he borrowed 600 foot of M. G. Brown from Abingdon and with them fell presently to storming but was notably repulsed losing 50. men without any successe at all and before he could get off was attaqued by a party of General Gorings Horse commanded by himself then newly come out of the West from Taunton Seige who being as vigilant and valourous a Commander as himself gave Cromwell the first brush he received in the War taking three Colours and Major Bethel prisoner and so returned to his former Leaguer at Taunton In the mean while General Fairfax by Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland who ordered the Conduct of the War was advancing into the West for the relief of the said Town of Taunton and because the King was yet at Oxford preparing to take the Feild Cromwell was left behind in the same parts where now he quartered with Major General Brown to attend the Kings motion and to impede his Conjunctures with the Princes Rupert and Maurice then comming withâ— Compleat Body of Horse out of Worcestershire but His Majesty had equipped so gallant an Army that Cromwell durst not venture to fight him or retard his march any whither so that Fairfax was presently recalled and ordered to sit down before Oxford to reduce the King to the care of that place and upon advantages to fight him when News came that the King having joyned with the Princes and relieved Chestor besieged by Sir William Brereton was now returning and bending his March towards the Associate Counties the heart and unrouch'd strength of the Parliament Cause and therefore Cromwell was immediately dispatch'd into the Isle of Ely with three Troops to secure that against any Invasion it being as the Bulwark or Fortresse of the rest But the King diverting from that course came and sate down before Leicester and after summons stormed and took it which put the Parliament into such a fright that they commanded Fairfax to rise from Oxford and presently find out the King and fight him who was now as he himself writ to the Queen in a better and more successeful condition then any time since the War This Order Fairfax having never sent in a summons to the City as forejudging he should rise without it disgracefully readily obeyed but withall requested them that they would forthwith dispatch away Cromwell from the Isle of Ely to command the Horse extolling his Experience and Sucoeffe in that Service Accordingly Cromwell reinforced and recruted with some Troops of the Association returned to the Army then marching to Northampton where the General was informed that the King lay about Daventry quartering his Foot and Carriages upon Borough hill as if he intended to fight upon that ground if they should advance but he stayed only till the 1200 Horse which he had sent to carry the Cattle he had taken out of Leicester and Northamptonshire for the supply of Oxford were returned intending thence according to advice of his Councel of War to march to the relief of Pomfret Castle in the North and to reduce those parts lost to him ever since Marstâ— Moor and so to draw on Fairfax after him and fight him at advantage which he could not do in these Counties that were every were Garrisoned by the Parliament forces But this Resolution the quicker Consultation and Opinion of Cromwell soon disappointed for by his advice now that their Army could expect no other Additions but Coll. Rossiter who was then also in a Days march of them for Sir John Gell was joyned already Ireton was presently dispatcht with a Brigade of Horse to observe the posture of the Kings Army and if they weâ— upon their March Northwards to skirmish then in the Rear and keep them in Action till the whole body could come up and engage June the 13. Fairfax came to Gilsborough within 5 miles of Borongh hill whence the Cavaliers the 120â— Horse being returned were marching northwards and the next night to the wonder and amazement of the King Ireton gave an Alarum to His Own quarters at Naseby whence about a 11. of the Clock the King dislodged and hastâ—ed to Harborough where Prince Rupert and the Van of the Army was quartered here a Council of War was presently convened and by the Kings fatal Opinion concluded that because there was danger of bringing off the real of his Army the Enemy pressing so near and hard upon them that therefore they should desist from their March further Northwards and immediately turn back upon the Enemy and give him Battel relying chiefly upon the valour of the Infantry now flusht and encouraged with the Plunder and spoil of Leicester This was put in execution though the major voyces were for staying till General Goring with his forces were come up and the Kings will obeyed For very early in the Morning the Scouts brought word that the King was making all hast to the Engagement being falsly informed that Fairfax in fear was retreating to Northampton whereas he had now disposed of Naseby-field awaited Him having Cromwell with Whalley on his right wing and Ireton on his left the one opposed to my Lord Langdale and the Northern Horse and the other to Prince Rupert General of the Cavalry the King himself being Generalissimo To come to the Event Prince Rupert totally routed Ireton who being engaged and driven upon the Kings rightmost foot was there wounded in the Thigh with a Halbert and taken Prisoner and the Field on that hand cleared which Fairfax and Cromwell observing having not yet stirred from their ground Fairfax with a short Speech encouraged the Troops to the Charge which was seconded with some devout ejaculations from Cromwell who clapping Spurs to his Horse fell in with Langdale's Brigade and quite charged through three bodies and utterly broke them nor did he stop till with fine force he had likewise beat that Wing from their ground without possibility of rallying or recovering it again In this Action a Commander of the Kings knowing Gromwell advanced smartly from the Head of his Troops to exchange a Bullet singly with him and was with the like galantâ—y encountred by him both sides forbearing to come in till their Pistoâ— being discharged the Cavalier with a slanting Back-blow of a broad Sword having cut the Ribond that tyed his Murrion and with a draw threw it off his head and now ready to repeat his stroke his party came in and rescued him and one of them alighting threw up his Headpiece into his Saddle which Oliver hastily catching as being affrighted with the chance clapt it the wrong way on his head and so fought with it the rest of the day which proved most highly fortunate 〈◊〉 his side though the King most magnanimouâ— and expertly managed the sight exposing himself to the eminentest perils of the Feild raised him beyond the Arts and reach of Envy or his Enemies of the Presbyterian party who had so long been heaving at him to out him
and sending Lieutenant Generall Monk with 5 or 6000. to Sterling to reduce that place and by it to put your affairs into a good posture in Scotland We marched with all possible expedition back again and have passed our Foot and many of our Horse over the Frith this day resolving to make what speed we can up to the Enemy who in this desperation and fear and out of inevitable necessity is run to try what he can do this way I do apprehend that if he goes for England being some few dayes march before us it will trouble some mens thoughts and may occasion some inconveniences of which I hope we are as deeply sensible and have and I trust shall be as diligent to prevent as any and indeed this is our comfort that in simplicity of heart as to God we have done to the best of our judgements knowing that if some issue were not put to this businesse it would occasion another Winters War to the ruin of your Souldiery for whom the Winter-dissiculties of this Country are too hard and be under the endlesse expence of the Treasure of England in prosecuting this War It may be supposed we might have kept the Enemy from this by interposing between him and England which truely I believe we might but how to remove Him out of this place without doing what vve have done unlesse we had had a commanding Army on both sides of the River of Frith is not clear to us or hovv to ansvver the inconveniences aforementioned vve understand not vve pray therefore that seeing there is a possibility for the Enemy to put you to some trouble you vvould vvith the same courage grounded upon a confidence in God wherein you have been supported to the great things in which God hath used you heretofore improve the best you can such Forces as you have in readinesse or may on the sudden be got together to give the Enemy some check until we shall be able to reach up to him which we trust in the Lord we shall do our utmost endevour in and indeed we have this comfortable experiment from the Lord that this Enemy is heart-smitten by God and when ever the Lord shall bring us up to them we believe the Lord will make the desperateness of this Councel of theirs to appear and the folly of it also when England was much more unsteady then now and when a much more considerable Army of theirs unfoiled invaded you we had but weak force to make resistance at Preston upon deliberate advice we chose-rather to put our selves between their Army and Scotland and how God succeeded that is not well to be forgotten This is not out of choice on our part but by some kind of necessity and it is to be hoped will have the like issue together with a hopeful end of your work in which it 's good to wait upon the Lord upon the earnest of former experiences and hope of his presence which only is the life of your Cause Major General Harrison with the Horse and Dragoons under him and Colonel Rich and the rest in those parts shall attend the motion of the Enemy and endevour the keeping of them together as also to impede his March and will be ready to be in conjunction with what Forces shall get together for this service to whom Orders have been speeded to that purpose as this enclosed to Major General Harrison will shew Major General Lambert this day marched with a very considerable Body of Horse up towards the Enemies Reer With the rest of the Horse and nine Regiments of Foot most of them of your old Foot and Horse I am hasting up and shall by the Lords help use the utmost diligence I hope I have left a commanding force under Lieutenant General Monk in Scotland This account I thought my duty to speed to you and rest Leith 4. August 1651. Your most humble Servant O. Cromwell This shews what sudden troubled apprehension He had of this well designed March of the Kings and made him repent his obstinacy of Honour in reducing St. Johnstons by which the King got 3 days March of him but however he excused this to the Parliament who were almost in despair and terribly affrighted at the News of it yet they did highly taxe him for his negligence and spoke ill words of him which came to his ears and for which he soon after cried quits with them The King departed from Sterling the last of July and came into England by the way of Carlisle and upon his first footing there was Proclaimed rightful Kin ' of Great Brittain and did thereupon publish his Declaration wherein He offered His free Grace and Pardon to be confirmed by an Act thereafter to all His Subjects of England of what ever nature or crime their offences were excepting Cromwell Bradshaw and Cook the more immediate Murtherers of His Father and therewith prosecuted His March being proclaimed in the same manner through all the Towns he passed On the 22 of August the Van of the Kings Army entred Worcester some resistance being attempted to be made by some new raised Forces under one Colonel James and by the influence of Baron Wilde but the Townsmen saved them the labour of driving them out and most joyfully welcomed these weary Guests and such too as in 1645. had been extremely oppressive and intolerably burdensome at the Siege of Hereford but their gladnesse at the Kings presence and hope of his Restitution obliterated all other considerations and remembrances whatsoever The Mayor and his Brethren at the Kings Intradâ— did Him the customary but most chearful obeysances tendring Him the Keys and the Mace upon their Knees and bidding Him and His Forces welcome to this his Majesties Ancient and Loyal City where the same day with great solemnity He was anew Proclaimed and the tired Soldiers most abundantly provided for being in all Scotch and English some 13000. who had marched 300. miles outright in three weeks In the mean time the Parliament had amassed a numerous Militia in all the Counties of England and glad were the Members that the King stayed for them for nothing was more dreaded then his continued march to London which place would have soon ridded their fears upon an approach of the Kings Army but 30. miles further from Worcester but to prevent that as Essex did before at the beginning of the War whose first efforts took this way Cromwell by long Marches through Newcastle Rippou Ferrybrygs Doncaster Mansfield and Coventry had interposed himself and joyned with his Army at Keynton where a General Council of all his Officers was held and a speedy advance to Worcester resolved on Lieutenant General Fleetwood being dispatch'd to bring up his Forces then on their way at Banbury the gross of all the Forces amounting to above 50000. effective Militia and all By this time Cromwell had surrounded the City of Worcester with his spreading Host in as neer a compass as the Rivers
