Rights in general at Newmarket and St Albans and their particular explanation of those generals by their Voted and Re-voted Proposals which I had reason to understand should be the uttermost extremity would be expected from me and that in some things therein I should be eased herein appealing to the Consciences of some of the chiefest Officers in the Army if what I have said be not punctually true and how I have failed of their expectations and my professions to them I challange them and the whole World to produce the least colour of Reason And now I would know what is it that is desired Is it Peace I have shewed the way being both willing and desirous to perform my part in it which is a just complayance with all chief Interests It is Plenty and Happinesse They are the inseparable effects of peace Is it security I who wish that all men would forgive and forget like me have offered the Militia for my time Is it liberty of Conscience he who wants it is most ready to give Is it the right administration of Iustice Officers of trust are committed to the choice of my two Houses of Parliament Is it frequent Parliaments I have legally fully concurred therewith Is it the Arrears of the Army Vpon a settlement they will certainly be paied with much ease but before there will be found much difficulty if not impossibility in it Thus all the world cannot but see my real and unwearied endeavours for Peace the which by the grace of God I shall never repent me of nor ever be slackned in notwithstanding my past present or future sufferings but if I may not be heard let every one judge who it is that obstructs the good I would or might do What is it that men are afraid to hear from me it cannot be Reason at least none will declare themselves so unreasonable as to confess it and it can less be impertinent or unreasonable discourses for thereby peradventure I might more justifie this my restraint then the causers themselves can do so that of all wonders yet this is the greatest to me but it may be easily gathered how these men intend to govern who have used me thus and if it be my hard Fate to fall together with the Liberty of this Kingdom I shall not blush for my self but much lament the future miseries of my people the which I shall still pray to God to avert what ever becomes of me C. R. And now was the strict custody of the King referred to the care and Command of the General to place and displace servants such as to him thought meet and only eight persons for the present allowed to him Of which and his strict Guards he expostulates with Hamond telling him that he might yet ere long be beholding to one of his Sons for his life for now was Prince Charles gone from Paris into Holland from whence we shall hereafter hear more of him February 4. The first alteration of Soveraignty was in Title of things properly stiled the Kings and therefore the Title of the List of his Majesties Ships is but now altered to the List of the Parliaments Ships and the Hollanders refuse to strike Top Sail to the English disputeing that they were the Elder States and indeed so they were and Elder Brothers in the other also The Army resolve of new Modelling themselves to put the Martial power into the best way for themselves to appear formidable in the Field to make good the Garisons and to take in all confiding persons and so to make more Officers and fewer Souldiers under their Command the easier to be governed and in time of Action soon filled up by Sir Thomas Fairfax who now takes an additional Title of Lord Fairfax being the unic Son to his Father who of a Corn on his great Toe iâ— turned to a Gangreen and killed him And so we end the troublesome affairs of State in England for this year But may not pass over those concernments of Scotland and Ireland contemporary Nor would we nor could we handsomly interrupt our History with them and therefore we insert them here by themselves And first of Scotland beginning where we left before The continuation of the Military Actions for the King in Scotland under conduct of the Marquess of Montrose this year 1647. The Covenanters held Convention at St. Andrews upon the East Sea in Fife carrying their prisonâ—rs with them where ever they removed both of War or others of the Kings Friends men of the best note the Lord Ogleby Sir William Spotswood William Murrey and Andrew Gutlery men of singular merit who here were to be sacrificed To which purpose they set up a couple of their Kirk men Kaint and Blaire and others also possessed with the same spirit That God required the blood of these men nor could the sin of the Nation be otherwise expiated or the revenge of heaven diverted sentencing their very souls to damnation But Ogleby the most eminent a Hamilton by the Mothers side and cousin German to Lindsey pretending himself sick had leave for his Mother Wife and Sisters to visit him in prison and whilst the Jaylors withdrew he got on his sisters cloths and put her in his place in bed And at evening passed out with them for a Lady and so got out of danger his