where in the presence of God he promised upon Oath not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the aforementioned 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 Customes seeking peace causing justice and Law to be equally administred Presently after the Administration of this Oath the following Proclamation was by Order of the Counsell published throughout all the Territories and Dominions of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland viz. Whereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigning their whole powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland by a Lord Protector and successive trienniall Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain Generall 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 do hereby to make publication of the premisses 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 conforme and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf This Proclamation was first of all proclaimed by a Serjeant at Arms in the Pallaceyard Westminster and by the Lord Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of London at the Royall Exchange and afterwards throughout all England Scotland and Ireland The City of London to shew their willing concurrence to this great Change invite the Protector to a Dinner at Grocers-Hall whither he is attended with a great deal of magnificence and received with as much pomp and splendor as possibly could be There he first first makes use of the Power given him in giving Titles of Honour by dubbing of Sr Thomas Viner then Lord Major of London Knight And now out of imaginary fears of danger the better to secure his state a seeming Plot is found out some Cavaliers are sent to the Tower and the others warned from London upon it but the Protector to shew his clemency at his first entrance into the Government after some small time of durance releases again those who were imprisoned in the Tower The King of Scots being now come into France was there honourably received by the Court where he took up his residence at which time there were many discontents of the Princes of the blood against the aspiring ambition of Cardinall Mazarine in so much that it had like to have come to a civill warre To compose which difference the King of Scots offered to mediate in order to a reconciliation wherein he so farre prevailed that he procured a Conference between Deputies on both sides to whom although he urged his own condition as an argument for the French King to compose the difference in love rather then to to stand it out all which proving ineffectuall both sides betake themselves to armes the Treaty not succeeding caused him to lie under the displeasure of the Cardinall The Scots in the Highlands under the command of Glencarne and Kenmore by Commission from the King rally and rise to a considerable body of neer 4000 Horse and Foot hoping they might once more fairly dispute their quarcell in field but Major Generall Morgan with 1500 Horse and Foot coming upon them at their Rendesvouz before they could get into any good order killed neer 200 on the place took most of the rest Prisoners Glencarne himself hardly escaping with about 40 Horse The three Agents from Holland having been here all this while and little or nothing agre on for the ratification of a Peace between the two States two of them went over to receive fuller power from the Lords States as was pretended but it was rather suspected that it was to fetch Money which was the only bait by which the Protector could be won to an accord for at their return the Peace was suddenly clapt up and by a large Proclamation annexed to the Articles shewing the reason 's of the Peace which would so much as was pretended redound to the good of the Nation though no understanding Englishman but might guesse at the inconveniencies of it proclaimed on the 5th of Aprill at London and after in other parts of England And now another Plot succeeds the last the chief designers are pretended to be Gilbert and John Gerrard Esquires brothers one Jones an Apotheeary Tewdor Fox and Vowell the design was to have slain the Protector raised an Army and brought in the King but how no man ever knew however these feigned Plots or at least Plots first contrived by themselves are good seturers of Tyrants and usurpers for hereby they fright men from reall designments the plotters are sent to the Tower and a High Court of Justice is erected for their triall Gerrard and Vowell are condemned to be hanged the rest are saved Vowell according to sentence was hanged at Charingcross but Coll. Gerrard upon Petition had the favour to be beheaded at Towerhill where he behaved himself so gallantly and looked death so unappalledly in the face that his very enemies were forced to admire his courage and constancy At the very same time Don Pantaleon Sa Brother to the Lord Ambassador of Portugall was beheaded on the same scaffold for having committed a ridiculous Riot on the New Exchange where followed by a crew of mad fellowes Servants and Lacquies to his Brother or himself he shot a Gentleman that was there walking in the head and had done further mischief had not the noble Coll. Gerrard who was for an other cause beheaded before him stopt their fury and with his Rapier drove them before him down stairs This Portugall came with so great fear to the block that many deemed his life was gone before the blow with the Axe was given The King of Scots being still in France and finding notwithstanding his own and his Mothers endeavours that the Treaty with France and England was vigorously solicited by Monsieur Newfvill Seeing that by necessary consequence the Peace being concluded he and his party must be enforced to leave France thought it a great deal better and more honourable voluntarily to desert that Kingdom then to stay till he were forced out by complement so he with his Brother the Duke of York his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward retired themselves to Chatillon a house of the Prince of Conde's from whence not long after the King and Prince Rupert went into Germany But now Glencarne reenforced by hopes of Middletons coming out of Holland with supplies of Money and Ammunition begins to stirre again in the Highlands exhorting his Countrymen to gain themselves immortall fame by redeeming themselves and their posterity from the slavery and bondage they now lay under filling their
AN EXACT HISTORY of the several Changes of GOVERNMENT IN England From the horrid Murther of King CHARLES I. to the happy Restauration of King CHARLES II. WITH The Renowned Actions OF General MONCK Being the second Part of Florus Anglicus by J.D. Gent. London Printed for Simon Miller at the Starre in St Paul's Church-yard 1660. ENGLAND'S CONFUSION During its Interregnum A General View of the various Governments in England since the Murther of Charles the first 1. England Govern'd by Oligarchy from 1648. to 1653. 2. Under Oliver Protector the grand Tyrant from 1653. to 1658. 3. Under Richard not above seven Moneths 4. Under Fleetwood Lambert Vane Haselrig and the Rump of the Long Parliament Lastly The Actions of Renowned General Monck the chiefest Instrument under God of restoring his Sacred Majesty Charles the second to his Crown and Kingdoms TO THE READER Reader I Doe here present thee with a true though unparallel'd History of all the several Revolutions of Government in England for the space of twelve years since the Martyrdom of our Gracious Sovereigne Charles the First of ever blessed memory execrably murthered to make way for the Usurpation of ambitious Cromwell who after some time took the Office of Supreame Magistrate upon himself and kept it during his Life by Tyranny and Oppression when summoned by Death he bequeathed it to his Eldest Sonne Richard who either by cowardize or folly permitted himselfe to be supplanted by his neer Relations When in stead of one Vsurper England groan'd under an Athenian tyranny and from that to worse till at last such a horrid dismal blackness had overcast the whole Kingdom the Sword being drawn at one blow to cut off Magistracy and Ministry that it had been utterly destroyed had not Almighty God raised up that great and ever to be Renowned to all posterity General Monck the chief Instrument appointed by the Great God for the redemption of poor England from bloody and violent men by restoring a Free-Parliament the undoubted birthright of every English man and hath likewise as in duty bound by Gods blessing setled us under the Lawfull and happy Government of our dread Sovereign Lord King Charles the second whom God hath so miraculously preserved from the jaws of his blood-thirsty enemies and reserved him to this present time that England might once again enjoy her primitive beauty and lustre and have her Kings as at the first and her Counsellours as at the beginning Since then we are through all these miseries revolutions and changes by Divine Providence restored to a settlement Let it be the care of every English man as it is my hearty wish that we fall no more into those snares which formerly entrapped us but unanimously resolve our selves into a constant Duty and Allegiance to our Sovereigne Lord the King For thus and thus only can we flourish J. D. Courteous Reader These Books following are printed for Simon Miller and Sold by him at the Starre in St. Paul's Church-yard Small Folio DOctor Lightfoot his Harmony on the New Testament which will shortly be re-printed with large Additions The civil Wars of Spain in the Reigne of Charls the fifth Emperor of Germany and King of that Nation wherin our late unhappy differences are paralleled in many particulars A general History of Scotland from the year 767 to the death of K James c. By David Hume of Godscroft The History of this Iron Age. Mr Paul Baine on the Ephesians Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art and Nature by John Wecker D. in Phys The Queen of Arragon a Play In fol. In Quarto large Jo. Barklay his Argenis Translated by Sir Robert le Grise Knight by his Late Majesties special Command Quarto Small An Eperimental Treatise of Surgery by Felix Wortz Abraham's Faith or the good Old Religion c. By John Nicholson Minister of the Gospel The Anatomy of Mortality By George Stroad Three Treatises 1 The Conversion of Nineveh touching Prayer and Fasting 2. Gods Trumpet sounding to Repentance 3. Sovereigne preservatives against distrustful thoughts and cares By Will. Attersoll Minister of Gods Word at Iefield in Sussex Aynsworth on the Cantic Paul Baine his Diocesans Trial. Gralle against Appolinius A Treatise of Civil policy c. By Samuel Rutherford Professor of Divinity of St Andrews in Scotland Politick and Military Observations of Civil and Military Government containing the Birth Encrease Decay of Monarchies the carriage of Princes and Magistrates Mr Pinchin his Meritorious price of mans Redemption cleared Astrology Theologized shewing what nature and influence the Starres and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Wells his Souls Progress Christ tempted the Devils Conquered Being a plain Exposition on the fourth Chapter of St Matthews Gospel By John Gumbleden Min. of the Gos The Saints Society D. Stoughtons thirteen choice Sermons with his Body of Divinity The Reasons of the dissenting Brethren concerning the Presbyterian Government together with the answer of the Assembly of Divines Camdens Remains The Harmonious Consent and Confession of Faith c. The Argument and Confession of Faith of all the congregational Churches of England agreed upon at the Savoy 1659. The Description of the Universal Quadrant c. By Tho Stirrup Mathem The whole Art of drawing painting limning and etching collected out of the choisest Italian and Germane Authours by Alex Brown Practitioner Large Octavo A Treatise of the Divine Promises By Edw. Leigh Esq Florus Angliens with the Lively Effigies of all the Kings and Queens since the conquest cut in brasse The Reconciler of the Bible wherein above two thousand seeming contradictions are fully and plainly Reconciled Evidences for Heaven containing Infallible signs and real demonstrations for Assurance of Salvation published by Edm. Calamy The Life and Reign of King Charls from his Birth to his Death by Lambert Wood. The Night-search the second part by H. Mill. A view of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customs and Ceremonies Usefull Instructions for these Evil times held forth in 22. Sermons by Nich. Lockyer Provost of Eaton Colledge The Nullity of Church-Censures or Excommunication not of Divine Institution but a meer humane Invention Written by the famous Tho. Erastus and never before Englished Small Octavo Ed. Waterhouse Esq His Discourse of Piety and Charity Panacea or the Universal Medicine being a Discourse of the Admirable Nature and Virtues of Tobacco By Dr. Everard and Others A view and Defence of the Reformation of the Church of England very usefull in these times Mr. Pet. du Moulin his Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the Delusions of the Priests and Jesuites who are now very busie among us Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and prayers usefull upon all occasions Extranem Vapulam or the Observator releved from the violent but vain assault of Haman Lestrange Esq and the back-blows of D. Bernard an Irish Dean by P. Hoylin D.D. Ovid de Pento in
