shew'd their Dislike of this Change of Government but also the Colonies in Virginia and the Carybde Islands to the reducing of whom the Parliament sent Sir George Askue with a Fleet of Ships who brought them again into Obedience In the mean Time the Scots were very busie they had commenced a Treaty with Prince Charles at Breda which at last was concluded on he assenting to their Presbyterian Government and they to instal and re-establish him in that Kingdom and in the other accordingly as they questioned not but Fortune would answer their blind zealous Covenant Expectations The Prince puts forth to Sea and in despite of foul Weather and the English King Fishers that lay there to intercept him he landed safely at the Spey in the North of Scotland Now tho' the Scots had a King yet as if they had none every one did that which is right in his own Eyes and as if they intended him only the Title being now in their Power they forced him to follow the Rules of their haughty Clergy in all their sanatick Humours and imperious Decrees First then they bereaved him of all his old Friends Counsellors and Confederates whether of the Clergy or Laity as those who adhered to Episcopal Government and so not pure enough for so reform'd a People Thus they hamstringed him not as what was formerly in the Sign-post only of printed Papers Next they make him take the Solemn League and Covenant that strange Fire which the Scots believe descended from Heaven and by which they at their Pleasures kindle those Wars wherewith they infest England Then these Horse Farriers of the Conscience gave him another Drench he is taught to Renounce the Sins of his Father's 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 for publick Worship Confession of â—aith and Catechism These with divers others of the like Nature they wrought so on his Necessity they obtruded or rather rammed into his Conscience although with much Reluctancy he signed to making many strange Faces at these bitter Pills he swallowed yet it better'd not his Condition which was like that of a Child under Tutors and Governors there was not an Officer in that Kirk or Commonwealth how vile and abject soever in Place or Person but enjoyed more Freedom both in Body and Mind than he Guarded indeed he was but no otherwise than he was surrounded with the Ignis Fatuus of their zealous Suspicions of him so that move he must not but in the Sphere of the Kirk their Primum mobile whereby 'tis apparent that the Government of that Nation might be almost question'd whether it ever were truly Monarchial tho' they had Kings To proceed the Parliament having notice of all their Proceedings recalled General Cromwel out of Ireland making him Generalissimo of the Commonwealths Armies in the Lord Fairfax's Stead who at the same Time laid down his Commission he with a choice Army marches into Scotland and after many petty Defeats gives them a great Overthrow at Dumbar September 3 1650 and prosecuting his Victory takes Leith a very considerable and advantageous Place as also Edinburgh the Metropolitan City of all Scotland Thus he set firm there his Sword hewing his Way for him to conquer that Country which the King lost by his Pen. Now were the Scots truly miserable for besides a raging Enemy in the very Heart of their Kingdom they were divided among themselves even to the killing and slaying of one another one Party in the North was for the King without the Kirk another Party in the West was for the Kirk without the King a third Party was for the King and Kirk Yet notwithstanding these Losses and Divisions they assumed new Courage levied more Men and crowned their King with the utmost Magnificence as the Indigency and Necessity of their Affairs would admit The English on the other Side being resolved to terminate this War with Scotland passed over into Fife and having defeated four thousand Scots they soon became Masters of Inchigravy Burntisland and St. Johnstoun Mean while the Scots Army consisting of 16000 abandoned their own Territories and by the Way of Carlisle entred England General Cromwel advertised hereof leaves Colonel Monk with 7000 Men in Scotland to perfect the Conquest of that Kingdom and with the rest of the Army pursues the Scots who wheresoever they came proclaimed their King to be King of Great Britain France and Ireland c. But few stirred unto their Aid among others the unfortunate Earl of Darby who having assembled 1200 Men in Lancashire was defeated by Colonel Lilbourn and to save himself was constrained to flee to Worcester where the Scots after a long and tedious March had pitch'd their Camp whither General Cromwel soon pursued and having the Aid of the Train Bands of several Counties gave them Battle which proved fatal unto the Scots their whole Army being overthrown The King in a Disguise escaped into France not without much Difficulty and Danger the Parliament having promised five hundred Pounds to any one that could discover his Person Such a List of Prisoners as were then taken we shall seldom meet with in any Battle but Cromwel's the Earl of Darby the Earl of Lauderdale Duke Hamilton General of the Scots Army who afterwards died of his Wounds the Earl of Rothes the Earl of Cornwarth the Earl of Shrewsbury Peckington Cunninghame and Clare Knights the Lord Spine and Sinclare the Earl of Cleveland of Kelley and Colonel Greaves six Colonels of Horse thirteen of Foot nine Lieutenant Colonels of Horse eight of Foot six Majors of Horse thirteen of Foot seven and thirty Captains of Horse seventy three of Foot fifth five Quarter-masters eighty nine Lieutenants of Foot Major General Biscotty Major General Montgomery the Lieutenant General of the Ordnance the Adjutant General of the Foot the Marshal General the Quartermaster General the Conductor General of the Baggage seventy six Standards ninety nine Ensigns all which were hung up in Westminster Hall for successive Parliaments to understand what Vigour of Spirits they by their Influence can infuse into those they please please to authorize only the Want of the Allay of their Ambitions often works them high where it is impossible to set limits to generous Minds To continue the other Appendixes to this Victory there were also taken nine Ministers nine Chirurgeons One hundred fifty and eight Colours and all the Cannon and Baggage generally the Royal Standard the King's Coach and Horses the Royal Robe the Collar of the Order of the Garter thirty of his domestick Servants and that admirable Poet his Secretary Fanshaw Several other Persons were also afterwards taken in the remotest Countries as Major General Massey who being committed to the Tower afterwards made his Escape Major General Middleton Lieutenant General David Lesly insomuch as that it may be