sister suffered strict imprisonment in the same Chamber for a long time after and hastened the execution on the rest of the Prisoners The first was Nathaniel Gordon the next Colonel Gordon and then comes Sir Robert Spotswood he had been raised by favour of King Iames to the honour of Knighthood and Privy Councellor of Scotland King Charles made him Lord President of the Session and of late principal Secretary of Scotland Their Charge against him was not for Arms being a man of the Gown but they found Treason in his bringing of the Kings Commission to Montrose to be Vice-roy of the Kingdom and General of all the Kings Forces there It was no boot his Eloquent and Learned defence answerable to the fundamental Laws of that nation But the Earl of Lanerick heretofore Principal Secretary by his revolt against the King this Office was setled upon Spotswood this was additional to his Charge which because he was not able to bear out he was forced to fall under And on the Scaffold prepared to dye he made his last Speech to the People but Blair being by bad the Provost stop his mouth and privately praying Blair interrupting offered his prayers which the other refused adding That of all the Plagues with which God had scourged this Nation this was not the least nay greater than Sword or Pestilence that God had sent a lying Spirit in the mouthes of the pretended Prophets for which Blair basely reproached
so much of the success of our English Army in Scotland 27. Sept. The Scots Armies are accordingly Disbanded Barwick and Carslile delivered up to the English and the Writs gone out for a new Parliament 20. of Ianuary And a fresh General Assembly of their Kirkmen Somewhat strange in the capitulation that the English Assistants to the Scots in both these Garrisons are submitted to the mercy of the Parliament of England And a Letter of thanks is sent from the Committee of Estates of Scotland to the Lieutenant General Cromwel for his orderly government of his Forces and his many civilities and respects to that Nation and they excuse themselves from any guilt or connivance in the late engagement against England acknowledging that his Army so near is the means and occasion of advantage to that Nation to make peace and to prevent distraction and confusion which otherwise had continued amongst them And for confirmation of all he is invited to Edenburgh to Feasts and Banquets with all expressions of Honour of Arms and so returns homewards Octo. 20. by the way is received with Hosannah's of joy by all the Northern Counties and invited to take in the strong Garrisons of Pomfreit and Scarborough which infested the County all about them But let us return to Sea affairs This while the Prince was put aboard the Revolted Ships which with some others of his own were formed into a Fleet and with him his brother the Duke of York Prince Rupert Lords Hopton Wilmot and Willoughby Earls of Branford and Ruthen formerly General for the King the Lord Culpepper and Sir Henry Palmer and increasing number came into Yarmouth Rode with twenty Sail and two thousand men the Town being much divided in affection some would have him land and march to Colchester then besieged with such as will come to his assistance To prevent him Colonel Scroop is coming not fourty miles off with Horse and Foot to attend his motion if he land some hopes he had of landing and therefore provided a Declaration his forerunner 27. Iuly The establishing of Religion according to his Majesties agreement 26. December last The performance of the said Agreement and pursuance of all Concessions on the Kings part The restoring the King to a personal Treaty The maintenance of the just priviledges of Parliament The liberty of the Subject abolishing of Excise contribution for quarter c. with an Act of Obliâ—ion The Disbanding of all Armies setling Peace The defence of the Narrow Seas securing Trade support of the Navy and Sea-men His Commissions to his Commanders were thus stiled Charls Prince of great Britain Duke of Cornwal and Albany Highest Captain General under his Majesty of all Forces both by Sea and Land within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Barwick c. Whereas we hold it convenient to Arm and set forth to Sea for the weakning and suppressing the usurped power c. Bearing date heretofore from St. Germin in Laye 6. June 1648. A correspondence likewise we finde fixed with the State of Scotland by Letters intercepted and directed to Sir Alexander Gibson Clerk of the Signet at Edenburgh from London 26. Iuly telling him that we are here in the City very right only Skippon makes disturbance by listing Horse and Foot whom we hope to out of his Office The Lords wait for some further incouragement from the City to which purpose the Common Council are framing petitions Our Design to free Colchester is not yet ready c. But the Prince finding no footing in Norfolk sailed back Southwards to the Downs in Kent seizing what Merchants Ships and goods that he could light upon sending Letters to the City of London together with his