against a most obstinately-desperate bloudy enemy people that had put themselves out of all hopes of favour or mercy by acting the most bloudy Tragedie that ever hath been seen or related in that their universal Massacre of the English yet recent in memory There remained now onely Limerick Waterford and some few inconsiderable Garisons to be reduced which being done they might finde leasure to hunt the wilde Irish who were fled for refuge among their Boggs This was left to the charge of Ireton whom the Lord Governour having constituted Lord Deputy he takes leave of Ireland and committing himself to the Sea arrived safely after a boisterous passage at Bristol where he was received with a thrice-repeated Volley of great Guns and other suitable demonstrations of joy Hence without tarrying he posts for London drawing neer Hounslow-Heath he is there met by the Lord General Fairfax accompanied by many Members of Parliament and Officers of the Army with multitudes that came out of curiosity to see him of whom Fame had made such a loud report Hence after mutual salutations congratulations and other testimonies of high respect he proceeds on and passing neer Hide-park-corner he is saluted with great Guns and several Volleys of small Shot by Colonel Barkstead's Regiment which was drawn up in the High-way for that purpose Continuing thus their march multitudes increasing to behold him the Lord Cromwel is conducted to the house called the Cock-pit neer St. James which had been appointed and prepared for him Here he was visited by the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London and by many other persons of quality all of them expressing their own and the Nations great obligations to him for his great Services in Ireland After some time of respite and refreshment he attended his charge in Parliament where the Speaker in an elegant Speech gave him the thanks of the House Which being ended the Lord Cromwel gave them an account of the present state of Ireland and of the condition of their Forces both in Field and Garison with what designes they were now upon what strength the Enemy had and what Garisons were then in their power The Parliament being thus assured of the hopeful condition of Ireland began now wisely to provide for the security of the peace of England which was now in danger of disturbance partly by open Hostility and partly by the under-hand dealing of some pretended friends Portugal protects Prince Rupert's Fleet notwithstanding the League France domineers at Sea making prize of all the English they could bring under their power About this time the Parliament sends Dr. Dorislaus as an Agent to the States of the United Provinces for the begetting and continuance of a right understanding and fair correspondence betwixt the two Republicks where not long after his arrival he was basely slain by six Assassinates who rushed into his lodgings at the Hague in disguise and escaped unpunished although the States pretended they had used their utmost endeavour to take them In Russia the English Merchants were much affronted by that Duke by reason of his adherence to the House of Stuarts Virginia and the Caribes Islands revolted from their obedience to the Parliament being very hot for Monarchy and the Liturgie Nearer home Scilly Jersey and the Isle of Man stand out and miserably infest the Seas with their Piracie But above all the Scots were the most formidable who seemed to set their wits on the tenters that so they might embroyl England in new troubles and thereby have opportunity to work their ends upon it To this end a Treaty is commenced betwixt them and their King at Breda a famous Town in the Netherlands belonging to the Prince of Orange Here they propose 1. That his Majestie recal and disclaim all Commissions and Declarations granted by him to the prejudice of the Covenant 2. That he acknowledge their present Parliament and the two last Sessions thereof and allow of the Acts made therein 3. They remonstrate the Motives contained in the eleventh Instruction meaning Vxbridge-Treaty 4. That as soon as he comes into Scotland and before his admission to the exercise of Royal power he shall swear subscribe and seal the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant Their King having assented and promised in verbo Principis to perform these things the Commissioners had order to let him see the Coronation-Oath he was to take which he approving they were to invite him into Scotland assuring him that he should be entertained there with all due respect To all which things the King at last condescended partly by the perswasion of the Prince of Orange at whose cost and charges the Treaty was both begun and continued and partly upon hopes that by this means he might gain the easier footing in England The Scots being now impatient of the enjoyment of their King presence he in order to their satisfaction herein hastes from Breda towards the Hague and from thence to Scheveling where he took shipping and not long after landed notwithstanding several snares laid for him at the Spey in the North of Scotland The Parliament in England were not ignorant of these things they having faithful Scouts abroad in the world who failed not to give them timely notice of the machinations of their enemies in all quarters And taking the matter into consideration in the House a great debate there was VVhether the war for that there must be a war betwixt us and our dear Brethren was taken for granted should be Offensive or Defensive As to the later the Defensive part they were very sensible of the havock the Scots had formerly made in the North of England when they came in as friends so that should they be suffered to come in as enemies nothing could be expected to follow but ruine and desolation wheresoever they came Hamilton's Invasion likewise stuck in their stomacks and the devastations that accompanied it Besides it was considered that to let them give the first blow had been to make our own Country the seat of war and thereby an opportunity would be given to discontented spirits here which then were not a few to joyn with the enemy Upon these and other weighty considerations the Parliament resolves upon an Offensive war and to alarm them in their own Quarters This Resolution was thought most advantageous in many respects as 1. Scotland the Enemies Country must needs be much impoverished by being burdened with two Armies when it could not well maintain one and England would be quit of much fear and calamity incident to quartering of Armies Besides in all encounters it is good policie to keep an adversary at the arms end 2. By invading Scotland the Souldiery would be much encouraged in respect of the benefit might accrue to them by the spoils of their enemies Hereby also the Territories of this Commonwealth were likely to be enlarged 3. The Scots Levies were not yet finished nor their Army completed so that a sudden march might nip them
the Commonwealth of England and hath exercised actual Hostility by commissionating Pyrates to spoil the ships and goods belonging thereto to these not the least violence or injury should be offered either in body or goods or if any should happen that upon complaint made redress and satisfaction should immediately be had Wherefore they desire all persons to abide in their habitations assuring them to enjoy what they had without disturbance No sooner was this penned but copies thereof were sent into Scotland and the Country-people that kept Market at Berwick had their pockets stuffed with them to carry home and disperse among their neighbours What good effects this course produced we shall see hereafter when the Army enters their borders The Lord General having used this expedient to undeceive the Scots and to procure their good opinion of him and his Army considered that all would not be convinced thereby the Sword not the Pen must perswade many of them wherefore he leaves York and hastes to Northallerton and thence the next day to Darnton As he pass'd by this place the Train of Artillery which was quartered here saluted him with seven Pieces of Ordnance Coming next to Newcastle the Governour Sir Arthur Haslerig received him with noble entertainment Here the Lord General and the Officers of his Army in a solemn manner implored a blessing from heaven upon their present Expedition After which upon due consideration of the affairs of the Army he setled a way for their supply from time to time with provisions This business being dispatched and the general Rendezvous appointed the Lord General leaves Newcastle and posts for Berwick His Forces being all come up he caused a general Rendezvous of them to be on Haggerston-Moor four miles from Berwiek July 20. 1650 the whole Army was drawn into the Field which was no sooner done but the General himself came among them being received with shouting and other signes of joy Having well view'd them he caused both Horse and Foot to be drawn up in Battalia Which being done there appeared a gallant Body of Horse consisting of 5415 bestrid by as many stout and couragious Riders eight complete Regiments of Foot consisting with their Officers of 10249 with the Train of Artillery which consisted of 690 so that the Army in the whole consisted of 16354. A sight most lovely and very desirable to see such an Army of men gallantly accoutred and provided with all necessaries who for approved valour are not to be equal'd commanded by a General whom no example ancient or modern can parallel for Courage and Conduct in a word he was honored in his Army and they happie in their General Being thus in Battalia the General marcheth them about an hundred paces towards Berwick and so dismisseth them to their quarters on the brink of Tweed where we shall leave them for the present expecting their further advance HIS WARS IN SCOTLAND OCcasion might here be taken to admire at the long continued separation that hath been betwixt England and Scotland that notwithstanding they are cohabitants of the same Island yet they should continue distinct Kingdoms for so many Ages together For whereas divers Kingdoms having inferious Dominions in them soon subjected them to their own Rule as in Spain where many Kingdoms are concorporated into one and in our own Nation where the Saxon Heptarchy was long since reduced into a Monarchy yet England and Scotland could never be united under one Head till the Crown of England devolved upon King James Many attempts have been made by several English Kings to reduce Scotland to their obedience Edward the second a King whose greatest honour was to be the son of an Heroick father and father to an incomparable son unfortunately fought the Battel at Bannocks in Scotland where as Holinshed relates was lost Gilbert de Clare Earl of Gloucester 40 Barons 700 Knights and Gentlemen and about 40000 others This defeat was great even the greatest that ever the English received at one time from that Nation But in hopes to wipe away this blur and to salve up this wound the King raised two great Armies for that purpose but with no better success for the first of his Armies was lost for want of courage to fight the last for want of food was forced to retire and in their retreat lost all their Ammunition But what else could be expected from a pusillanimous King who was observed in the former Battel to be the first that fled for it could not be expected that the Souldiers should stand they being bound to follow their leader To reckon up all the Rencoùnters that have happened betwixt the two Nations would be too tedious and stretch this discourse beyond its intended length Yet I shall wade a little in these plashes before I plunge into the Ocean of Cromwels Conquests Henry the seventh a wise and valiant Prince was much disturbed by those two Impostors Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel Warbeck's quarrel was espoused by the Scots but to little purpose for a Peace was soon concluded betwixt the two Kings on condition that Warbeck should be sent packing and that James the fourth the Scots King should marry the Lady Margret King Henry's daughter Great debate was in the Council about this Match some were against it alleadging that in case the Kings issue should fail England would become subject to Scotland But to this the King wisely returned That the weaker must ever bow to the stronger and England being the stronger Scotland must submit This was but discourse for it could not be then imagined the King having two hopeful sons Arthur and Henry that the Lady Margret should be the Royal Stem from whence should spring those Noble branches which were to over-spread both Nations as it afterwards came to pass in King James But notwithstanding the Alliance made by the said Marriage in the days of King Henry the eighth while he was busied with his Wars in France the Scots invade England and were encountred by the Earl of Surrey at Flodden Field where the success remained doubtful a great while but at last the Victory fell to the English who that day slew the Scots King the Bishop of St. Andrews 12 Earls 14 Barons and 12000 Gentlemen and common Souldiers onely with the loss of 1500. at so easie a rate was this great Victory purchased By this and several other Blows King Henry got many of the Scotish Nobility into his custody And considering how their frequent incursions did impede and frustrate his designes abroad he thought it expedient to use a means to beget amity betwixt the Nations to which end he propounded a Match betwixt his son Edward and Mary the young Princess of Scotland This motion found so good acceptance at first that it was concluded upon and ratified by Act of Parliament with a special Instrument under the hands of the Scotish Nobility who by this means having gotten their liberty from restraint soon after quit themselves of their