The EFFIGEY of OLIVER CROMWEL Late Lord-Protector of ENGLAND LIFE OF Oliver Cromwel Lord PROTECTOR Of the Common-Wealth Of England Scotland and Ireland Being an Account of all the Battles Sieges and other Military Atchievements wherein he was engaged in these Three Nations And likewise of his Civil Administrations while he had the Supream Government till his Death Relating Matter of Fact without Partiality LONDON Printed by D. PRATT at the Bible and Crown over-against York-House in the Strand THE PREFACE THERE is scarce a Character of any Man of Fame in the World which suffers such an unaccountable Variety as this of Oliver Cromwel His History is told so many Ways and so every way different from one another that it will be impossible for Posterity to make a right Judgment of him or of his Accounts On one hand he is represented as a Hero on the other as a Traytor on the one hand he is called the greatest Soldier on the other the greatest Villain of the Age he liv'd in on one side he is the greatest Polititian on the other the greatest Hypocrite on one side the greatest General on the other the greatest Tyrant but I must add that both sides agree that he was what ever they add to it not Great only but the Greatest In a Word Party is the Test of his History if a Cavalier writes History we know what to expect of him viz. that Oliver shall be villify'd with the utmost Spleen and Rage If a Round-head he shall be exalted with the utmost Rhetorick However to speak Impartially the Cavalier's will acknowledge this namely that he was a great Man and will often say what great Things he has done and how happy it had been if he had been on the King's side And on the contrary the Presbyterian's will say on all Occasions how glorious a Man had he been if he had but done So and So viz. if he had but turn'd out the P. set him up and the like To do his Character Justice two Actions fully'd it in general namely cutting off the King and setting himself up as Head of the Common-wealth in the first he dipp'd his hands in a cold Murder on the Person of his Sovereign and in the second he darken'd all the Glory of his Gallantry and of the great Things he had done in the Field shewing that it was all with a secret Aim to gratify his private Ambition Abstracted from these Character was truly Great and 'tis among such as are scarce to be imitated in the World this was acknowledg'd by his worst Enemies The whole is Elegantly express'd in two Lines by that excellent Poet Mr. Melvell Tho' his Government did a Tyrant resemble He made England great her Enemy's tremble But I return to his History and shall give a Brief but Sure and Impartial Draft of with all possible Partiallity THE LIFE of Oliver Cromwel c. OLIVER CROMWEL was born at Huntington descended of the ancient Family of the Williams's of the County of Glamorgan and by Adoption into that of the Cromwels the more noble Family as descend of Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex the Ax that hew'd down the Abbeys in the Time of King Henry the Eight His Education in his Youth was for a Time at the University of Cambridge where though he attained to no great Perfection in Learning yet with his other Additionals the Fox's Tail with the Lion's Skin his Strength of Reason with the sharp Edge of his Sword stood him in great Stead in his After-tranfactions and which together with his indefatigable Industry render'd him so fortunate that he never fell short of what he undertook After his Return from the University without any extraordinary Respects from the Muses whose Unkindness he afterwards most severely retaliated he resolved for the Future upon the first Advantage to try the Fortune of Mars but long it was ere the blind Goddess provided him any Action during which Time he married a Gentlewoman of the ancient Family of the Bourchiers whence the Earls of Essex were descended by whom he had two Sons that survived him Richard and Henry and three Daughters Bridget Mary and Frances For his private Fortunes they were competent a Mediocrity betwixt Riches and Poverty the one blunting the Edge of Wit and Industry the other by its Hardship whetting it quite away But what was wanting in his Estate was supplied in the greatness of his Mind which put him upon high Attemps which proved so successful that at last they placed him at the Helm of Government He took his first Rise from the long Parliament where he was a Member being chosen Burgess for the University of Cambridge in this Parliament that Fire burst forth which had been long before in kindling that fatal Division betwixt King and Parliament with which last he wholly sided What Motives induced him thereunto I know not nor will I determine of the Integrity of his Choice this I am sure of he took the more fortunate or by his Manhood made it so When he delivered his Mind in the House it was with a strong and masculine Eloquence more able to perswade than to be perswaded his Expressions were hardy Opinions resolute Asseverations grave and vehement always intermixt Andronicus like with Sentences of Scripture to give them the greater Weight and the better to insinuate into the Affections of the People he expressed himself with some kind of Passon but with such a commanding wise Deportment that at his Pleasure he governed and swayed the House as he had most Times the leading Voice Those who find no such Wonders in his Speeches may find it in the Effect of them most of the People he was concerned in being as they term it Enemies to Book-learning and whosoever should endeavour with an eloquent Oration or otherwise go about to reconcile them and make Friends should make them Enemies such great Adorers are they of the Scripture Phrase though but little Practicer's such as our late Times have brought forth Indeed he usurp'd his holy Oil Quotations very frequently which were so advantageous to his Designs that Cicero and Demosthenes with all their Troops and Figures could never have so perswaded and moved the People as he with one Text of Scripture aptly applied the Dove and the Serpent of Scripture and some small Parcel of Policy to what he intended slily intermixed But his Side standing more in need of Action then Eloquence he quitted the House and betook him to the Field to manifest his Courage as well as his Eloquence maintain by his Deeds what his Words had introduced Having raised a Troop of Horse at his own Costs and Charges he marched against the Muses to Cambridge whereof he was Burges seizing on a very considerable Sum of Money and Plate which the Colleges had raised and were sending away unto Oxford which as it was very advantageous to his own Side Money being the very Lise and Sinews of War so did it much weaken the