Declaration and that if the City will redeem their goods they must send him two hundred thousand pound But Anchoring in the Downs he hath a Design upon the Parl. Besiegers of Deal Castle in which were Royalists and Lands five hundred men who March forwards and at first beat off the Horse which Colonel Rich and Hewson had drawn out to Encounter them untill some more Forces of Foot followed routed the Princes Forces killed many and took others Prisoners and the rest hardly got aboard again Whilst the Prince Anchors with his Fleet in the Downs the States of Scotland invite him May it please your Highness Amongst all the Calamities which this Nation these late years hath wrastled under none doth more wound and afflict us next to his Majesty your royal Fathers sad condition and restraint then your Highness long absence from this Kingdom whereunto your right Title is so just and unquestionable and seeing our Forces are now again in England in pursuance of their duty to Religion and his Majesties rescue we humbly beg That your Highness would be pleased to honour and countenance with your presence and assistance our pious and Loyal endeavours which we look upon as the only means of uniting us in this great work being confident that your Highness will effectually apply your self to procure from his Majesty just satisfaction to the desires of Parliaments And if your Highness will grant these our humble requests and trust your peâ—son amongst us we doe ing age the publick Faith of this Kingdom for your well being in honour freedom and safety either here in Scotland or with our Army in England and to remove from us or the Army when or whither you please And these they send by the Earl of Louderdale with Letters of Credence in what he shall further communicate to the Prince From the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland in whose Name and Warrant are signed Aug. 10. Crawford Lindsey The Parliaments Vice-Admiral Batten having heretofore served them with faithfulness and good success was by the Army Voted out of his place and Rainsborough a Land Captain put into his Command Not long after being Governour of Deal Castle which cost him six hundred pound repair He was turned out and made a Delinquent upon the old quarrel for suffering some of the eleven Members to pass beyond Seas Rainsborough was refused by the Sea men not suffering him to come aboard then they â—aress Bâ—â—ten to take up his Commission again which he disdained the Parliament being in distress for a Commander they Vote in the Earl of Warwick who was served so before And now Batten comes to the Prince in Holland who receives him with favour and honours him with Knight-hood where he publishes the reasons of his declining the Parliaments Service and was faithfull to the Prince for ever after It was the middle of Iune as aforesaid that the Kâ—mish Insurrectors got over to Essex and from thence into the Town of â—â—lchester and with such Forces as they could gather they strengthen the place and prepare for a Siege The Commanders in chief were the Eâ— of Norwich old Goriâ—g the Lord Capel Sir Charles Lucas and others in opposition to 〈…〉 and all
up and Anarchy goes down yet rather then to sink the Presbyter complies and the Houses agree whom the Army resolve so to ballance as by their Authority for the present to doe the great work and to dissolve Monarchy Some Members out of honour and conscience forbearing the rest of them receive the Report of the 38. Committee-men and their general Charge against the King That Charls Stuart hath acted contrary to his trust in departing from the Parliament setting up his standard making war against them and thereby been the occasion of much bloudshed and misery to the people whom he was set over for good That he gave Commissions to Irish Rebels c. and since was occasion of a second War c. besides what done contrary to the Liberties of the Subject and tending to the destruction of the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom 27. December The Queen of England now at Paris in France writes to the King which was conveyed to him by one Wheeler imployed by Major Boswels man where the Queen expresseth her deep sence and sorrow for the Kings sad condition with whom she bears an equal share and wishes to dye for him nor will she live without him for whose interest she hath and will doe her utmost in all possible waies and means to help him Then another Letter was delivered by the French Ambassador to the General from the Queen and directed To her trusty and welbeloved Tho. Lord Fairfax General imploring his help and assistance that she may have leave as the Ambassador unfolded to come over to the King her Husband to see him before he be proceeded against by any Tryal or Charge and to have a Pass for her secure coming and returning which letter the General sent to the House and they laid it aside And to confirm the present intended Tryal the Commons House declare That by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm it is Treason in the King of England