sought to have their goods or estates but to carry on the Lords work c. with a great deal of such like stuff To this Letter Coll. Kerre sends an Answer to Commis Gen. Whalley in very short terms telling him That though they were not in a capacity to act against the Englishmens unjust invasions yet they were in a capacity to suffer and should submit to Gods will either by doing or suffering till the time of their deliverance came that if it were their happiness to perish in their duty it would be a sufficient mercy to them and when the persecution had arrived to its height their captivity should be returned Adding that he thought it strange the English should talk of a cessation whilest they were captivating their poor people assaulting their Garrisons apprehending their Ministers tearing them from their holy callings and from their holy sighing stocks concluding the departure of the English out of that Kingdome and then desiring a Christian Treaty would be a great favour and mercy equally as great to the one as the other that in the mean time he should stand upon his guard and expect no further overtures of peace But to digress a little About the latter end of this moneth of October departed this life the Prince of Orange who had lately endeavoured to curb the High and Mighty States in him King Charles lost his greatest interest he had in those parts His Princess some ten days after his death was delivered of a young Prince which in part mitigated the grief for her Husbands death But let us look a little into Ireland where Sr John Dungan and Scurlog having gotten together neer 500 Horse and Foot met with a party of the Parliaments Army of about 300 charged them and overpowring them in Horse routed them slew 50 upon the place took neer 40 Prisoners and had carried them into the Woods had not Captain Essex with about 50 Horse 20 Dragoons and 100 Foot come to their rescue the body of the English Army lay before Limerick But to return again to Scotland Cromwell seeing that Peace would not be hearkned to disposes his Army to the Warre Major Brown with a party takes in Dalhouse a supposed harbour of Moss-Troopers of which sort of vermine he took divers in Darlington house whom he caused to be shot upon the place Collonel Monk is sent with a party to reduce Roselane Castle which with the help of some Granadoes he makes yeeld to mercy Major Generall Lambert marches to Dunfreez to joyn with Whalley who had taken Dalkeith Castle by a terrible summons in his march against Kerre and Straughan This Castle wall was thirteen foot broad at the top and well stored with Ammunition and Provision Collonel Kerre was now about Beebles Lambert having with much difficulty marched over the River to Hamilton resolves to quarter there that night which Kerre hearing resolved to beat up his quarters and if possible surprize the Major Generall this he attempted with a great deal of resolution but the English taking the Alarme intime on a sodaine encompassed most of the enemies Horse killed 100 took 100 besides 400 Horse and Furniture forsook of their Riders therest they pursued as far as Ayre in the which pursuit Collonel Kerre was was taken and severall of his Officers This defeat caused Straughan to come in who was with the rest carried by the Major Generall to the head Quarters Cromwell all this while strongly besieges the Castle of Edinburrough yet his mines prove ineffectuall in that hard Rock so that he causes an artificiall Mount to be raised whereon to plant his battery so that his Canons and Granadoes flew thick and three-fold at the Castle at which the Defendants at first hung out a red Flag in defiance but after a short time hung out a white one for Parley which was accepted and after a great many Messages to and fro surrendred upon Articles agreed upon between Major Abernethe and Captain Hynderson on the part of the Castle and Collonel Monck and Liev. Coll. White on the Generals to this effect First That the Castle be surrendred to his Excellency on the 24th of December with all the Arms Magazine and furniture of warre thereto belonging That the Governour with all the Officers and Souldiers should then march forth with their Arms Colours flying Drums beating Matches lighted and Bullet in mouth whether they shall think fit That such adjacent Inhabitants as had Goods in the Castle should have them restored and to that purpose they had liberty from the 19th to the 24th of December to fetch them away The sodain rendition of so strong a hold as this was made the world beleeve that the Canons plaid upon it with Silver instead of Iron shot About this time there was a kind of petty Insurrection in Norfolk by a company of inconsiderable persons who declared for the suppressing of Popery restoring King Charles to his Crown revenge of his Fathers death and for rooting out of heresie and schisme but being only begun by a disorderly number they were soon vanquished and the principall risers about 20 in number executed Sr Henry Hide having received a Commission from the King of Scots to be Ambassadour for him at the Grand-Signors Port in Constantinople being arrived there stood in competition with Sr Thomas Bendish then Ambassadour and the Case being heard before the Vizier the Verdict was given on Bendish his side so that Sr Harry Hide was forced to depart the Port whence coming to Smyrnd with an intention to go for Venice he was by a wile invited on board a Ship to a Feast was treacherously brought away to England and here beheaded before the Royall Exchange for having taken Commissions from that King The Winter being now at the height made the War in Scotland at a stand on the English part but the Scots having now as they thought throughly purged their King proceeded to his Coronation which was performed at Scone with as much Solemnity and Gallantry as their necessities would permit on the first of January 1651. The King crowned they proceed to the Excommunication of Straughan Swinton and others who had deserted them and were gone in to the English they then strive to pacifie dissenting parties and pass an Act for new Levies throughout the Nation The King is likewise created Generall of this Army now intended to be levied with an unusuall kinde of Ceremony viz. by crossing a Pike Musket Carabine and Sword over his Head Lothian Carre is made Major Generall and Middleton Lieutenant Generall David Lesley having layn down his Commission The English now beginning to stir Collonel Fenwicke is commanded to march with two Regiments of Horse and Foot for reducing of Hume-Castle who having faced it sent a Summons to the Governour to which he returned an answer the capriciousness whereof makes me insert both Thus ran the Summons Sir His Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell hath commanded me to reduce this Castle you now
Protectors instrument were soon carried to his ear and therefore he fearing that in the end they would produce irreconcileable jarrs resolved to remedy them in time and to put the Parliament into a posture more complacent to his designs if possible he goes therefore by water from Whitehall to Westminster enters the Painted Chamber and sends for those Members of Parliament which were then sitting to whom he declared That the God of heaven knew what great grief and sorrow of heart it was to him to find them falling into heats and divisions That he would have them take notice of this that the same Government made him a Protector whech made him a Parliament That as they were intrusted with some things so was he with others That in the Gouernment there were certain Fundamentals which could not be altered As 1. That the Government should be in a single person and a Parliament 2. That Parliaments should not be perpetnall 3. That the Militia should not be trusted into one hand or power but so that the Parliament have a check on the Protector and the Protector on the Parliament 4. That in matters of Religion there ought to be liberty of Conscience and that persecution in the Church was not to be tolerated That the rest of the things in the Government were examinable and alterable as the State of affairs did require That for his own part his heart was even overwhelmed with grief to see that any of them should go about to overthrow what was setled contrary to their trust received from the people which cannot but bring very great inconveniences upon themselves and the Nation This was the summe of his perswasions to them but fearing that this would not sufficiently win them to his interest he provided a recognition to be signed by every individuall Member as followeth I do hereby promise and engage to be true and faithfull to the Lord Protector and the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and shall not according to the tenor of the Indenture whereby I am returned to serve in Parliament propose or give my consent to alter the Government as it is setled in one person and a Parliament This was subscribed by many of the Members though the major part rather chose to abandon the House the rest conntinued sitting to the end of the five Moneths at which time the Protector seeing their dilatory proceedings and that they delayed the setling him in the Government the time being expired wherein his Instrument gave him leave not letting slip one day nor sarce an hour dissolves them Some time after the time of this Parliaments dissolution was there a horrible terrible Plot discovered against his Highness the Lord Protector and his usurped power The first appearance of its effects was at Salisbury whither on the 16th of March came a Body of about 200 Cavaliers and it being then the time of the Assizes there they took away the Judges Commissions clapt guards on all the Innes till they had seized upon all the Horses then left the Town and marched towards Pool commanded by their Captains Wagstaffe Penruddocke and Jones Another Party at the same time surprized the Town of Shrewsbury and endeavoured to have taken the Castle but being discovered that design was prevented There was likewse a Party to the number of 800 or a 1000 men got together in Montgomeryshire In Sherwood-Forrest likewise in Nottingamshire there was a Party gathered together but frighted with their own shadows they dispersed as did likewise two parties which were upon Yorkeshire and Northumberland This Plot was said to have been laid all over the Nation though there were so few appearances and all those vanished of themselves except that commanded by Wagstaffe Penruddocke and Jones which being pursued by Collonel Vntoncrooke out of Wiltshire into Devonshire were by him and John Copleston Esquire Sheriff of Devon totally routed Penruddocke and Jones taken and Penruddocke with some others executed For this service the Protector afterwards dubbed the Sheriff of Devon and in token of more favour gave him the Sword wherewith he Knighted him About the end of this year 1654 died that famous Antiquary and accomplished Scholler Mr John Selden of the Inner Temple whose fame was so great in Forreign parts that many persons of known wisdome and Learning came over on purpose into England to see and admire him Nor need any give him any larger Encomium then the Right Reverend Bishop of Armagh gave him in the Pulpit when he preacht his Funerall Sermon viz. That he esteem'd Mr Selden a man of such vast parts and Learning that he judged himself not worthy to carry his Books after him The Protector had a great while been preparing a mighty Fleet with all necessary provisions for some notable voyage all the world standing amazed at his preparations and every one fearing thuir own States they could not guesse whither his design tended At length those vast preparations produced two mighty Fleets the one under command of Generall Blake was fitted only for the Sea and sent to the Streights The other about two moneths after was committed to the charge of Generall Pen who was to take aboard him a Land Army commanded by Generall Venables These Land Forces being about 3000 were divided into the severall Ships which were in number 30 sail of good Ships but not provided with Provisions necessary for so great an Army nor so long a voyage nor indeed could the Commanders provide themselves things fitting they not knowing whither nor how farre they were to go The 19th of December 1654 this Fleet set sail for Portsmouth directly for the Barbadoes where the Generals had order to break open their Commissions this being the appointed place of Rendesvouz whether having a fresh gale of wind and fair they arrived on the 29th of January and came all to anchor in Carlyle-bay where presently after they landed their men The sudden departure of these two great Fleets made the King of Spain who feared thry were designed against him to send an express command to the Marquess of Leda then Governour of Dunkirk to pass into England in the quality of an extraordinary Ambassadour to see if he could possibly search out the certainty of that grand Court secret he accordingly being arrived in England spent severall days here but having no satisfaction in that which he most of all desired returned back again But to return to our West-India voyage whilest the Fleet abode at the Barbadoes the Generals Collonels and inferiour Officers look'd diligently after their respective charges the Shallops brought in quarters out of England are set up the Coopers are ordered to trim the Watercaske two Frigots are sent to St Christophers and St Mevis to raise Men the Generals striving to compleat their Regiments at the Barbadoes and form Regiments out of the Seamen to serve upon occasion and at length being in a full readiness they shipt about 6000 Men and a Troop of Horse which the Islanders
mens bodies endeavour the like over their souls They therefore Enact that every Citizen of London at the time of their admission to their Freedome should take the ensuing Oath viz. You shall swear That you shall be true and faithfull to the Commonwealth of England and in order there unto you shall be obedient to the just Government of the City of London You shall to your best power maintain the peace and all the due Franchises thereof and to your knowledge and ability do and perform all Acts and things belonging to a Free-man of the said City They likewise Enact that the said Oath Mutatis mutandis be taken by every Free-man in every City Borrough and Town Corporate in England and Wales at the time of their admission to Freedome as aforesaid The Extraordinary Ambassadors for the States of Holland having had audience and promise of Redress for the injuries done to their Ships provided the wrong-doers could be found out being on departure many thanks and civilities having past between them and the House they Order two Members to give them a solemn farewell who accompanied them to Gravesend The Army again Petition the Parliament in prosecution of some desires formerly presented to them viz. 1. To make and establish such wholesome Laws in the native Language as may preserve the Interest and Liberties of this Commonwealth 2. That Tithes may be abolished 3. That no punishment be inflicted upon any man for the Exercise of his Conscience 4. That all that had to deal in the publick Treasury be called to account and that free Quarter be taken off 5. That all Persons whatsoever may have a free and equall Administration of the Law 6. That Persons imprisoned for Debt having nothing to pay may be released and that such as are able and shelter themselves in prison be forced to pay 7. That all Persons in prison for pretended words c. be brought to triall and if found innocent have satisfaction for false imprisonment 8. That Provision might be made for the Poor of the Nation 9. That constant Pay may be provided to prevent free Quarter 10. That the Arrears of the Army might be paid out of the Kings Deans and Chapters Lands 11. That their want of Horses might be supplied 12. That care might be taken for prevention of clipt Money 13. That the Articles of Warre might be mitigated 14. That the Souldiers might not be put to the execution of civil Orders as seizing on unlicensed Books distraining of Moneys or the like so that the people may not complain of their intrenchment on their Liberties These were February 19. 