said the Gleanings of this Victory were as considerable as the whole Harvest itself Many of the common Soldiers were transported into Barbadoes and other Plantations this Mercy extended to them in saving their Lives causing much Gain to accrue thereby unto the Commonwealth in selling the poor heathenish Highlanders to the Plantations I shall end these sad Transactions with what Mr. Wharton chronologized in these Words Since England 's Hogs eat our dear Brethren up He only reflects on the half Graves were made for them in Tuttle Fields Of all this long List two only suffer'd Death viz. Sir Timothy Featherstone Knight and the Earl of Darby who on the 15th of October following was beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire being conducted thither by sixty Foot and eighty Horse about two of the Clock he was brought forth to the Scaffold which was built at the Cross part of it with the Timber of his own House at Latham there was not above an hundred Lookers on besides Soldiers presently after his coming upon the Scaffold there happen'd a great Tumult the Occasion whereof was not certainly known in appeasing of which there were some cut many hurt and one Child killed The Earl was no eloquent Orator and the Tumult put him out of his speaking what he intended At last after some Silence made he began as followeth Since it hath pleased God by this untimely Death to shorten my Days I am glad it is in this Town where some have been made believe I was a cruel Person that I might vindicate myself from this Aspersion It was my Desire the last Time I came into this Country to come hither as to a People that ought to serve the King as I conceive upon good Grounds It was said that I was accustomed to be a Man of Blood but it doth not lie upon my Conscience I was wrongfully bely'd I thank God I desir'd Peace I was born in Honour and I shall die Honourably as I suffer for my Sovereign I had a fair Estate good Friends and was respected and do respect Those that were ready to do for me I was ready to do for them I have done nothing but as my generous Predecessors acted to do you good It was the King that called me in and I thought it my Duty to wait upon his Highness to do him Service Here he was disturb'd by the Noise of the People after some Pause he said I intended to have exprest my self further but I have said I have not much more to say to you but as to my Good-will to this Town of Bolton I can say no more but the Lord bless you I forgive you all and desire to be forgiven of you all for I put my Trust in Christ Jesus Looking about him he said I did never deserve this hard Measure Honest Friends you that are Soldiers my Life is taken away after Quarter given by a Council of War which was never done before Walking up and down the Scaffold he said The Lord bless you all the Son of God bless you all of this Town of Bolton Manchaster Lancashire and the rest of the Kingdom and God send that you may have a King again and Laws I die like a Christian and a Soldier God and my Sovereign's Soldier Causing his Coffin to be opened he said I hope when I'm imprison'd here armed Men shall not need to watch me Looking upon them that were upon the Scaffold he said What do you stay for it is hard that I cannot get a Block to have my Head cut off Speaking to the Executioner he said Thy Coat is so troublesome and cumbersome that I believe that thou canst not het right the Lord help thee and sorgive thee Other Words he used which to avoid Proxillty I willingly omit At last submitting his Neck to the Block he had his Head severed from his Body with one Blow his sorrowful Son who was a sad Spectator of this woful Tragedy out of a pious care and filial duty conveyed his Corps back with him that Night to Wiggan and afterwards gave them honourable Burial Not long before at London was Colonel Eusebius Andrews apprehended who having formerly practiced the Law changed his Gown into a Coat of Armour having received a Commission from the King of Scots for the raising Men in England he was tryed in Westminster Hall at the High Court of Justice then again newly erected being the first unfortunate Centleman that hanselled the Court He was condemned and the 22. of August 1650. brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where he expressed himself to the People in these his last Words Christian Gentlemen and People your Business hither to Day is to see a sad Spectacle a Man to be in a Moment unman'd and cut off in the prime of his Years taken from further opportunities of doing good either to himself his Friends the Common-wealth or more especially as to my continued services to my Creator Truly if my general known Course of Life were but enquired into I may modestly say there is such a moral Honesty upon it as some may be so sawcy as to expostulate why this great Judgement is fallen upon me but know I am able to give them and my self an answer and out of this Breast am able to give a better Accompt of my Judgement and Execution then my Judgers themselves or you are able to give It is Gods wrath upon me for Sins long unrepented of many Judgements withstood and Mercies slighted therefore God hath whipped me by his severe Rod of Correction that he might not lose me I pray join with me in Prayer that it may not be a fruitless Rod that when by this Rod I have laid down my Life by his Staff I may be comforted and received into Glory I am very consident by what I have heard since my Sentence there is more exceptions made against proceedings against me then I ever made My Triers had a Law and the value of that Law is undisputable and for me to make a question of it I should shame my self and my Discretion In the strictness of that Law something is done by me that is applicable to some clause therein by which I stand condemnable The means whereby I was brought under that Interpretation of that which was not in my self intended maliciously there being Testimony given by Persons whom I pity so false yet so positive that I cannot condemn my Judges for passing sentence against me according to Legal Justice though Equity lieth in the higher Breasts As for my Accusers or rather Betrayers I pity and am sorry for them they have committed Judas 's Crime but I wish and pray for them with Peter's Tears that by Peter's Repentance they may escape Judas 's Punishment and I wish other People so happy they may be taken up betimes before they have drunk more Blood of Christian Men possibly less deserving then my self It is true there have been several Addresses made for Mercy and I will put the