any of them nor voluntarily afford or cause to be afforded or delivered to any of them any Victuals Provisions Ammunition Arms Horses Plate Money Men or any other Relief whatsoever under pain of High Treason And that all persons should use their utmost endeavours to hinder and stop their March Yet for all this the Scots went on in prosecution of their present designe bending their course by a swift March for the west of England where we will leave them making more hast then good speed and return back again to the Lord Gen. Cromwel He having notice at St. Johnstons that the Scots Army were gone to take up new Quarters in England did immediately settle the Affairs of Scotland in a posture sufficient to secure what was already won and leaving six thousand Horse and Foot more with Lieutenant General Mork to reduce the rest he causes Major General Lambert with five Regiments of Horse and Dragoons to fly away with all possible speed to get into the Rear of the Scots Army whilst Harison was in their Front so to impede their March until himself could get up unto them This being done with the remainder of the Army consisting of eight Regiments of Foot two of Horse and eight great Guns this victorious General marched away leaving Scotland but not the remembrance of his being there and on August 12. he with his Army crossed Tine With this swift March being quite tired out he caused the Army to pitch their Tents on Ryson Haugh upon the brink of Tine himself in the mean time quartering at Stelly House neer unto his Souldiers The Mayor of New-Castle having notice of the Armies being thus neer the Town immediately went forth with the rest of the Magistrates to congratulate the Generals arrival into England And to make themselves welcome to the Souldiers they carried along with them for supply of the Army Bread Cheese Biscet and Beer these Provisions were a great refreshing and inabled the Souldiers with cheerfulness to undertake the future march In the mean time the Scots with their King marched on towards Warrington Bridge where Maj. Gen. Harison resolved to make opposition against them and if possible to hinder their passage over but before they could break down the Bridge the Scots by a swift March from Charley came up and being necessarily engaged they maintained a notable combate with those that offered to withstand them here they had a small brush but could very well afford it for the loss was their gain and so both sides were satisfied with the ingagement for though some of their men fell in the fight yet they had their desire which was to pass over the bridge And now it was the great Question of all whither they intended to bend their course most believed for London being that was the Metropolis of the English Nation a populous City well furnished with a great Magazine of Men and Money the first being the Wheels of War the last the Oyl which makes them turn nimbly about But it seems the Scots looked upon this as too hazardous or else intended onely to take the dimensions of the Land and when that was done to return home again to their own Kingdom However they marched on towards the West shewing all civility to the people as they past along and with such strict Discipline were they governed that as their Army marched through Shropshire a private Souldier for offering to enter an Orchard was by his Officer immediately disbanded with a Bullet By this severity their rough-hewn natures were so polished that if Necessity drove any private Souldier to a door he durst speak no other Language then A Drink of Water But now at last their Peregrination ends at Worcester for coming thither weak and weary with constant duty and hard labour having expected much out finding little they here resolve to take up their Quarters hoping Massey's former services in Gloucestershire and those parts was not quite buried in the Grave of Oblivion But in this they found it otherwise for although they might love his person well yet seeing his parts ingaged against the Grain of the Times it quite alienated the affections of those that otherwise might wish him well The Scotch King with his Army having thus entered Worcester on Friday August the 23. 1651. resolved being he could go no further to tarry there and abide the brunt And therefore in the first place because he would not be wanting in any thing that might conduce to the preservation of himself and forces he caused works to be raised for better security Then he sent forth his Letters Mandatory to Colonel Mackworth Governout of Shrewsbury and likewise to Sir Thomas Middleton to perswade them to raise Forces for him but this proved fruitless so that being now got as it were in a pound there was no way but to make the best of a bad bargain And now the black and dismal clouds began to gather about Worcester which portended a dreadful storm would quickly follow as presently after it did For victorious Cromwel who by delaies never contributed to approaching dangers having refreshed his men neer New-Castle marched away without the least delay or loss of time until he came to joyn with the rest of the Parliaments Forces commanded by Lieutenant General Fleetwood Major General Desborough the Lord Gray of Groby Major General Lambert Major General Harison and besides all these the Militia Forces out of every County were commanded to march away and surround those wretched men at Worcester that so a quick dispatch might be put to the work Never was it known before in England that such great Forces were gathered together in so small a time for the standing Army with the rest of those Forces newly raised by Act of Parliament upon this occasion could not amount to less then eighty thousand But now the Lord General Cromwel being come up and having observed the posture that the Scoth Army lay in began his work with an attempt upon Vpton Bridge there intending if it was possible to pass over his Army this designe was left to Major General Fleetwoods management who presently sent away a small party of Horse and Dragoons to discover how feasible the attempt might be this Party though small proved daring in a desperate attempt for finding the bridge broken down and nothing remaining but onely a Beam of Timber that reached from one Arch to another which through negligence had been left by the Scots these bold Fellows made no more ado but dismounting their Horses one after another rid over on this Wooden Pegasus and presently after having now recovered the other side run themselves into a Church neer to the bridge for security Major General Massey being all this while in Vpton with about 60 Dragoons and 200 Horse lying secure without the least dread of an Enemy imagining it impossible for any to come at him at that time was upon the sudden report of this Exploit so alarmed that in
His Highness Oliuer Lord Protector of the Common Wealth of England Scotland Ireland etc. The Perfect POLITICIAN Or A FULL VIEW Of the LIFE and ACTION Military and Civil OF O. CROMWEL Whereunto is added His CHARACTER AND A Compleat CATALOGUE of all the Honours conferr'd by him on several PERSONS Qui nescit Dissimulare nescit Regnare LONDON Printed by J. Cottrel for William Roybould at the Unicorn and Henry Fletcher at the three Gilt â—â—lips in St. Paul's Church yard 1660. To the PEOPLE of England My dear Country-men THe ensuing History properly belongeth to you in a double respect First Because it was your Blood and Treasure that raised the subject of this ' Discourse to Supremacie Then Secondly your Backs bore the Burthen of his Greatness therefore it 's fit that once again you look back and view with a full aspect this Gentleman General Politician and Protector To limn him to the Life in all these Colours is too much for one Pencil therefore I onely present you the Epitome of great Cromwels Actions from his home near Huntington tâ— his Tomb in Westminster The work is not unlike Homers Iliads in a nut-shel yet may it serve for a Memento of our ever-to-be-lamented unnatural divisions The main scope of this Discourse is a continued series of Tragical Scoenes with Comical Interludes lately acted in England Ireland and Scotland herein I indeavor to keep pace with Truth so near as possibly it may be traced My aim is Moderation as the surest way to hit Affection therefore have I chosen it before partiality or egregious Encomiums which do not become an Historian for Flattery is meer folly no better I am sure can it seem to the sight of a wise man who knows that Panegyricks must profit the maker or else the same Quill will again drop Gall in a Satyrical strain upon his reputation My Indeavors herein I doubt not will render some profit to the Reader though much pleasure cannot be expected when the Theme is nothing else but boxing about of Governments as men do Balls in a Tennis-Court Countrey-men Read over this small Manual and then consider how finely you have fought your selves into LIBERTY Vale. I. S. Reader Correct these few material erratas following which accidentally have escaped the Press and if any literal happen to cross thy way let thy pen rectifie the mistake Page line 73. 5. for hand read hands 269. 28. for 1654. read 1659. THE LIFE and DEATH OF His late Highness OLIVER Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland Ireland His actions in the Wars of England IT is very well known that he was of an honourable Extraction and had suitable Education He was born at Huntingdon and bred up in the famous University of Cambridge where whilst he was a Student there wanted not some Presages of his future Greatness neither was he then so much addicted to Speculation as to Action as was observed by his Tutor After a good Proficiencie in the University he came to London where he betook himself to the study of the Law in Lincolns-Inne that nothing might be wanting to make him a complete Gentleman and a good Commonwealths-man His Country was not unsensible of his great Endowments for when the necessities of those times compelled the late King to call that Parliament in the year 1640 truly surnamed The long he was elected by them to serve as a Member therein And now God being displeased with England for the abuse of a long continued Peace and the blessings thereof and determining to punish the inhabitants thereof for the same he sent an evil spirit of Division betwixt the King and that Parliament They complaining of his evil Counsel and He of their Jealousies and Fears which Division being industriously fomented by Incendiaries soon brake forth into the flame of open Hostility both parties pretending one and the same Cause of Quarrel But to that which is chiefly intended No sooner had the Drum and Trumpet summoned the Nation to Arms but Cromwel was alarmed who tam Marte quam Mercurio neglecting the softness of a Sedentary betook himself to a Martial employment and immediately raised a Troop of Horse for the Parliament among his neighbours at his own charge The University of Cambridge being not far off him and the place of his Education he had a special regard thereto and knowing that Universities of all places might be most addicted to the Kings interest esteeming Parliaments and this especially the greatest depressers of Ecclesiastical Dignity in hope of which they are there nurtured to put the matter out of doubt he secured it for the Parliament and that in the nick of time when a large quantity of the University-Plate was about to be conveyed to the King then at Oxford And so industrious was he in the Cause he had now newly undertaken that hearing Sir Thomas Connesby high-Sheriff of Hertford-shire was at the Town of St. Albans on a Matket-day there to proclaim the Parliament and their General the Earl of Essex Traytors according to the Kings Proclamation to that purpose he unexpectedly rusheth into the Town takes the Sheriff and sends him up to the Parliament Being thus blest with a Troop he augments his Strength making it up a thousand Horse whose Riders being stout and valiant he took a course to preserve by Arming them cap-a-pe after the manner of the German Crabats whence in those days he was commonly stiled Iron-sides Being thus re-inforced he marcheth into the County of Suffolk and having intelligence that above fourty Commanders Knights and Gentlemen were at Lowerstoft contriving an Association of Norfolk and Suffolk for the King he with such secresie and celerity enters the Town that he surpriseth them all Having setled the affairs of the Associated Counties firmly for the Parliament he marcheth towards Newark and blocks up that Garison and finding a party of the Newarkers neer Grantham he sought them in which Encounter though he wanted of equality in number yet he so far out-went his enemy in courage and resolution that he put them to flight himself giving the first Onset About Newark he spent not much time but advanceth with the Earl of Manchester for the re-inforcement of the Siege of York which was then beleaguered by the Scotish General Lesley assisted by Sir Thomas Fairfax and a conjunction of other Forces in the North. Cromwel had not been long there but Prince Rupert approacheth with a great Army to raise the Siege Upon certain intelligence whereof the Generals draw off the Siege to fight him well knowing that if they won the day that City would follow as an Appendix to the Victory The Princes Scouts informing him that the Siege was raised he sent a party of Horse to face Lesly on Hessam-Moor and in the mean time enters York with two thousand Horse carrying with him all things needful for the relief of the Garison which having done he seemingly made toward Tadcaster but soon returned again into
exemplary No sooner was this considerable place reduced to obedience but Cromwel immediately marcheth Northwards with all speed possible to disperse that black cloud which threatned to send a scotch Mist upon those parts of England Being at Gloucester he acquaints the Parliament with the necessities of the Armie which was no sooner done but immediately supplies were sent to the great encouragement of the Souldiery Cromwel having joyned with Lambert who then attended Hamiltons Motions and retarded his Marches their united Forces made an Army in all of 8600 strong too weak in outward appearance to grapple with 21000 men but considering the courage and resolution of the Souldiers they were sufficient to do the business as it proved at last Cromwel finding an opportunity to correct the Scotch for their insolent rapine resolves to do it and drive them home or die in the attempt At Preston in Lancashire his forlorn consisting of 200 Horse and 400 Foot first engaged after them Cromwel himself brought up the main Battle in as good a posture as the Ground would bear which being inclosure and mirie Ground was inconvenient for Horse he fought them through a durty Lane and forc'd them to seek shelter in the Hedges near at hand which proved but a poor defence against the rage of Cromwels men After four hours dispute they were driven into Preston with the victorious Souldiers at their heels who presently cleared the streets The Duke finding the place too hot for his cold Constitution retreates over the Bridge with as many Horse and Foot as could follow him but his shirking away would not serve the turn they must first give an account of their business before the pass could be granted which at last they had signed sealed and delivered At the Bridge was the greatest piece of service where extraordinary courage was shewn on both sides but especially Cromwel and his Men imitating the Discipline of the ancient English with Swords in hand rushed into the thickest of their Enemies pelting them to death at a distance they looked on rather as a signe of cowardise then courage the Scotch not being well acquainted with that manner of Discipline did not like this rough handling and therefore betake themselves to their heels accounting that the safest way to save their lives but this shift fail'd them for Cromwel was as nimble in pursuit as resolute in fight Lieutenant-General Bayly finding smart blows on his back when he dared not turn his face being driven into Warrington Town there capitulates to deliver himself and four thousand with him prisoners at War which was immediately done VVe should here remember the Exployts of Hamilton himself if he had done any but more like a Duck then a Duke and General of an Army he flees away to Vttoxeter whither being pursued he was there taken prisoner by Col. Waite and about 3000 Horse with him He being soon after brought to London and not long after that to a Tryal for his Invasion this was one of his Plea's to his Charge That he was invited But he found very sorry entertainment for after he had been thus shamefully beaten he with others was adjudged to lose his head This great Battle was very considerable in many respects as to the Victory it self 2000 being slain on the several places and near upon 10000 prisoners taken one hundred Colours with all their bag and baggage then it conduced much to the carrying on the Parliaments Designes at that time and withal left no hope of relief for those stout hearts that so obstinately defended Colchester whose designes although they were against the times yet 't was an Honour for the Nation that it could produce such Men. Cromwel after this Victory being yet reeking hot with the slaughter of the Scots at Preston posts away to acquaint Monro who was then come into England as a reserve to the Duke with a considerable Force what was become of Hamilton and his great Army which was reputed so formidable that it 's very name terrified at a distance Monro having notice of his coming had learnt so much wit in Germany whilst he was in great Gustavus his service as to fight with none but them that were of his match and knowing the English would be too hard for him he withdraws back again into Scotland where presently after he was disbanded Cromwel having thus rid the whole Nation