1649. drawn up by the Army as their humble Petition and Address to the Parliament but we need not think it strange that every common Souldier should have liberty to propose what was necessary to be done in the Government since they had perfectly the whole power in their hands and had first by the fetches of some of their Commanders excluded and extirpated all other power to give life and being to this shadow of a Government this little finger of a Parliament and yet ten times heavier to the Nation then the whole loynes of its legal Magistracy But to return to our purpose the Parliament for so in their own language we must call them order the Triall of Duke Hamilton who though he was no Englishman yet was arraigned under the Name of Earl of Cambridge thereby to subject him to the English Law together with the Earl of Holland Lord Capell Lord Goring and Sr John Owen the two first of which were afterwards beheaded in Pallace-yard and the two last meeting with more favour from them were suffered to depart beyond Seas A Councell of State being setled by the Parliament they met at Derby House where some Propositions of the Parliaments in order to their unanimous Proceedings were tendred to them viz. the approbation of the Proceedings with the late King the House of Lords the present Alteration and some other These were by them received with some dislike to some of the particulars and their dislike being mentioned in the House was referred to a Committee The Prince Elector Palatine makes his Addresses to the Parliament with returnes of thanks for their former favours and desires that 5600lb due of his last years Pension might be paid that the Pension of 8000lb per annum might be continued and that he might have the Pass of the House for himself Family and forty Horse to go home The first and last desires were granted and the Summe due Ordered to be paid him but the Continuation of his Pension put off to further consideration The Parliament and Councell of State agree upon an Attestation to be taken by every individuall Member of the Councell of State which ran as followeth viz. I A. B. being of the Councell of State do Testifie that I do adhere unto this present Parliament in the maintenance and defence of the publick Liberty and Freedome of this Nation as it is now Declared and to the Government for future in way of a Republick without King or House of Peers And I do promise in the sight of God that through his grace I will be faithfull in the performance of the trust committed to me as aforesaid and therein faithfully pursue the Instructions given to this Councell by this present Parliament and not reveal or disclose any thing in whole or in part directly or indirectly that shall be debated or resolved on in Counsell without command or direction in Parliament or the Order and allowance of the major part of them that shall be present at such debates or resolutions In confirmation of the Premisses I have hereunto set my hand To which Attestation the Clerk of the Parliament is Ordered to see that every individuall Member of the Councell of State do Subscribe And now comes out the Protestation of the Parliament of Scotland against the Proceedings touching his Majesties Life and Person which because it was of so eminent concernment I shall here insert the most materiall Circumstances viz. That by their Letter of the sixth instant viz. January they represented unto you what endeavours have been used for taking away of his Majesties life for Change of the fundamentall Government of this Kingdome and introducing a sinfull and ungodly Toleration in matters of Religion and therein they did express their sad thoughts and great feares of the dangerous consequences that might follow thereupon and further they did earnestly press that there might be no proceeding against his Majesties Person which would certainly continue the great distractions of the Kingdomes and involve them in many evils troubles and confusions but that by the free Councels of both Houses of the Parliament of England and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland such course might be taken in relation to him as may be for the good and happiness of these Kingdomes both having an unquestionable interest in his Person as King of both
which duely considered we had reason to hope should have given a stop to all Proceedings against his Majesties Person But they understood that after many of the Members of the House of Commons have been imprisoned and secluded and also without and against the Consent of the House of Peers by a single Act of this Parliament alone power being given to certain Persons of their own Number of the Army and some others to proceed against his Majesties Person in order whereunto he was brought upon Saturday last in the afternoon before this new Extraordinary Court. Wherefore they do in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland for their vindication from false aspersions and calumnies declare That though they are not satisfied with his Majesties Concessions at Newport in the Isle of Wight especially in the matters of Religion and are resolved not to crave his Majestes restitution to this Government before satisfaction be given by him to this Kingdome yet they do all unanimously with one voice not one Member excepted disclaim the least knowledge of or accession to the late Proceedings of the Army against his Majesty and sincerely profess that it will be a great grief unto their hearts and lie heavy upon their spirits if they shall see the trusting of his Majesties Person to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England to be made use of to his ruine so far contrary to the declared intentions of the Kingdome of Scotland and solemn professions of the Kingdome of England and to the end it may be manifest to the world how much they abominate and detest so horrid a design against his Majesties Person they do in the Name of the Parliament and Kingdome of Scotland Declare their dissent from the said Proceedings and the taking away of his Majesties Life and protest that as they are altogether free from the same so they may be free from all the evils miseries confusions and calamities that may follow thereupon to these distracted Kingdomes In thus much is contracted the large Letter of the Scottish Parliament to which the Parliament in short answer That as to the alteration of the fundamentall Laws of the Land and allowing liberty of Conscience in Religion if Scotland had not the same power of liberty as they did not go about to confine them so they would not be limited to them but leaving them to act in relation to theirs as they shall see cause resolve to maintain their own Liberties as God should enable them In relation to the putting the King to death they had done it upon serious consideration of the miseries both they and the Nation had suffered by the Misgovernment and Tyranny of that man of sin as they termed him that they doubted not but God would prosper them in it That if Scotland would not now with them assert its Liberties but espouse that quarrell they would reap no other advantage by it but a lasting Warre and the miseries that attend it or the intailing of a perpetuall slavery under a Tyrant and his Issue to them and their posterity These jarrings at length produced a bloudy Warre betwixt the two Nations to the devastation and almost utter ruine of Scotland as the sequell of the Story will show The Parliament Order the Army to march Northward The Parliament now more fully ordered that no Member whatsoever who had absented himself from sitting in the House since the 31. of December 1648. should be re-admitted into the House but should be utterly secluded and barred from sitting except such as had been imployed in the service of the Parliament They then consider of wayes for raising of Money to serve their Occasions and in order thereto appoint a Committee to consider of the Revenues of the late King Queen Prince Bishops c. and how they may be improved to their greatest advantage Collonel Popham Collonel Dean and Collonel Blake who are to go with the Fleet are ordered to go down immediately and nine pound a day appointed for their maintenance The Lord Warwicks Commission of Admirall of the Seas and Warden of the Cinque Ports being null'd and that power put into the Hands of the Councell of State who have devolved it upon those three aforementioned In the mean time those who stand out in the two Cityes of Dublin and London-Derry for this Parliament earnestly entreat relief before that Ormond Inchiqueen and Owen-Roe who were very near Compositions should joyn which would go near to ruine all They therefore desire that eight thousand men formerly promised them might come over which would either hinder the malevolous Conjunction threatned or be a good Barricado against them however they promise to hold out as long as possibly they can The Earl of Lothian Sr John Chesley and Mr Glendonning who came as Commissioners from the Parliament of Scotland to this of England not having received any satisfaction in relation to their Instructions or the Desires of the Parliament of Scotland being somewhat angry but loath to express their Choller by word of mouth after their departure from London send back a Letter by a servant to the Parliament in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland enumerating all their Declarations the breach of all their Covenants Oaths and Protestations for contiruance of the late Government and how much they had gone contrary to all of them in what they had now done to King Lords c. desiring them to do their first work which if they did not as they that then they would wash their hands of all the misery that was like to ensue This so netled our Parliament that they immediately imprison the Messenger and besides the giving secret Order for the securing the Subscribers they put forth a Declaration against the Paper arguing it to contain much scandalous and reproachfull matter against the just Laws and Government of this Nation to the high dishonour thereof That it was a design in the contrivers and subscribers of it to raise Sedition and lay the grounds of a new and bloudy Warre They therefore Declare that all Persons whatsoever residing in England or Ireland or Scotland that shall adhere to the said Subscribers in pursuance of the Grounds by them laid in the said Paper are Rebels and Traitors to the Commonwealth of England and shall be proceeded against as Rebels and Traitors They likewise Order that a Letter be sent with a Copy of that Paper to the Parliament of Scotland to know if they will own or justifie it The Parliament are so necessitated for Moneys that they are resolved to let no way slip for the raising of it the ancient Standard in the Palace-yard shall not scape but a Committee is ordered to examine what it might be worth in case it were sold for publique use The Parliament in consideration of Sr George Ascues eminent services at Sea order him to be Admirall of the Irish Seas and Modell the Expences of the Navy as low as they can possibly whereby a great part
the Attorney Generall bring in a Bill to Audit the Arrears of the Souldiers Thus the Parliament make hast to the sale of the Lands belonging both to Church and State for the payment of their Souldiers and servants The 25th of April 1649 was Collonel Poyer shot to death Major Generall Loughorne Coll. Powell and himself three eminent Welchmen were tried for their lives by a Counsell of Warre and all three condemned for holding Intelligence with the Enemy but mercy being shown it was put to the Lot which fell upon Coll. Poyer who suffered death according to sentence The Princess Elizabeth Daughter to the late King petitioning the Parliament that shee might have leave to go into Holland to her Sister the Princess Royall of Orange is denyed but is ordered to go with her Brother the Duke of Glocester to Sr Edward Harringtons in Rutland who is ordered to take care of them and 3000lb a year is allowed for their maintenance but he excuses it being ancient The Parliament take upon them the Royall Prerogative of Coyning Monies order a new Stamp to be made with the Arms of England on one side and round The Commonwealth of England and the Arms of England and Ireland on the other and round God with us Severall Troops and Regiments of the Army either discontented at Liev. Coll. John Lilburns imprisonment or some other feigned pretence of their own mutinie Coll. Scroops and Major Gen. Iretons who were designed for Ireland are the chief but in the end they are all either reduced to obedience or disbanded A Regiment of Coll. Tuthills is sent over to Dublin as a vangard to the rest Dr Dorislaus whom the Parliament of this Commonwealth had sent over as their Agent to treat with the States of Holland was the 5th of May murdered in an Ordinary in the Hague by six men who entred into the chamber disguised the English Cavaliers there were suspected for the murther but we judg it a calumny since the certainty could never be known though the States of Holland offered 1000 Guldens to the discoverers of the assassinates The Parliament to manifest their surious resentment of the murther of Dr Isaac Dorislaus their Agent put forth a Declaration how tender a sense they have of so horrid a murther and the dishonour redounds thereby to the Commonwealth and that since they cannot have the authors of that horrid villany they are resolved to execute their revenge upon those Cavaliers for they are resolved to believe those there the actors of it which they have here in their power and have not been admitted to compound and so are left to their mercy which they else had found had not their fellows there forfeited it so sweet is revenge though but upon a meer suspicion of an injury The Parliament in England put forth an Act declaring what should be high-Treason the particulars were 1. That whosoever should maliciously and advisedly by writing printing or openly declare that this Government by Parliament is tyrannicall usurped or unlawfull or that the Commons assembled in Parliament are not the Supream Authority of the Nation or shall plot endeavour or contrive to stir up or raise any force to the subversion or alteration of the Government and shall declare the same by open deed shall be judged guilty of high-Treason 2. That any person who shall maliciously and advisedly contrive and plot or cause to be contrived and plotted any thing which may tend to the subversion of the Keepers of the Liberties of England or the Councell of State and shall declare the same by open deed shall be judged guilty of high Treason 3. That whosoever not being a Member of the Army shall plot contrive or endeavour to stir up any mutiny in the said Army or draw any Souldiers or Officers from their obedience to their superiour Officers or from the present Government or shall procure invite or aid any forreigners to invade England or Ireland or counterfeit the great Seal of England for time being used by Authority of Parliament That then they for every such offence be judged guilty of high Treason and suffer the pains and penalties thereof This Act was by Order of Parliament proclaimed throughout England and Wales But now the straits of Ireland requiring a speedy help which is daily sollicited for Ormond having beleaguered Dublin near a Moneth and it scarce like to hold out long for want both of men provisions and Ammunition Collonel Tuthills Regiment having carried nothing over but themselves and their Arms on their shoulders though scarce Cloathes to their backs so that the Parliament to answer those reiterated desires of Lieutenant Generall Jones and being indeed sensible of their necessities expedite their assistance appointing Commissary Generall Ireton Collonel Scroop Collonel Horton Major Generall Lambert with their four Regiments of Horse and Collonel Ewers Collonel Cooke Collonel Hewson and Collonel Dean with theirs of Foot and five Troops of Horse to be made ready for that service besides which some other Regiments are raised by beat of Drum In the mean time Collonel Reynolds Regiment of Horse Collonel Venables and Collonel Monkes of Foot quartering nearest are ordered to advance to Chester and thence immediately take Shipping as the Vant-guard of the Army the other eight Regiments were ordered to march to the generall Rendezvows at Milford-haven where there was a convenient number of Shipping provided to waft them over into Ireland and whither Generall Cromwell very speedily followed them departing out of London the tenth of July 1649. The Vant-guard commanded by the Collonels Reynolds Venables and Monke met with so prosperous a gale from Chester soon arrived in Dublin Road and having landed their men notwithstanding the Enemy lay so near entred the City without any considerable opposition where they were received with Ecchoes of joy by the Souldiers and Inhabitants who had so long expected them The Town being now so well strengthened by this new supply Collonel Jones his old Souldiers Collonel Tuthills Regiment with the Inhabitants that bore Arms and this new Brigade could now muster between 8 and 9000 stout men Jones therefore resolves upon a Sally as soon as he should see occasion which the Enemy themselves soon gave him by coming down on the East side of the City with a party of near 2000 Foot and some Horse intending to have run a trench along to the Sea and there to have built a Fort which might have commanded the Haven and hindred supplyes from England they within perceiving their design were resolved to hinder them so drawing out near twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot couragiously enter those trenches the Enemy had raised and pursued their charge with so much courage that Ormonds Horse presently gave back and his Foot most cut in pieces or taken prisoners which easie victory gave such heat to the English Forces that pursuing it with as much resolution as possible could be expected in men they followed the Chase as far as Rathmines where