Advice of his Councill in case of death or Breach of trust to substitute new Privy Counsellors A Competent Revenue to be setled for the maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and 15. thousand Foot and the Navy and not to be altered or lessened but by the Advice of the Council upon the disbanding of them the money to be brought to the Exchequer No new Levies nor Laws to be made without consent in Parliament All forfeited Lands unsold to belong to the Protector The Protectorate to be elective but the Royal Family to be excluded Oliver Cromwell to be the present Protector All places of trust and Office to be in the Protectors disposal if in Interval of Parliament to be approved and confirmed in Parliament The Rest for the purity and toleration of Religion out of which the Papist and Protestant were to be exempted and all Laws in favour of them to be abrogated All Sales of Parliament to be confirmed Articles of War to be made good And lastly the Protector and his Successor to be bound by Oath to observe these present Articles and to uphold the Peace and Welfare of the Nation which Oath was in 〈◊〉 verba I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infâ—inge the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customes to seek their peace and cause Justice Law to be equally administred The Feat needed no more security as good altogether as its Authority in this following Proclamation which was published throughout England Scotland and Ireland in these words Where as the late Parliament Dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland in a Lord Protector and saccessive Triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain General of all the Forces of this Common wealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every Person or Persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayor Bailiffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf This Miscellany of the Laws and new projections suted a great many humours and different perswasions of the Phanaticks Independents Anabaptists and others being the second part of the Alchoran And because there is occasion for it we will discourse a little of the present State of Religion and what opinion Cromwel best aspected The Orthodox Protestants were wholly supprest and yet some Reverend persons as Dr. Vsher the Bishop of Armagh and Dr. Brownrig the Bishop of Exeter received some shews of respect and reverence from Him which he more manifestly boasted in the funeral Expences of the Learned Vsher and this to captate a Reputation of his Love to Scholars and the meek modest and vertuous Clergy The Presbyterian was rather tolerated then countenanced and yet such of them as would comply with his Court greatnesse were much in his eye and his favour for others of them he cared not pleasingly expressing himself how he had brought under the Pride and Arrogance of that Sect making those that would allow no liberty to others sue for it for themselves The Independents and Anabaptists he loved and preferred by turns and was most constant to them as the men that would and did support his Usurpation only he could by no means endure the Fifth Monarchy men though by their dotages he had raised himself to this height and therefore Feak and Rogers were by him committed to Prison in the Castle of Windsor where they continued a long while and not only so but he set Kiffin the Anabaptist whom he had taken out of design into his favour with his party together by the ears with Feaks to the raising of a Feud between them the Ballance of his Security in the Government The like he did betwixt the Presbyterian the Independent a subdivided Schisme from the Church of England as Feaks and Kiffins were from Independency whom when out of his zeal to the Unity of Christian Religion he seemed to bring together to compose and accommodate all Differences in the near probability of such expedients he would divide and more irreconciliably sever and alienate And this was all his practical Devotion But to return Great shooting of Guns at night and Volleys of Acclamations were given at the close of this mock solemnity by Cromwell's Janizaries while the Cavaliers were more joyfully disposed at the Hopes of the Kings Affairs but no body of any Account giving the Usurper a good word or miskiditche with his greatness save what was uttered in Fur by my Lord Mayor and the Complices in this Fact who tickled his ears with the Eccho of the Proclamation done with the usual Formalities These Triumphs so disgusted Harrison as also Col. Rich that he withdrew himself from the Gang and turned publique Preacher or Railer against his Comrade Oliver who was glad to be rid of such a busie and impertinent Assistant in the moduling of Government so Cromwell had now two Common-wealth-contradivided Factions against him the old and the new Parliaments and therefore it nearly concerned him to make much of the Anabaptist and Sectary which now succeeded Independency as the Religion maintained and favoured above all other and Kiffin a great Leader and Teacher was now in great request at the Court at White-hall and contrarily Sir Henry Vane jun. was look'd on askue as also Sir Arth. Hazilrig and Bradshaw and Scot and so the Fabel builders were confounded one amongst another The Council appointed by the Officers or taken rather by himself by whose advice he was to govern were 14. at first Lord Lambert Lord Viscount Lisle General Desbrow Sir Gilbert Pickring Major General Skippon Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper Walter Strickland Esq Sir Charles Wolsley Col. Philip Jones Francis Rous Esquire Richard Major Esquire John Lawrence Esquire Col. Edward Montague Col. William Sydenham I should have mentioned the Dutch War in its place which aggrandized him with the usual victorious successe but because he was never personally engaged in the Service but owed this Garland as he did the glory of Dunbar to the noble General Monk and wore but a second-hand Triumphal Robe I will not constellate Him with that Hero's Splendor and Brightness of Fame That which properly concerns Cromwell is rather the Dishonour of that War the Peace that ensued the Conclusion of it for the Stomach of that Nation had been so humbled by several great losses their Trade so spoyled and their Subjects so impoverish'd that
presently enjoyned His old Crambe of a Fast throughout the Army p. 133. l. 5. r. to its vanquished Enemies Nol's own argument p. 136. l. ult for professing read possessing The Life and Death OF OLIVER CROMWEL THE Late Usurper c. FATE when it decreed and ordained the unhappy birth of this Famoso by he most secret and hidden malice brought him into the World without any terrible remark of his portentuous Life neither Comets nor Earthquakes nor such like Violences of nature ushering or accompanying Him to the declaring and pointing out that the Scourge of the English Empire and Nation was now born as she did by indiscernible methods train him up to the possession of the Throne and as secretly and cunningly after all his bloody and most nefarious actions shift him out of it and with a blast of her spent Fury turned him into his wish'd for Grave Nor did she midwife him into this light which he so horribly polluted by any unusual preternatural or monstrous way not with seeth or Heels forward or long hair nor with any marks upon his Flesh as it is storied of Julius Casar our Richard the Third and others nor were theâ—e any presagious dreams or fearful divinations of his Mother when she was impregnate with him as is mentioned of several who have proved like him to be the destruction and common Enemies of Mankind None of all these signs revealed or discovered the abstruse and most reserved deep and mysterious Fortune of this person The subtleties Arts and Policies of his destiny potently and irresistibly conspiring with his as close Treasons and dissembled Treacheries to the ruin and overthrow of this Church and State singly and insensibly accomplished by the mean and unobserved Hand of this bold and perjurious politique All therefore that to this purpose is noted of him is this that he was born the last year of that wonderful Century of 1500. to begin the next with his fital Marvails just before the union of the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland by King James as if it were congenial to Crowns as to the other lesser accessions of Felicity in private persons to have at the same instant a temperament and alloy to their lustre and greatnesse that as fortunes right hand presented a Scepter so her left hand was ready with a Scourge to wreak her â—nvy upon the glory and grandeur of that renowned succession to and accruement of dominion Every thing hath its good and evil Angel to attend or haunt it and that grand and happy revolution was to be afflicted and prosecuted by this Fury to an almost dissolution of its well composed united and established Frame He was born and descended of a very ancient knightly Family of his name in the County of Huntingdon where for many ages they have had a very large and plentiful patrimony it will suffice therefore to deduce him from no further originals then Sir Henry Cromwell his Grandfather a Gentleman highly honoured and beloved both in Court and Country who had issue Sir Oliver his eldest Son Henry Robert Richard and Sir Philip the youngest whose Son upon Suspicion of poysoning his Master a Lawyer was accused thereupon and convicted and hanged some 35. years agoe This our Oliver Cromwell was Son of Mr. Robert Cromwell the third Son of Sir Henry a Gentleman who went no lesse â—n esteem and reputation then any of his Ancestors for his personal worth which did seem inherent in that Family till his unfortunate production of this his Son and Heir whom he had by his Wife Elizabeth Steward the Neice of Sir Robert Steward a Gentleman of a competent Fortune in that County but of such a maligne effect on the Course of this his Nephews life as hereafter shall be declared that if all the Lands he gave him as some were Fenny Ground had been irrecoverably lost and deluged by any accident or disaster whatsoever it might have past for a most propitious providential prevention of that dire mischief and miseries that Estate occasioned He was born April the 25. in St. Johns Parish in the Town of Huntingdon and was christned in that Church the 29. of the same Month Anno Domini 1599. where Sir Oliver Cromwell his Uncle gave him his name being received into the bosome of the Church by her Rites and Ceremonies both which he afterwards rent and tore and ungraciously and impiously annulled and renounced From his Infancy to his Childhood he was of a crosse and peevish disposition which being humoured by the fondnesse of his Mother made that rough and intractable temper more robust and outragious in his juvenile years and adult and Masterless at mans estate No sooner therefore had he obtained the uâ— of his Tongue but his Father careful of his Education sent him to School to learn the Elements of Language and principalls of Religion both which he studied with the same indifference and inside and fallacious endevour as afterwards appeared by his never speaking what he thought nor believing what he heard or was instructed in so that his main policy was a radical and original hypocrisie which growing up with him could not but be at last after so many years of Experience most exquisitely perfected From this A. B. C. Discipline and the slighted Governance of a Mistris his Father removed him to the Tuition of Dr. Beard Schoolmaster of the Free-School in that Tovvn vvhere his Book began to persecute him and Learning to commence his great and irreconciliable Enemy for his Master honestly and severely observing that and other his Faults vvhich like vveeds sprung out of his rank and uncultivable nature did by Correction hope to better his manners and vvith a diligent Hand and carefull Eye to hinder the thick grovvth of those vices vvhich vvere so predominant and visible in him yet though herein he trespassed upon that respect and lenity due and usual to Children of his Birth and quality he prevailed nothing against his obstinate and perverse inclination The Learning and Civility he had coming upon him like fits of Enthusiasme now a hard Student for a week or two and then a Truant or Otioso for twice as many months Nunquam sibi constans of no settled constancy the very tenour and mode of his future life till his grand attainment Among the rest of those ill qualities which fructuated in him at this age He was very notorious for robbing of Orchards a puerile crime and an ordinary trespasse but grown so scandalous and injurious by the frequent spoyls and damage of Trees breaking of Hedges and Inclosures committed by this Apple Dragon that many solemn Complaints were made both to his Father and Master for redresse thereof which missed not their satisfaction and expiation out of his hide on which so much pains were lost that that very offence ripened in him afterwards to the throwing down all boundaries of Law or Conscience and the stealing and tasting the forbidden fruitâ— of Soveraignty by which as the Serpent