in general of a great fear and eased the North in particular of that sad burden they groaned under by the Plunder and Oppression of the Scots Army prosecutes his Victory to the utmost entring into Scotland it self In his vvay he reduced Barwick and Carlisle to their former obedience both being delivered on composition Before his entrance into Scotland he drew the Army to a Randezvouze on the Banks of Tweede and caused Proclamation to be made at the head of every Regiment of Horse and Foot that on the pain of death no Cattle nor Goods should be forc'd from the Scotch people by any of his Souldiers in their March without an especial order but that in all things they should demean themselves civilly in their March and Quarters not giving offence to any such care had this great Captain to observe the same Discipline in Scotland which before was established in England So taking his way directly for Edinburgh he was met by many of the Scotish Nobility and Gentry from the Committee of Estates with congratulatory Orations in honour of his worthy Atchievements acknowledging that his presence would conduce much to the settlement of their distracted Kingdom Being thus arrived at Edenburgh he was received with great demonstrations of joy and lodged in the Earl of Murray's House to him resorted the Lord Chancellor of that Kingdom the Earls of Leven Arguile Cassil the Lords Burley Wariston and David Lesley with many other persons of honour both of the Nobility and Gentry The Lord Provest with several eminent Citizens came to welcome him thither and present their service to him When these Visits were over he desired the Committee of Estates to seclude out of publick Office all that had any hand in or did in the least promote Hamiltons late Invasion To which the Committee condescended making this request withall being fearful of themselves and doubting new stirs might arise after the departure of the English Army that the General would leave some Forces with them which might be ready to quell any Insurrections promising that when they had raised a Force sufficient for their own defence then they would dismiss them and return them again to their own Country This was yeelded unto and Major General Lambert an experienced Souldier with three Regiments of Horse was appointed for the service Now things standing in this posture to the content of both parties the Scots invited Cromwel and the chief Officers of the Army to the Castle of Edenburgh whither they all went in Coaches and were highly treated at a Banquet prepared for them At their departure the great
by reason of their long continuance from their Callings could not possibly set themselves to work and therefore must use their Swords to the best advantage either upon some new employment or exercise arms on the High-way Our new State being very sensible of this as they were not onely vigilant to see but careful in preventing all inconveniences that might happen found out a way to divert these ill Humours that lay lurking in the Body of the Nation by sending them to Ireland where they might do GOD and their Country good service in subduing the Rebels that now were grown so powerful that no place but London-derry and Dublin it self were able to withstand them nor they neither without speedy succours from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody of any that ever broke out in any part of the world acted by Devils in humane shape rather then by men murthering no less then 200000 Protestants in two Months time without any regard either to Age or Sex was put in practise on the 23 day of October 1641. which though it had been contrived with such privacie and acted with such violence yet Divine Providence did wonderfully preserve Dublin to be a Refuge for such as escaped thither from other places to avoid the fury of their bloody Persecutors Now Ireland lying in this sad condition weltring in blood and overwhelmed in the greatest Misery that Fire and Sword could inflict many of the poor Protestants get into England hoping there to finde shelter from the persecuting Enemy but this proved little comfort to those distressed Souls for here they finde to the great Augmentation of their Grief that England prepares on all sides to act the same upon one another vvhich had been done against them in Ireland But although the difference between the King and Parliament grew vvider every day then other they endeavouring rather to get advantages then compose differences yet 't was so agreed that some Regiments should be sent over into Ireland to stop the proceedings of the Rebels vvhich in effect vvas but as a Bucket of vvater cast on a flaming House that could do little to the quenching of it After some time the King in England finding his strength every day more and more decrease and the Parliament to get ground of him in most places did not onely send for those Forces out of Ireland again but many of the Rebels themselves came to his assistance so that Ireland by this vvas in a vvorse condition then ever forsaken of all and left to be vvorried by those Blood-thirsty Wolves vvorse by a thousand degrees then the ravenous brood vvhich their Country produceth yet vvhen their condition was at the worst it pleased GOD vvho never fails his People in distress but makes their necessity his opportunity to stir up the Parliament in England vvith Bowels of compassion to look on the distresses of their Brethren Long had they fasted and prayed for them but did not add to it their helping hand one vvithout the other can never do much good but joyned together a small Force is sufficient to accomplish great Designes A desperate disease requires a desperate Cure The State-Physitians of England having now quite purged out Monarchy vvith all its Appendants and verified the words of Bishop Laud No Bishop no King the first with the Ceremonies of the Church being fallen quickly after came the other down also they resolve to send the same sharp medicine to cure the Bleeding VVounds of Ireland which they thought had cured England and to that end they send over an Army under the Command of Valiant Cromwel vvhose Actions there vve now come to HIS WARS IN IRELAND A General ought to have these four Properties to make him Victorious 1. A good Cause 2. Strict Discipline 3. Valour and Resolution 4. Lastly Celerity For the first none but the Papists will deny it for the rest no man in the world could shew more Valour and Resolution nor Prudence to govern it then General Cromwel A strict Discipline he ever observed which is the Life of an Army sparing none that transgrest against the Articles of War which were instituted for their better conduct His Souldiers carriage and behaviour through their Generals care won more then his Sword A Designe being once resolved upon usually himself was the Messenger to bring the Enemy tidings thereof and then he would hardly give them leave to Arm before he assaulted them either by Storm or Battel This made the old Emperour of Germany say to some of his Courtiers upon his hearing of News from England That he thought Cromwel by transmigration was possest with the Spirit of Gustavus his old Enemy so neer did their actings in the Wars agree Ireland to speak of its condition a little before he undertook his expedition thither was in a manner wholly reduced by Ormond formerly made Lord-Deputy by the Queen who having joyned his Forces to the Rebels and Inchequeen himself being now fallen off from that cause which before he stoutly defended no visible Force remained in the Field to oppose the Enemy who had the Kingdom wholly at their devotion except London-derry which was governed by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the chief City wherein was Col. Michael Jones with no great Force and that which made it less was the suspition he had of his own Souldiers fidelity who many times deserted their Colours The Enemy with a numerous Army lay under the VValls of it with many menacing Summons requiring of them a speedy rendition yet through the vigilancy of the Governour Valiant Jones it held out to the confusion of the Besiegers But his present danger made him reiterate his Calls to the Parliament in England for speedy Aid of Men and Provisions alleadging that else all would be lost and they being sensible of his condition expedite their Assistance appointing Com. Gen. Ireton Col. Scroop Col. Horton Major Gen. Lambert with their four Regiments of Horse Col. Ewers Col. Cook Col. Huson and Col. Dean with theirs of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old Souldiers of the English Army whose Valour had often been tried in many sharp Encounters and found not to fear the countenance of the fiercest Enemy Besides these other Regiments were raised by beat of Drum to make up the number sufficient to carry on the VVork effectually The Souldiers being in readiness and nothing wanting but a General the Parliament having had experience of Cromwels great worth and valour knowing no man more fitting for the Employment desired him to accept of it who received it with a great deal of chearfulness expressing how ready he was to serve in this Employment above any in the world not doubting but GOD would make of him an Instrument to execute Vengeance upon the Rebellious Irish This answer was so highly resented by the Parliament that immediately they constitute him General of all their Forces in that Kingdom and Lord Governour both as to Civil and Military Affairs in
the Nation Col. Jones they commissionated Lieutenant-General of the Horse This being done the Souldiers march with great speed not resting above one night in a place to the Randezvous near Milford in Wales there to expect the Lord Deputy Cromwel who having dispatched his business with the Parliament began his Journey Tuesday July 10 1649. leaving London he set forward in great state himself drawn in a Coach with six Flanders Mares attended by many Members of the Parliament and Councel of State with the chiefest Officers of the Army his Life-guard consisting of eighty men which had been formerly Commanders bravely mounted and accouter'd both themselves and Servants Thus he rid to Branford where those Gentlemen that accompanied him took leave wishing a successful issue to this designe which was answered again with great respect Away he posts for Bristol to take order for the Traine of Artillery and many other businesses needful for the hastning his men on Ship-board From thence he takes his way to Wales having before sent three Regiments viz. Col. Reynolds of Horse Col. Venables and Col. Muncks of Foot these as the Vaunt-Coureurs to the Army were ship'd from Chester and the Ports thereabout who being favoured with a prosperous Gale soon arrived at the Port of Dublin where they were received with unspeakable Joy and Gladness the Citizens spared for nothing that might be a comfort to the Sea-sick Souldiers hoping that the recovery of their Health might be an enlargement of their Liberties vvho now vvere vvholly confined within the narrow compass of their City-walls They were not at all deceived in their expectation Jones his courage being much heightned by the arrival of these men novv scorned the Enemies Bravadoes and resolves upon the first opportunity by Gods blessing to remove them farther off which it was not long before he performed as appears by what follows On Tuesday August 2. 1649. the Enemy confidently draws down vvith a party of 1500 Foot besides Horse to Baggotsrold a place within one quarter of a Mile Eastward of the City upon the Sea hence they intended to run their trenches towards the City-works and thereby secure those Forts which were intended to be made towards the water to hinder the landing of supplies and succours expected from England But Jones and Reynolds with those other Commanders in the City observing the intent of the Enemy saw a necessity to interrupt them in their designe and therefore speedily drawing out twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot they with these quickly enter the works which the Enemy had newly raised and fell upon them with so much courage that they routed their Horse at the first charge the greatest part of the Foot were soon after cut in pieces and most of the rest taken prisoners This success so heated Jones his Men that they followed the chase to Rathmines where Ormond's Camp was and there they engaged his whole Army consisting of 19000 Men. The report of this bold Attempt quickly reached the General Ormond's Ears who then like a doughty Commander was valiantly playing at Tables in his own Tent and being told the news wished the Rebels as he called them would come that so he might have sport with them His wish he had but not the wished effect for the Tables are soon turned the sport proving very bad and bloody to Ormonds whole Army who were totally routed with a very great slaughter 4000 killed in the fight and chase 2517 prisoners taken most of them men of quality amongst the rest Ormonds own Brother All their great Guns Ammunition Provision they left behind them and withall a rich Camp to reward the valiant Souldiers who with the spoil thereof quickly clothed themselves in rich Habits and so marched into the City as it were incognito for many of the Officers knew not their own Souldiers they were grown so fine This Victory was obtained with the loss of few the number not exceeding twenty The News of this great Victory quickly reached the Lord Governour Cromwel at Milford Haven who was then shipping himself and Army August the 13 he set sail from thence with thirty two ships wherein vvas the Van of the Army on the 15 day Major-General Ireton followed after vvith the Body shipped in forty two sail Mr. Hugh Peters brought up the Reare in about twenty sail The Winds being favourable quickly brought them to Dublin where they were received vvith all the signes of Joy imaginable the great Guns ecchoed forth their vvelcome and the peoples Acclamations resounded in every street When Cromwel the now Lord Governour vvas come into the City the concourse of people being very great to see him vvhom before they had heard so much of at a convenient place he made a stand and in an humble posture having his Hat in his Hand he speaks thus to the people That as God had brought him thither in safety so he doubted not but by his Divine Providence to restore them all to their just Liberties and Proprieties and that all those whose hearts affections were real for the carrying on of the great work against the barbarom and bloody-thirsty Irish and the rest of their Adherents and Confederates for the propagating of the Gospel of Christ the establishing of Truth and Peace and restoring that bleeding Nation to its former happiness and tranquillitie should finde favour and protection from the Parliament of England and himself and withal should receive such endowments and gratuities as should be answerable to their Merits This Speech was highly applauded by the people and answer returned by many hundreds That they would live and dye with him The Army being all vvafted over the General knowing that vvithout Gods blessing his labour vvould be in vain therefore to obtain it he published a Proclamation strictly forbidding all persons under his Command to use the frequent practise of swearing cursing and drunkenness declaring a full resolution to punish with the greatest severity that the Law could inflict all those that should neglect or contemn the same This vvrought a great Reformation many taking vvarning by the punishment of some The Army being now refreshed and the Lord-Governour having settled the Affairs of the City both Military and Civil he draws the Army out of Dublin to a general Muster vvhere appeared a compleat Body of 15000 Horse and Foot out of these were drawn twelve Regiments containing in number between 9 or 1000 stout resolute Men for the present Expedition This Army being provided vvith all things necessary either for Offence or Defence drawing along vvith them a gallant traine of Artillery four vvhole Cannon and five Demy-cannons besides other Pieces useful either for a Siege or the field the Lord-Governour marches them away and quickly seats himself under the Walls of Tredagh Here he finds a most resolute enemy that vvould sooner break then bend the Governour of the Town vvas Sir Arthur Ashton vvho had formerly been Governour of Reading and Oxford in England for the King a