Obstruction of it upon nothing more than my own Sin and seeing God sees it fit having not glorified him in my Life I might do it in my Death which I am contented to do I profess in the fear of God particular Malice to any one of State or Parliament to do them a bodily Injury I had none For the cause in which I had long waded I must needs say my engagement or continuance in it hath laid no scruple upon my Conscience it was on Principles of Law the Knowledge whereof I profess and on Principles of Religion my Judgement satisfied and Conscience rectified that I have pursued those ways which I bless God I find no blackness upon my Conscience nor have I put it into the Bed-roll of my Sins I will not presume to decide controversies I desire God to honour himself in prospering that side that hath right with it and that you may enjoy Peace and Plenty beyond all you possess here In my Conversation in the World I do not know where I have an Enemy with cause or that there is such a Person whom I have to regret but if there be any whom I cannot recollect under the notion of christian Men I pardon them as freely as if I had named them by name I freely forgive them being in free Peace with all the World as I desire God for Christs sake to be at Peace with me For the business of Death it is a sad Sentence in it self if Men consult with Flesh and Blood But truly without boasting I say it or if I do boast I boast in the Lord I have not to this minute had one consultation with the Flesh about the blow of the Axe more then as my passport to Glory I take it for an honour and I owe thankfulness to those under whose Power I am that they sent me hither to a place however of Punishment yet of some Honour to die a death somewhat worthy of my Blood answerable to my Birth and Qualification and this courtesie of theirs much helped towards the pacification of my Mind I shall desire God that those Genâ—lemen in that sad Bed-roll to be tryed by the High Court of Justice that they may find that really there that is nominal in the Act an High Court of Justice a Court of High Justice high in its Righteousness though not in its severity Father forgive them and forgive me as I forgive them I desire you now that you would pray for me and not give over praying till the Hour of my Death not till the Moment of my Death for the Hour is come already the instant of Time approaches that as I have a great load of Sins so I may have the wings of your Prayers to help those Angels that are to convey my Soul to Heaven and I doubt not but I shall see my Saviour and my gallant Master the King of England and another Master whom I much honoured my Lord Capel hoping this Day to see my Christ in the presence of the Father the King in the presence of him my Lord Capel in the presence of them all and my self there to rejoyce with all other Saints and Angels for ever more After the uttering of these and many the like Words declaring his Faith and Confidence in God with as much undaunted yet Christian Courage as possibly could be in Man he exposed his Neck to the fatal Ax commending his Soul into the Hands of a faithful and merciful Creator thro' the meritorious Passion of a gracious Redeemer and having said Lord Jesus receive me the Executioner with one Blow severed his Head from his Body For such a collateral design not long after one Master Benson was executed at Tyburn one that had some Relations to Sir John Gell who was tried for the same Conspiraccy with his Man Sir John's former Services to the Parliament being his best and most assured Intercessors for his Life and at that time were more then ordinary Advantages to him I shall in the next place give you an account of the Beheading of Sir Henry Hide He was by the Scots King commissonated as Ambassadour to the Grand Signior at Constantinople and stood in Competition with Sir Thomas Bendish then Ambassadour for the English for his Place whereupon they had a Hearing before the Vizier Bassa the result whereof was that Sir Thomas Bendish should dispose of the said Sir Henry Hide as he thought good who was to the same purpose sent to Smyrna thence into England and there condemned and executed before the Royal Exchange in London March 4. 1650. His last Words were to this Effect CHristian People I come hither to die I am brought hither to die and that I may die Christian like I humbly beseech the assistance of your Christian Prayers that by the benefit of them my passage may be the more easie Yet because Men in that condition which it hath pleased God to reduce me to give the more credit to Speech in the discharge of my Duty towards God I shall use a few Words and so conclude I pray all of you join with me to praise this Almighty God to whom I desire to render all hearty Thanks as for all his Mercies so in particular for this that he hath brought me hither that whereas I owe a Debt to Sin and and to Nature that now I can pay the Debt to Nature I can pay it upon the account of Grace And because it is fit to render the blessed account of that hope that is in me I shall tell you to the praise of Almighty God that I have been born and bred up in the Doctrine of the Church of England I have no negative Religion believing to be saved by the only merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ and whatsoever else is profest in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England authorized by Law humbly beseeching Almighay God to restore unto this Church her Peace Prosperity and Patrimony whereof I have an Obedient and a Loving however an unworthy Son and now both my Hope being consident and my Faith perfected there remains only Christian Charity Charity we carry into Heaven Charity on Earth that I leave beseeching all whomsoever I have offended to forgive me as I from the bottom of my Heart do all whomsoever blessing Almighty God for the happy advantage he takes to bring me the sooner to Heaven I bless Almighty God that he hath given me this Advantage as he hath been Merciful to me before the Foundation of the World in my Saviour so that now he hath in Mercy honoured me with a suffering for his Name in Obedience to his Commandment On this Day sevennight I was summoned before that Justice which condemned me on Friday last praised be Almighty God that by this way he hath brought me nearer to himself My charge I presume is publick as my Punishment is visible if there have been any thing in the management of my part being unskilful having