told him He should be like unto a God From this he passed unto another more manly their the robbing of Dove-houses stealing the young Pidgeons and eating and merchandizing of them and that so publiquely that he became dreadfully suspect to all the adjacent Countrey and this was an unhappy allusory Omen of his after Actions when he Robb'd the King his Soveraign of his Innocence and Vertues and prostituted them to the People and Soul â—ery and made the World about him afraid of his Villanies 'T was at this time of his Adolescency that he dreamed or a Familiar rather instincted him and put it into his Head that he should be King of England for it cannot be conceived that now there should be any such near resemblance of truth in Dreams and Divinations besides the Considence with which he â—epeated it and the difficulty to make him forget the Arrogant Conceit and opinionated pride he had of himself doth seem to evince it was some impulse of a Spirit since they have ceased long agoe However the Thought or Vision came most certain it is that his Father was exceedingly troubled at it and having angerly rebuked him for the Vanity and Idlenesse and Impudence thereof and seeing him yet persist in the presumption thereof caused Dr. Beard to whip him for them which was done to no more purpose than the rest of his Chastisements his Scholar growing insolent and uncorrigible from those results and svvasions within him to which all other dictates and Instructions were uselesse and as a dead letter Now to confirm this Royal Humour the more in his ambitious and vainglorious brain it happened as it was then generally the Custome in all great Free-Schools that a Play called The five Senses was to be Acted by the Scholars of this School and Oliver Cromwell as a Confident Youth was named to Act the part of Tactus the sense of Feeling in the personation of which as he came out of the Tyring roome upon the Stage his Head encircled with a Chaplet of Lawrel he stumbled at a Crown purposely laid there which stooping down he took up and Crovvned himself therevvithall adding beyond his Cue some Majestical mighty vvords and vvith this passage also the Event of his Life held good analogie and proportion vvhen he changed the Lavvrel of his Victories in the late unnatural War to all the Povver Authority and Splendor that can be imagined vvithin the Compasse of a Crovvn Nevertheless the Relation of a Father and one so stern and strict an Examiner of him he being in his ovvn nature of a difficult disposition and great spirit and one that would have due distances observed towards him from all persons which begat him reverence from the Countrey-people kept him in some awe and subjection till his translation to Cambridge where he was placed in Sydney Colledge more to satisfie his Fathers curiosity and desire than out of any hopes of Completing him in his Studies which never reached any good knowledge of the Latine Tongue During his short residence here where he was more Famous for his Exercises in the Feilds than in the Schools in which he never had the honour of because no worth and merit to a degree being one of the chief Match-makers and Players at Foot-ball Cudgels or any other boystrous sport or game His Father Mr. Robert Cromwell died leaving him to the scope of his own inordinate and irregular will swayed by the bent of very violent and strong passions There is little to be said more of his Father that is requisite to his Sons Story further than this that whereas 't is reported Oliver kept a Brew-House that is a mistake for the Brew-house was kept in his Fathers time and managed by his Mother and his Fathers Servants without any concernment of either of these therein the Accompts being alwayes given to the Mistris who after her Husbands death did continue in the same Employment and Calling of a Brewer and thought it no disparagement to sustain the Estate and port of a younger Brother as Mr. Robert Cromwell was by those lawful means however not so reputable as other gains and Trades are accounted It was not long after his Death er'e Oliver weary of the Muses and that strict course of Life though he gave latitude enough to it in his wilde salleys and flyings out abandoned the University and returned Home faluted with the Name of young Mr. Cromwell now in the room and place of his Father which how he became his uncontrolled debaucheries did publiquely declare for Drinking Wenching and the like outrages of licentious youth none so insam'd as this young Tarquin who would not be contraried in his Lusts in the very strain and to the excesse of that Regal Ravisher These pranks made his Mother advise with her self and his friends what she should do with him and to remove the Scandal which had been cast upon the Family by his means and therefore it was concluded to send him to one of the Inns of Court under pretence of his studying the Laws where among the masse of people in London and frequency of Vices of all sorts His might passe in the throng without that particular reflection upon his relation and at worst the infamy should stick only on himself Lincolns-Inne was the place pitch'd upon and thither Mr. Cromwell in a sutable Garb to his fortunes was sent where but for a very little while he continued for the nature of the place and the Studies there were so far regretful beyond all his tedious Apprentiship to the more facile Academick Sciences by reason Laws were the bar and obstacle of his impetuous resolutions and the quite contrary to his loose and libertine spirit that he had a kind of antipathy to his Company and Converse there and so spent his time in an inward spight which for that space superseded the enormous extravagancy of his former vitiousnesse His Vices having a certain kind of intermission succession or transmigration like a complete revolution of wickednesse into one another So that few of his Feats were practised here and it is some kind of good luck for that honourable Society that he hath lest so small and so innocent a Memorial of his Membership therein His next traverse was back again into the country to his Mother and there he fell to his old trade and frequented his old haunts consumed his money in tipling and then ran on score per force in his drink he used to be so quarrelsome as few unlesse as mad as himself durst keep him company his chief weapon in which he delighted and at which he fought several times with â—inkâ—ers Pedlars and the like who most an end go armed therewith was a Quarterstaff in which he was so skilful that seldome did any over-match him A boysterous discipline and Rudiment of his martial skill and valour which with so much fiercenesse he manifested afterward in the ensuing War These and the like strange wild and dishonest actions
made him every where a shame or a terrour insomuch that the Ale-wives of Huntingdon and other places when they saw him a coming would use to cry out to one another Here comes young Cromwell shut up your Dores for he made it no Punctilio to invite his Roysters to a Barrell of Drink and give it them at the charge of his Host and in satisfaction thereof either beat him or break his Windows if he offered any shew or gave any look or Sign of refusal or discontent His Lustful wantonnesses were not lesse predominant than the other unruly appetites of his mind that there might no vice be wanting to make his Life a Systeme of iniquity the publique open and more ingenuous vilenesses of his Youth becoming the several dangerous and druell Villanies of his Old Age it being now his rude custome to seise upon all Women he met in his way on the road and perforce ravish a kiss by some lewder satisfaction from them and if any resistance were made by their Company then to vindicate and allay this violence and heat of his blood with the letting out of theirs whose defence of their Friends Honour and Chastity innocently ingaged them And the same riots was he guilty of against any who would not give him the way so that he was a Rebell in Manners long before he was a Belial in Policy I am loth to be too large in such particulars which may render me suspect of belying him out of prejudice or revenge but I have heard it confirmed so often from knowing persons and the stories made use of by his party who did thereby magnify his Conversion making him thus dear and precious unto God that I was obliged to mention them partly as due to this Memoir of him which pretends to an exact Biography as well in the minute and small beginnings as in the grand and most important Events of his Life and partly to set him as a remarque against all Satanical delusions of Instantaneous Sanctity with which yet at this very day the World is bewitched though they have seen in him the Tragical even Diabolical effects of his Religious Austerity Onely one thing I may not omit by these lewd actions he had so aliened the affections of his Uncle and Godfather Sir Oliver Cromwell that he could not endure the sight of him having in his own presence in the great Hall of his House where he magnificently treated King James at his assumption to the Crown of England in a Christmas time which was alwayes highly observed by him by Feasting and keeping open-house played this unhandsome and unseemly trick or frolick with the Relation of which the Reader will be pleased to indulge me because I have seen it raccounted by a Worthy and Learned hand It was Sir Oliver's Custome in that Festival to entertain in his House a Master of Mis-rule or the Revels to make mirth for the Guests and to direct the Dances and the Musick and generally all manner of sport and Gambols this fellow Mr. Cromwell having besmeared his own Clothes and hands with Surreverence accosts in the midst of a frisking Dance and so grimed him upon every turne that such a stink was raised that the Spectators could hardly endure the Room whereupon the said Master of Mis-rule perceiving the matter caused him to be laid hold on and by his Command to be thrown into a Pond adjoyning to the House and there to be sous'd over head and ears and rinced of that filth and pollution sticking to him which was accordingly executed Sir Oliver suffering his Nephew to undergo the punishment of his unmanerly folly By this time and by these wayes Oliver had run himself out of that little Patrimony he had and brought his Mother to the same near ruine when taking a sad prospect from the brink of this destruction of his present desperate condition a giddy inspiration seised him and all of a sudden so seemed to change and invert him that he now became the wonder who just before was the hissing and scorn of all people And that this Conversion might seem true and real he manifested it with the Publican first in the Temple the Church which he devoutly and constantly frequented affecting the Companies and Discourses of Orthodox Divines no way given to that Schisme of Non-Conformity into which Oliver soon after fell not out of Seduction and Ignorance but Sedition and Malice and Treasonable design But this appearance of such a Reformation in him as he no doubt forecast it did effectually conduce to his present purpose for these Reverend Divines glad of the return of this Prodigal made it their businesse to have him welcomed and received with the Fatned Calf to remove the prejudices that lie upon the narrownesse of Christianity and therefore severally and joyntly they deal with Sir John Steward his Uncle for Sir Oliver would by no means hear of him as being assured and confirmed against him out of some good hints certainly of his own observation to take him into his favour and did at last prevail so upon hâ— that he declared him his Heir and dying soon after left him an Estate of Four or five hundred pounds a year which being got and obtained by so impious a practise a kind of inverted Symony to purchase Lands by Counterfeit Gifts and Graces could not escape the canker of Sacriledge but in few years mouldered away peece-meal nothing at all remaining thereof but a thatcht House with some Lands of Forty or fifty pounds a year in a Town called Wells within four miles of Wishich in the Isle of Ely In the Interim of this Estate having served himself of those Venerable Divines he fell in with some of the preciser sort began to shew himself at Lectures to entertain such Preachers at his House to Countenance that Way and be very Zealous in all meetings of such People which then began to be frequent and numerous and to Exercise with them by praying and the like to estrange himself from those his benefactors and at last to appear a publique dissenter from the Discipline of the Church of England He had Matched a little before upon the account of this Estate in reversion with a Kinswoman of Mr. Hambdens and Mr. Goodwins of Buckinghamshire by Name Elizabeth Daughter of one Sir ... Bowcher whom he trained up and made the waiting Woman of his Providences and Lady-rampant of his successeful greatnesse which she personated afterwards as Imperiously as himself so did the Incuâ—us of his bed make her partaker too in the pleasures of the Throne Those Men eminent for Puritanisme together with their Preachers set him up as the prime man of his County for Religion Integrity and true Godlinesse But his Estate still decaying he betook himself at last to a Farme being parcell of the Royalty of St. Ives where he intended to Husband it and try what could be done by endevour since nothing succeeded as yet by Design and accordingly took Servants