Souldier he vvas that vvould not be complemented out of his Garison nothing â—ut force must do the fear With him vvere about 3000 Horse and Foot most of them English Observing the Rules of War Cromwel sent them a Summons vvhich was slighted and looked upon rather as a formality then that he did believe to have the Town upon it This taking no effect the Lord-Governour orders all things for a quick dispatch of the Siege Aiscough's ships block them up by Sea on the Land the vvhite Flag vvas taken in and the Red Ensigne displayed before the Town to denounce blood and destruction vvithout a speedy rendition This did not much frighten the besieged vvho expected succour from Ormond and besides they vvere unanimous in this resolution To expire vvith the Town vvhich they did shortly after for now a strong Battery being planted it quickly levelled the Steeple of a Church so that it could not properly be called a Steeple-House on the South side the Town and a Tower by it The next day the Battery continuing after two or three hundred shot made the corner Tower between the East and South-wall vvas beaten down and two breaches made vvhich vvere quickly entred by Col. Husons Ewers and Castle 's Regiments of Foot the breaches being not wide enough to admit the Horse to enter vvith them Here the height of Valour vvas shewn on both sides they grappling vvith each other at the Swords point the Assailants fighting for the Town and the Defenders for their Lives vvhich indeed vvill make a coward fight though he fear to look upon the blows he gives the breaches vvere not more couragiously assaulted then valiantly defended the Enemy within gallantly charging those that entered driving them back again vvith more speed then they came in Cromwel all this vvhile standing at the Battery and perceiving his Mens retreat draws out a fresh reserve of Col. Ewers his Foot and in person enters vvith them once more into the Town The example of their General vvith the shame of the former repulse so animated the Souldiers that none vvere able to stand in their vvay and having now got sure footing in the Town they spare none but put all they met vvith to the Sword But though the town vvas thus vvon it vvas not vvholly subdued for Ashtons men desperately disputed every corner of the streets making the Assailants vvin vvhat they had by inches and at last the streets proving too hot they betook themselves to the Churches and Steeples and other places of shelter in St. Peters Church-steeple were got about one hundred vvho there resolved to sell their lives at as dear a rate as possibly they could but they vvere all soon blown up vvith Gun-powder onely one man escaped by leaping from the Tower the Wind being favourable to him he onely broke his leg by the fall which the Souldiers seeing took him up and gave him quarter In other places they were summoned to yeeld which they refusing presently strong Guards were put upon them to prevent their succour that so they might be starved out vvhich device vvas so effectual that it made them soon yeeld to the Conquerers Mercy vvhich vvas but small for all the Officers vvith the tenth man of the Souldiery vvere presently killed and the rest thrust on ship-board for Barbadoes The Governour had his share also making an end both of his Life and Government together This Town vvas the most considerable that ever Cromwel came before if we respect the stout resistance made by its Garison and how much the having of this place might conduce to the reducing of all Ireland and though the attempt was bloody Cromwel himself giving command not to spare any one that should be found in Arms yet Cruelty could not be laid to his charge for like a Politick State-Physitian he here opens one Vein to preserve the vvhole Body of the Nation from a lingering War and by this course likewise he vvrought such a terrour in the Enemy that ever after he made but short vvork of any Siege and in small time reduced the whole Nation The report of this great slaughter quickly flies away to Trim and Dundalk the two next Garisons which put them into such a pannick fear that they quitted the Towns in Trim their haste vvas so great that they left their great Guns behinde them on the Platforms Not long after this service vvas over the Lord-Governour knowing this stroak vvas as it vvere given upon the Lungs and that a sprightly prosecution would quickly beat the Enemy out of breath he resolves to make use of the present opportunity Now his quarters vvere so much enlarged by his good success Northwards to the end he may get Elbow-room on both sides of Dublin he marches the Army Westward to attacque Wexford In his March a place called Killingkerick about 14 miles from Dublin vvas quitted and a company of Cromwels Army put into it so likewise was Arcklo-Castle the seat of Ormonds Family Besides these many other places in their March submitted Octob. 1. the Army fac'd Wexford and required the Governor Col. David Synnot to make a speedy surrender thereof His answer was very doubtful as to his intentions which occasioned many papers to pass betwixt him and the Lord Cromwel This delay of the Governour was purposely used to protract time until the the Earl of Castle-haven had entered into the Town 500 Foot to strengthen the Garison The Governour having received these recruits resolves now to stand to it as long as he could seeming to contemn the Force that lay against him Near the South-East end of the Town is seated the Castle upon that Cromwel bends his greatest Force knowing that the gaining thereof would be the Towns reducement Which fell out to be true For many Peals of great shot were not plaid upon it but the Governors stomack fell down to a rendition The Souldiers being now possest of the Castle and shewing themselves from thence struck such a terrible Fear into them in the Town that they quitted the Walls which Cromwel's Souldiers perceiving in a trice they clapt to their scaling Ladders and stormed without any great resistance Being thus entered the Tovvn none vvas suffered to breath that vvas found in Arms and so cutting their vvay through the Streets they came to the Market-place where the Enemy as if the blood had returned to the heart now at the last gasp most manfully fought for some time This sharp encounter lasted not long before they were quite broken and all that were found in Arms put to the Sword The reducement of this place was of great consequence to the Conquerers being a Port-Town and very convenient to receive supplies from England From thence the Army march to Rosse a strong Town situate upon the Barrow and far more considerable for Navigation then Wexford the River admitting a Ship of seven or eight hundred Tun to ride by the Wall Of this place Major General Taaff was Governour who had
English as would wash them out of their Country if not out of the world and to make sure work imagining they had them now in a Pound they being well acquainted with the Country set a strong Guard upon the Pass at Copperspeith a place where ten stout men may obstruct the passage of fourty thereby to intercept or hinder all provisions or relief from Berwick or perhaps to hinder the English from running away lest any thing should be wanting to compleat their imagined neer approaching Victory For as a late ingenious * R H. his discourse of England Author hath it writing upon this subject The Scots from those high hills that encompassed this sickly remnant and which they had possessed themselves of look down on the English as their sure prey But as the same Author goes on how much better had they done had they levelled those mountains which surrounded their wretched enemies and which proved such sleight defences against a vertue backt with necessity and so made them an easier passage to their homâ—… by reason of their sickness did very â—…ant it And no marvel the Scots were thus confident For besides that they were stout and hearty in their own Country and upon advantageous ground in all which respects the English were at a loss they doubled the English in number they being 6000 Horse 16000 Foot whereas the other were but 7500 Foot 3500 Horse Two to one is great oddes and yet as the case then stood they must either fight manfully or tamely give up themselves a prey to their insulting Enemy which the English not having been accustomed to do knew not how to begin now Neither did all these straights difficulties and disadvantages in the least dismay the Lord General who as a Rock remained immoveable in this Sea of dangers and who considering that the present necessity required more then an ordinary courage and that this must be his Master piece or Misfortune after he had well view'd the Enemy and found that they had drawn down about two thirds of their Left wing of Horse to the Right causing them to edge down toward the Sea shogging also their Foot and Train to the Right a posture not well to be understood unless it were by this means to make short work and to catch the English as it were in a Purse-net saw that it was no time to use many words and that small debates must produce great actions and therefore after a short consultation had with his chief Officers it was concluded to take such a course as might let the Enemy see it was in vain for them to go about to abridge them of their liberty by any power or policie that they could use The better to do this the Lord General drew forth six Regiments of Horse with three Regiments and a half of Foot to march in the Van the Horse were commanded by Major-General Lambert and Lieutenant-General Fleetwood the Foot by Commissary-General Whalley and Colonel Monk To second these were Colonel Pride's Brigade and Colonel Overton's Brigade Two Regiments of Horse moreover brought up the Rere with the Cannon All things being thus in a readiness the Souldiers desired nothing more then the coming of the time when they should fall on that so they might shew their Valour to purpose It was resolved Sept. 3. to fall on by break of day but by reason of some impediments it was delayed till six of the clock at which time Major-General Lambert Lieutenant-General Fleetwood Commissary Whalley and Colonel Twisleton all stout resolute Commanders gave a furious charge upon the Scots Army who stoutly sustained the same and gallantly disputed the business at the swords point The English Foot in the mean time fired roundly upon the Enemies Foot but with more courage then success for being over-powred they were forc'd into some disorder notwithstanding they soon recovered their ground being reinforc'd by the Generals own Regiment And now the Fight grew hot on all sides The English Horse flew about like Furies doing wonderful execution insomuch that the place soon became an Aceldama or field of bloud The Foot were not behinde in their capacities for the Pikes gallantly sustained the push of their Enemies and the Muskets seemed by their often firings to have a designe to alter the property of the Climate from the Frigid to the Torrid Zone Neither were the English more free of their Powder then the Scots especially Lawyers Regiment of Highlanders were of their Bullets until their Horse being totally dispers'd and enforc'd to quit the Field left the Foot exposed to all dangers which they seeing began to shift for themselves as well as they could throwing away their Arms and betaking themselves to their heels a poor shift it being better to fight a day then run an hour To be short the English at last so far prevailed as to give a compleat Overthrow by the utter routing of that Army which had but lately triumphed in a confident assurance of Victory This was the work of one hour but it ended not here for the Rout begetting a Run the fugitives were pursued eight miles from the place Of the Enemy were slain in all about 3000 many prisoners of quality taken besides 10000 private souldiers with 15000 Arms all their Train of Artillery great and small the Leather-Guns not excepted and for standing Trophies of this great Victory 200 of their Colours were sent up to the Parliament at London who caused them to be hung up in Westminster-Hall where they remain till this day As Sea-sick passengers in a boisterous Ocean receive as it were new life and spirit upon safe arrival at their desired Port so the English Army who had been tossed up and down in a strange Country and almost spent by hard duty and the unsutableness of the Climate were now revived by this miraculous Victory And the Lord General seeing their courage to be up resolved it should not flat for want of exercise and therefore the better also to improve this Victory and to secure what he had gotten he dispatches away Lambert with six Regiments of Horse and nine of Foot to attaque Edinburgh the Metropolis of Scotland and secure Leith that so the English ships might thence readily and without obstruction yeeld necessary supplies to the Army The Lord General himself remained some small time at Dunbar to dispose of prisoners and to order other matters as the occasion required And the prisoners being so numerous that it seemed to be as much trouble to retain them as it was to take them the Lord General discharged neer upon 5000 of them most sick and wounded the rest much about the same number being conveyed to Berwick by four Troops of Colonel Hacker's Horse Having given this account of the captives a word or two of those that escaped by flight Their General it seems was one of that number and none of those that made the least haste neither or else he could not have been