discontinued my own Countrey many Years I shall beseech the Christian Charity of all you my beloved Country-men to impute it rightly to the Ignorance of my unskilful ways of managing of affairs it was objected unto me there that I had a vanity of delighting in strange Tongues I do acknowledge that I was best skilled in the Italian but free from that vanity I thank Almighty God and therefore I would in defence of my Life if it had been the custom here or the Judges favour have used that Language which was almost as natural to me as my Mother Tongue It was objected that I did not so freely as a thorow-paced Cavalier own my Master I was told since I came into England this Skill I have in our Laws that a legal denyal in Law might be tollerable I hope I did not exceed the bounds of that in any thing for God forbid that I should be ashamed of serving so pious a Master putting off his Hat for this I rejoice and I humbly beseech Almighty God to fill my Heart and my Tongue and all that hear me this Day with thankfulness for it As to the Business that another construction had been made and believ'd here then what was there the righteous God knoweth it if any weakness were in the management that was mine I was sent to serve and protect not to injure any as God acquits me of the Intention of matter of Fact as having not done any manner of Evil that way however here understood blessed be his holy Name again putting off his Hat so those Gentlemen of the Turky Company if they would might acknowledge for they know it very well the impossibility of my doing them any manner of harm Whereas that of the Embassy objected against me that my Master honoured me with it though I was never worthy of it I was his Messenger and Internuntio for the conservation only of his good Subjects of all the Merchants until such time as he could confirm that Gentlemen now Resident or to send any other and they themselves know that there was an unpossibility as I bless God there was an innocency in me unto any such Intention to do them harm for my Masters commands were point blank the contrary I was only sent for their good as I never owned the Title so the very Letters themselves speaking no other I never did so much as think of any manner of address to the grand Signior but gave him the Letter from my Master the rest of the English Nation that were there present may when they please assert so much This I would insert that those Gentlemen as they have been Losers by the miscarriages of others may now have a breach of their Charity with me but if it be as it seems it is now in this Country a Sin to be Loyal I hope my God hath forgiven that when it is upon harmlefs Employment not invading any according to my just Masters order for indeed I have been always bred up in the Religion of Loyalty my Allegiance hath been incorporated into my Religion and I have thought it a great part of the service due from me to Almighty God to serve the King again putting off his Hat He said I need not make any Apology for any thing in relation to the present Affairs in England for were I as I spake before my Judges were I as evil as my Sentence here hath made black it were impossible for me to have prejudiced any body in England or to England belonging in that Employment But I bless God for his infinite Mercy in Jesus Christ who hath taken me to himself by this manner of way it was the best Physick for the curing of my Soul and those that have done it have no more Power than that of my Body I leave nothing behind me but that I am willing to part withal all that 〈◊〉 am going to is desirable and that you may all know that Almighty God hath wrought in me a total denyal of my self and that there is that perfect reformation of me within of my own Corruptions by the blessed Assistance of â—hs Holy Spirit I desire Almighty God in the Abundance of the Bowels of his Mercy in Jesus Christ not only to forgive every Enemy if any such be in the World here or wheresoever but to bring him into his Bosom so much good and particular Comfort as he may at any time whether the Cause were just or unjust have wished me any manner of Evil for I take him to be the happy Instrument of bringing me to Heaven I am tedious but I have an inward comfort I bless Almighty God pray Gentlemen give leave speaking to some that prest upon him I should never do it but to give satisfaction to all charitable Hearts I have been troublesome Here he made a Pause as discontented at the disturbance of those on the Scaffold when the Sheriff said to him Sir you have your Liberty to speak more if you please at length he proceeded But as to that part Mr. Sheriff that did concern the denyal as it was assirmed by Master Attorney General of my Masters Employment truly landing at White Hall I told that Council there was warrantable Commissions to an old Officer which by the Blessing of God I have by me and I have other acceptable things that God hath blessed me withal we that are Merchants abroad we allow our any sufferance that may induce to our own safety Inlargement of Trade or Preservation of what is ours Why I had by the favour of my gracious Master a confirmation of my old Comission of Consulage in Greece but as to the Embassy no more then my credential Letters did speak nor no more then that I attempted an Internucio they call it in those places which is a Messenger between the one and the other King they both unhappily dyed of several Deaths and both violent too and it is a custom not unknown to you Master Sheriff and other Gentlemen that practise in the World that Princes of course for the continuation of Amity do send Messengers where there is Pence that the transaction of those publick expressions of reciprocal affections may be performed but for Embassy God forbid I should own it I never had it however they have used it as the happy means to bring me to God this Day whom I in the Bowels of my Saviour beseech to forgive those People that have done it I owe them no harm God return better things into their Bosoms with all the good of this and an everlasting Life As for my part I have been long absent I have meddled with no Affairs in England sufficient to me is God's grace to the Salvation of my Soul I have been always fearful of offending God according to the Grace he hath given me but to learn a new Religion or new ways that I must say Mr. Sheriff to you and all others that hear me I could never dispence with my