off all Military employment which concluding so pertinently and peremptorily for him in this grand Event did charm the hatred and prejudice against him into fear and dread what this arrogance of his fortune would finally aspire to This Battell wholly overthrew the King who was never after able to make head against the Parliament Forces but peece-meal lost his Armies Castles and Towns Fairfax taking in the remoter Western Garrisons while Cromwell was employed nearer to London being sure to have one eye on the Counsells of the Parliament as well as the other intent against the King Among the rest of those places taken by him as Winchester the Devizes and Langford-house Basing-house that had defeated so many Seiges and ruined so many Leagures was not able to withstand the Fortune of this Victor but humbled it self to dust and ruine at his first and terrible approch The war now almost expired he began to ruminate on his former Dreams and to adjust those strange revolutions and unexpected alterations of the times and the Government to his former Fancy in which he had so much affiance anew that he became resolutely confirmed that all those things were brought about meerly to fulfill that Oracle of his Imagination That he should be King And therefore he thought it a just reverence to his Fate to neglect no advantages occasions and means which might conduce to the accomplishment of its mysterie and conciliate it's constant affection and favour to him One thing primarily requisite was the assistance and Counsell of some confident Privado and to this purpose he had before pitch'd upon Coll. Ireton a man of a most profound and deep dissimulation and of a most clean conveyance of any mischeivous design one very well learned but who had converted it as Toads do the best nutriment unto the most exquisite poyson to barbarous and most Horrid Artifices of impiety and Treason this man Cromwell made sure to him first by marriage as abovesaid and now by a more mutuall endearment the partnership of the Soveraignty which they agreed to seize and from henceforth they never ceased plotting and conspiring now colloguing with this party then with that and fomenting divisions still betwixt all till with these many strange patches of Policy Cromwell made himself a Protectoral Robe with which he was not many years after solemnly vested In the mean time the King in Oxford fearing a Seige and having no better shelter in England to secure himself after he had in vain woed the Parliament from this his Court to a Treaty and agreement designed an escape out of their hands and to that purpose Collonel Rainsborough and otheâ— Forces at a distance lying about all the passes of the City by Coll. Ashburnhams means procured a passe from the Generall for the said Coll. Ashburnham and his two servants to Travel from Oxford upon some pretence of private businesse of the Collonel and by vertue thereof in a Disguise of a Servant passed their Guards and after many traverses delivered himself into the Scotch hands then beseiging Newark Herein Cromwell most cunningly and deceitfully first practiced the Kings ruine for whereas upon the rendition of that City if the King had been taken in it a sudden end had been put to the Troubles by some composure which would have marred Cromwell's plots not to be acted but by a Stratocracy and an Army by this means of suffering the King to escape which might easily have been prevented the war was no nearer a conclusion then at the beginning if the Scots as was hoped howsoever would have proved honest and kept their Allegiance Faith due to such extraordinary confidence and trust reposed in them 〈◊〉 Now to carry on their Treason the more irresistibly and indiscoverably upon a plausible pretence of lessening the charge of the Kingdom they concluded to put their Partisans in the Parliament who gaped for the spoil of the Kingdom and would be content with that to motion a disbanding of some Regiments of the Army which being a just and necessary work was assented to by many Patriots who understood not the drift of the Conspiracy and accordingly Major Generall Massey and Coll. Cook and their Brigades were ordered to disband amounting to Two Thousand five hundred Horse which journey work was put upon Generall Fairfax who at the Dâ— performed it giving them six Weeks pay for many Months arrears divers of the disbanded 〈◊〉 from very remote Countries and had passes 〈◊〉 for Mesopotamia some for Egypt and Ethâ—â—piâ— M. G. Massey was he whom they aimed at in this Dismission as too much an Essexian and of juster and honester principles then their designs would allow of a very great interest in the Army also very well esteemed and beloved by them as being of a clear spirit and as valorous as the best of them and would dare to oppose any rebellious practice whatsoever against the Authority of their Masters Besides this Cromwell had a further reach to the future on the Parliament likewise first to make hereby a division and beget and stir some ill humour in the Army as if that were the leading case next to make those Officers that should continue when they should perceive at whose beck they must stand or fall more fixedly dependant on him and then to instill unto them his own Traiterous designs and purposes and so having the Army entire at his devotion effect and bring to passe his Royal projections Massey submitted but carried the revenges of this affront and Cabâ—l with him to the Parliament House Cromwell upon this Accident was at Westminster and perceived by the tosse and perplexity the Parliament was in about the King's Person that it was a brave thing to be a Monarch and therefore concluded it very necessary to other his Elements and Points of Policy to get Possession if he could of His Majesty and thereupon his party the Independent's Fâ—ction being so instructed fall violently upon the Scots and would have run it up to little lesse then Treason for the Scots to detain the Kings 〈◊〉 this purpose divers Resolutions and Messages passed but it appearing in the Conclusion that the Scots drove at a Bargain Cromwell and his Faction must readily agreed to strike it and so the King was delivered to the English Commissioners at New-Castle Yet that nothing might slip or passed which any way promoted his ambitious purposes he made use of this agreement of the 200000 l to be paid the Scots by his Agents to mutiny the Army under General Poyntz another Presbyterian Commander then at York upon their Guard against the said Scots as if the Parliament had no care or respect for them but that Forraigners should be paid with their money and then afterwards upon the ceasing that Tumult and military Sedition to get Poyntz dismissed as too remisse and negligent in his Command And not long after died the Earl of Essex one whom Oliver more feared then any or all the Presbyterian Officers
together Death officiously removing this great impediment also so that by this time there was not an Officer left in the Army that did not acknowledge Cromwell's Sultanship the General himself being lulled and bewitched with the Syren Charms of his zealous insinuations The Presbyterian Party in the Parliament began now to be sensible whither these devices tended and therefore to Counterplot this Caball of Cromwells they resolved upon a new disbanding of some the Scots having friendly departed home and transporting of other Regiments for the service of Ireland for that the necessity of that Kingdome did require the Translation of the waâ— thither This the Independents presently perceived and gave Cromwell timely notice of who knowing himself to be principally aimed at caused it by some of his Familiars to be spread about the Souldiery that the Parliament by the major Vote of some corrupt Members had voted the disbanding of the Army to cheat them of their Arrears and then to send them in a necessitous condition into Ireland to be there knock'd 〈◊〉 the Head by the Rebells This presently put the Common Soldiers into such a rage who always judge by the first appearance that they â—lew out into most opprobrious and reviling Language against the Parliament but fury being no present remedy to this evil Ireton anâ— his instructed Pupills prescribe a Module never heard of or practised in War before of a Military Common-Council who should assemble 2 commission Officers and two private Soldiers out of every Regiment to consult for the good of the Army to draw up their grievances and present them to the General and he to the Parliament these to be called by the name of Adjutators Having thus made sure of the Army he thought it time now to make sure of the King whom the Parliaments Commissioners had brought to his Captivity at Holmby-house and therefore Ireton and he having sometime before acquainted themselves with the King in this his restraint and vowed and protested their readinesse to serve him to the ensnaring the Kings belief while they condoled the hard usage and unreasonable carriage of the Parliament towards him especially in point of Liberty of Conscience and the Worship of God His Majesties Chaplains having been obstinately refused him they judged it no difficult thing to get his person into their Custody and deceive his good nature with the same semblances of it in themselves only the manner was not presently resolved by them For without the Generals consent and command it could not be done in his name nor might it avowedly be done by the Councill of War for it would be a peremptory and hazardous enterprise and engage the whole Kingdome about their Ears but at last it was concluded betwixt them that this surprizal of the King should be fathered on the Council of Adjutators as the sense and Act of the Army Thus in all these pushes and puzzels of accidents did they extricate themselves by that Mungrill consistory a meer Chimâ—â—â— or Brainsick Idaea of a convention which was conversant only about shadowes and umbrages of things while Cromwell ran away with the substance This way being agreed upon one Cornet Joyce a busie pragmaticall person whom Cromwell his Familiar had tutoured in the Method of boldnesse and Rebellion was privately conferred with about it and after some familiar compellations hugged into the Conspiracy and immediately dispatch'd away with a party of 1000 Horse on the 4. of June to Holmby where he arrived late at Night but being very importunate to speak with the King was by his order admitted to whom he declared his â—â—â—and and being demanded by whose Authority whither by the Generall or Councell of War no other answer could be drawn from him but that it was from the Army adding that if the King should refuse to go along with him he must carry him away per force The King neverthelesse deliberated the whole night and consulted with the Parliaments Commissioners what was most adviseable for him to do though the sway of his judgement in 〈◊〉 him to the Army Custody from a just 〈◊〉 of the sullennesse and Rebellious obstinacy of the Parliament who had by Joyce offered him as the last and chief Artifide of Cromwell to all 〈◊〉 of ranks and persons the liberty of Conscience with other specious and dutiful pretences From Holmby therefore next morning the King was carried to Childersly then the head quarters of the Army though the King desired to go to Newmarket his own house as perswading himself in some greater degree of Royalty then in the Parliaments Tuition but this was at first denyed and a complementary amends made him by the Generall and more particularly by Cromwell that His Majesty could no where be safer or more regally honoured then in their quarters which were the only Sanctuary of his person This daring presumption of seizing the King gave light to the World what this Oliver would at last appear though no certain Conclusions could be made what the mischief did presently signify It was sufficient to Cromwell's design to amuse the World and let them guesse at the danger he had readily prepared beyond any sudden remedy And therefore he now personates the Kings Interest professeth himself exceeding sorry to have mistaken the quarrell intimates and insinuates to the King that there were a corrupt party meaning the Presbyterians in Parliament who alone withstood his Resolution and that He and all the power and friends he could make were resolved to assert his Rights and vindicate them from those unreasonable injuries of the Juncto as he spared not frequently to own the same Honesty to the Kings friends then admitted to attend Him particularly He declared to Collonel John Cromwell a Commander in the States Service in Holland then in England That he thought the King of England was the most injured Prince in the World and clapping his hand to his Sword in some passion said Cousin This shall right him to the very great Contentment of that Loyal Subject whom we shall have further occasion in this Discourse and from this Passage to mention In the mean while the King is at his earnest desire which Cromwell seemed most officiously to study conveighed to Newmarket House and thither his friends and Chaplains without any restriction admitted and such a sudden change made in the condition of the King as to his Liberty and Honour that most of his party were dazeled with the shews of it and could not foresee the Treason that was hid under those fair Umbrages Nor could the King himself so cunningly Cromwell carried it give any true judgement of this his Surprizal more then that the Examples and rules of all Policy generally resolved him That the Person of a Prince in whosoever hands it remaineth addeth Strength and Authority to that Party The King being thus in Olivers hands as he had declared upon Joyces telling him that he had the King in Custody that he had the Parliament then in