Action was that which chiefly corresponded to his Nature yet the sharpness of the season made him continue in his Winter-quarters for some small time longer in which time parties were sent abroad to enlarge their Quarters and clear the passage between England and Edinburgh Timptallon-Castle was a place which many times had cut off passengers and much molested the Country by frequent excursions for the reducing of which Colonel Monk that gallant Commander was sent with about three Regiments of Horse and Foot When first he came before it finding the Scots very refractory he caused the Mortar-pieces to play for 48 hours which did them little hurt until that six battering Guns being planted they played their parts so well that the Governour was enforst to yeild seeing no other conditions would be granted to Mercy and all those that were with him The Scots King having now got some power into his hands used his utmost endeavours to gain reputation amongst his Subjects by visiting all the Garisons in Fife and putting them in a posture to hinder the English from landing on that side the Frith But having experience of the Lord Generals courage and knowing that Forts would prove weak withstanders of his Forces should they make an attempt therefore he drew from Sterling those Horse and Foot which could be well spared and joyning with them the new-raised souldiers he quartered them all along the VVater-side for better security After this business was ended away rides he to the High-lands to compose differences for that place was not free from dissentions perswade those rough-hewn Fellows to rise unanimously in defence of their craggy habitations This progress vvas no sooner ended but the sitting of the Scotch Parliament at St. Johnstons vvas begun vvhere the chief consideration vvas still to recruit their Army vvith new supplies of men This Meeting produced an Act Ordinance or great Gun to terrifie those that should slip away from their Colours vvithout leave from their Captains and vvas followed by the Clergie to shew how ready they were to promote these designes with an exhortatory Declaration stufft with raising rhetorick against the English which was sent into Fife and the High-lands perswading all to rise at this time of need This produced little for the common people must not stir unless their Lords or Leards beat the Drum But these Grandees were now busily snarling one at another about superiority in the Army every one endeavoring to be in the chiefest place of command and if any one were advanced he that came next behind pulled him by the skirts to hinder his preferment By this means the Scots great undertakings went on but slowly But to return and make an inspection into the English Affairs We find the Army in and about Edinburgh under a cloud of sorrow mourning for the Eclipse of that great Luminary which erst while had shined so bright in their Hemisphere whose influence had many times melted the waxen Whings of his ambitious Enemies but now as all men are subject to be so this great General by sickness was confined to his Chamber and utterly dis-abled for the present to act in person with the Army should any new occasion call them forth of their Winter-Quarters This did not so much depress the spirits of the English Souldiery who were exceeding sensible of their unspeakable loss should Cromwel their fortunate Leader be now snach't away from them in the midst of their hopes as it heightned the Scots who were very much elevated with the fancy of his death believing the slightest report of it to be real truths because it corresponded with their desires imagining to themselves assurance of Victory and sufficient Revenge when death had conquered him who many times before had made them feel the force of his Steel This conceit was so deeply grounded in their imaginations that no report to the contrary could supplant it but it must be so because so they would have it so apt are men to believe any thing that serves for their purpose according to that saying Quod volumus facile credimus But this Chimaera soon vanished into nothing for a Scotch Trumpeter being sent out of Fife to Edinburgh about the restoration of a Ship laden with Goods which the English Frigats had taken sailing from Brunt-Island to Fife after his message was delivered he very confidently aver'd to the Souldiers That their General was dead and that they did well in hiding it but all the world should never make him believe otherwise This report was much wondered at and the more because the Reporter did it with abundance of confidence endeavouring to perswade all to chirp after his note But he could not long persist in his opinion for this Novelty being handed about from one to another at last it came to the Lord Generals ear who much admired such a thing should be and he not know it therefore to dispossess the Trumpeter of that conceit he caused him to be brought into his presence where coming he now saw that although sickness had for some time sorely handled this noble General yet now his recovery was so far advanced and that Nature had now gotten so much mastery over his distemper that in all probability he would walk forth in a small time to take the air and visit his neighbours at Sterling if not in Fife At the return of the Trumpeter to those that sent him he quickly blew away this false report which went so currantly in the Scotch Army and assured the falsity of it The Parliament in England having ever a watchful eye on the Affairs in Scotland with singular providence provided sufficient supplies both of Men Money and Provisions of all sorts for Horse and Man dispatching them away continually to the Army so that it might be said That never was an Army better provided for then this nor ever did Souldiers better deserve encouragement then these About this time arrived at Leith Admiral Dean one of the English Generals at Sea with large supplies from London amongst other conveniences he brought 27 great flat-bottom'd Boats which were for transportation of the Army over into Fife that so thereby a quick dispatch might be made of this work so far advanced already But the time of year would not admit of much action for although it was April here yet the Rays of the Sun were not of force sufficient to penetrate the congealed Clouds and raise any verdure on the ground so that the Cavalry could not march unless they carried their fields behind them or else in Carts But this which hindered the English furthered the Scotch and gave them leasure to scrape together as many men as possibly could be got Out of the High-lands marcht Middleton with a considerable Force of Horse and Foot and the Town of Dundee out of a great respect to their King and to shew their forwardness in prosecuting the cause advanced for the service a brave Regiment of Horse at their own charges and
the Scots desired Articles to depart in peace which Lambert though a man of War quickly condescended to and so the place was yeilded upon these Conditions 1. That the Souldiers in Garison who were about five hundred should march away with flying Colours 2. That the Towns People should have what belonged to them 3. That all provisions for War together with all Guns and shipping of War should be delivered up for the use of the Common-Wealth of England This place was of great concernment for besides the strength of it it was a most commodious Harbour and in many respects better then that at Leith and from thence the Army in the progress of their Conquests might have constant supplies of all necessaries The Lord General having dispatched his Affairs at Leith made no stay but immediatly crost the Frith to his Army then at Brunt Island where he finds all things governed by Lambert with much Prudence and Policie the Souldiers couragious and Commissary General Whalley with a strong Party of Horse abroad scouring the Sea-side of Fife having some Men of War by Sea attending his Motion The Activity of this excellent Commander was very eminent who quickly subjugated many small Forts and possest himself of all their Artillery with the Ships and Pinaces that lay near them for security Having now brought his Affairs to a very hopeful condition the Lord General placed Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island and with the rest of the Army and Train of Artillery July 30. 1651. he marched away to reduce St. Johnstons thereby to stop the High-landers from offering to send any Supplies to Sterling either of Men or Provisions The swiftness of this March was such that in two dayes the English Army came within sight of the Town and no sooner had they faced the same but intelligence informed the Lord General what small resistance he was like to meet withal which news was no way unwelcome but most acceptable for now 't was hoped to obtain possession by words not by swords and therefore this Summons was sent in That being informed the Town was void of a Garison save the inhabitants and some few Country men he thought fit to send to them to deliver the same to him immediately and that he did thereby promise to secure their Persons from violence and their goods from plunder This Message was immediately sent away by a Trumpeter who as it was conceived would blow open the Gates and make a free entrance for the whole Army but it fell out contrary to expectation for this Messenger of Peace approaching one of the Gates he was denyed admittance and returned back again by the Towns-men with a short Reply That they were not in a capacity to receive any Letters This slighting of Peace had like to have made them uncapable of Mercy but that a speedy excuse from the Magistrates of the Town was sent forth to mend the matter which declared That the Kings Majesty had sent a very strong Party able to maintain the Town and over-power them with a Governour But alwayes to observe civility with his Lordship they had obtained leave from the Governour to excuse themselves by shewing how unable they were to treat This was strange but not so strange as true For the day before the Lord Dafferes had entered the town with 1300 souldiers and therefore General Cromwel once more resolved to try the strength of his pen in a new Summons to this new Governour before they felt the fury of his sword But this was to little purpose for Dafferes would not return the least line or word in answer This sullen silence caused the General to give a speedy Order for drawing away the Water out of the Moats round about the Town whilst three Regiments of Foot Col. Prides Reads and Maliverers boldly advanced and planted four great Guns which plaid furiously into the Town this continued for one night but the Governour next day finding himself in an Errour was unwilling to persist any longer in it for fear of being brought to the stool of Repentance and therefore sent out to desire a Treaty which being concluded upon it was there agreed to deliver up the Town to the Lord General Thus the English Army run on in a continued Series of Successes making all places that offered to withstand their invincible force bow in obedience and come under their command and all this without the least opposition from the Scots grand Army commanded by the King himself which had lain long in and about Sterling strongly intrenched as if their onely design had been to defend themselves fearing as 't was thought to offend their Enemies and therefore continued their station to no other purpose then to bring up the Rear in Cromwel's Triumphs But it fell out otherwayes for the English Army having advanced as far Northwards as St. Johnstons the King thought good to make use of the present opportunity seeing his Affairs in Scotland were reduced to a desperate condition and fearing the fate that hung over that Nation would inevitably fall upon his own head did not he prevent it by some extraordinary means therefore knowing a desperate Disease requires a desperate Cure and that being in a house ready to fall it would be the safest course by a sudden departure to save himself by seeking a better Habitation he presently took that course To which end first of all casting up his force he found it extended to about 16000 strong with these and hopes of farther help from Friends he resolves to venter for England it self not doubting if his success answered his desires to hook in both Scotland and Ireland into the Bargain This Resolution he resolves to put in execution and therefore hastens his souldiers to drive on the design Thursday July 31. 1651. all things being in readiness the Scotch Army began their march from Sterling and the sixth day after entered England by the way of Carlisle The noyse of this Irruption made a terrible Eccho through all the Nation especially in the ears of the Parliament at Westminster who were much startled with the suddenness of the Action But they like vigilant Statists doubting such a thing would happen had beforehand provided to welcome these new-come Guests and first of all Major General Harrison attended by 3000 Horse and Dragoons joyning himself with Colonel Rich and some other great Commanders marched away to salute them upon their entrance into England Then an Act was issued forth and sent into all the Counties of the Nation to raise up the Militia into a present posture of Defence and besides to make all sure another Act was presently sent abroad which prohibited correspondency with Charles Stuart or any of his Party wherein it was enacted and declared That no person whatsoever should presume to hold any correspondencie with the said Charles Stuart or with his Party or with any of them nor give any intelligence to them nor countenance encourage abet adhere to or assist
great consusion he with his men gave a camisado on the Church but that valiant Commander Lambert highly prizing the worth of his men immediately came in with a new supply of Horse to their rescue Massey now seeing that to fight would be meer folly being much over-matched thought a timely retreat the onely way to secure his men which he performed with so much bravery that sometimes facing then fighting and so falling off himself brought up the Rear and never left his station until his men were got farther off into safety This encounter at last fell heavy on himself for he not fearing his flesh and despising the force of his Enemies rencountered great difficulty in getting away having received a shot in his hand The Bridge being thus won all imaginable industry was imployed to make it up so that in a small time Lieutenant General Fleetwoods Army marched over which still pressing forward they laid a Bridge of Boats over the River Teame on the west side of Severn which gliding along at last emptieth it self thereinto about a mile beneath Worcester General Cromwel in the mean time caused another Bridge to be laid over the Severn on his side that so the Enemy might be the more straitned Upon this the Scots having taken the alarm rise from their Leaguer at St. Jones and with the greatest part of their Horse and Foot marched on to oppose the Lieut. Generals passage The Lord General seeing this resolves to draw off the Enemy and so divert his design or else inforce him to fight on great disadvantage therefore himself in person led over the River on that side of Worcester which he had undertook to attaque two Regiments of Foot Colonel Hookers of Horse and his own Life-Guard In the mean time Fleetwood with the assistance of Colonel Goff's and Major General Dean's Regiments of Foot marched on to a hedg-fight for the Scots looking upon this as the safest way had lined the hedges thick with Musqueteers so that the Bushes must first be beaten before these Birds could be taken This was not long in doing for the English falling on perform'd a brave fight from hedge to hedge the Scots on the other side not losing any thing that could be kept but manfully maintaining their ground until Colonel Blake Gibbons and Marshes Regiments came in to lay more load on their shoulders then they retreated to Pawick Bridge where again they were ingaged with Col. Hayns Col. Cobbets and Col. Matthew's Regiments in another hot dispute but at length seeing they could not prevail they provided for their own security by running into Worcester And now desperation animating their courage knowing that to continue in this pound would make them in a pitiful pickle therefore having already tried their fortune with Lieutenant General Fleetwood they imagining him to have commanded the greater force they hoped to make a more fortunate sally against General Cromwel therefore upon the sudden they sallied out against him with all the Horse and Foot they could but as it proved with sad success for though at first they shewed such activity in their Arms that General Cromwels men were forced alittle to retire yet presently the multitudes of fresh men coming in so turned the scales that the Scots were wholly routed flying away in great confusion to save themselves the Horse flew amain back again towards the North but the Foot not able to keep company ran into Worcester with some of the Victors at their heels Whilst in the mean time General Cromwel to make sure work with a few Regiments of Foot ran up to the Royal Fort and being ready to storm his clemencie was seen in venturing his person through the showers of shot and offering the Scots quarter if they would presently yield But they being infatuated refused the profer which caused their too late repentance for the Lord General falling on quickly possest the Fort and all the Artillery that was therein The City being now won the souldiers suriously fly through all the streets doing such execution that nothing could be seen for some time but blood and slaughter until at last the