for the time to come to levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom The Ordinance for the Kings tryal was refused by the Lords Ian. 2. but they will send answer and presently adjourn for ten daies The Commons examining the Lords Journal Books finde three Votes 1. To send an Answer 2. That their Lordships do not concur to the Declaration 3. That their Lordships reject the Ordinance for tryal of the King Upon which the Commons Vote That all Members and others appointed to act in any Ordinance are impowred and injoyned to Sit Act and Execute notwithstanding the House of Peers joyn not with them The House 4. Ianuary turned into a grant Committee resolve and declare 1. That the People under God are the Original of all just power 2. That the Commons of England assembled in Parliament being chosen by and representing the People have the Supream Authority of this Nation 3. That whatsoever is enacted and declared for Law by the Commons of England assembled in Parliament hath the force of a Law 4. That all the people of this Nation are included thereby although the consent and concurrance of the King and House of Peers be not had thereunto 5. That to raise Arms against the Peoples Representative or Parliament and to make War upon them is high Treason 6. That the King himself took Arms against the Parliament and on that account in guilty of the bloodshed throughout the Civil War and that he ought to expiate the crime with his own bloud Thus they prepare for the design which must be attempted by degrees The Tryal of the King The Ordinance for his Tryal was 6. Ian. ingrossed and read and the manner is referred to the Commissioners who are to try him and meet in the Painted Chamber Munday 8. Ianuary and resolved that Proclamation be made in Westminster Hall that the Commissioners are to sit again to morrow and that those who had any thing to say against the King shall be heard In this manner Mr. Denby the younger a Serjeant at Arms to the Commissioners rid into the Hall with his Mace and some Officers all bare six Trumpetters on Horseback sounded in the midst of the Hall and the Drums of the Guard beat without in the Pallace Yard and in like manner at the Old Exchange and in Cheapside 9. Ian. The Commons Vote the Title in Writs Carolus Dei Gratiâ c. to be altered and referred to a Committee That the great Seal of England be broken and ordered a new Seal with the Arms of England and the Harp for Ireland with this word The great Seal of England And on the reverse the picture of the House of Commons sitting with these words In the first year of freedom by Gods blessing restored 1648. And in perpetuam rei memoriam the Mayor Aldermen and Common Council petitioned the House of Commons for justice against the King to settle the Votes that the Supreme power is in them and the City resolving to stand by them to the utmost And this Petition was ordered to be Recorded in the Books amongst the Acts of the Common Council And in respect of the Kings intended Tryal Hillary Term begining the 23. of Ian. was adjourned for 14. dayes after and proclaimed in London and Westminster and all Market Towns The Scots Parliament began Ianu. 4. and the proceedings of the Parliament of England being reported to them they unanimously did dissent First in the toleration of Religion in reference to the Covenant in the Tryal of the King and in the alteration of the form of Government And in order hereunto some Papers were brought to the House of Commons at Westminster directed To William Lenthal Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons and no more where they use to say to be communicated to the House of Commons by which they acknowledge them an House and so the House thought not fit to read them but Voted to send Commissioners to Scotland to preserve a good correspondence between both Nations The Commissioners for the Kings Trial debated and concluded That the Sword and the Mace although with the Kings Arms thereon should be ordered to be in Court at his Tryal And the King to be brought from St. Iame's whither he was come a prisoner to Sir Robert Cottons House at Westminster The Higher House sat and sent a Message to the Commons grounded upon the dissent of the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal joyned with the Commons That they could not agree to pass the Act of the Commons for adjourning the Term without the Lords concurrence first to be had And that by the instructions given to the said Commissioners the Commons Commissioners could do nothing without assent of one of the Lords The Message therefore was to the Commons to concur with the Lords for adjourning the Term for a fortnight and that the Commissioners of the great Seal may be required to passe the same under seal This Massage crossed the Commons late Votes