from Hampton-Court which place was found to be too near to London for fear of a rescue in a dark and tempestuous night in November 1647. and forced to cast himself into the disloyal hands of Coll. Hamond Governour of the Isle of Wight and Brother to the most Learned and Reverend Dr. Hamond which consideration Cromwell forelaid would invite the King in his distresse to betake himself thither where we shall leave him in a most disconsolate Imprisonment the Votes of Non Addresses being not long after procured by Cromwell's Menaces to the Parliament when upon the Debate of them he declared in such like words That it was now expected by the good people of the Nation and the Army that the Parliament would come to some Resolution and Settlement as the Price of all the Blood and Treasure that had been expended in the War and that they would not now leave them to the expectation of any good from a Man whose heart God had hardned but if they did they should be forced to-look for their preservation some other way At the end of this Speech he laid his hand upon his Sword by his side as was the more observed because formerly in the same place it could not keep him from trembling when Sir Philip Stapleton a man of spirit and metal baffled him but Sir Philip and his seconds were now out of Dores Next to him spoke Ireton in the very same sense being newly chosen a recruit for the Parliament by their illegal writ of Election extolling and magnifying the valour civility and duty of the Army concluding with the same threats that if the Parliament would not settle the Kingdome without the King then they of necessity must and would So that after some Opposition the said votes passed against any further Addresse to be made to the King and now Oliver thought himself cock-sure and therefore the King Parliament and City being in his power he had no rub left to his Ambition but those Imps and Spirits of his own raising and conjuring up the Adjutators and Levellers of the Army who having conn'd their Lesson of the Agreement with the people were became most artful and skilful Governours already boasting in the Country many of which silly people they had induced to their side upon the accompt of laying all in common and in a wild Parity that the Parliament sate only during their pleasure and till a new Representative then a forming should take upon them the Government nor did they more dutifully respect and behave themselves to their Officers whom they counted as peices of the Prerogative Military therefore decried all Courts and Counsells of them which began to separate and act by themselves without the mixture of their Adjutators This exorbitancy and heigth of the Soldiery was altogether as destructive to Cromwell now he had done his work with them for this time as any of the other 3 Interests but desperate diseases must have desperate Cures for immediately the Headquarters being then at Ware Coll. Eyer a Leveller was seised and imprisoned and one Arnold a private Soldier shot to death for promoting the former solemn Engagement and Agreement of the People and after that He cashiered all such who favoured the same and to fan and cull out the rest he proceeded to disband 20 out of a Troop by which the most of that party were totally excluded the like was done in London by the Imprisonment of Mr. Prince and others of the same Faction Having for the present still'd that commotion in the Army the danger of a second war seemed a fresh to threaten the Juncto and Cromwell by reason of their injurious Votes of Non-Addresse and therefore to prevent so potent and formidable a Conjunction of all Interests and Parties against him He now by his Party and Emissaries proposeth an accommodation between the Presbyterians and Independents and a way and means whereby they may be so united at the motion of this in the House of Commons a Gentleman replyed That if there were any such persons who had any private Interest different from the publique and under the distinction of parties had prejudiced the Kingdome he was not fit to be a Member of that House Neverthelesse it was insisted on that the House would declare and ratifie their Votes of nulling and making void the Votes that passed in the absence of the Speakers that fled into the Army in 1647. and their Engagement of adhering to the Army which were tacitly confessed to be then unduly procured so fearful and doubtful was he again of the issue of those new Troubles he foresee would fall out and therefore would shelter himself and justifie his Actions by the Authority he had so often bafled The same Artifices he used likewise to the City offering them now upon the like condition of uniting Interests the freedome of their Lord Maior and Aldermen viz. Sir John Gayr Alderman Langham Alderman Adams and others and the setting up again their Posts and Chains but when they having already treated and engaged with the Scots then in preparation for a March into England refused to give ear to any propositions or terms resenting the base affronts He and the Army had put upon them He questioned his Argent Glover who gave him Commission to make any such Overtures and in great rage turned him out of his Service The danger still increasing he suffered the Lords as namely the Earls of Suffolk Lincoln Lord Maynard Willoughby c. whom he had impeached of High Treason after his March into London to be freed from their Imprisonment in the Tower and with them the Maior and Aldermen aforesaid and as a further satisfaction and submission to the Authority of the Parliament A Declaration of the Army is published wherein they bewail their former miscarriages and misdemeanors towards the Parliament their medling with the civil power and that force and violence they had offered to the two Houses and in Conclusion promise faithfully and dutifully to acquiesce in their Resolutions and Wisdom With this Hocus Pocus deluding the Presbyterian party into a kind of stupid neutrality or rather worse while yet they would by no means comply with the King untill Polyphemus Courtesie appeared in this Cromwellian Craft The Scots under Duke Hamilton having entred England and divers Insurrections happening in England and Wales according as was expected Cromwell was ordered by the Parliament to attend the first of them which was the Welch and Northern Armies though the Scots delayed their March so long till all was neer lost in England and after a short Siege upon the Defeat at St. Pagons which was atcheived in his absence took in Tenby-Castle Pembroke Castle held out a while longer thence he marched for Lancashire having joyned with Major General Lambert who attended the motion of the Scotch Army and at Preston his forces amounting to few more then 9000 Men whereas the Scots were not lesse then 20000 gave Duke Hamilton Battle
was killed by Carbine shot refusing to take quarter at such perfidious peoples hands This Hurly burly being over and ended like a flash the General came to Oxford where he was highly treated and he and Oliver made Doctors of the Civil Law This proved the utter Suppression of that party rendred the Army entirly at his command without any farther dispute of their Leading so that they presently submitted to the Lot which Regiments should be sent to Ireland then almost reduced to the Kings obedience by the M. of Ormond which thus decreed it viz. 11. Regiments One of Dragoons under Col. Abbot Of Horse Iretons Scroops Hortons and Lamberts Of Foot Eures Cooks Hewsons and Deans And three new ones viz. Cromwells Venables and Phayrs Cromwell was ordained Commander in Chief and tituladoed with the Style of Lord Governour of Ireland while Fairfax was lest here to attend the Parliament and passe away his time in the Dotages of his Successe giving him the Honour of subduing that Realm and preparing it to his Usurtion He with a very potent Army was now landed at Dublin Whereupon a strong Garrison of 2500 Foot and 300 horse resolved men under the charge of Sir Arthur Aston was put into Drogheda the nearest Garrison to the late defeat of the Ms of Ormond which Cromwell having refreshed his Army a while at Dublin came to besiege The Town was stormed resolutely thrice and as well defended-Sir Arthur Aston being so confident that he advised the Lord Lieutenant not to precipitate any thing for he should hold them play a while but in the third assault Collonel Wall being unâ—ortuâ— nately killed his dismaid Souldâ—ers listened to thâ— offer of quarter before they had need of it and admitted them upon those terms Cromwell having notice that the Flower of the Irish Army was in his hands gave order to put all in Arms to the Sword where were killed Sir Arthur Asteâ— Sir Edmund Varney Collonel Warren Coll. Dun Finglassâ— Tempest c. with 3000 Souldiers the best in that Kingdome He comes next before Wexford which having resused to accept of a Garrison now the Enemy was under their walls was contented to admit of 500 Men under the command of Sir Edmund Butler and the Lord Lieutenant came also in sighthâ— the Town before whose face Stafford the Governour of the Castle basâ—ly betrayed it to Cromwell together with the Town who there are acheroroâ—fly murthered 2000 more Rosse was the next place whither a Garrison was sent under the command of Luke Taaf with order the Town not being tenable to render upon Conditions which accordingly a breach being made they did and marched away with their Arms. His next attempt was upon Duncannon but the noble Wogan and the English Cavaliers gave him a foyle hence he retreated to Rosseâ— â—ere he made a floating bridge that to having a passage to the other side he might comâ—ell Ormond either to divide his Army to observe his motions or otherwise to get a passage into Munster where he held intelligence with several places that would then Revolt and accordingly for all my Lord Taaff was sent thither before hand to secure them yet Youghall Corke and all the English Towns of Munster openly Revolted and many of my Lord Inchiqueens men allured by Money and Commands in Cromwell's Army ran over to the Enemy and his Excellency the L. Lieutenant having lost the opportunity of Fighting Cromwell by his dislodging from Duncannon by night vvhen the Irish vvere cheaâ—full and earnest to engage vvas never after in a condition fit to venture a battel He therefore passes over his Bridge and so into the County of Kilkenny facing his Enemy and moving up and dovvn after him vvhile his Lieut. G. Jonâ—s with parties took in the Castles and Carrick vvas vvretchedly betrayed to him by Martin that commanded there vvhence 〈◊〉 passes his Army into Munster and takes severall Castles by the appearance onely of his Horse onely at Kilteran he received a repulse but Ballisannon was sold to him Kilkenny was taken next aster a stout defence made the Towns-men complying contrary to the Souldiers knowledge who were driven into the Castle and there conditioned The next enterprize he went in hand with was to take Clonmell kept by Major Generall Hugh Neake who behaved himself so well that the Enemy having lost 2500 Men before it had gone away without it had it not bin that the Gariâ—on wanted Powder so that they got over the River to Waterford in the night leaving the Townsmen to make conditions for themselves which the Enemy not knowing the Souldiers were gone readily granted Soon after Collonel Roch received a brush from my Lord Broghill in the County of Cork vvhere the Bishop of Rosse being taken vvas hanged I have thus briefly discoursed of the War in Ireland that I might hasten to the grand event and from the Camp after another expedition conduct him to the Palace the main consequence of his Life vvhich rendred all his other actions so notable and conspicuous The Irish War thus in a manner ended and the Scotch War ready to Commence the Committee of Estates there having concluded vvith the King at Breda and he upon his Voyage to that Kingdom wheâ—e all correspondence with the English was by Proclamation forbidden and all manner of Provision stopt from carrying into England though the Juncto at Westmiâ—ster had used all Artifices to keep the Scots from closing with Him who were so far disposed thereto that they had barbarously murâ—hered the Great Marquiss of Montross a Hero far surpassing Oliver in Conduct and who was untimely and unfortunately taken away from the rescue of his Country Cromwell like a Fury was ready at hand to take revenge of that Fact For having been seeretly called for over from Ireland to amuse all Parties both the Irish who trembled at his presence and made no considerable resistance against him and his Fortune and the General himself at home who expected not such his sudden â—valship to his Command which gave him no time for mature consideration of the design the Scots who though Alarumed by frequent rumours of an English Invasion yet were not so forward in their Levies as having assurance of Fairfax's dissatisfaction he was now wasted over into England preventing the Letters he had sent to the States to know their express pleasure for his departing that Kingdome On the beginning of June he returned by the way of Bristoll from Ireland to London and was welcomed by Fairfax the General many Members of Parliament and Council of State at Hounsle-heath and more fully complemented at his Lodgings and in Parliament by the Thanks of the House and the like significant Address of the Lord Mayor c. of London being look'd upon as the only Person to the Eccsipse and diminution of the Generals Honour which we shall presently see him paramount in the same supreme Command The World that considered the carriage of this Politique towards his Prince