judgeeth every mans actions impartially Some there were who got into Steeples and other places of defence thinking to save themselves but were all forced either by the sword or famine to yield who yet in cold bloud found as little mercy as their fellows had done in the heat of the Battell there being not above two escaping with their lives the Dean Barnard afterwards made Almoner and the other an old man by his leaping out of a Steeple which Cromwels Souldiers blew up with Gunpowder who though he broke his Leg yet had his life saved This great slaughter not being occasioned neither by the heat of the Souldiers but by Cromwels speciall Command who vowed somewhat to a noble Officer of his pleading for mercy for the Defendants That he would sacrifice their bodyes to the souls of the Englishmen they had murdered which he could not in justice say of those in Droghedah knowing them to be most Englishmen and such whose greatest fault was to serve their true and lawfull Soveraign in his just defence However this slaughter works for his ends for upon the News the Souldiers and Townsmen in Trim and Dundalke two adjacent Garrisons quit their holds and such was their haste in Trim that they l ft their great Guns behinde them on the Platforms and well might their fear be great at the News of Droghedahs taking when Sr Phelime O Neal at the hearing of it burst out in a passion swearing That if Cromwell had taken Droghedah by storm if he should storm Hell he would take it This considerable action having had such wished for success Cromwell directs his Army towards Wexford and in his way engarrisons Killingkerick and Arcklo Castle the feat of the Ormonds two deserted Forts many others in that March submitted whereof most being places inconsiderable were slighted others engarrisoned The first of October the Army faces Wexford and the Lord Deputy requires Collonel Synnot the Governour to make a speedy surrender of it he returnes an answer somewhat dubious so that many Papers pass between him and the Lord Deputy which was occasioned only by a design the Governour had to waste and delay time till the Earl of Castle-haven was entred into the Town with 500 men to strengthen the Garrison So when the Governour had received these recruits he no longer writes dubiously but plainly sends word to the Lord Deputy that he was resolved to stand it out to the utmost whereupon Cromwell being enraged at his mockery bends his force at the Castle which stands at the South-East end of the Town which after having received some hundreds of great Shot was forced to a rendition This so quelled the hearts of the stout Wexfordians that they quitred their Walls and gave the Enemy free leave to enter which they delayed not to do but meeting with no resistance fell in pell mell till they came to the Market-place where the Souldiers and Inhabitants reviving their courage in vain maintained their ground for a short time for they were soon over-powred and all that were found in Arms slain Thus Wexford being taken Cromwell marches on to Waterford and takes Passage-Fort but because of the Winter presently raises his Army and whilest severall parties are disposed in their winter-quarters they reduce severall engarrisoned places so that in fine all considerable places in Ireland except Limerick Waterford Clonmell Galloway and Kilkenny were in the possession of the Lord Deputy Cromwell But let us leave him thus victorious in Ireland and return to the King and Scots The King seeing business go so ill in Ireland resolves to comply somewhat neerer with the Scots who notwithstanding his giving Commissions to Montross still sollicit him by Commissioners and at length come to agreement with him The news of this and the Scottish great preparations for warre and as it is supposed to invade England makes the Parliament send over to Ireland for their victorious Generall Cromwell whom they intend to send into Scotland to hinder their coming into England Generall Fairfax having pleaded his disability to go but Cromwell before his coming away he reduces the City of Kilkenny and the strong Fort of Clonmell the one by Articles the other by storm which done leaving Ireton Deputy in his stead he takes Ship at Wexford and so came over to Bristoll and from thence by Post to London where upon Saturday the first of Iune he arrived with unexpressible imaginations of joy About this time Prince Rupert who had played many pranks at Sea is blocked up by the three English Admirals in Lisbone most of his Ships being before either taken or sunk who treat with the King of Portugall to force him out of his harbour which he by no means neither promises nor threats could be induced to do though the English surprize many of his Sugar-Ships coming from Brazill and threaten to take the rest in case he resolves not to renounce his protection of Prince Rupert but at last the English for want of water and victuals are forced to depart from before the Port which opportunity Prince Rupert taking gets out and steers for Malaga whither the English having victualled follow them take the Roe-Buck force the Black-Prince and four more ashore and Prince Rupert escaping with two Ships more they sleight him and giving over further search return with victory to England About this time likewise the English having sent Mr Anthony Ashcam Agent to the King of Spain he arrived the 5th of Iune 1650. at Sancta Maria where hearing many threats against his person he procured a guard for to convey him to Madrid where at his first arrivall lying at an Inne being the next day at dinner with his Interpreter six roaring Dons knockt at the door and having easie admittance Mr Ashcam rose to salute them whereupon the first stabbed Mr Ashcam and his Interpreter endeavouaing to escape was wounded in the belly both falling down dead in the place the murtherers though they escaped to the Sanctuary were fetched out by the King of Spain but again returned thither by the Popes speciall mandate The League and agreement being as I said before fully concluded between the Scots and the King so that there wanted nothing but their having him with them which to expedite he hastens from Breda comes to the Hague and there takes shipping from whence notwithstanding the wait laid for him he arrives safely at the Spey in the north of Scotland where he is received with the best entertainment the Scots could give him But before he ascend the Throne there are other Conditions to be agreed on which they told him not of before 1. He must take the solemn League and Covenant 2. He must subscribe to a Declaration of the Kirks own framing declaring That he renounced the sins of his Fathers house and of his own the Idolatry of his Mother by a constant adhering to the Cause of God according to the Covenant in the firm establishment of Church-government as it is laid down
in the Directory of publique Worship Confession of Faith and Catechisme These and many other bitter Pills was he forced to take to purge him and make him fit for that Crown which was shortly after put upon his head And now the Parliament of England begin to think of their security and for fear of an invasion from the Scots resolve to invade the Scots they therefore order the Armies speedy advance which presently allarms the Scots they send two or three Papers to Sr Arthur Haslerig then Governour of Newcastle expostulating for the suddain approach of the English Army which they do only to gain time that they may be in a better readiness to receive them The Parliament to satisfie the people of England publish a Declaration large and specious enough shewing the causes and reasons of the Armyes so suddain advance into Scotland though indeed they could pretend nothing in justice but only a fear lest Scotland should invade them July 22. 1650 The English Army quit their Quarters at Barwicke and advance into Scotland as far as the Lord Mordingtons house so they are now the first invaders thence on to Copperspeth and so to Dunbar where they receive provisions from their Ships and so march to Haddington At Haddington the Lord Generall Cromwell hearing that the Scotch Army would meet him next at Gladmoore endeavours to possess the Moore before them but no considerable Party of Scots appeared Lambert and Whalley are sent with 1400 Horse to attempt somewhat on the Enemy at Musselborough but nothing could be done The English encamped that night within four Miles of the Scots but the next day they perceived the Scots Camp so strongly fortified and flankred with great Guns that they judged it in vain to attempt any thing upon it so the English retreat to refresh themselves the Scots fell in on their rear and put them to some disorder till a body of English Horse close with them put them to the rout and pursue them to their very trenches Lambert was in this encounter wounded in two places and taken prisoner but rescued again two or three Scotch prisoners of note were taken and some few slain on both sides The English march off quietly to Musselborough but very much tired and faint for want of provisions and by lying open in the rain that they expected the Enemy should fall upon them in the night which they did broke through the English Guards and put a Regiment of Horse to disorder but the English sallying and the whole Army taking the Allarm charged routed and pursued those fifteen Troops under Command of Montgomery and Straughan These losses made the Scots keep closer in their trenches In the mean time affairs go on well for the Parliament in Ireland Teoroghan-Castle notwithstanding the stour resistance of the Lady Governess is at last compelled to yield Waterford before which the Lord Deputy Ireton was set down was in a yielding capacity Ormonds Castlehavins and other royall Forces dispersed so that there now remained only Limericke Galloway and some other inconsiderable Garrisons to the wholly reducing that Kingdome Somewhat before this the English Plantations in Virginia and the Caribdy Island revolted from their obedience to the Parliament and declare unanimously for Monarchy and Liturgy but the decay of their Trade without which they could not long subsist and a Squadron of Ships sent under the Command of Sir George Askew quickly reduces them to complyance The Parliament of England the more to afflict the Scots and encrease their misery prohibite all traffick with them command all their Merchants and Ships to depart in ten dayes who going without Convoy most of them fall into the hands of the English Frigots against whom they could make no resistance Collonel Eusebius Andrews being taken with a Commission from the King is apprehended and accused for a design to subvert the Government of this Commonwealth for which he is condemned and executed on Tower-hill one Benney who was found to have a hand in the business is hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburne But to digress The Prince of Orange having a design to enlarge his power over the united Provinces is impeaded by the City of Amsterdam whereupon he endeavours to surprize it but the Burgers having advice of it by letting open their sluces forbid the approach of his Army so his design failing he came off with disgrace but they afterwards came to an agreement and the Prince was forced to be content with the power he had before or less The English Army in Scotland to which it is time to return having taken Collington-house and Readhall by storm and in the last the Lord Hamilton Major Hamilton and good store of Ammunition and provision move from Pentland-hills and Collington and Readhall within a Mile of the Scotch Army both Armyes march side by side in view of each other but a Bog betwixt them hindred an Engagement but the great Guns played on both sides which nevertheless provoked not the Scotch to fight but still they kept under protection of the Bog which the English seeing retreated and marcht to Musleborough to refresh themselves which done they draw off and march to Haddington the Scots attending their right wing fall on desperately but are repulsed by Collonel Fairfaxes Regiment September 1. 1650 the English Army marched to Dunbar whither the Scots followed them and drew up their whole Army upon a high Hill within a Mile of the Town The English Army drew up in a Corn-field below being encamped on a neck of Land not a Mile and half from the Sea to Sea so that the Scots Army being above them and finding their advantage endeavoured the gaining of Copper-speth-pass which effected they bragged they had the English in Essex his pound and Lesly the Scotch Generall bragged he would have the English either dead or alive The straits of the English were very great many sick and disabled and themselves pen't up in this manner wanting provisions they resolved on the third of September either to force their way through their Enemies or die nobly in the attempt a Party of Horse is first set to gain the pass which effected the whole Army charged and after about an hours hot engagement the Scotch Horse being routed the Foot threw down their Arms and fled There was in the Scotch Army this day neer 16000 Foot 6000 Horse wherof 4000 were slain neer 10000 taken Prisoners The English Army were not above 7500 Foot and 3500 Horse besides disabled men There was taken from the Scots neer 200 Foot and Horse Colours 27 Fieldpieces 10000 Arms and many Prisoners of note amongst which were the Lords Liberton Lumsdale and Grandison This relation gives me occasion to give you some heads of Cromwel's Letter to the Speaker wherein the Reader may please to observe his religious canting and judg themselves if they would not have took him for a Saint Having given a relation of the fight and victory he craves leave to add