of his People be delivered into their Enemies Hands All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest People of the Nation as well as by the Army it seemed a Duty incumbent upon us who had seen much of the power and presence of God to consider of some effectual means whereby to establish Righteousness and Peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary that the Supream Government should be by the Parliament devolved upon known Persons fearing God and of approved integrity for a time as the most hopeful way to countenance all God's People reform the Law and administer Justice impartially hoping thereby the People might forget Monarchy and understand their true Interest in the election of successive Parliaments that so the Government might be settled upon a right Basis without hazard to this glorious cause or necessitating to keep up Armies for the defence of the same And being still resolved to use all means possibly to avoid extraordiany courses we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament to give us a conference with whom we plainly debated the necessity and justness of our Proposals The which found no acceptance but instead thereof it was offered that the way was to continue still this Parliament as being that from which we might probably expect all good things This being vehehemently insisted on did much confirm us in our apprehensions That not any love to a Representative but the making use thereof to recruit and so to perpetuate themselves was their aim in the Act they had then under consideration For preventing the consumating whereof and all the sad and evil consequences which upon the grounds a foresaid must have ensued and whereby at one Blow the interest of all honest Men and of this glorious Cause had been endangered to be laid in the dust and these Nations embroyled in new Troubles at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all Advantages against and some of them actually engaged in War with us we have been necessitated though with much reluctancy to put an end to this Parliament This Declaration was seconded by another for settling a Councel of State to give some Satisfaction to the People what Government they intended which Declaration for the Readers further Satisfaction take as followeth Whereas the Parliament being dissolved Persons of approved Fidelity and Honesty are according to the late Declararation of the 22. of April last to be called from the several parts of this Common-wealth to the Supream Authority and although effectual proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those Resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling of those Persons it hath been found necessary for preventing the mischiefs and inconveniencies which may arise in the mean while to the publick Affairs that a Councel of State be constituted to take care of and intend the Peace Safety and present Management of the Affairs of this Common-wealth which being settled accordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all Persons may take notice thereof and in their several places and Stations demean themselves peaceably giving Obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore in the exercise and administration thereof as endeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong shall be done to the People so a strict accompt will be required of all such as shall do any thing to endanger the Publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever April 30. 1653. O. Cromwel These domestick revolutions put new Life into the Dutch who hoping from these Distractions to reap a Victory over the English with great confidence put forth again to Sea thinking upon nothing so much as Chapmen for the English Fleet saying It was to be cried out by the sound of Trumpetâ— and Horns But they were deceived in their expectation for coming to a Fight on the North Foreland near unto the South poinâ— of the Gobes their Fleet was defeated eleven Men of War and two Water Hove being taken besides six Captains and fiâ—teen hundred Prisoners and six Men 〈◊〉 War which were sunk Not long after to set the better face oâ— his resolute proceedings Cromwel calls 〈◊〉 another Parliament convened at Westminster who met July 4. 1653. to whom Generall Cromwel made a long Speech Then he produced an Instrument under his own Hand and Seal whereby the Supream Authority of the Nation was devolved upon them unto whom all Persons were to yeild obedience and subjection He delared that they were to sit no longer then the third of November 1654. and three months before their dissolution they were to make choice of others to succeed them who were not to sit above twelve months and then to take care for a succession in Government Now was the time come for the train to take the Dutch having as hath been expressed cast the Urine of the present Affairs being quite tired with then continual losses sent Commissioners over into England to treat of Peace It hath been the result of the opinions of those that had their Eyes in their Heads that the Dutch thought to have made up their Mouths to have taken our Navy napping in the time of the Treaty the Fight happening betwixt theâ—â— and us but they found it otherwise their whole Fleet was put to slight their 〈◊〉 Van Trump a Man of eminent 〈◊〉 being slain about thirty Men of War suck and fired six Captains and about a thousand Men taken Prisoners and about six thousand slain This great Victory did not a little conduce to hasten the conclusion of the Peace but on such terms as were at that time more honourable for his present Designs than advantageous to the English Nation For this service gold Chains were presented to the Generals Blake Monk Renne and Lawson and to the other Flag Captains and silver Medals to the other Officers of the Fleet. The Parliament having sat about as many Weeks as the other had done Years they dissolved themselves immediately making way for General Cromwel by their dissolution to be chosen Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and of all the Islands and Territories thereunto belonging December the 16 1653. The Articles of the Government to which he signed are as followeth 1. That his Excellency be chief Protector of the three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland 2. That he will call to his assistance Councellors not under the Number of thirteen nor above twenty one 3. That he shall not act without the advice of his Council 4. That here shall be every three Years a Parliament called freely chosen to begin in September next viz. four hundred and the Number for every County proportionable 5. That no Parliament shall adjourn till they have sat above five Months 6. When ever any Bill is passed in Parliament the Lord Protector shall have twenty Days to advise with his Council if he sign it not in twenty Days it shall pass without unless contrary to these