mistaken Prolepsis applied these words of the Psalmist To bind their Kings in Chains and their Nobles in fetters of Iron in an arrogant Exaltation of his Atcheivements Next day the common Prisoners being driven like a herd of Swine were brought through Westminster into Tuthill-fields a sadder spectacle was never seen except the â—serable place of their defeat and there sold to several Merchants and sent to the Barâ— the Colours taken vvere likevvise hanged up in Westminster-hall vvith those taken before at Preston and Dunbar He had now passed and surmounted all the dissiculties and troubles that the Interest of the Crown hither to had threatned and nothing was wanting to the Completion of his aims but the Kings person most miraculously preserved and rescued to the perpetuall disquiet and vexation of this Wouldbe-Monarch But because that sacred story ought not to be blasphemed with the impiety of his I will not intermingle any of those blessed Providences of His Escape with the direful designments of Cromwell's unobstructed passage to the Throne For having superated all outward appearances of danger to his ultimate design there remained nothing but a wretched and hated Juncto of Men with whom he was next to grapple things so slighted by him and their Authority so scorned after this discomfiture of the King that he never vouchsased them a good look Nay publickly exprest his resentments of their saucy expostulations of his conduct about the Kings march for England which was mentioned before And therefore at his first comming into the House where he was entertained by the Speaker with the second part of Steel's Panegyrick a motion was started for a new Representative and all the Codlings and Embryons of Triplâ— and Newmarket-Heaths Engagements afresh reâ—med and those Army expedients for which â—o many Levellers had suffered now again revived acknowledged and applauded for the only conducing means to the long expected settlement The main whereof was the proposal of a new Representative to be equally chosen to succeed the present Parliament A most abhominated and deprecated evil by the Members who having done so much mischief and incurred so much detestation for practising his and their mutuall designs upon the best Government and the most incomparable Prince in the world were almost at their Wits end with madnesse at his and invention of their contra devices While these things were debating amongst them and every day produced some fresh altercation and quarrell about dissolving this and choosing a new Representative which the Souldiers not only from their former principle as English Freemen but now as the Generalls Janizaries and in obedience to his dictates and commands with the pretensory advice of his Council of Officers unanimously and readily urged for he had brought the Army to his bow and disciplined them to a most exact ignorant devotion and obedience to his service during the Scotch War where the distance of the Commonwealth-men could not reach his second self his son in Law Ireton died in Ireland just as he was comming to the fruition of those grand projections they had both conspired He had employed his Vice-government after Cromwell's departure in reducing places held for the King there being no Feild service ever after He survived not the totall Conquest of Ireland to which he was by compact and Olivers Bull decreed but saw a very fair prospect thereof in the rendition of Limbrick and the expected delivery of Galloway and since this concerned Cromwell and the Agreement between them which is most certain though none of those secret compacts are discoverable I will give the Reader his Character and this short account of his decease here Limrick being taken Ireton marched to joyn with Sir Charles Coot to attempt somthing further and together took in Clare Castle but the weather not proving so seasonable and the Souldiers tired out with duty at the Siege of Limrick they parted into Winter Quarters Ireton back again to Limrick in the way whither he fell sick on the 15. of November and after purging and bleeding and other means used died of the Plague in that City on the 27. of the same month the Commissioners for the Parliament there substituting to his command in the Army while the Parliament or General for Cromwel was lately so made of Ireland should otherwise appoint Edmund Ludlow the Lieutenant General of the Army in that Kingdom On the 17. of December his Carcasse was landed at Bristol and pompously dismist to London where it was for a time in state at Summerset-House all hung with black and a Scutcheon over the gate with this Motto Dulce est pro patris mori how sutable that Countryman best told who Englished it in these words it is good for his Country that he is dead on Feb. 6. following he was interred in H. 7. Chappel being carried out with a pompous Funerall at which Cromwell was chief Mourner and the Members of the Juncto attendants in Black with a great deal of State but hath since found a fitter repository for his accursed dust It was beleived by the Army who did credit their own conjectures and others impostures for want of literature that he was a perfect Common-wealths-man and would have withstood his Father in Law in his ambitious intrusions upon the Parliament and this because he was the Drawer or Promoter of all the Levelling Fundamentals but he prevented their juster judgement by appearing to a greater and most exact Tribunal and perished with rottennesse in the maturity of his design He was absolutely the best prayer-maker and preacher in the Army for which he might thank his Education at Oxford though Oliver came but little behind him being very frequent and instant now especially in such devotions out of all season and reason but it was all one to the Souldiers who had nothing else to doe but to Prey and to Pray The other qualities and conditions of Ireton were so congenial with Olivers that in the prosecution of his story I shall but tell the same things the evil Spirit after his decease being doubled upon him by a mischeivous Metempsychosis a transmigration of soul which assimilated their ashes in the same grave at Tyburne The Fortune of this Grand atcheivment at Worcester subjugated all the Dominions of the English Soveraignty entirely under the power of the free States the Isles of Scilly Man Barbadoes and Christophors submitting and acknowledging their Jurisdiction all which were reckoned by Cromwell but the Trophees due to his valour and the reward of his labour and therefore all things thus flattering his conceits of Majesty He was angry with himself for permitting those delayes to his eager Ambition now complemented smoothed and tyred by many fine and pretty Evasions of the Members who wanted not most just pretences to detain the Government from his handling but of this presently There was another thing in his eye which troubled him most of all and respited and superseded his design up on the Rump which was
were made Serjeants and Mr. Hales one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas where St. Johns yet sate and of the Cabinet to his Protector besides having preferred his Man Thurloe his Secretary at the Hague to be his Secretary of State the Candle or Light of that Dark-Lanthorn which St. Johns was said to be in these mysterious times of Cromwell in all his attempts and designs of consequence and moment The Dutch Peace was also concluded on by the Ambassadors and the Commissioners of the said â—ouncil for the Protector between whom this private Article was agreed that the Prince of Aurange should never be restored to the Dignities Offices and charge his Ancestors held and enjoyed and this was urged for the better conservation of the Peace which would in his Restitution be endangered because of his Relation to the King The Protector dined in great State upon an Invitation from the Lord Mayor c. at Grocers-Hall the 8. of February being Ashwednesday a very unsuitable day for any Festival but his Entertainment who inverted all things the streets being railed from Temple Bar thither the Liveries in their Gowns in their gradual standings awaiting Him he was met at the said Gate by Alderman Viner the Lord Mayor who delivered him the Sword there and having received it from him back again bore it on Horseback before him all the way through which the same silence was kept as if a Funeral had been en passant and no doubt it was that muteness which Tacitus mentioned in Tiberius quale Magnae Irae vel magni metus est silentium no apprecations or so much as a How do ye being given during the Cavalcade After Dinner he was served with a Banquet in the conclusion whereof he Knighted Alderman Viner and would have done the same to the Recorder Steel for his learned Speech of Government calculated and measured for him but he for good Reasons avoided it My Lord Maior was forced to carry it home and anger his Wife with it who had real Honour both in her Name and Nature Oliver at his return had the second course of a Brick-bat from the top of a House in the Strand by St. Clements which light upon his Coach and almost spoiled his Digestion with the daringness of the affront search was made but in vain the person could not be found and vengeance was not yet from Heaven to rain upon him He published a little after an Ordinance for the Trial and Approbation of Ministers wherein Phillp Nye Goodwin Hugh Peters Mr. Manton and others were named Commissioners the question these men put to the Examinants was not of Abilities or Learning but grace in their hearts and that with to bold and saucy Inquisition that some mens spirits trembled at their Interrogatories they phrasing it so as if as was said of the Council of Trent they had the Holy Ghost in a Cloak Bag or were rather Simon Magus his own Disciples and certainly there were never such Symoniacks in the World not a living of value but what a Friend or the best purchaser was admitted into to which humane learning even where a former right was was a good and sufficient Bar no less to the ruine then scandal of the Church of England and the Protestant Religion and Professors thereof â—everal ignorant bold Laicks being inducted into the best Spiritualities as best consisted with Olivers Interest which depended upon the Sectary and their hideous divisions in Religion To return During those Protectoral Intrigues the King's Interest had got such footing again in England that all or most of the Gentlemen and Counties thereof were engaged for it and therefore while Lambert managed one Province the Affairs of the Parliament wherein Oliver would not descend so low as to be pragmatical and Sceptically busy with their Debates against His power as wrested and usurped from the people He was mainly intent upon the proceedings of the Royallists the particulars whereof he had betrayed to him weekly a constant correspondence being held betwixt Him and one Manning a Retainer and Under-Secretary to the King at Colen his Father being killed in his Service at Alresford in the year 1644. The price of this Treason was no lesse then 6000. l. a year most whereof came to the King by this fellows hands as sent over by his and his friends procurement but on purpose by so notable a service in the Kings necessities to sâ—rue himself into the secrets of His Majesties designs Hence came the Western Association and Attempt of the noble Penruddock in the West to be so suddenly defeated with the like Insurrections in several parts of England in the year 1654. For upon certain notice of the days appointed for their rising Cromwell to be before hand with them gave out supposed and false days and made the like Appearances particularly at Shrewsbury by which means the Confederates came to perceive there was some Treachery among themselves and did then wisely desist from the danger of taking publique Arms against Him For a fuller accompt of all which I must refer the Reader to the Histories of the Times lately published though I should take notice of his cruelty against those unfortunate Gentlemen The Event of this by which he had overreached the King in his own designs and the Hopes of his rich successes in the West-Indies by robbing another Prince whether his Fleet and Army under General Pen and Venables was now arrived which also I shall only mention for the Story is trite and vulgar made Oliver most blith and confident and his Court of Beggars and such like mean people very gay and jocund A great deal of State was now used towards him and the French Cringe and other ceremonious pieces of gallantry and good deportment which were thought unchristian and favouring of Carnality introduced in place of austere and down looks and the silent Mummery of Starch'd and Hypocritical gravity the only becoming Dress forsooth of Piety and Religion He had now a Guard of Halberdiers in Gray Coats welted with black Velvet over whom Walter Strickland was Captain and a Lord Chamberlain Sir Gilbert Pickering Two Masters of Requests Mr. Bacon and Mr. Sad'er a Master of his Horse his Son Claypoolâ— and generally all persons of Honour both to His own person and his Wives who very frugally Huswifed it and would nicely and finically tax the expensive unthriftiness as said she of the Other Woman who lived there before her But I must not engage in her impertinencies though a many pretty stories might be told of this obsolete Princesse It will be requisite to speak something of his manner and course of Life now raised to a very neer fruition of the Soveraignty this being the Solstice of his Fortunes His Custome was now to divert himself frequently at Hampton-Court which he had saved from Sale with other Houses of the Kings for his own greatnesse whether he went and came in post with his Guards behind and before as not yet