differences and offences by impartiality or so order affairs in point of power that you shall not need to fear or flatter any faction For if ever you stand in need of them or must stand to their courtesie you are undone the Serpent will devour the Dove you may never expect less of Loyalty Iustice or Humanity then from those who engage into Religious Rebellion their interest is alwaies made Gods under the colours of piety ambitious policies march nor only with greatest security but applause as to the populacy you may hear from them Jacobs voice but you shall feel they have Esau's hands Nothing seemed less considerable then the Presbyterian Faction in England for many years so compliant they were to publick order nor indeed was their party great either in Church or State as to mens judgments but as soon as discontents drave men into sidings as ill humors fall to the disaffected part which cause's inflamations so did all at first who affected any Novelties adhere to that side as the most remarkable and specious note of difference then in point of Religion All the lesser Factions at first were officious servants to Presbytery their great Master till time and military success discovering to each their peculiar advantages invited them to part stakes and leaving the joint stock of uniform Religion they pretended each to drive for their party the trade of profits and preferments to the breaking and undoing not only of the Church and State but even of Presbytery it self which seemed and hoped at first to have ingrossed all Let nothing seem little or despicable to you in matters which concern Religion and the Churches peace so as to neglect a speedy reforming and effectual suppressing Errors and Schisms what seem at first but as a hand breadth by seditious Spirits as by strong windes are soon made to cover and darken the whole heaven When you have done justice to God your own Soul and his Church in the profession and preservation both of truth and unity in Religion the next main hinge on which your prosperity will depend and move is that of Civil Iustice wherein the setled Laws of these Kingdoms to which you are rightly Heir are the most excellent Rules you can govern by which by an admirable temperament give very much to Subjects industry liberty and happiness and yet reserve enough to the Majesty and Prerogative of any King who owns his people as Subjects not as Slaves whose subjection as it preserves their property peace and safety so it will never diminish your Rights nor their ingenious Liberties which consist in the injoyment of the fruits of their industry and the benefit of those Laws to which themselves have consented Never charge your head with such a Crown as shall by its heaviness oppress the whole body the weakness of whose parts cannot return any thing of strength honour or safety to the head but a necessary debilitation and ruine Your Prerogative is best shewed and exercised in remitting rather then exacting the rigor of the Laws there being nothing worse then Legal Tyranny In these two points the preservation of establisted Religion and Laws I may without vanity turn the reproach of my sufferings as to the worlds censure into the honour of a kinde of Martyrdom as to the testimony of my own conscience the troublers of my Kingdoms having nothing else to object against me but this that I prefer Religion and Laws established before those alterations they propounded And so inded I do and ever shall till I am convinced by better Arguments then what hitherto have been chiefly used towards me Tumults Armies and Prisons I cannot yet learn that Lesson nor I hope ever will you that it is safe for a King to gratifie any Faction with the perturbation of the Laws in which is wrapt up the Publick Interest and the good of the Community How God will deal with me as to the removal of these pressures and indignities which his Iustice by the very unjust hands of some of my Subjects hath been pleased to lay upon me I cannot tell nor am I much solicitous what wrong I suffer from men while I retein in my soul what I believe is right before God I have offered all for Reformation and safety that in Reason Honour and Conscience I can reserving only what I cannot consent unto without an irreparable injury to my own Soul the Church and my people and you also as the next and undoubted Heir of my Kingdoms To which if the divine Providence to whom no difficulties are insuperable shall in his due time after my decease bring you as I hope he will my counsel and charge to you is that you seriously consider the former real or objected miscarriages which might occasion my troubles that you may avoid them Never repose so much upon any man's single Counsel fidelitie and discretion in managing affairs of the first magnitude that is matters of Religion and Iustice as to create in your self or others a difâ—idence of your own judgment which is likely to be alwaies more constant and impartial to the interests of your Crown and Kingdom then any mans Next beware of exasperating any Factions by the crosness and asperity of some mens passions humours or private opinions imployed by you grounded only upon the differences in lesser matters which are but the Skirts and Suburbs of Religion Wherein a charitable connivence and Christian