sack of the Town and plunder of Prisoners having satisfied their appetites they fall to securing of Prisoners which both in fight and flight amounted to about 10000 the Ilain neer 3000. so that neer all was lost onely some few Horse excepted which escaped out of the Battel but these found their flight to stand them in little stead for Major General Harison with a fresh party fiercely pursued in their Rear whilst the Country people fronted and flanked them like little Beagles which when a Mastiff is once beaten will not let him pass without a snarle at his tail and fiercely pursue him whom before they durst not look in the face This Battle put a period to the Good Fortune of the Stuarts Family and on the other side crowned General Cromwels Atchievements with an absolute security of all his former Conquests the influence whereof though acted in England was great in Scotland their chief Nobility Gentry and private souldiers being thus cut off that Nation could no longer be able to hold up its head but quickly after must needs be brought under obedience to the Commonwealth of England as it fell out soon after The Parliament at London having speedy notice of this prosperous success received it with grateful acceptation But that which abated somewhat of their Triumphs was That the King could not be numbred among the Captives nor found among the Slain but was slip'd away into some by-place for he seeing that all the Enemies aim was onely to smite him and that they did not fight so much against small or great as against the King of Scots finding the battel to go hard on his side he left caring for others to provide for himself knowing full well that should he be taken his Quarter would be Quartering and that without the help of an Astrologer it might easily be prognosticated what Death he should die Therefore trusting more to horse then men and fear adding wings to his flight he hastened with all speed towards Lancashire but by the way doubting that much company would do him little good but rather be a means to cause his sooner discovery leaving the Road he wandered for some time about England till at last finding a fit opportunity he returned back again into France Thus this object of worldly Mutability having ventured at all could enjoy no more then the heavy Load of his own Misfortunes having been onely Tantalized with the Golden Apples of sweet Soveraignty but never suffered to satisfie his appetite with their fruition for coming into Scotland his Government was cut out to him by shreds as pleased the Kirk and States of that Kingdom and being a stranger he must be carved to not suffered to serve himself for fear of surfeits like Zancha Panza's Doctors that slipt away the dishes out of respect to his health whilst in the mean time
dispatched away Blake their noble General by sea with a Fleet of Men of War who being joyned with Sir George Ascue immediately prevented the Dutch by reducing that Island under obedience The Parliament of England having seriously considered the unhandsome actions of these their neer Neighbours how refractory they were upon all Treaties of Amity which was seen by their refusing those Propositions which were sent to them and how those honourable Persons that carried them to Holland were dayly so ill treated at the Hague by some insolent persons that the Parliament lest their Embassadors should again be Dorislaus'd called them home Reinfecta Presently upon this they were forc'd to take up a resolution to maintain the Right of their Jurisdiction on the British Seas and therefore sent abroad an Act for incouraging Navigation and increase of shipping This very much heightned the spirits of the English Sea-men and gave them hopes of being one day even with the Dutch for eating the bread out of their mouthes as they had long before done by bringing all Commodities into England at cheaper rates then they could be sent for by reason they were in Amity with most Nations and could send out ships with no more men then what served to sail them whilst in the mean time the English having Wars with most of their Neighbours were inforc't to be at great charges in double manning out their Merchant Men for security of the ships lading But to proceed This noble Act being arrived at Holland very strangely changed the constitution of that People from a Flegmatick to a perfect Sanguine Complection for now they saw it was time to look about them being like to be deprived of that sweet profit which before they did enjoy This animated them on to try conclusions in denying the English their undoubted Right of Dominion in the British seas At first it was put in practise by some particular men of War to see if the English would relinquish that old complement of striking the Top-sail but in this they met with sharp rebukes far surpassing imagination so that many times present Ruine did befal them that in wilful refusal durst deny this ancient Custom Thus by degrees one Quarrel begetting another the fire no longer smothered but broak forth into a dreadful combustion all preceding ages since the Creation never having produced such terrible Sea-fights which ever light heavy on the Dutch shoulders and made them know That although Holland was the elder State yet was it impossible for them to make England a younger Brother But in the midst of all these high undertakings the Lord General perceiving the Parliaments intentions were to perpetuate their sitting as appeared by their delatory proceeding in the Bill for successive Representatives therefore knowing that as standing water would breed corruption and grow offensive if it were not sometimes changed so Parliaments perpetual were offensive to the Peoples Priviledges but when pro tempore pleasant to their sight He having well weighed the matter and deliberately debated the business with his Council of Officers it was at last agreed by them to serve the Parliament with a Writ of Ease and make them understand the meaning of Exit This resolution being taken up the Lord General Cromwel went into the House attended by some of the prime Officers of the Army where he delivered certain Reasons for a present Dissolution of the Parliament which were no sooner heard but all the Members in obedience avoyded the place and every one betook himself to his particular habitation Thus this mighty Parliament was dissolved who first of all were called through the importunity of the people and afterwards upheld by the zealous devotion of the City of London whose inhabitants through their abundant affections made them a free-will offering of all their Ear-rings Bodkins Thimbles and Jewels to carry on the weighty great work of routing Popery beating down of Antichrist suppressing Superstition and out of all to raise up a Glorious Structure of Reformation To answer expectations this Senate began the work with the Kings evil Council and having lopped them off drove on to such great Actions that the faith of after-Ages will be much puzzled to believe and rather look upon them as Romances then Realities But now their time being come after twelve years sitting they were annihilated and the power transferred into the hands of others Presently upon this the Lord General Cromwel and his Council of Officers published a Declaration shewing the Reasons of the Parliaments Dissolution the substance whereof was this THat after God was pleased marvellously to appear for his People in reducing Ireland and Scotland to so great a degree of Peace and England to perfect quiet whereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the People the harvest of all their Labour Blood and Treasure and to settle a due Liberty in reference to Civil and Spiritual things whereunto they were obliged by their duty engagements and those great and wonderful things God hath wrought for them But they made so little progress therein that it was matter of much grief to the good people of the Land who there upon applyed themselves to the Army expecting redress by their means who though unwilling to meddle with the Civil Authority agreed that such Officers as were Members of Parliament should move them to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amiss in the Commonwealth and in setling it upon a foundation of Justice and Righteousness which being done it was hoped the Parliament would have answered their expectations But finding the contrary they renewed their desires by an humble Petition in August 1652. which produced no considerable effect nor was any such progress made therein as might imply their real intentions to accomplish what was petitioned for but rather an aversness to the things themselves with much bitterness and opposition to the People of God and his Spirit acting in them insomuch that the Godly Party in Parliament were rendered of no further use then to countenance the ends of a corrupt Party for effecting their desires of perpetuating themselves in the Supreme Government For obviating these evils the Officers of the Army obtained several meetings with some of the Parliament to consider what Remedy might be applyed to prevent the same but such endeavours proving ineffectual it became evident that this Parliament through the corruption of some the jealousie of others the non-attendance of many would never answer those ends which God his People and the whole Nation expected from them But that this Cause which God had so greatly blessed must needs languish under their hands and by degrees be lost and the Lives Liberties and Comforts of his people be delivered into their enemies hands All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest people of the Nation as well as by the Army it seemed a Duty incumbent upon us who had seen so much of the power and presence of God to consider of some effectual means whereby to
establish Righteousness and Peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary that the Supreme Government should be by the Parliament devolved upon known persons fearing God and of approved integrity for a time as the most hopeful way to countenance all Gods people reform the Law and administer Justice impartially hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy and understand their true interest in the Election of successive Parliaments that so the Government might be settled upon a right Basis without hazard to this glorious Cause or necessitating to keep up Armies for the defence of the same And being still resolved to use all means possibly to avoid extraordinary courses we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament to give us a conference with whom we plainly debated the necessity and justness of our Proposals The which found no acceptance but instead thereof it was offered That the way was to continue still this Parliament as being that from which we might probably expect all good things This being vehemently insisted on did much confirm us in our apprehensions That not any love to a Representative but the making use thereof to recruit and so to perpetuate themselves was their aim in the Act they had then under consideration For preventing the consummating whereof and all the sad and evil consequences which upon the grounds aforesaid must have ensued and whereby at one blow the interest of all honest men and of this glorious Cause had been endangered to be laid in the dust and these Nations embroyled in new troubles at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all advantages against and some of them actually engaged in War with us we have been necessitated though with much reluctancy to put an end to this Parliament This Declaration being sent abroad into all the Dominions of the Common-wealth was readily assented to by most of the chief Officers both by Land and Sea But for farther satisfaction to the Civil Power in the Nation whereby a right understanding might be had and that every one might still notwithstanding this sudden change observe his Duty the former Declaration was seconded by this ensuing WHereas the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declaration of the 22 of April last to be called from the several parts of this Commonwealth to the supreme Authority and although effectual proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling of those persons it hath been found necessary for preventing the Mischiefs and Inconveniencies which may arise in the mean while to the publike Affairs that a Council of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace safety and present management of the Affairs of this Commonwealth which being setled accordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all persons may take notice thereof and in their several places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore in the exercise and administration whereof as indeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict accompt will be required of all such as shall do any thing to indanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. CROMWEL April 30 1653. These wonderful Revolutions mightily heightned the Resolutions of the Dutch who were wholly possest with Chimaera's of their own inventions imagining their work would be very easie if the English should happen to fall together by the ears amongst themselves But GOD by his Providence had so ordered it that the Nation continued in a peaceable posture not any offering in the least to resist the Commands of their Superious The like was seen amongst the Naval Forces at Sea whose vivacity was now as great as ever both Officers Sea-men and Souldiers minding nothing more then how to gain honour to their Country by repressing the insolencies of their Enemies whose indeavours at this time were to rob England of her Right But now the Lord General having taken upon himself to weild both the Sword and the Scepter the first remarkable passage that befel him was at Sea between the two mighty Antagonists The Dutch having ready in their Harbours a very great Fleet of Merchant men outward bound for France Spain and other Ports all things being fitted and prepared for the Sea those High and Mighty States added ninety men of War to secure them from those dangerous Fellows the English This Fleet being all ready they hoist up sail bidding amain for the North of Scotland it seems rather chusing to make a long and sure Voyage that way then a short and dangerous one through St. George his chanel which had many times proved fatal to their Fleets notwith standing the protection of their best Commanders Trump having according to his Commission conducted his charge so far that they feared no other enemy then the winds and waves immediately tacked about for the Sound from whence he brought away a great Fleet of East-Land Merchant-men from Russia Denmark Dantzicks and other Parts to which was joyned a Fleet from France laden with Wine Salt and other Commodities of that Country having in safety brought all these home he entered the Ports of Holland and Zealand with so much Bravery and so great a Flourish that those persons that knew not the matter might have thought him dragging the English Generals at the Stern of his Ship in Triumph This good Fortune being seconded with a report of the English Fleet being gone Northward under the Command of General Monk and Dean so highly animated Minhere Martin Harper that with all his Men of War he presently set sail for the Downs to act that in the absence of the English Fleet which he durst not do in their presence Being come into the Downs May 25. the Dutch Fleet consisting of 108 Ships ranged themselves before Dover where they expressed a great deal of small valour in beating down with great shot the chimnies of that Town and with so much resolution and spirit did they perform this worthy exploit that not any of their ships offered to run away all the while This Action of Trump's was looked upon by all to savour more of Arrogance then Valour for a gallant souldier will scorn to meddle with him that is incapable of defence but rather measure weapons with his Enemy before the fight neither should a General content himself with making a few Tiles fly from the tops of Houses in a poor Town which can be but small credit to himself and not much damage to his Enemie But we shall see that Van Trump will meet with such a match as will give him opportunity enough to exercise his courage to the utmost for the two Generals Monk and Dean upon the sudden returned from the North into Yarmouth-Road where they joyned with that Fortress of his Country General Blake having 18