with the sum of that abortive Regal Consultation which like the Philosophers Stone or rather the Apples of Sodom vanished and perished in the Attrectation After many Meetings and Conferences together at White-hall the Commissioners being impowered to receive his Highnesses Scruples at his request the whole Affair being managed with Royal State and respect to him they came to these Disputes It was alledged by the Committee who were to offer and make play that the Title of King had been confirmed by all Parliaments for 1300 years and the person not the name displeasing to any of them That it was interwoven with the Laws and the very consent of this Parliament in being To this the Protector answered that these were swasory not compulsive or convincing Arguments That the Title of the Protector might be made accommodable to the Laws by the content of the Parliament as well as the Title of King was made so by the same that the Title of King would be displeasing to many godly men and Officers of the Army who had declared against the Title and Office To these it was replied That the Title ought to be accommodated to the Laws not the Laws to them That Invention of Titles was suspected as the Veil or Concealment of some Design against the publique and that therefore the Parliament of England had scrupled the new Title of King of Great-Britain to King James That if he regarded not his own honour and Greatnesse yet he should respect the Honour and Reputation of the Kingdome That the name of Protector had always been unfortunate to the Kingdome during the Minority of our Princes and also to themselves That it being given him by the Soldiery it sounded of Victory That when the Kingly Title was abolished in the Roman Empire nothing but confusion followed nor could the State find Rest either under Consul or Dictators or Prince of the Senate untill the pleasure and will of Caesar came to be acknowledged for Law Other instances there were of the Commissioners who severally by order of the Committee delivered their Answers to Him as namely the reason of the change of the Stile of Lord to King of Ireland in H. 8. time for the better and more regular Government of that Nation and Examples of a neighbouring Protestant Kingdome of Sweden who had crown'd their Marshal that took up Arms with them against their Soveraign but their main Argument was drawn from the Statutes of 9 Edw. 4. 3 H. 7. by which all persons were indempnified that took up Arms for the King in being which was one and the chief reason said Whitlock why so many at first assisted the King against the Parsiament and would be his Highnesses case and Security And lastly to his Argument of displeasing many godly men and that Providence seemed to crosse the introduction of the Kingly Office by a seven years War to the overthrow of it He was answered that the reduction of the Common-wealth to Monarchy was a greater Act then from Monarchy to the Protectorate that in all Governments some men would be unsatisfied and that therefore his safest way would be to rely on this Settlement by the Parliament But after all Cromwell's Fears surmounted his Ambition and he told then in a long Harangue that He could not accept the Title of King being against his conscience The Protector having refused the Title of King awaiting a more opportune time and advantage to reach to that top and heighth of his ambition which inwardly tormented him was now by the Parliament to be confirmed in his former dignity and a Committee called of the Settlement was ordered to prepare an Explanatory part to the Humble Petition and Advice in respect of the Protectors Oath his Councils the Members of Parliament the other House which was to consist of 60. and od Lords of Cromwell's Election of which in their place we shall give an Account all which with some Acts being prepared and finished the Protector came to the Painted-Chamber and sent for the Parliament where the Speaker tendred him these Acts of State besides others relating unto Trade c. 1. An Act for Assessement of 60000 l. a Month for 3. Months from March for the three Kingdomes Another money Act for 50000 l. for three years at 35000 l. for England 6000 l. for Scotland and 9000 l. for Ireland An Act for preventing multiplicity of Buildings in and about the Suburbs of London and within 10. Miles thereof and a whole years Revenue to be paid for every Dwelling or House buil upon any new Foundation since 1620. and this was the reason and soul of that Law An Act for punishing such as live at high rates and have no visible Estates And lastly for the observation of the Lords Day there was a Bill for ascertaining and satisfying the Publique Faith that these Patriots might seem to intend the ease of the people but it was but once read and committed and resumed afterwards to as much purpose very briskly by the Council of this Protector At the Signing of there Cromwel made this short Speech I perceive that among these many Acts of Parliament there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Commonwealth by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me which I have given my Consent unto and understanding it hath been the practice of those who have been Chief Governours to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the Publick I do very heartily and thank-fully acknowledge their kindness herein The principal substance of the Humble Petition c. was this 1. That his Highness under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to exercise the Office of Chief Magistrate over England c. and to govern according unto all things in this Petition and Advice also that in his life-time he would appoint the Person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call Parliaments consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those persons who are legally chosen by a free election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. In the fourth was shewn the qualifications of Parliament-Members 5. In the fifth the Power of the other House 6. That the Laws and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept and no Laws altered suspended abrogated repealed or new Law made but by Act of Parliament 7. For a constant yearly Revenue ten hundred thousand pounds to be setled for maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commoas in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nations to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above one and twenty whereof the Quorum to be seven and not
under 9. The chief Officers of Seate as Chancellors Keepers of the Great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highnesse would encourage a Godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Laws are defective new ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion and no other and that a confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or repreach the said Confession of Faith c. Which he having Signed declared his acceptance in there words That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their Prayers he might receive assistance from God for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of the Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burthen to flesh and blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that were engaged for and make clearly for the Liberty of the Nations and for the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation to the discountenancing vice and encouragement of virtue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for There remained only the Solemnity of the Inauguration or Investiture which being agreed upon by the Committee and the Protector was by the Parliament appointed to be performed in Westminster-hall where at the upper end thereof there was an Ascent raised where a Chair and Canopy of State was set and a Table with another Chair for the Speaker with Seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides and places below for the Aldermen of London and the like All which being in a readiness the Protector came out of a Room adjoyning to the Lords House and in this order proceeded into the Hall First went his Gentlemen then a Herald next the Aldermen another Herald the Attorney General then the Judges of whom Serjeant Hill was one being made a Baron of the Exchequer June 16. then Norroy the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury and the Seal carried by Commissioner Fiennes then Garter and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword born before the Protector Bare headed the Lord Mayor Tichborn carrying the City Sword being the special of Coaks of the Protector by his left hand Being seated in his Chair on the left Hand whereof stood the said Titchborn and the Dutch Ambassador the French Ambassador and the Earl of Warwick on the Right next behind him stood his Sons Richard Fleetwood Cleypoole and the Privy Council upon a lower descent stood the Lord Viscount Lisle Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords Then the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet a Bible a Sword and a Scepter at the Delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as followeth 1. The Robe of Purple This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem amplectentem to cherish and to punish 2. The Bible it is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happinesse to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ vailed and revealed it is a Pook of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the weak and poor it is of ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture that The Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of the like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence then offence not to defend your self only but your people also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword as the valiant Lord Talbot had upon his it should be this Ego sum domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Protectors to protect my people This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and people of the three Nations to the protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by Trumpets proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeild him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train carried by the Lord Sherrard Warwick's Nephew ahd the Lord Robert's his eldest Son returned in the same posture the Earl of Warwick sitting at one end of the Coach against him Richard his Son and Whitlock in one and the Lords Lisle and Mountague in the other Boot with Swords drawn and the Lord Claypool Master of the Horse led the Horse of Honour in rich Caparisons to White-hall The Members to the Parliament House where they prorogued their sitting to the Twentieth of January He vvas novv setled and established in his first assumed Dignity to the satisfaction of some part of the Army only Lambert vvas gravelled with that clause in it which gave the Protector power to name his Successor Whereby he savv himself deprived and frustrated