toleration often dissipates their strength whom rougher opposition fortifies and puts the despised and oppressed Party into such combinations as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their persecutors who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commiseration which attends all that are said to suffer under the notion of Religion Provided the differences amount not to an insolent opposition of Laws and Government or Religion established as to the essentials of them Such motions and minings are intolerable Alwaies keep up solid Piety and those fundamental truths which mend both hearts and lives of men with impartial favor and justice Take heed that outward circumstances and formalities of Religion devour not all or the best encouragements of learning industry and piety but with an equal eye and impartial hand distribute favours and rewards to all men as you finde them for their real goodness both in abilities and fidelity worthy and capable of them This will be sure to gain you the hearts of the best and the most too who though they be not good themselves yet are glad to see the severer wayes of vertue at any time sweetned by temporal rewards I have you see conflicted with different and opposite Factions for so I must needs call and count all those that act not in any conformity to the Laws established in Church and State no sooner have they by force subdued what they counted their common enemie that is all those that adhered to the Laws and to me and are secured from that fear but they
France and Charles the Emperour and King of Spain shews them so provident as between themselves to keep the ballance of Europe upright Not one to edge upon the other and herein not to stay for the first blow or to be the last to be eaten up The Crown of Spain hath enlarged her bounds these last sixty years more then the Ottamans Did not England assist the French to keep him from Britany Picardy and Piedmont and enable the Netherlands not to be swallowed up these are our outworks Nay hath he not twice invaded England Once under the Popes Banner next in his own Name and hath more than a months minde to it again These grounds are causes sufficient for a War with Spain But what ere the King had said as to the matter and form of Argument the Parliament forgot not their old Mode with his Father Not too hastily to resolve and his death left much business in the deck which now they take up to engage his son And in truth all Parliaments commence with Petition from the People Reasons of Religion and Complaints of their suffering came to his Father in the close of his last Session and so unanswered which they are resolved now to dispatch and did so To that of Religion the King assured them his pious resolution to effect their desires with all convenient speed and as that business of weight required And for their Greivances they were distinctly separate and satisfactory answers he gave to each apart And so accounting to them the disbursement of his Land and Naval Forces with a clear and even audit of the Charge and Expence to come they were so candid that the Laity gave him without conditions Two Subsidies from Protestants four from Papists and the Clergy three Richard Mountague Doctor of Divinity and Chaplain to the King was summoned this Session for certain Tenents supposed prejudicial to the Protestants faith but were only against the Calvinist and was from the Commons Bar without Tryal committed to the Serjeant of their House untill two thousand pound Bail be procured for him to appear the next Session which the King had reason to resent being his antient Chaplain and ought to have his Masters protection sooner than the Servants of an Ordinary Burgess which at last was granted but not his bail-bond excused Of which he complains to the Duke of Buckingham and that the Parliament had not in right to do with him for that which King Iames commanded and King Charles authorized and challenges any Accusers if he may answer for himself It seems he was summoned and committed without any Tryal Iuly 29. And hereupon three Bishops Rochester Oxford and St. Davids being tender not of his Person but of his cause meerly the Church of Englands upon this Ground That the Church being reformed from the Roman refused the apparent and dangerous errours but was tender of every School point as not expedient in the unity of Christians to subscribe to each particular And so though some of his opinions are the resolved Doctrine of the Church of England which he is bound to maintain So some others are School points and there to be discussed but not to distract the Church nor for any man to be bound to subscribe unto which if inforced would hazard their former subscription in Orthodox Tenents and was indeed one great Fault of the Council of Trent But the Clergy submitted in Henry the eighths time with this caution That for differences Doctrinal the King and the Bishops were to be Judges in a National Synod and that with the Kings leave under his hand and seal else not Nor did ever the