a few words of which these are part viz. It is easie to say the Lord hath done this it would do you good to see and hear our poor Foot go up and down making their boast of God but Sr it is in your hands and by this eminent mercy God puts it more in your hands to improve your power and his blessings to his praise we that serve you beg of you not to own us but God alone We pray you own his people more and more for they are the Chariots and horsemen of Israell disown your selves but own your authority and improve it to curb the Proud and the insolent such as would disturb the tranquility of England though under what specious pretences foever c. Again Since we came into Scotland it hath been our desire and longing to have avoided bloud in this business by reason that God hath a people here fearing his Name though much deceived and to that end we have offered much love to such in the bowels of Christ and concerning the truth of our hearts therein we have appealed unto the Lord c. and more this is the great hand of the Lord and worthy the consideration of all those who taking into their hands the instruments of a foolish shepheard to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly power to set up that which they call the Kingdom of Christ which is neither it and if it were would such means be found effectuall to that end and neglect or trust not to the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit which is alone powerfull and able for the setting up of that Kingdom and when trusted to will be found effectually able for that end and will also do it This is humbly offered for their sakes who have lately too much turned aside that they might turn again to preach JESVS CHRIST according to the simplicity of the Gospell c. If this man could not dissemble well who ever did The Parliament ordered that the Scottish Colours taken from Duke Hamilton at Preston in Lancashire and those sent from Dunbar taken at the now recited battell should be hanged up in Westminster hall the one on the one side and the other on the other side About this time died in the Isle of Wight the Princess Elizabeth third Daughter to the late King Charles who had her Funerall rights performed in Newport Church in the same Island Tuesed Sept. 24. presently after which the Parliament gave order for the sending of Henry Duke of Glocester her Brother to the University at Heidelberg a Town of the Prince Electors where the Parliament ordered him an allowance of 1500lb per annum Quam diu se bene gesserit In the mean time by the care and pains of the Lord Deputy Ireton Munster and Vlster are reduced to obedience except some Tories which stand out and lie sculcking in the woods and fastnesses Waterford being surrendred there was nothing now left towards the Conquest of that Countrey but Connaught to which effect Limerick as the pass into it was blockt up Deputy Ireton But let us by a little leave these affairs in Ireland for the more important affairs of Scotland After the Victory won at Dunbarr the Scots not only lose all their Arms and Artillery in the Camp but likewise quitted Leith and Edinburrough whereupon the Lord Generall the 7th of Septemb. sends four Regiments to take possession of Leith where they found 37 Guns mounted on the Platforms some shot and store of Ammunition and the same day Cromwell draws the rest of the Army into Edenburrough without any loss save the Arm of a Souldier though the Castle plaid hot upon them After the Army had spent some time in fortifying Leith and Cromwell had by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet proclaimed a Protection of Markets and liberty of Trade in Edinborrough and Leith the Army advances towards Sterling whither most of the Scottish Nobility and Gentry had retired from Edenborrough and Leith and Septemb. 18. being within a mile of the Town a Counsell of Warre was called and a Summons resolved to be sent for its surrender to the service of the Commonwealth of England and accordingly a Trumpeter was sent with a Letter who being come near the Town was met by a Gentleman on foot with a Pike in his hand who told him that he would neither let him come in nor receive his Letter The same day the Scots sent our a Trumpet desiring a release of Prisoners upon ransome but Generall Cromwell returned answer That he came not thither to make merchandize of men but for the service and security of the Commonwealth of England The Summons sent to Sterling not being received caused Orders to be given for the getting of Ladders and all things necessary for a storm but upon second thoughts the strength of the Enemy and dangers being considered it was agreed that the Army should draw off which accordingly they did and marched to Linlithgow which place lying between Edinborrough and Sterling being judged fitting to be made a Garrison of the Generall ordered to be fortified and leaving in it five Troops of Horse and six Companies of Foot marched with the rest to Edinborrough About this time Sept. 23. the afflicted Kirk of Scotland appointed a solemn day of Fasting and Humiliation 1. To humble themselves for their too much confidence in the arm of flesh 2. For the malignity and prophaness of their Army 3. For the plunderings and wickedness of their Army when they were in England 4. For their not sufficient purging their Army 5. For their Commissioners unlawfull and surreptitious manner of prosecuting the Treaty with their King and their crooked wayes in bringing him home 6. For their not sufficient purging the Kings house 7. For the just grounds they have to beleeve his Majesties repentance was not sound nor from the heart In the mean time Generall Cromwell endeavours to beget a right understanding with those that dissented from the King but stood for the Kirk viz. Coll. Kerre and Straughan and their adherents for there were three factions in Scotland viz. one in the North was for the King without the Kirk another party in the West was for the Kirk without the King the third was for King and Kirk and these were they then at Sterling who bore the greatest sway viz. The Committee of Estates and Generall Assembly To Coll. Kerr c. Commis Generall Whalley is sent with a party but he accosts them first with a Letter declaring That it was not unknown what amicable wayes they had used to avoid the effusion of Christian blood before and since they came into Scotland which though hitherto hath been ineffectuall yet they should endeavour the same Shewing further That their arms were still stretched out to imbrace them when ever God should incline them to come in and that they sought not dominion over them to enslave them nor to depress their Kirk Government neither that they
Souldiers being sunk by Shot from the Castle Captain Browne Bushell a Noble Royalist who had done many handsome actions for the service of both the Kings was beheaded under the Scaffold at Tower-hill In the mean time the Forces under Command of the Lord Deputy of Ireland scatter and disperse those Forces raised by Castle-haven Clanrickard Dillon and others in the Counties of Kerryathlone Monaghan and Wicklow and settle severall Garrisons to the distraction of most of their Enemies no considerable places being left to them but only Limerick and Galloway That considerable Garrison of Finnagh in Westmeath being surrendred to Commissary Generall Reynolds and Phelim Mac Hugh who came with 1500 Horse and Foot to its relief routed most of his Company slain and many considerable Officers taken prisoners But let us return again to the main business in Scotland Collonel Moncke with a Party of Horse and Foot marches towards Blackness a Garrison of the Scots which had much endammaged the English Quarters which after the Batteries raised and some Shot was spent was reduced the Defendants craving Quarter which considering the strength of the place was granted The Scots in the mean time grow powerfull for notwithstanding all the strifes and emulations amongst them an agreement is patcht up to the seeming satisfaction of all the dissenters they are likewise in hopes of a power to rise for them in Lanchashire which with a considerable Party promised from Scotland to joyn with them might confront any force of the Parliaments but the design is discovered before it was acted and Thomas Cooke Esquire of Grays-Inne the principall Agent for Lancashire taken Major Generall Harrison upon these discoveries is sent into the North with a Body of Horse and Foot and to oppose the Enemy if he should make an invade by way of Carlisle The above-mentioned plot was contrived throughout all England though by ill fortune timely prevented severall persons of quality but most Presbyterian Divines were taken viz. Mr Christopher Love Major Alford Major Adams Collonel Barton Mr Blackmore Mr Case Mr Cauton Dr Drake Captain Far Mr Gibbons Mr Hrviland Major Huntington Mr Ienkins Mr Iaquell Mr Iackson Lieutenant Collonel Iackson Captain Massey Mr Nalton Captain Potter Mr Robbinson Mr Sterks Collonel Sorton Collonel Vaughan and others of which only two suffered viz. Mr Love and Mr Gibbons who after many delays were beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August 1651. There hapned much about this time a petty rising in Wales two or three hundred persons being gathered together in behalf of the Scots King upon a report that the English Army was routed and the Scotch advancing into England but the design proved as void of success as the report was of truth But the Scots make severall in-falls upon the Out-guards and Garrisons of the English wherein they had frequently good success killing some and taking others having the advantage of the English in the knowledge of the Country which makes the English contract their Quarters drawing away the Out-Garrisons and putting the Army into a posture to march to Fife but the Ground not yet affording Grass or Oats the enterprize was for the present suspended The Scotch Levies were now compleated to 15000 Foot and 6000 Horse with which they march on this side Sterling to a place called Torwood where the King drew up most of his Horse and Foot and enrails them in a regular fortification Cromwell draws up his Army towards them and marched in Battalia within view of their Camp in hopes to draw them to a Fight but they got nothing else from them then some thundring Messengers from their great Artillery The Lord Generall vext at their delays fals upon Kalendar-house kept by a Party of theirs and in the end though it was stoutly defended out of hopes of relief takes it by storm but when this neither would provoke the Scots to fight he resolves now having so fit an opportunity to do that which he had so long intended viz. to land some men on Fife and accordingly Collonel Daniells Regiment of Foot having four Companies more joyned to it and four Troops of Horse all under Command of Collonel Overton being imbarqued at Leith under pretence of being sent for England arrived next morning on the other shore landed and intrenched in despite of a Party of Scots which strove to oppose them This News brought to the Lord Generall Major Generall Lambert is presently ordered with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot to second them which they did but advice of it arriving in the Scotch Camp so alarm'd them that in all haste Major Generall Brown is sent with four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to drive the English out which they might have done had not Major Generall Lambert been arrived before them So there being now almost an equall force the Fight began to the great loss of the Scots whereof near 1500 were slain 1000 taken prisoners among which Sr John Brown Major Generall was one who shortly after as 't is supposed out of grief for this defeat died Upon this overthrow the Scotch Army remove their Camp from Torwood and march directly to Sterling-Park Cromwell follows in their rear hoping yet to draw them to a Battell but they would by no means be induced to it though he followed them within two Miles of Sterling The Lord Generall perceiving his delays would be in vain marches with his whole Army to Lithgoe whence he sends over into Fife the greatest part of them with the train of Artillery to prosecute the War on the other side the remainder with him being only four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot which he made use of to secure what was already gained and observe the Scots motions In the mean time the Lord Lambert faces Brunt Island which is surrendred upon Articles without discharging so much as one piece of Artillery The Lord Generall likewise having dispatched those affairs which detained him at Leith crosses the Frith and coming to the Army draws them into a posture and having left Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island marches with the rest towards Sr Johnston and in two dayes faces the Town and being informed that there was no Garrison in it he sends a Summons to the Inhabitants not doubting of a suddain rendition but it proved otherwise for the Lord Dafferes had the day before entred the Town with 1300 Souldiers The Lord Generall hereupon sends another Summons to the Governour who sullenly returns him no answer but after the Artillery had played one day his stomack came down and the Town was surrendred upon Articles The English Army being marched as far North as St Johns Town the King seeing affairs go so desperately in Scotland and loath to lose so good an opportunity advances with his whole Army consisting of about 16000 and marches with all speed possible into England by way of Carlisle This suddain and unexpected action startled the whole English Nation but especially the Parliament