it was thought impossible for them to have equipped another Fleet able to look out Navies in the Face Withall there were so many Discontents and Divisions in that popular State that they were ready to ruine themselves without any of our help yet did this puny and unfledged Prince come to a Treaty and agreement with them upon most mean and inconsiderable Terms when it had been no question but another rub at Sea or beleaguering their Ports would have brought them down to the Humble Complement of Our faithful Tributaries which of how great advantage it might have been to the Trade and consequently the greatnesse of this Kingdome I take not upon me to determine His next Affair was a Conclusion of a League with the Queen of Sweeden which he transacted by the Embassy of the Lord Commissioner Whitlock who being commissioned at his Departure by the foolish Parliament was invested with new Credentialls from Cromwell whom accordingly he owned as his most serene Highness his Master But that which he most aspected was the two neighbouring potent Monarchies of France and Spain with one whereof he must of necessity quarrell and so spend the ill blood and convey away those humors which were so redundant in the old Soldiery both of the Kings and Essexes Army and if not employed in some forraign war would create him trouble at home this the French Cardinal newly restored to the administration of that Monarchy timely foresee and therefore a Treaty was privately and industriously carried on here by Mounsieur Bourdeaux Neufville to an amicable Association and League against the Spaniard Cromwell's Covetousnesse and thirst of Gold prevailing against his Interest and Ambition and thirst of Malice and Mischief against the Royal Family which was now shaded under the French Flower de Lyzes whereby all petsons expected an Invasion from hence of that Kingdome that if it were possible for his Treason he might drive it out of the World But Mazarine's Golden expedient temporary Medium of shifting the King and his Relations out of that Kingdome by vertue of the said League wholly swayed and inclined him to a War against Spain which not long after was commenced The greater invitation thereto being Three ships pretended Hamburgers but laden with the King of Spains Peices of Eight whether for his Account or no uncertain that had been newly stayed and seized by the Court of Admiralty at the prosecution of one Violet a Goldsmith and notwithstanding the Spanish Ambassador Don Alonso de Cardenas protested and strugled against it were carried to the Tower and there minted to the Sum of 400000. Sterl This and other moneys in the Exchequer gave the greater courage to his Ambition and his raw and unsetled Usurpation He had also now accepted satisfaction from the King of Portugal and was entred into League and Friendship with Him How many are the troubles cares and miseries of Tyrant greatnesse No sooner is one design one passion gratified and accomplished but another disquiet and danger invades or perplexes Him No sooner had he sacrificed to his Covetousnesse but now he must offer Victims to his cruelty the next Assurance of his hated Throne There is in the Labyrinth of Vice as in the orderly Frame of Arts and Sciences a Circle a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Spherical Motion from one evil to another till the last terminates at the beginning their qualities and quantities being only altered augmented or diminished by Time or other circumstances From the deep Design of forraign Mines He next converted his thoughts upon a Home-spun Plot. A horrible Practice of Machivilian Policy and Art of Empire with which even just Scepters have been polluted and stained by some unhumane Ministers of State upon pretences of preventing danger who stand chargeable even with the Loyal blood this Leach suckt through their Conduits to entrap and engage innocent persons upon Suspicion of others of the same party who are obnoxious to the Government in Machinations and Conspiracies of their own forming and contrivance and by their Emissaries betray and then condemn them This was the first bloody remarque of Cromwell's Princing managed by his Secretary Thurloe who drew in Col. John Gerrard and Mr. Vowell two eminent Royalists into his snare of conspiring the Death of the Protector with others who confessed the intention for which they were both condemned by a High Court of Justice Cromwell not daring to trust the Laws or a Jury the Birthright of Englishmen no more then did the Juncto of Regicides and the first beheaded at Tower-Hill and the other hanged at haring-Crosse the Collonel declaring That he was so far from having hand or heart in it or any encouragement from the King as was falsly suggested that he feared he should not dye right in his favour as being but suspected of that though so just assassinate it being below His Majesties Honour and Religion Mr. Vowell referred his Cause and his unjust Judges and the Tyrant to Heavens Tribunal This was the Rozin there wanted now the Consent of the People in Parliament to sidle his Instrument He resolved therefore to call one forthwith for the Nation began to murmure at him and some openly to refuâ—e obedience and to forget the pleasing acquiescence in the change he had made since they saw he made it only for himself The Nine days wonder was over and they had recovered themselves to a fresh sense of their Slavery which might afterwards stupifie and benum them before the several opposite parties of Royalists and Common-wealth-men could understand one another and bandy both against Him Having now plotted and secured the Elections of as many Sectaries and of his Party to the ensuing Parliament as his young Interest could procure him in the Month of July to recreate himself and his Familiar Thurloe with some robust and jogging Exercise to void the Gravel with which he was much troubled He would needs shew his skil in driving a Coach with six great German Horses sent him as a present by the Count of Oldenburgh in Hide-Park but those generous Horses no sooner heard the Lash of the Whip but away they ran with Thurloe sitting trembling in it for fear of his own Neck over Hill and Dale and at last threw down their unexpert Governour from the Box into the Traâ—es and there bad likely to have trod and drawn him to peices but Vengeance was yet again pleased to respite him and put him over to a like judicial Execution after his immature Death in 1660. Of this ominous chance many ingenlous Songs were made and one called the Jolt by Sir John Berkenhead which being in Print in a History and in the Rump Songs though the Author mistaken is purposely forborn The Elections were made one and the same day throughout England most of the Boroughs had but one Burgeâ—s and the Shires some of them 6. or 7. Knights all of them under sure qualifications of not having been or being of the Cavalier party there were
30. also by the Instrument Elected for Scotland and as many for Ireland all or most of whom were English Commanders on the 3. of Sept. they met and adjourned from the House to the Abbey where Mr. Marshall preached and so to the Painted-Chamber where they had a message from the Protector to invite them to a Sermon the next day again when Doctor Goodwin Preached and the Protector came in great State in his Coach Cleypole the Master of Horse and Strickland the Captain of his Guard barcheaded on both sides at his entrance into the Church Lambert carried the Sword before him and Whitlock the Purse the Sermon done to the Painted-chamber again and there in a Speech he set forth these Heads That some few years ago none would have thought of such a Dore of Hope that he knew there were yet many Humours and Interests and that Humours were above Interest that the condition of England was like Israel in the Wilderneâ—s of which the Sermon was that this was a Healing day there was neither Nobleman nor Gentleman nor Yeoman before known by any cistinction we had not any that bote Rule nor Authority but a great Contempt of Magistracy and Christ's Ordinances that the Fifth Monarchy was highly cryed up by persons who would assume the Government but that desired thing wanted greater manifestation then appeared for such men to change the Authority by and this directed at the late Parliament He desired this Honourable Assembly to remedy all these Disorders shewed that the wars with Portugal French and Dutch do and did eat up the Assessements that swarms of Jesuits were crept in to make divisions which were grown so wide that nothing but his Government could remedy them and let men say what they will he could speak it with comfort before a greater then any of them Then he shewed what he had done during his Government First his endevour of reforming the Laws having joyned all Parties to assist in that great work next his filling the Benches with the ablest Lawyers then his Regulation of the Court of Chancery then his Darling Ordinance for approbation of Ministers which hindred all that List from invading the Ministry by men of both perswasions Presbyterians and Independents c. And lastly his being Instrumental to call a Free Patliament which he valued and would keep it so above his Life Then he shewed the advantages of the Peace with the Dutch Dane and Swede and the Protestant Interest which he would have them improve and intend chiefly that they were now upon the edge of Canaan that he spoke not as their Lord but their fellow servant and then bid them go and chuse their Speaker Which they did without presenting of him his Name William Lenthal the old Chairman and next day fell upon the Instrument as they had Voted by parts as it lay and questioned the Power which Oliver understanding to put them out of that course which touched his Copy-hold after 9. days he came to the Painted Chamber and sending for them declared and asserted four Fundamentals in the instrument which they were not to meddle with or to alter 1 The Government by a single person and Parliament 2. The Imperpetuity of Parliaments or no continued succession 3. The Militia which was his only And 4. Liberty of Conscience telling them a Free Parliâ—ment was but a term of Reciprocation for that power which made him Protector made them a Parliament and therefore was very sorry they should go about to destroy the Settlement which to prevent and cease such Debates though he denyed any negative voice he was necessitated to appoint a Test or Recognition of the Government as it was established by every Member before they sate again This bogled at first 3. quarters of them especially the Commonwealth-men and those of the late Long Parliament so that of four hundred and odd there appeared but two hundred but were made up at last three hundred for the old ones would not be baulked so and fell afresh upon the same disputes and ran out the Articles resolving to put the whole judgement of the House upon them into one entire Bill and so present it but in truth to spin out time and work upon the Protectors occasions for mony which was proposed in the House and coldly and slowly considered Just at their sitting down the Protector published several Ordinances which being passed and bore date before were to pass as authentique as Acts by the Instrument one for paying the mony into the Treasury that was raised for the propagation of the Gospel in Wales another for making Soldiers free of all Corporations and to exercise any Trades Another to turn out all honest men under the notion of scandalous Preachers and Ministers Common-Prayer being their chiefest Imputation and a fourth to survey Kings Lands c. and for doubling upon Deans and Chapters which sales those many changes of power had much retarded and depretiated The more occult cause of the publication of these Ordinances was to let the Parliament understand that Oliver took his Instrument to be in a good case and sufficiently warranted already In this Convention Lambert laboured Tooth and Nail to have the Instrument confirmed for by that the Protectorate was left undetermined and Elective threatning them that if this Parliament would not they would call 4. or 5. Parliaments one after another till it was Enacted the same Art of menacing which Oliver used to the preceding Juncto but that not prevailing the Parliament dissolved by his Interest in the Army He procured Addresses both from Scotland and Ireland as well as here declaring their Resolution to stand by this Government in defence of the Protectors Life and Dignity against all Opposition which in this Stratocracy was to be as good a Security as Parliamentory Assent There were some Superiour Officers as Lieut. Col. Majors Captains who were yet for a Commonwealth who had private Meetings and contrived the seizing this Rebell and deliver him to the Justice of the Parliament but by Pride's Discovery who was made privy to this businesse they were prevented and their Commissions only taken away Cromwell not willing by severer punishments to make a noise that there was such a potent Faction in the Army Lambert was very officious in this matter as neither resenting the late affront put upon him by Cromwell when he advanced Fleetwood in his 〈◊〉 to the Supreme Command in Ireland though with a lesser Title then Lambert who made magnificent preparation for his investiture in the Lieâ—tenartship and would suffer no Diminution of that Honour nor senting his suture designs and cheats as to his promised Succession to the Soveraignty here But I must Retrospect a little having omitted some things of Concernment to persued the former discourse Cromwell now supplied the Benches of the Court at Westminster with the ablest of the Lawyers whom he had invited to the publique service and Mr. Maynard Twisden Nudigate Hugh Windham