Church or can submit but so which is the constant practice of the Church For if the Church be brought down beneath her self Schism will follow And King Iames allowed of each point of Doctrine in Mountagues Book who was able of most men to judge thereof There can be little use of Civil Government or of Preaching and external Ministery in the Church if such fatal opinions as are contrary to Mountagues shall be publickly taught and maintained All or most of the contrary opinions were treated of at Lambeth and then ready to be published but Queen Elizabeth upon knowledge how little they agreed with the practice in Piety and obedience to Government suppressed them and so continued ever since till of late some of them received countenance at the Synod of Dort but that being a Synod of that Nation cannot give authority to any other National Church till publique authority and it is to be hoped that this Church will advise before they submit to a foreigne Synod especially of such a Church that condemneth our Discipline and manner of Government And therefore the King referred the consideration to the course of the Church Then for the person of Mountague they affirmed him to be an able Scholar right honest and fit to do God and the Church and his Majesty great service 2 August 1625. And after the next session he was consecrate Bishop of Chichester The Books in question were these His answer to the Romish Gagger And his Defence thereof afterwards styled Apello Caesarem formerly opposed by Information prepared against him of which he was discharged by King Iames with leave to appeal to his Majesty from his defamators and Doctor White then Dean of Carlisle was ordered to authorize the Imprimatur But two years after Ianuary 1628. it was called in by Proclamation to please the then Parliament not charged with any false doctrine but for being the first cause of those disputes and differences which hath since much troubled the quiet of the Church it seems with such unnecessary questions And to humour that time also Doctor Potter a zealous Calvinian was preferred to be Bishop of Carlisle to please the Parliament and and yet for all these passages the Parliament lookt asquint at the Kings actions as hereafter followes anno 1628. The Lord Mordant afterwards Earl of Peterborough being a Papist and willing to winne his wife from Protestancy offered the combate of his Confessor with a fair dispute against any This Confident was a cunning Iesuite Beaumona but his right name Rookwood his brother executed in the Gun-powder-Treason 1605. and the Lady elected Doctor Usher Primate of Ireland at this time in England the place Drayton in Northampton shire but after three dayes controversie concerning Transubstantiation Invocation to Saints Images visibility of the Church the Iesuite directly confessed he was so deficient in his memory that Gods just judgement had infatuated him to this desertion and put his excuse upon his presumption to dispute with so eminent a Protestant without leave of his Superiour But the good effect was the conversion of the Lord Mordant and confirmation of his Lady Whereupon a Secular-Priest Chaloner in a jeer to Beaumond bids him beware of coming to Drayton for fear that Usher foil him again These Lawes are enacted this Session
That the Supream power of England is immediately invested only in the people and their Representatives and had Voted therefore that all Committees which before consisted of Lords and Commons should have power to Act though the Lords joyn not herein After much debate the Commons resolved that the House would not agree with their Lordships This day Friday 19. of Ian. the King was brought from Windsor to St. Iames's And the Argument of the people thus long a hammering was perfected by the Commonwealth of the Army at White-hall and presented to the House of Commons by Sir Hardress Waller and 16. Officers Nay more there came a Woman-witch out of Hartfordshire who justified the Armies proceedings by her Revelations from God which was well accepted of the Council as coming from an humble spirit and her advice taken as very seasonable The Commons House being possessed of this great power as great as they list to take erect a new Tribunal for Tryal of the King which is called the high Court of Iustice and so to gain reverence from the Name over which are appointed 150. Judges or Tryers that so in number they might represent the people who are impowered to Convent Hear Iudge and Execute Charls Stuart King of England Into this number are Elected Members of both Houses and others of neither men of several conditions and professions Nay if it were necessary to prove it it was reported for truth there was one man and No-man or rather of double Sex an Hermophrodite But amongst the number were six Earls of the upper House the Judges of the Kingdom Commanders of the Army Members of the Commons and no Members of the City of London of Lawyers nay of several Trades and Professions And all these supposed themselves to deserve much for this desperate enterprize