at Westminster who though they had doubting such a thing ordered Major Generall Harrison with 3000 Horse and Dragoons to attend such an irruption yet knowing him unable to encounter so great a Body they could not tell what the event might be they therefore proceed to the leavying of new Forces in all the Counties of England and likewise for the better carrying on of their business Enact That no person whatsoever should presume to hold any correspondency with Charles Stuart or with his party or with any of them nor give any intelligence to them nor countenance encourage abett adhere to or assist any of them nor voluntarily afford or cause to be afforded or delivered to any of them any victuals provision 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 Scotch Army went on in prosecution of their design bending their course by a swift March for the West of England though it was expected by the whole Nation and especially by their friends that they would have directed their course to London Generall Cromwell being at St Johnston and hearing of this suddain march leaving such Forces as might secure that part of Scotland which was already won and leaving six or seaven thousand Horse and Foot more with Lieutenant Generall Monck to reduce those parts which remained he orders Major Generall Lambert with five Regiments of Horse and Dragoons to fly away with all possible speed to get into the rear of the Scots Army whilest Harrison was in the Front aad with the rest of the Army followes as hard as he could and on the 12 of August crossed the Tine but let us leave him following the Scotch Army and look a little into the affairs of Ireland Limerick though for some time blockt up yet held out stoutly against the Forces of the Lord Deputy Ireton they still relying upon the Lord Muskerryes help for relief who at length having gathered an Army of near 1000 Horse and Dragoons and 2000 Foot had an intention to joyn with some Forces which were got together in Lemster but the Lord Broghill hearing of his design with about 400 Horse and Dragoons and 1000 Foot endeavoured to hinder compaction so there hapned an engagement between them which though it was bloudy to the Lord Broghill himself likewise being indangered yet in the end he obtained full victory over the Lord Muskerryes Forces of whom there were neer 600 slain many of them Officers but very few taken there were likewise neer 200 of the Lord Broghills slain and many wounded the dispute being very hot on both sides yet this startled not at all either Limerick or Galloway which were both beleaguered and resolved to hold out to the uttermost bit of bread But let us return to see how the Scots direct their March in England where being come to Warrington Bridge Harrison endeavours to impead their passage but in vain for they gained the Bridge and forced him to retire so they march on without impediment to Worcester Lambert following them at the heels and Cromwell with all possible expedition advancing from Scotland the Militia in every County being raised or marching towards them to inclose them in that City of which they had possessed themselves For on Friday the 23 of August the King with his Army entred Worcester resolving to tarry there and abide the brunt for there were now so many Forces leavied that all wayes were stopt to impead his Marching farther He causes works to be raised here for his greater security and sends forth his Letters Mandatory to Collonel Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury and to Sr Thomas Middleton in Wales for leavying Forces to assist him but both his commands and perswasions proved vain and unnsefull And now the black day begins to draw nigh Cromwell with an iuimaginable celerity joyns with Fleetwood Desborough Gray of Groby Lambert and Harrison who commanded the rest of the Parliaments Forces the Militia Forces are likewise joyned to them so they all march unanimously forward to surround the Scotch Army in this pound at Worcester Nor was there ever so great an Army gathered together in so small a time in England for the whole force could not amount to less then 80000 men The Army being now drawn near to Worcester the first design they set upon was the possession of Vpton Bridge where Cromwell intended to pass over with his Army Fleetwood had the management of this enterprize who sends first a small party of Horse and Foot to judge of the feasableness of the attempt these though they found the Bridge broken down all save only one beam of Timber which reached from one Arch to another boldly dismount and venture over and secure themselves in a Church which Massey who lay in Vpton with about 200 Horse and 60 Dragoons in a great deal of security not dreading an Enemy allarmed at assaults whilest in the mean time Lambert passes over a considerable party of Horse to their relief whereupon Maffey finding it in vain to fight made an honourable retreat towards Worcester himself still bringing up the rear in which service he was wounded by a shot in the hand The Bridge thus won is immediately repaired so that Fleetwoods Army passes all over whilest Cromwell causes a Bridge of Boats to be made over the Severn on the other side that by passing over his Army the Enemy might be the more streightened But let us leave them a little at Worcester in the forementioned posture and look a little into Lancashire where the Earl of Derby with about 300 Gentlemen endeavour to raise the Country and had a party of near 1500 Horse and Foot Collone Lilburne is ordered to oppose him with whom Generall Cromwells Regiment of Foot is ordered to joyn To prevent their conjunction the Earl marches towards Manchester to surprize that Regiment Collonel Lilburne flanks the Enemy in their march hoping by that means to joyn with the Regiment which to prevent the Enemy forces him to engage the dispute was tedious by reason Lilburne was over-matched with Foot but in the end the Earl was totally routed The Lord Widdrington Sr Thomas Tidesly Sr William Throgmorton Sr Francis Gamuel with many other inferiour Officers and about 60 Souldiers slain upon the place Collonel Leg Collonel Robbinson Collonel Bay and Collonel Gerrard with severall other Commission-Officers and Gentlemen with about 500 private Souldiers were taken together with the Earl of Derbeys George Garter and other Badges of his Order but he himself escaped to Worcester there to tell the sad news of his petty overthrow which was but as a prologue to a greater But to return again to Worcester Fleetwoods Army having all passed over Vpton Bridge make a Bridge of Boats over the River Teame to attaque the West side of the Town which so alarmed the Scots that they rise from their
Whereas it hath pleased the most wise God in his Providence to take out of the world the most serene and Renowned Oliver late Lord Protector of this Commonwealth and his said Highness having in his life time according to the humble Petition and Advice declared and appointed the most Noble and Illustrious the Lord Richard eldest Sonne of his said late Highness to succeed him in the Government of these Nations wee therefore of the Privy Counsell together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of London the Officers of the Army and numbers of other principall Gentlemen do now hereby with one full voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and declare the said Noble and Illustrious Lord RICHARD to be rightfully Protector of this Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and territories thereunto belonging to whom we do acknowledg all fidelity and constant obedience according to Law and the said humble Petition and Advice with all hearty and humble affections beseeching the Lord by whom Princes rule to bless him with long life and these Nations with peace and happiness under his Government This Proclamation was signed by the Lord Mayor of London the members of the Privy Counsell and most of the Officers of the Army and was afterwards proclaimed in the Palace-yard Westminster at Cheapside the Royall-Exchange in Cornhill and so in order throughout all the Dominions of England Scotland and Ireland Proclamation being thus made the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen in their formalities came in the afternoon to condole the death of his late Highness to congratulate his Highness advancement to the Protectorship and to surrender up into his hands the Sword of the City they were received with the accustomed Ceremonies and the Lord Mayor having delivered up his Sword received it again from his Highness hands and after some other Ceremonies performed as usuall and Dr Goodwin having prayed for a blessing upon his Highness Person his Government his Forces by Sea and Land and upon all the People of these Nations Nathaniell Fines one of the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal and one of his Highness Privy Counsell administred the same Oath to his Highness which had been formerly administred to his Father upon his Installment After the Oath administred his Highness first addressed himself to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen thanking them for theirs and the Cities fidelity and good affection towards him and then having returned the like thanks to the addresses of the Officers of the Army he dismissed them and then passed a Proclamation for continuance of all such as were in any Office of Government at his Fathers death till further directions from his Highness The sixth of September by his Highness Order the Imbargo made upon his Fathers death on all Ships and Vessels in the Ports of England and Wales was taken off and Sr Oliver Flemming Master of the Ceremonies was ordered to acquaint the Ministers of all forreign Princes of the death of Oliver Lord Protector and that both that Title and the Government of these three Nations was devolved and established on his eldest Son Richard Cromwell The Lord Newport who was come over as Ambassador extraordinary from the States of Holland to the Protectors Father but first by reason of his indisposedness being retarded his audience and afterwards by reason of his death his Ambassage proved ineffectuall he having received new Letters from his Masters ordering him to condole his late Highness death and complement his present Highness for his advancement to the Government hoping that the same firm league and peace might be continued between his Highness and those States as had been between them and his princely Father delivered his Message in a publick audience before his Highness and received an answer conformable to his desires Severall addresses protesting both love and obedience to his Highness are presented both by the Army City of London and most of the Countries the whole Nation being seemingly content and satisfied with his advancement to the Government of these Kingdomes Nor were the Officers of the Army even those who afterwards showed themselves most active in depriving him of his Government backward but every particular Regiment gave in their addresses condoling his Fathers death and protesting their willingness nay joy in becoming obedient to him But amongst all those addresses I cannot omit one passage in that presented by Major Generall John Disborow and his Regiment in which condoling his Fathers death they adde thus viz. Your Highness your Armies and people reap the benefit of his prayers and successes but alas this our Moses your dear and blessed Father the servant of the Lord is dead and shall we not weep Though we weep not for him we cannot but weep for our selves We cannot but look after him crying Our Father our Father the Chariots of Israell and the horsemen thereof the fiery Chariot indeed of England whose fury and ambition had set the whole Nation in flames and combustion Nor are the rest of those forreign Ministers which were then in England viz. the Ambassadors of France and Sweden and Portugall the Agents for the Hans-Towns Florence Venice and Genua backward in coming to lament with his Highness for the death of his Father and desire the continuance of that league friendship and amity which was maintained and granted by him To which the Lord Protector returned answer that there could not be any greater argument used for his continuance offriendship with any Kingdome or Common-wealth then by telling him that his Father had contracted it Nor are Scotland or Ireland less complyant to his desires then England had been they thence send their addresses and promises of obedience so that his Government seemed every where to begin with a great deal of serenity and fair promises of a long continuance In Scotland likewise Generall Monke who continued Vicegerent there published a Declaration for the better securing the peace of that Nation declaring First That no person then beyond the seas or out of the Dominions of this Commonwealth c. Except Masters of Ships or Seamen belonging to Ships of this Commonwealth should after the first of December 1658 presume to come into Scotland without Licence from the Lord Protector or his Counsell in England the Lord Deputy or Counsell of Ireland or his Highness Counsell of Scotland as they would answer it at their perils Secondly That such Persons as shall arrive in Scotland after the first of December having such a Passe shall at their arrivall be bound to give intimation to the Governour of the next adjacent Garrison who is to examine them and see that their Passe be not counterfeit and for all those who shall arrive before the first of December they are to make their appearance before the Governour of the next adjacent Garrison who is to examine the cause of their coming into Scotland and if he find them to be persons suspected to apprehend and secure them Thirdly That no
made them the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen I beleeve there are scarce any of you here who expected some moneths since to have seen this great Assembly at this time in this place in peace considering the great and unexpected change which it hath pleased the all disposing hand of God to make in the midst of us I can assure you that if things had been according to our own fears and the hopes of our enemies it had not been thus with us And therefore it will become both you and me in the first place to reverence and adore the great God possessor of Heaven and earth in whose hands our breath is and whose are all our wayes because of his judgments so to acknowledg his goodness to these Lands in that he hath not added sorrow to sorrow and made the period of his late Highnesses life and that of the Nations peace to have been in one day Peace was one of the blessings of my Fathers Government a mercy after so long a Civill War and in the middest of so great division which that war bred is not usually afforded by God unto a people in so great measure The Cause of God and these Nations which he engaged in met in all the parts of it as you well know with many enemies and great opposition The archers privily and openly sorely grieved him and shot at him yet his bow abode in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. As to himself he died full of dayes spent in great and sore travail yet his eyes were not waxeddim neither was his nature or strength abated as it was said of Moses he was serviceable even to the last As to these Nations he left them in great honour abroad and in full peace at home all England Scotland and Ireland dwelling safely every man under his Vine and under his Figtree from Dan unto Beersheba He is gone to his rest and we are entred into his labours and if the Lord hath still a blessing for these Lands as I trust he hath as our peace hath been lengthened out to this day so shall we go on to reap the fruit and gather the harvest of what his late Highness hath sown and laid the foundation of For my own part being by the providence of God and the disposition of the Law my Fathers Successor and bearing that place in the Government that I do I though it fit for the publick good to call a Parliament of the three Nations now united and conjoyned together into one Commonwealth under one Government It is agreeable not only to my trust but to my principles to govern