labour till he shall be released by Parliament and during that time be debarred the use of Pen Ink and Paper and shall have no relief but what he earns by his daily Labour which accordingly was executed upon him December 17. 1656. His Flies and Familiars were still useful to him for the discovering of more strange designs the revealing of which no Question kept many Conspiracies from being attempted to which effect there is yet another Plot against the Protectors Life intended by Miles Sindercomb alias Fish one who had formerly been a Parliament Soldier under the command of Sir John Reynolds together with one Cecil induced thereunto as is said by Don Alonso the late Spanish Ambassador to the effecting their designs they are said to have hired a House at Hammersmith adjoining by the High-way side to have shot him in his Coach as he passed by but that failing they intended to have shot him in Hide-Park and to that purpose they filed off the Hinges of the Gates for their better escape and this miscarrying they intended to have fired White Hall For these Offences Sindercomb was arraigned at the Upper Bench Bar in Westminster Hall February 9. 1656. where being found guilty by the Jury he was condemned to be hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn but before his Execution he was found dead in his Bed and several presumptions of a violent Death appearing on him it was concluded he poysoned himself Afterwards he was drawn from the Tower unto Tower-hill at a Horse's-Tail with his Head forward and there under the Scaffold turned into a hole stark naked and a Stake spiked and plated with Iron driven thro' him into the Earth It is to be observed that whatsoever the vigilancy of the Guard of the Tower was over this Gentleman that he died with as fresh a Colour as Sir Thomas Overbury is said to have expired with But to return where we left that successful Sea-man General Blake the Protectors intended Drake an honest stout incomparable Sea-man he failing with his Fleet to Sancta Cruza in the Island of Teneriff in which Port lay sixteen great Spanish Vessels laden with rich Merchandizes from the Indies He on the 20th of April 1657. set upon them and destroyed them all not sixty of his own Men being lost But to return June the 20. 1657 the Protector with great Magnificence was installed at Westminster the Parliament then sitting and in Westminster Hall a rich Cloth of State was set up and under it a Chair of State placed upon an ascent of two degrees covered with Carpets and before it a Table with a Chair appointed for the Speaker of the Parliament and on each side of the Hall upon the said Structure were Seats raised one above another and decently covered for the Members of Parliament and below them Seats on one side for the Judges of the Land and on the other side for the Aldermen of the City of London About two of the Clock in the Afternoon the Protector met the Parliament in the Painted Chamber and passed such Bills as were presented to him after which they went in order to the place appointed in Westminster Hall the Protector standing under the Cloth of Estate the Lord Widdrington Speaker of the Parliament addrest himself to him in this Speech May it please your Highness You are now upon a great Theatre in a large Chore of People you have the Parliament of England Scotland and Ireland before you on your Right Hand my Lords the Judges and on your Left-Hand the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs of London the most noble and populous City of England The Parliament with the Interposition of your sufferage makes Laws and the Judges and Governours of London are the great Dispencers of those Laws to the People The Occasion of this great Convention and Intercourse is to give an Investiture to your Highness in that eminent Place of Lord Protector a Name you had before but it is now settled by the full and unanimous consent of the People of these three Nations assembled in Parliament you have no new Name but a new date added to the old Name the 16 of December is now changed to the 26 of June I am commanded by the Parliament to make oblation to your Highness of four Things in order to this Inauguration The first is a Robe of Purple an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice when you have put on the Vestment I may say and I hope without Offence that you are a Gown Man This Robe is of a mixt Colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy which are then most excellent when they are well tempered together Justice without Mercy is Wormwood and Bitterness and Mercy without Justice is of a too soft a Temper for Government for a Magistrate must have two Hands Plectentem Amplectentem The next thing is a Bible a Book that contains the Holy Scripture in which you have the Honour and Happiness to be well versed This is the Book of Life consisting of two Testaments the Old and New In the first we have Christum velatum Christ in Types Shadows and Figures in the latter we have Christum revelatum Christ revealed This Book carries in it the grounds of the true Christian Protestant Religion it's a Book of Books it contains in it both precepts and examples for good Government Alexander so highly valued the Books of his Master Aristotle and other great Princes other Books that they have laid them every Night under their Pillows These are all but Legends and Romances to this one Book at Book to be had always in remembrance I find it said in a Part of this Book which I shall desire to read and it is this Deut. 17. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write a Copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests and Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the Days of his Life that he may learn to fear the Lord God and to keep all the Words of his Law and those Statutes to do them That his Heart be not lifted up above his Brethren and that he turn not aside from the Commandment to the Right Hand or to the Left to the end he may prolong his Days in his Kingdom he and his Children in the midst of Israel The next Thing that I am to offer to your Highness is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the Weak and Poor it's of ancient use in this kind it's said in Scripture in reference to Judah the Royal Tribe That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other Kingdoms and Governments Homer the Prince of the Greek Poets calls Kings and Princes Scepter-bearers The last Thing is a Sword not a Military but a Civil Sword a Sword rather for a Defence than an Offence not to defend