and twenty of them made up the Quorum Little regard is had of the higher House unless of a few Lords whose Authority there was deemed sufficient for Acting Yet when the Vote of the Commons House against the King was carried up there were unwittingly 17. Lords and the major part refused to assent and did reject the Vote as not grounded upon Law Hereupon such Lords which were to be Tryers of the King are expunged the Roll. And afterwards the Judges of the Kingdom are put out as deeming That it was against the received Laws of England that the King should be brought to tryal But on they go and appoint Mr. Iohn Bradshaw lately made Serjeant at Law to be President of the Court and one Cook to be Sollicitor The Presbyterian Ministers now too late declaim against it many more of other Sects by their Sermons Conference Protestations and Remonstrances publish and beseech That against the dreadful tyes of so many Oaths against the publick and private faith backed by Declarations and promises against the Law of the Land against the more sacred Dictates of divine Scripturâ— and Religion nay against the good of the Common-wealth they would not distain their own hands and the Kingdom with the Kings blood The English Nobility offer themselves Pledges on the Kings behalf and universally the people murmur but in vain The 19. Ian. the Scotish Commissioners delivered some Papers and a Declaration from the Parliament of Scotland wherein they express a dislike of the present proceedings against the King and declare That the Kingdom of Scotland have an undoubted interest in the person of the King who was not delivered to the English Commissioners at Newcastle for the ruine of his person but for more speedy settlement of the peace of his Kingdoms That they extreamly dissent and declare against the Tryal of him in regard of the great miseries that are like to ensue upon the Kingdoms And crave leave to make their personal addresses to the King The like Papers and desires were presented to the Gâ—neral and these were publick But we have met with a Scotish Paper of privacie belike from the other Faction and it was intercepted by our English Army it was intituled Instructions sent to the Scotish Commissioners from the Parliament of Scotland To use in your amplification the same mentioned in your Letter that it seemed not to import by proofe of any violence used against the Parliament or any member thereof That you have address to such Lords and Commons as are our friends and not ill-affected to the honest party That your amplifications be so concise that they give no occasion of offence That nothing proceed from you justifying the Kings proceedings Nothing in approbation of the late engagement Nothing which may import a breach or give or be a ground of a new War That they would delay to meddle with the Kings person according to their several promises and Declarations at Newcastle and at Holmby If they procâ—ed and pronounce sentence against the King that you enter your dissent and protest that this Kingdom may be free of the miseries which unevitably will follow without offering in your reasons that Princes are exempted from Tryal and Iustice. That none in this Parliament had or hath had any hand in any the proceedings of the Army against the King and Members of Parliament If they proceed then to shew the calamities that will follow and how grievous it will be to this Kingdom considering his delivering up at Newcastle If the Papers called the Engagement of the people be passed and shall import any thing anent the Processing of the Prince the changing of the Fundamental Government of the Kingdom that you enter your dissent You shall alter these Instructions or mannage your trust therein by the advice of our friends there To prosecute your instructions anenâ— the Covenant and against the toleratio To shew that the Kings last Concessions are insatisfactory to ours in point of Religion But all these Scotish tricks on either side signified little not to frighten Resolutions for the Actors in England arm themselves with pretensions of Gods providence and impulsions of the holy Spirit some there were even in the Pulpit bids them Courage that the time was come that the Saints of the earth should binde Kings and their Nobles with chains of iron and not to doubt but that the Prophesie belongs to them And in the Pulpit another with bended knees tears and hands lift up in the name of the people of England earnestly beseeching they would execute justice against Charls and not suffer Benhadad their Enemy to go away in safety raging and railing against Monarchy one expounds the story of the Trees in chusing a King when the Vine and Olive refused that Office underwent the harsher government of the Bramble After sundry meetings of the 38. Commissioners in the Painted Chamber at Westminster they had prepared all things expedient for the Tryal and the high Court of Justice was framed at the upper end of Westminster Hall the place of the two Courts Chancery and Kings-Bench were ordered into one and all