Hands by this Resignation made use of them to his best advantage First of all he called a Council of Officers and joyning with them certain other persons to advise it was by them not without abundant seeking of God and speaking from several places of Scripture which lay much upon the spirits of many in this Assembly resolved to have a Commonwealth in a Single Person which person should be the Lord General Cromwel under the Title and Dignity of Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging To him was assigned a Council consisting of One and twenty to be assistants in the Government But because there can be no Superstructure without a Basis an Instrument was framed to be the Foundation of this present Government which chiefly was made up of these following Heads 1. The Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first should assemble on the third of September 1654. 3. That he should not dissolve the Parliament till it had sate five moneths 4. That such Bills as they offered to him he not passing them in twenty days should pass without him 5. That he should have a select Council not exceeding one and twenty nor under thirteen 6. That immediately after his death the Council should chuse another Protector before they rose 7. That no Protector after him should be General of the Army 8. That the Protector should have power to make Peace or War 9. That in the Intervals of Parliament he and his Council might make Laws that should be binding to the Subject c. But now to make these things binding to the Conscience of this Grand Magistrate December 16. 1653. he in great state went from White-hall to Westminster where in the Chancery Court before the Judges Maior and Aldermen of London with the chiefest Officers of the Nation he did solemnly swear To accept of the Government and promised in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of his understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs seek their peace causing Justice and Law to be equally administred This Oath being publickly known the Ceremony concluded with great Acclamations of certain Souldiers Presently after this following Proclamation by the Council was published through England Scotland and Ireland WHereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland by a Lord Protector and successive triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel Captain-General of all the Forces of this Commonwealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every Person and Persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Maiors Bailiffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf Nothing could satisfie Caesars Ambition but a perpetual Dictatorship nor Alexander's but to have more worlds to conquer and why then should our Cromwel having the same aspiration and inspiration above them be satisfied with less then a perpetual Protectorship Ambition is of such a Nature that to be first in a Village pleases better then the second place in a City but to satisfie an ambitious Appetite sufficiently with honour is impossible unless he can clime so high that none dares ask how he came to that height To this Elevation is the Subject of our Discourse come that his thoughts can rise no higher then how to keep in Peace what he hath got by Policy The City of London as there can be no great change without its Concurrence presently invites the Protector to a great Feast at Grocers-Hall where his Entertainment was more suitable to the former Splendor then present Exigence of that once-flourishing City Immediately after some Paper-kites flew out of the Country to Court from particular persons making Demonstration of Congratulation and real Obedience These bore in the Front the Title of Addresses from all the good people in the Nation when it was well known that those whose Blood had purchas'd them Liberty from under one Person would never subscribe themselves Slaves to another The Protector began his Reign with seeming Serenity insomuch that many expected Halcyon days such Sanctity appeared in the Countenance of this Governour his Tongue on all occasions was tipt with Lamentations at the Effusion of Christian Blood and customarily would bemoan the Animosities amongst the people caused by diversity in Religion Yet for all that when any Overtures were made to him tending to a Settlement and Conformity in Religion then his power was no greater in the Nation then a Constable's who is to keep peace and quietness amongst all parties Thus he behaved himself towards the Ecclesiasticks But now we come to his first grand Action of State the Negotiation of the Dutch Peace This War had been gallantly maintained by the long Parliament who in many Fights filled our Harbours with Prizes which weakened much the united Provinces but every bout augmented the Valour and Resolution of the English Sea-men so that in a little while the dread of this Adversary was turned into contempt I will not yet in the least derogate from the worth of this brave Enemy for in all Encounters their endeavours were good might have been better if Sobriety among the Sea-men had been well observed but 't is sad fighting when the Can charged with Brandy must be a Gun to conquer an Enemy these weapons usually conquered themselves and made way to their own destruction But now to shew in part the Dutch Ingratitude it will not be much amiss to remember what England hath done for them Time was when the High and Mighty States of Holland not able to help themselves implored as poor and distressed Queen Elizabeths assistance she readily condescending sent them over a well-furnished Army commanded by the Earl of Leicester These were but the forlorn to greater Bodies which after were transsported under the Conduct of those brave Commanders Norris Vere Sidney and many more whose blood laid the Foundation of that Commonwealth These were the Men that cut the Spanish Yoak from off their Necks and never offered to sheath their Swords until the Dutch were fully possest of their Liberties But O Ingratitude this was no sooner done but the Deed forgotten For in King James his time many Depredations were secretly committed on the English by them It may suffiice if we mention no more but onely the business of Amboyna which sufficiently witnesseth how far their Will
would have extended had they had power sufficient to execute it Afterwards King Charles perceiving their enchroaching set forth a brave Fleet which hurt himself more then any body else for it raised so hideous a storm amongst his Subjects upon the payment of Ship-money that never after could be appeased till his Head was blown off his Shoulders these lying in the Downes under command of Dover-castle to protect a Spanish Armado intending for Flanders the Spaniards were boldly set upon by the Dutch and utterly destroyed Had this presumptuous attempt of the Hollander met with a vindictive King it would not have been so silently connived at These Affronts being thus slightly passed by imboldened them to attempt higher matters for the English Nation on a suddain involved in a Domestick War they made use of this opportunity to fish freely on the English Coast which they continued so long that from custome they would argue a right because they had done it therefore they ought to do it still presuming withall to make Englands Harbors the bounds to their Soveraignty A rich Bank of Treasure and great strength in shipping prompted them to this project and the rather because England was wasted by War and disunited amongst themselves Now they thought it their time to attempt the designe wherein they fancied an assured and absolute Conquest not at all considering what advantages in Navigation England hath over them as first not a ship can well pass the Narrow Seas between Dover and Calice but must run the hazard to be snapt in their passage unless they sailed under protection of a strong Fleet of War Secondly in stormy Weather the Winds would inforce ships at Sea to put into the English Harbours for shelter In both which respects it must needs be very prejudicial to the Dutch if they fell out with England their Traffick this way being stopt up no other means remained to continue a Trade to France Portugal Spain Turkey East and West Indies but by the North of Scotland with a Circumference about Ireland whereby the Merchant must necessarily be exposed to a double danger in respect of Enemies And that which is more unavoydable the tempestuousness of the Sea in this Northerly Latitude would have rendred their passage that way both unfafe and uncomfortable But it seems these Considerations never entred into the thoughts of that State their minds were onely troubled with dividing Spoils and how to give Laws by Sea to the whole world This high conceit of Fortitude many times bars up the doors against prudential Counsels Well blinded as the Dutch were Van Trump that leading Card against the English Commonwealth must begin the Game and that when their Embassadors were in Treaty at London The Parliament of England remembring their late saucy Action in the Downs resolved to make it redound to the honour of England to that end they fell into a close debate of the Nations right in those Seas now Mare Olausum speaks English to let every one see the Dominion of the Narrow Sea is Englands safety and Protector under Divine Providence from the fury of forraign Foes which if it were lost a Confluence of all Nations would quickly subjugate the Land to their will How sensible the Senate and People of England were of this is easily seen by the industrious Counsels of the one and incomparable Valour of the other so that in a few moneths the Dutch sustained more loss by this their wilful undertaking then before they had done in several years War with the Spaniard The English Parliament being thus engaged in a defensive War quickly changed the Scoene to offensive maintaining it with wonderful Policy and Prudence but on a suddain in stept General Cromwel and justled them out of Power taking upon himself to end this War He fought the Hollander twice prosperously which brought over into England four Embassadours extraordinary to sollicite a Peace these using pecuniary Perswasions so far prevailed with the Protector as made him balance the publick Concernments with his private Interest and so granted their desires The Peace being thus concluded and published the people of England were then perswaded to a general Thanksgiving by a Declaration partly made up of nine Verses out of the 107 Psalm To make observation on Englands Profit by this Peace is needless that I will leave for the Merchant to rejoyce in Actions of State are like the Billows of the Sea one designe drives forward another as they are agitated by the Princes breath No sooner was peace proclaimed abroad but Plots commenced at home the chief Designers were two Gerrards Brothers one Jones an Apothecary Teuder Fow and Vowel some of these through mercy were saved but Vowel and Gerrard must suffer for example In the same Juncture of time fell out an arrogant exploit of Don Pantaleon Sa brother to the Portugal Embassadour this man being followed by a fanatique Crew came one evening to the New Exhange armed with Swords Pistols and Hand-granadoes what the original provocative to this designe was is uncertain however one wrapt in Buff a bold Blade no doubt being followed by Knights of Malta Foot-boys and the like ascended the Staiers into the upper Exchange where firing a Pistol a Gentleman there walking was slain There happened to be walking the same time this Gerrard above-mentioned he seeing their Countenances not so swarthy as this deed was sable draws his Rapier and with a magnanimous spirit drove them all before him down staiers The Lord Protector having notice of these Portugals frollique upon examination resolved to proceed thereupon without respect of persons and to make the chiefest Actor an example of Justice which being found to be the Embassadours Brother he was condemned for this ridiculous riot and executed at Tower-hill on the same Scaffold though for different causes with generous Gerrard The eyes of the Spectators never beheld such different tempers in two men Gerrard no way appald in countenance or behaviour like a true English man out-braved Death on the very Block His body being removed out of sight up came Don Pontaleon Sa the Portugal with a body too heavy for its supporters and a countenance which sufficiently demonstrated that the terrour of his heart had in a manner made him insensible of the smart of the Executioners Ax so that many present believed his head served onely to satisfie the Law his life being already fled through fear But now on a suddain there breaks forth an Insurrection in the Highlands of Scotland these mountanous people having little to loose but their lives would ever be trying to shake the English yoak from off their necks The chief bellows to blow these miserable men to destruction was the Earl of Glencarne a man whose industry was ever pregnant in contriving new designes against the English he having now drawn together a considerable strength proclaimed to his fellows what great assistance would be wafted over to them from the Low Countries by which means it