these Nations by the advice of my two Houses of Parliament I find it asserted in the humble Petition and Advice which is the corner stone of this building and that which I shall adhere unto that Parliaments are the great Counsell of the chief Magistrate in whose advice both he and these Nations may be most safe and happy I can assure you I have that esteem of them And as I have made it the first Act of my Government to call you together so shall I further let you see the value I have of you by the answers that I shall return to the Advice that shall be given me by you for the good of these Nations You are come up from your severall Countries as the heads of your Tribes and with hearts I perswade my self to consult together their good I can say I meet you with the same desires having nothing in my designes but the maintenance of the Peace Laws Liberties both Civill and Christian of these Nations which I shall always make the measure and rule of my Government and be ready to spend my life for We have summoned you at this time to let you know the state of our affairs and to have your advice in them and I beleeve a Parliament was never sommoned upon so important occasion It is true as I have told you we are through the goodness of God at this time in peace but it is not thus with us because we have no enemies there are enough both within us and without us who would soon put an end to our peace were it in their powers or should it at any time come into their powers It will be becoming of your wisdomes to consider of the securing of our peace against those who we all know are and will be our implacable enemies what the means of doing this are I shall refer unto you This I can assure you that the Armies of England Scotland and Ireland are true and faithfull to the peace and good interest of these Nations and it will be found so and that they are a consisting body and usefull for any good ends and if they were not the best Army in the world you would have heard of inconveniencies by reason of the great arrear of pay which is now due unto them whereby some of them are reduced to great necessities but you shall have a particular account of their arrears and I doubt not but some consideration will be had thereon in some speedy and effectuall way And this being matter of money I recommend it particularly to the House of Commons You have you know a warre with Spain carried on by the advice of Parliament he is an old enemy and therefore it will be necessary both for the honour and safety of these Nations that the war be vigorously prosecuted Furthermore the constitution of Affairs in all our neighbour Countries and round about us as well friends as enemies are very considerable and calls upon us to be upon our guard both at Land and Sea and to be in a posture able to maintain and conserve our own interest Great and powerfull Fleets are preparing to be set forth into these seas and considerable Armies of severall Nations and Kings are now disputing for the mastery of the Sound with the adjacent Islands and Countries among which is the Roman Emperour with other Popish States I need not tell you of what consequence these things are to this State We have already interposed in these affairs in such manner as we found it necessary for the interest of England and matters are yet in such a condition in those parts that this State may with the assistance of Gods provide that their differences may not prejudice us The other things that are to be said I shall refer to my Lord Keeper Fines and close up what I have to say with only adding two or three particulars to what I have already said And first I recommend to your care the people of God in these Nations with their concernments the more they are divided among themselves the greater prudence should be used to cement them Secondly The good and necessary work of Reformation both in manners and in the administration of Justice that profaneness may be discountenanced and suppressed and that Righteousness and
the black Rod to the House to desire their attendance on the Lords but they refused to give him entrance but understanding there were Guards in Westminster-Hall they thought it best to adjourn which they did till the following Munday being the 25th of April whereby they prevented both their formall and forceable dissolution But the next day being the 23 of April the Proclamation signed by his Highness the Lord Protector for the dissolution of the Parliament was published the Contents of it were as followeth By the Lord Protector A Proclamation for dissolving the Parliament Whereas we assembled our high Court of Parliament to assemble and meet at our City of Westminster the 27th day of January last which hath continued unto this present day And whereas we did by our Commission under the great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster this present 22 day of April for divers weighty reasons declare our pleasure and resolution to dissolve the said Parliament and to that end did thereby constitute and appoint our right trusty and right wellbelovod Counsellour Nathaneal Lord Fines one of the Keepers of our great Seal of England and others our Commissioners in our name this said present 22 day of April to dissolve our said Parliament which was by them done according to the tenor of the said Commission in the usuall place and by vertue hereof our said Parliament is absolutey dissolved Nevertheless we have thought it necessary by advice of our Privy Counsell by this our Proclamation to publish and make known the same to the end all Persons whom it may concern may take notice thereof Given at Whitehall the 22 day of April in the year of our Lord 1659. Yet notwithstanding this Proclamation the Members on Munday the 25th of April repaired to the House according to the vote of adjournment which they found guarded by red Coats whose Officers told them that they should not enter the House any more With the dissolution of this Parliament we may put a period to the short Reign of Richard Lord Protector no further use being made of him besides what a Declaration of the 25th of April commanding all Cavaliers and Papists to depart out of London upon these present disturbances did amount to Behold the visible hand of God that those very persons and Relations that Oliver had advanced into the highest places of trust for securing his usurped power are by the Almighty made instrumentall to pull down and destroy that which he had so perfidiouslly got by murther and hypocrisie Various Revolutions of Government in 1659 1660. BY the dissolution of the late Parliament the power over the Nations is devolved into the hands of those who devolved it they being then the only visible force I will not say power in these Nations viz. the chief Officers of the Army who first of all begin to modell their own Family which they did by cashiering those of the Protectorian faction for some such there were in the Army viz. Okey Ingolsby and Goffe and some others into whose places and commands they by their own authority put Lambert Haslerig Gbey and such others as had been displaced by the late deceased Protector These men considering that as they now stood they had no visible form of a Civil Government but their proceedings in this manner would render them most odious to the common people and in time ruin them begin to think what Civill Power they might establish which might be most concordant to their designes and at last send for some of the members of that Parliamentary Juncto which were dissolved by Generall Cromwell in 1653 to these they make motion of returning to the exercise of their trust desiring them to inform the Speaker and the rest of the Armies intentions They all readily and willingly assent but the Speaker makes some conscientious objections against their resitting which notwithstanding though I think they were never yet answered he at length consents to their desires whereupon the Army publish a large and specious Declaration asserting their resolutions to stand stedfast to the Good Old Cause as they called it with repentance for their errors and to that effect they conclude their Declaration to this purpose That they amongst other things calling to mind that the long Parliament consisting of the Members which continued their sitting untill the 20th of April 1953 were eminent assertors of that Cause and had a speciall presence of God with them and were signally blessed in that work the desires of many good people concurring with theirs therein they thought it their duty to invite the said Members to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust as before the said 20th of April 1653. And therefore they did by this Declaration earnestly desire the Parliament consisting of those Members who continued to sit since the year 1648 unto the 20th of April 1653 to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust that they should be ready in their places to yeeld them their utmost assistance to sit in safety for the improving present opportunity for setling and securing the peace and quiet of this Commonwealth praying for the presence and blessing of God upon their endeavours This Declaration published there were severall Articles agreed upon between the Officers of the Army and severall Members of the then to be restored part of a Parliament which accorded to and signed on the next day being the 7th of May 1659 they convented together in the Painted-Chamber where those Members appointed to meet being all present forty two in number the Speaker with the Mace carried before him and followed by the rest went into the House and took their places Upon notice that those men had taken their places in the House as a Parliament severall of the Members secluded in 1648 there being double the number of them in the City came into the Hall and agreed that some persons of their number should go up to the House to try whether they could find admittance The persons appointed to go up were Mr Ansley Sr George Booth Mr William Pryn Mr James Herbert Mr George Mountague Sr John Eveling Mr Eveling Mr Knightly Mr Gewen Mr John Herbert Mr Peck Mr Hungerford Mr Harly and Mr Clive these according to the desire of the rest went up but found restraint upon the House so that with much ado they prevailed to get into the Lobby but here they were opposed by Lieutenant Collonel Allen though they earnestly disputed the undoubted right they had to sit in the House as well as the others but no reasons could prevail Yet on Munday May 9th Mr Ansley Mr Pryn and Mr Hungerford understanding that there were no guards upon the House went to Westminster-Hall and found admittance without any opposition at first though afterward when Mr Ansley went forth to acquaint those secluded Members which attended their success in the Hall of their admittance endeavouring to enter again he and some others with him were forcibly kept
back by Captain Lewson of Coll. Goffs Regiment However Mr Pryn continued there and disputed highly with the Juncto of the priviledge which he and the rest of the secluded Members had to sit which only a little disturbed and made them who were loath to hear right disputed adjourn till the afternoon when Mr Pryn attempting again to enter was impeded by a Troop of Horse and two Companies of Foot which were there ready to guard this piece of a Parliament against those whom they pretended were intruders And thus this Parliament sate in quiet among themselves and to the end they might be no further disturbed voted That all persons heretofore Members of that Parliament which had not sate in this Parliament since the year 1648 nor had subscribed the Engagement in the Roll of Engagement of this House should not sit in the House till further order of the Parliament They likewise published a Declaration wherein after a large and specious Preamble they declared That they were resolved through the gracious assistance of God to apply themselves to the faithfull discharge of the trust imposed in them and to endeavour the settlement of this Commonwealth upon such a foundation as may assert establish and secure the properties and liberties of the people in reference to all both as men and as Christians and that without a single Person Kingship or House of Peers and that they should vigorously endeavour the carrying on of Reformation so much desired and so often declared for to the end there might be a godly and faithfull Magistracy and Ministry upheld and maintained in these Nations to the glory and praise of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the reviving and making glad the hearts of the upright in the Land By such fair pretences did they begin to gull the people And immediately because they could not have time as yet to appoint a Counsell of State the usuall dependant of a Parliament since 1648 they for the present erect a Committee of Safety consisting of Fleetwood Haslerig Vane Ludlow Sydenham Salway John Jones Lambert Desbrough Berry and Scot. In imitation of this was that Committee of Safety I suppose erected afterwards by the Army But the Counsell of State being shortly after nominated whatever power they had was void though 't is true most of the forementioned were members of it The Great Seal of England made by the Protectors is likewise by them broken and the old Seal used by the Parliament in 1651 voted to be the Seal of the House and no other Easter Terme is also by them adjourned to the great discontent of many persons who had then suits depending against many Members especially against Vane and Haslerig This Parliament now thinking themselves fixt in their authority begin to bustle strongly but especially they take care to please the Army who had made them a Parliament which they do by passing Votes That effectuall care be taken for satisfying their arrears and paying them their pay in due order for the future At this Parliaments reentrance into the Supream Government of these Nations there happened a sad accident in the Town and Corporation of Southwould or Soulbay in the County of Suffolk where neer 230 dwelling-Houses were wholly consumed with fire all which was but a spark to the fire might have been kindled in this State had they continued in power The Army likewise at this time put up a Remonstratory Petition to this Parliament wherein they desired severall things as they pretended towards the settlement of the Nation to which the Parliament gave them these contentive answers for they durst indeed do no otherwise 1. That the liberty of the persons and property of the Estates of the free people of these Nations should be preserved inviolable according to Law under the Government of a free State or Commonwealth without a single Person Kingship or House of Peers 2. That there should be a just and due regulation of the Law 3. That all persons who professed one God in Trinity and acknowledged the Scriptures should have liberty of conscience provided it extended not to Popery or Prelacy 4. That a godly and faithfull Gospell-Preaching-Ministry should be encouraged 5. That all Vniversities and Schools of learning should be countenanced and reformed 6. That none but men of approved godliness and whose interests suited with