your self only but others also the Sword is an Emblem of Justice The noble Lord Talbot in Henry the Sixths time wrote upon his Sword Ego sum Talboti propter occidendum inimicos meos This Gallant Lord was a better Souldier then a Critick If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword it should be this Ego sum Demini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I say this Sword is an Emblem of Justice and is to be used as King Solomon used his for the discovery of truth in the points of Justice I may say of this Sword as King David said of Goliah's Sword There is none like this Justice is the proper Vertue of the Imperial Throne and by Justice the Thrones of Kings and Princes are established Justice is a Royal Vertue which as one saith of it doth employ the other three Cardinal Vertues in her service 1. Wisdom to discern the nocent from the Innocent 2. Fortitude to prosecute and execute 3. Temperance so to carry Justice that Passion be no ingredient and that it be without confusion or precipitation You have given ample Testimony in aâ—â— these particulars so that this Sword in your Hand will be a right Sword of Justice attended with Wisdom Fortitude and Temperance When you have all these together what a comely and glorious fight is it to behold A Lord Protector in a Purple Robe with a Scepter in his Hand a Sword of Justice girt about him and his Eyes fixt upon the Bible Long may you prosperously enjoy them all to your own comfort and the comfort of the People of these three Nations The Speech being ended Master Speaker came from his Chair took the Robe and therewith vested the Protector being assisted therein by the Earl of Warwick the Lord Whitlock and others Which done the Bible was delivered him after that the Sword girt about him and last of all he had the Scepter delivered him These Things being performed Master Speaker returned unto his Chair and administred him his Oath in haec verba I do in the Presence and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear that to the uttermost of my Power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the Purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my Power and Vnderstanding and encourage the Profession and Professors of the same and that to the utmost of my Power I will endeavour as Chief Magistrate of these three Nations the Maintenance and Preservation of the Peace and Safety and just Rights and Priviledge of the People thereof and shall in all Things according to our best â—est Knowledge and Power govern the People of these three Nations according to Law These Ceremonies being performed a Herald of Arms by sound of Trumpet proclaimed him Lord Protector of England Scotland Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging hereupon the Trumpets sounded again and the People after the usual manner gave several Acclamations with loud shouts crying God save the Lord Protector His Highness had scarce accepted of these Honours but as if the ill affected would not let him breath yet another Plot is discovered Collonel Edward Sexby is said to have conspired against the Lord Protector for which he was committed to the Tower where having continued about half a Year he died But to reflect a little back Mazarine that great Minister of State on which hinge all the grand Affairs of France turn perfects a Peace with England the Protector having no regard to those Advantages that Spain might render him as to Commerce the Places of Hostage which she proffered to put into his Hands as Gravelin Dunkirk and others he was swayed with other Interest which he best understood himself to prefer an Alliance and League with France before all those Advantages except his civility induc'd him which seldom had such Power over him to look more lovingly upon France as the weakest at that time being abandoned by some of her Allies as quite disordered by an Intestine War in her own Bowels her Navigation totally ruined as the Pirates of Dunkirk had blockt up all her Sea Ports whereas the English scowred those Seas cast away the Pyrates and reduced the Mounsieur and Diego by their successes to their so likely advantageous Peace Indeed as one writes it was a high generosity since the English caused the French to lose Graveling and Dunkirk to help France again to take those places In the mean Space was not here rare bandying of Interests France having thus perfected a Peace with England they joyntly resolve to â—ainst the Spaniard hereupon Articleâ— Reynolds with six thousand Foot was sent into Picardy to joyn with the French Cavalry which compleated as gallant an Army as had been seen in France for many Years together These jointly besiege and take Mardike a strong Fort of the Spaniards in Flanders whereof Major General Morgan took Possession for the English as the earnest of further Conquests which the Spaniards attempting for to regain were twice repulsed with very great loss But the Joy of these Successes was mitigated by the Death of Admiral Blake who as he got his Honour by the Sea died on it and that within sight of Plimouth He was a Man who had deserved of his Country and might justly be stiled the Neptune thereof His Body was brought with a Naval pomp by Water from Greenwich to Westminster being a suitable Ceremony to â—his Employment and was there buried in Henry the Seventh's Chappel Upon whom an Ingenious Person bestowed this Epitaph Here lies a Man made Spain and Holland shake Made France to tremble and the Turks to quake Thus he tam'd Men but if a Lady stood 〈◊〉 sight it rais'd a Palsie in his blood agonist who in his Life Had Fortune as familiar as a Wife A stiff hard Iron Souldier for he It seems had more of Mars than Mercury At Sea he thundered calm'd each raging Wave And now he's dead sent thundring to his Grave Soon after was St. Venant taken by the English the Lord Henry Cromwel made Deputy of Ireland Sir John Reynolds Collonel White and some other Officers drowned upon Goodwin Sands as they were coming out of Flanders into England One writes that the subtilty of discovering of Plots though but in the Embrio or before they are hatcht in the time of Peace is the most succinct way of letting of Blood March 24. the last Day of the Year accounted for 1657. a great Conspiracy was again discovered in London several Regiments as was said being enrolled who on the first day of May in the Night Time should have set Fire on several parts of the City and whilst the Confusion and Horrour thereof had seized all Men they should have made a general massacre of all who opposed them Hereupon several Persons were apprehended as Doctor Hewet Sir Henry Slingsby Collonel Ashton c. and a High Court of Justice