children God took them at their word For not to mention what some affirm that a bloudy issue hath ever since hereditarily descended upon them not long after according to Christs prophecy their City was destroyed their Temple not on stone left upon another and themselves ceasing to be a Nation became with Cain Fugitives and Vagabonds upon the Earth having now according to that prophecie of Hosea been many dayes yea many years without a King and without a Prince and without a sacrifice and without an image and without an Ephod and without a teraphim being dispersed amongst all Nations and hated by all people remaining nevertheless in such a degree of contumacious obduration that here in England whither some of them wandred they crucified children in despight to and derision of the name of Christ For which and other execrable practices they were justly expelled this Nation by King Edward the first in the year of Christs incarnation 1291. And so willing were the people then to be rid of them that for this Act of that King the Commons in Parliament freely granted him a whole Fifteenth Thus they were expulsed and ever since for the space of 364 years they have been excluded without the publike permission of so much as one Synagogue in England But this our Protector having a large I say not conscience but heart and being of tender bowels his charity extended so far as to plead for the re-entertainment of these guests to which purpose he propounded it to several eminent Ministers for their approbation alleadging that since there is a promise of their Conversion means must be used to that end which is the preaching of the Gospel and that cannot be had except they be permitted to reside where the Gospel is preached But by his leave when Gods good time is come there shall not be means wanting to accomplish that work which being of an extraordinary nature is not like to be done by ordinary means Besides such was then and yet is the temper of the people of England so full of diversities in opinions and reduced to such an indifferencie in matters of Religion that it is more then probable the number of their Proselytes would have exceeded that of our Converts But this is not all for it seems our Protectors charity that we mentioned before according to the Proverb began at home he had a promise of 200000 l. from the Jews in case he procured their Toleration here as saith Mr. Prynne in his Narrative p. 56. which sweet morsel he had swallowed by thus gratifying them had not the design been opposed by Arguments as sharp as weapons of STEEL The War with Spain beginning now to wax warm not onely under the Torrid Zone but likewise Northwards of the Tropick the Protector thought it best to annoy this Enemy in as many places as possible which could not well be brought about without a Peace with France which being effected roome might be made for English Feet to tread Flemish ground The French at this time earnestly desired the same for their chief minister of State Cardinal Mazarine saw every Champaign how prejudicious it was to his Masters Affairs in Flanders especially in besieging a Sea-Port Town to be without correspondencie with England This gave the Protector not onely opportunity of making up the long continued feud that had been betwixt the two Nations but to do it on very advantagious terms wherein the French King was content to deny himself in sending out of his Dominions his near relations the Stuarts which kindness the Protector requited with sending him 6000 Foot-Souldiers Thus the alliance was contracted The impediments that hindered Peace with France being past over to the Protectors great content he set himself wholy to a thorow prosecution of his Wars with Spain For this purpose the two Generals Blake and Montague had with a strong Navie long beleaguered the Port of Cadiz by Sea and with many provocations endeavoured to dare out an Enemy but the grave-pac'd Spaniard durst not step one stride to drive the English from his coasts but rather waited the lucky hour when scarcity of provisions or distress by weather would do the work to his hand and save the Limbs and Lives of many good Catholicks which might miscarry in forcing the English farther off But this piece of Policy little prevailed for when the Fleet wanted water and other necessaries the Generals found out a way to supply it by sayling to the Bay of Wyers in Portugal whence they were recruted in the mean time leaving behind Captain Stayner with a Squadron of seven Ships to have an eye on Cadiz Now it hapned that in the absence of the Generals a stiff gale of wind forc't Stainer to ply it off to Sea which brought him upon the discovery of an excellent object it was the King of Spaines Plate-Fleet richly laden with Gold Silver Pearl and other good commodities newly brought from the Indies The Spaniards at the first sight of the English Frigats took them for Fisher-boats which indeed they were in a sense for Captain Stainers work was to fish for gold and now seeing so fair a shole swimming he thought he would be sure to catch some considerable quantity or lose his life in the attempt wherefore with these three the Speaker Bridgwater and Plymouth Frigats the remaining part of the Squadron being driven to Leeward he gallantly fell upon the Spanish great Galleons which were seven in number and plyed them so sore with great shot that in few hours the whole Fleet was quite spoyled one whereof was sunk another burnt two forc'd on ground one run away and two remained in the Conquerours hands which were safely conveyed to England and very joyfully received by the Protector who set apart a particular day to give God thanks for this good success The Protector being much necessitated for money and withal impatient to tarry longer for a Confirmation of his Dignity by the People which although he could not obtain of the preceding Parliament he hoped he might gain of another this perswaded him to attempt once more a new Representative Which being resolved upon he issued out Writs for Election throughout the three Nations But remembring the Speeches and carriage of some in the late Parliament private intimation was given to certain persons in several Counties to obstruct if possible their Election again in this ensuing Session yet for all this the generality of people being swayed by respect made choyce of them they thought sit and such as were most able to carry on the weighty affairs of the Common-wealth Septemb. 17. 1656 being appointed for the general meeting at Westminster the Members accordingly made their appearance at the Parliament House where they found quite contrary to the ancient Priviledge of Parliament that no Members could enter into the House except they were first tyed up in a promise Not to act any thing prejudicial to the present Government Many of the Members would not bite
importance and might much conduce to the taking in of Dunkirk it self as afterwards it proved The French and English having beleaguered this strong place did not lie long before they reduced it to a surrender upon Composition so that it was delivered up wholly into the possession of the English But presently after the French being withdrawn into winter-Quarters came a strong body of Spaniards and made a fierce Camisado upon the Fort hoping to give the English little joy in their new Conquest but it fell out quite otherwise for the assailants were stoutly repulsed and inforc't to flee having lost in the attempt several brave Commanders The Protectors forraign affairs standing in a posture answerable to his desires his domestick designes at the same time did likewise very well correspond thereunto for the Parliament having sate near nine Months had in this time past many Acts which crowned the Protectors hopes so fully that more could not have been desired by him nor well granted by them For first out of a deep sence of his loss should such a design as bold Syndercomb's take effect they made provisions for the security of his Highness Person wherein it was Enacted High Treason for any to attempt compass or imagine the Protectors death This Act having pared the claws of cholerick humours at home in three whoops more the Title of Charls Stuart c. was utterly defunct And besides this to answer the end for which they were called round sums of money were granted to carry on the Spanish War notwithstanding his Highness late Conquests in the Indies that so the Protector might with more facility bang the legs of that long-limb'd Enemy The Acts made for this purpose were these that follow  Per Mens An Act for an Assesment upon England for three Months at the rate of 60000 l. On Scotland for three Months at 05000 l. On Ireland for three Months at 05000 l. On England Scotland and Ireland for three years   England to pay 35000 l. Scotland 06000 l. Ireland 09000 l. An Act for continuing of Tunnage and Poundage   An Act for preventing the multiplicity of buildings in and about the Suburbs of London and within ten miles thereof a whole years Revenue to be presently payd for dwelling or out-Houses that had been reared upon new Foundations since the year 1620.   An Act for Excise of merchandize imported Hobby-Horses Childrens Rattles and old shirts not exempted   These with many more being at once presented to the Protector for his consent were by him passed at which time he made this short Speech to the Parliaments Speaker I perceive that among these many Acts of Parliament there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Commonwealth by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto and understanding it hath been the practice of those who have been chief Governours to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the Publike I do very heartily and thankefully acknowledge their kindness herein The Protectors thanks for this could do no less then animate the Parliament to compleat the great work they were about for settlement of the Nation This business had been dayly debated and was almost brought to perfection when on a sudden a Petition was ushered into the House by a worthy Citizen of London to have his Highness one Tittle higher in his Title Hereupon the great Machine of Englands Government called the Petition and Advice was hastened away to the Protectors view with a desire that his Highness would be pleased to magnifie himself with the Title of KING Alas what thing more averse to his nature could be presented to him then this It was not to sit in high places that made him undertake the Government but rather to be a Servant to his Countrey Monarchie he knew was as odious to the Army as according to the proverb comparisons among the people and therefore he could not look upon this otherways then as a Temptation to try the strength of his resolution against that which before had like to have wrackt the peoples Liberties which said he undoubtedly had fallen out had not he stept into the sea of bloud and with invincible Arms preserved the Ship of State from those Piratical inchroachers that were ready to board her Yet to do nothing unadvisedly nor without mature deliberation his Highness took time to return the Parliament this positive answer to their liquorish desire which he with much meekness gave them in the Painted Chamber in these words That he could not undertake the Government with the Title of King Upon this the Parliament voted that Protector should be the stile of the chief Magistrate All things being now brought to maturity in the Petition and Advice and nothing wanting to make it a Law but onely the Protectors condescention a Committee was sent to desire a Conference with his Highness which he granted and appointed the place of meeting to be in the Painted Chamber May 25. 1657. his Highness attended by his chief Officers came accordingly and there the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington presented him with the Parliaments Petition and Advice the substance whereof was as followeth 1. That his Highness under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to exercise the office of chief Magistrate over England c. and to govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice also that in his life-time he would appoint the Person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call Parliaments consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those Persons who are legally chosen by a free election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. In the fourth was shewn the qualifications of Parliament-Members 5. In the fifth the Power of the other House 6. That the Lawes and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept and no Laws altered suspended abrogated repealed or new Law made but by Act of Parliament 7. For a constant yearly revenue ten hundred thousand pounds to be settled for maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nations to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above one and twenty whereof the Quorum to be seven and not under 9. The chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highness would encourage a Godly Minstery in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Lawes are defective new
ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion as it is contained in the Old and New Testaments be asserted and held forth for the publike profession of these Nations and no other and that a Confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or reproach the said Confession of Faith c. This is the sum of the most material matters contained in the Parliaments Advice which the Protector liked very well and was resolved to follow yet with much reluctancy in himself considering the great burthen that was to be borne upon his shoulders which he had rather any man should bear then himself but being it was the pleasure of Parliament that none but he must be the buckler to defend Englands Priviledges he past their Petition and declared unto the whole Assembly as followeth That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his Life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sinke under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their prayers he might receive assistance from God for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burthen to flesh and blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that we have engaged for and make clearly for the liberty of the Nations and of the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various Forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation to the discountenancing vice the encouragement of vertue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for This Speech being ended the Members returned again to the House and in few dayes after the Speaker received a Letter from the Protector desiring the Parliament to adjourn their sitting till further time Hereupon the speedy Inauguration of his Highness was concluded upon Accordingly June 26. 1657. all things being prepared in Westminster Hall for this great solemnity the Protector about two of the clock in the after-noon went by water to the Lords House and after some short retirement into a room near the Painted Chamber he came forth attended by the chief Grandees of his Court all these being marshalled into Ranks and Files marched away with his Highness to the place appointed in Westminster-Hall where the Protector having taken his standing under a cloath of Estate the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet lined with Ermines a Bible a Sword and a Scepter all which were precious tokens of the Parliaments favor at the delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as folfolloweth 1. The Robe of Purple this is an embleme of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem amplectentem 2. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first is Christum Velatum in the second is Christum Revelatum it is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a staff for you are to be a staff to the weak and poor it is of antient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture that the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greeke Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence then offence not to defend yourself onely but others also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword it should be this Ego sum domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and people of the three Nations to the Protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by sound of Trumpet proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeeld him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train returned a joyful man no doubt to White-Hall and the Members to the Parliament-House where they prorogued their sitting to the next January There is no humane joy free from the mixture of some sorrow yea many times it falleth out to be equivalent to if not superabounding the joy it self So it fell out here for though the Protector might rejoyce at this acquisition of a Scepter yet the death of General Blake like a dish of cold water cast into the boyling Pot of his rising fortunes could do no less then mitigate the heat of it and cover the Courts countenance with a Cypress Vail This noble Blake in the beginning of Englands distractions sufficiently testified a high resolution in his almost miraculous defending of Lime and Taunton against the furie of Prince Maurice and the Lord Gorings Armies Afterwards the worth of this inestimable great Commander being taken notice of in Parliament they resolved it should not long lie hid at home but shew it self abroad and therefore he was advanced to be one of their Generals at Sea At his enterance into this Office he pent up Prince Rupert in the chief Port of Portugal and hunted him from Sea to Sea till he had reduced those ships with him which before had revolted from the Parliament This was but