the Good Old Cause should be admitted to employments in State 7. That an Act should be made for confirmation of the sales of all Kings Queens Princes Archbishops Bishops Deans and Chapters Lands Thus they endeavour to please the Army by complying with their desires Yet notwithstanding the fickle establishment of this House the States of Holland court them by their Ambassadour who on the 24th of May had audience in the House but perhaps those States might have more reason to do so then others these being the men who first began that War with them which almost totally ruined them And now on the 25th of May Richard Cromwell Esq late Lord Protector of these three Nations makes a free resignation of that Government to the Parliament which the Army had before taken away without his leave or consent His resignation or rather submission ran thus I have perused the Declaration and Resolve you were pleased to deliver me the other Night and for your information touching what is mentioned in the said Resolve I have caused a true state of my Debts to be transcribed and annexed to this Paper which will shew what they are and how they were contracted As to that part of the Resolve whereby the Committee are to inform themselves how far I do acquiesce in the Government of this Common-wealth as it is declared by this Parliament I trust my past carriage hitherto hath manifested my acquiescence in the will and good pleasure of God and that I love and value the peace of this Commonwealth much above my own concernments and I desire that by this a measure of my future deportment may be taken which by the assistance of God shall be such as shall bear the same witness having I hope in some degree learned rather to reverence and submit to the hand of God then be unquiet under it And as to the late providences that have fallen out amongst us however in respect to the particular engagements that lay upon me I could not be active in making a change in the Government of these Nations yet through the goodness of God I can freely acquiesce in it being made and do hold my self obliged as with other men I expect protection from the present Government so to demean my self with all peaceableness under it and to procure to the uttermost of my power that all in whom I have interest do the same Thus he who was lately Protector of these three Nations craved protection from his Quondam Subjects and thus easily did he resign those three Kingdomes which his Father had got with so much hazard of his body if not of his soul
thirtieth Articles concerning Church-censure and Synods They likewise constitute General Monck together with General Montague to be Generals at Sea for the next Summers expedition and accordingly command Montague to go to Sea with all possible speed And because several Members had impeachments against them and upon that score were secluded the House they disanull those impeachments and re-admit them as namely Mr Denzil Hollis and Sr Robert Pye About this time the Deanry of Christ-Church which had for a long time been in the hands of Dr Owen a man look'd upon at Oxford as a hair-brain'd schismatick was taken from him and confirmed to Dr Reynolds a man who farre better deserved it They likewise at the beginning of March released the Lord Lindsey the Lord Sinclare and Lord Lauderdale from their tedious imprisonments to which upon various pretences they had been committed Dr Walker and Dr Turner were made Judges of the Admiralty and Probate of Wils and Dr Wiseman constituted the Commonwealths Advocate And now was the Lord General invited to Dinner by the Company of Mercers and afterwards by several other of the Companies the Citizens striving mutually who should in the best manner discover and expresse the gratefulness and esteem they bore for his noble and heroick actions At this time there was an assembly of a Parliamentary Convention in Ireland summoned by Sr Charles Coote and the Lord Broghill for the better Regulating of affairs there till all things in England might be in a better posture The Parliament that they might testifie to the world that they were not so forgetfull of Oaths as their fellow-Members order the solemn League and Covenant to be set up and read in all Churches and likewise to be set up in the Parliament that they might remember they had sworn for the maintenance of the King and his posterity Collonel Lambert being found to lurk up and down about the City notwithstanding the Order of the Parliament was as a person too dangerous to be trusted to himself at such a time as this committed to the Tower Orders were sent down to Hull by Collonel Alured and Major Smith that Collonel Overton should immediately deliver up that Garrison into the hands of Collonel Fairfax and to repair immediately to London and he notwithstanding his former Declaration that he was resolved to keep it till the coming of King Jesus presently obeyed the Order and Collonel Fairfax accordingly took possession of the place Sr Arthur Haslerig and others were questioed before the Parliament and Counsell of State but nothing extraordinary being found against him as to the designs were then on Foot it was passed by The Parliament made Sr Peter Killigrew Governour of Pendennis-Castle and worthy Mr Morris Commander of Plymouth-Fort and Island There was about this time a conference between ten of the Counsell of State and ten head-Officers of the Army the Generall being present concerning the Government but the conference being only for mutuall information and satisfaction it had no result The Parliament ordered that the Examination of Sr George Booth and his Lady should be taken off the File and given to him he deserving to have his Encomium put on in the room of it And now they obliterated the Engagement which was made by the Rump in 1649 to free them from punishment for the impious murther of their Gracious Soveraign out of the Journall and voted it to be null and void And now the time of their dissolution being come they put out the Act for summoning a new Parliament in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberties of the Commonwealth of England The Qualifications which they put out being only these That all persons who have advised aided or any wayes assisted or abetted the rebellion in Ireland All those who profess the Popish Religion All that advised or voluntarily aided in the Warre against the Parliament in 1641 unless they have since given a manifestation of their good affection shall be uncapable of being elected Members for the ensuing Parliament and no person elected and thus qualified to sit in the House upon a high penalty Though these Qualifications did seem at first to exclude a great number yet divers eminent and worthy persons though they had actually been in the Kings service in the late War having been engaged in Sr George Booths quarrell for the naturall interest were elected and admitted to sit in the House The City having compleated their Militia as well Auxiliaries as trained Bands made choice of his Excellency the Lord Generall to be Major Generall of all their Forces Major Generall Brown being Collonel of the Regiment of Horse The Parliament ordered 9000lb to be given to Major Generall Brown in satisfaction for those great losses which he had received under the tyranny of the Rump for his noble and publick spirit They likewise gave 20000lb as a gift to his Excellency And before their dissolution they released Dr Wren who for about eighteen years had suffered imprisonment in the Tower of London a man who doubtless deserved better usage but that the times then did not well understand him They gave power also to the Counsel of State to release what Prisoners upon State-matters they should see good and particularly Maj. Gen. Lambert They ordered a stop should be put to the sale of the Estate of the Lord Craven and Lord St John the first of which had his Estate taken away from him by more than hellish injustice Some neglect being in the Printer concerning the Printing of the Act for the Militia and it being supposed there was a designe of some of the late Rump to make some alteration in the Act as might suit for their turn or else upon the Parliaments dissolution by violence to hinder it The Parliament ordered a Committee to take care that it should be finished with all expedition which accordingly was performed And so this part of a Parliament which was chosen in 1640. was now finally dissolved in 1660. by their own Act which was That the day for dissolution of this Parliament be from the sixteenth of March 1660. Multiplicity of business having caused them to alter the first appointed day About this time our gracious Sovereigne King Charles the second hearing of the transactions of affairs in England and seeing how the face of all things began to alter so that great probability there was of being admitted to his undoubted Right without the effusion of his Subjects blood removed his Court from Brussels to Breda in Holland a Town belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange there expecting till England might be brought into such a posture as might fit it for his happy and wished for reception The Parliament at their dissolution had conferred on the Counsel of State all Power whatsoever in the Interval till the assembling of the Free Parliament April 25. 1660. which accordingly they executed so prudently and wisely and preserved the Nation in peace and put the affairs of the Kingdom in
Person and Authority and to proceed against all such Offenders according to Law and Justice which Declaration was published Munday May 7th From Ireland arrived a Declaration of the General convention there wherein they expressed their detestation of the most execrable murder of our late most Gracious Soveraigne Charles the first and the illegall proceedings of the High Court of Justice against him The Parliament Ordered 50000lb to be sent over to his Majesty for a present as a test of their duty and loyalty and 50000lb more towards the payment of the Arrears of the Army and sent a Committee to the City to desire them to raise the money immediately for which they should receive satisfaction by the next assessement and receive in the mean the interest at 6. per cent which was presently granted by the City and care taking for its spedy provision The Commoncounsell of the City of London to testifie their loyall gratitude to his Majesty Ordered 10000lb to be sent for a present to his Majesty and 300lb to be given to the Lord Mordant and Sr John Greenvile who brought them his Majesties Letter to buy each of them a Ring They likewise ordered that to the most illustrious Prince James Duke of York and his Princely Brother Henry Duke of Glocester a 1000lb be presented to each of them The Parliament Order that a stop be put to the sale of the Estates of the Lord Craven Sr John Stawell and Alderman Bunce and likewise to the estate of the Duke of Buckingham and that their names be inserted into the proviso of the Bill of of Grants and Sales The Horse adjourned Easter Term to Quinque Paschae being May 28th 1660. Upon the third of May the Lord Mountague having received a Letter from his Majesty together with his Majesties gracious message to the House of Commons the Letter to his Excellency and Declaration presently called a Counsel of War to whom he communicated the said Letters which were received by them all with much hearty affections and testimonies of their exact loyalty and duty to his Majesty whereupon the General firing the first Gun himself cried God blesse King Charles the Guns from the rest of the Fleet with those from Deal and Sandwich Castles did with loud Vollies re-eccho the joy for such a happy time the shouts of the Seamen testifying their extraordinary cheerfullnesse and alacrity But now comes the day the like whereof was never enrolled in the Enguish Calender nor ever was there known a day whereon the people did with so unanimous and generall consent testifie their unexpressible content and gladness And well might they since from this time alone we can truly date the restored happinesse of the English Nation what passed before being as it were only glimmerings of this immense and radiant light The Parliament having the day before Ordered the Proclamation of his Majesty to be on the 8th day of May he was with the greatest solemnity possible all the chief Lords of the Parliament attending in their Coaches together with many eminent Members of the House of Commons the Lord General the Lord Major and Aldermen with the whole Militia of the City Proclaimed Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland the most potent mighty and undoubted King Nor did they intend by this Proclamation to seem as if they thought his Reign was to be begun from that time but confessed that forthwith upon the death of his Father the Imperiall Crown of England and the Dominions thereof did as absolutely bring unto him as now after Proclamation so that this is the twelfth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord King Charles the second whom God preserve The House of Lords the House of Commons and the City of London made choice of severall most eminent and worthy persons of their number to attend his Majesty which that they may not by posterity be forgotten I have inserted their names For the House of Lords Earl of Oxford Earl of Middlefex Lord Brooke Earl of Warwick Lord Viscount Hereford Lord Barkley For the House of Commons Lord Fairfax Lord Bruce Lord Falkland Lord Castleton Lord Herbert Lord Mandevile Sr Horatio Townsend Sr Ant. Ashey-Cooper Sr George Booth Denzill Hollis Esq Sr John Holland Sr Henry Chomely For the honourable City of London Sr James Bunce Bar. Alderman Langham Alderman Reynardson Alderman Browne Sr Nicholas Crispe Alderman Thomson Alderman Fredrick Alderman Adams Recorder Wilde Alderman Robinson Alderman Bateman Alderman Wale Theophilus Biddulph Richard Ford. Will. Vincent Thomas Bludworth Will. Bateman J. Lowes Esq Major Chamberlaine Coll. Brumfield By Order from the Parliament that all Signs of the late Arbytrary Power might be rased the States Armes were to be taken down from all Churches and publick places that in the Parliament House and in Guildhall being taken down and the Kings Armes set up in their room the Statue of his late Majesty was likewise set up again at the Chappel in Guild-hall-yard The Votes of the Parliament were also for the Fleet to go immediately to receive his Majesties Orders and be at his Devotion That the Kings Majesty be desired to return speedily to Parliament and exercise of his Kingly Office That all Ministers shall in their publick prayers pray for his Majesty under the name of Our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. And the most Illustrious Prince James Duke of York with the rest of the Royall Progeny Which is the hearty and fervent prayer of the Author and all good Subjects and so let the conclusion be Long live King Charles II. THere is now made publique Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art and Nature being the sum and substance of Naturall Philosophy First designed by John Wecker and now much inlarged by Dr. R. Read Sould at the Star in St. Pauls Church-yard