a Military life could hardly be reduced to their former Imployments Our new States-men to prevent any ill humours that might gather among them resolved to make them serviceable to their Country in the reduction of Ireland all that Kingdom except Dublin and London-derry being in possession of the Irish which neither were able to hold out without speedy assistance from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody that ever happened upon earth acted by Devils in humane shape rather than men butchering two hundred thousand protestants in eight weeks space without the least offence or provocation given or without sparing of age or sex was perpetrated Oct. 23. 1641. and though contrived so secretly and acted so furiously yet was Dublin wonderfully preserved to be a refuge to those poor protestants who escaped the rage of their bloody persecutors Many of them fled to England but found little relief for here all things seemed to forebode the re-acting the same Tragedy yet in the midst of the differences between the King and parliament it was agreed to send some Regiments thither if possible to hinder the progress of those Assassines but this relief was so small that it had no effect for the King finding the parliament prevail against him recalled those Troops from Ireland many of the Rebels coming along with them to his assistance so that this Kingdom lay more exposed to these bloody Wolves than ever and thus they continued for some years But this new state having renounced Monarchy and Episcopacy resolve now to use the same Instruments to recover Ireland and to that end they ordered an Army to be sent thither The Marquess of Ormond was made Lord-Lieutenant by the late King and the Rebels had made a confederacy among themselves and upon condition to have the free Exercise of their Religion and divers other ample priviledges and advantages which the necessity of affairs obliged him to yield to they joined their Forces to his being also assisted by a considerable number of others raised by the Earls of Castlehaven Clanâ—ickand and the Lord Inchiquin so that they were the greatest united strength in that Kingdom but the confederates having broken their Articles with the Lieutenant and being ready to besiege Dublin which he was not able to defend rather than it should fall into the hands of the Irish papists he surrendred it to Collonel Jones for the parliament and came over to the King who was then carried from one place to another by the Army and from thence he went over to Prince Charles then at Paris But the Confederates surprized at the great preparations made against them in England sent Letters to the Prince humbly intreating him to send back the Marquess of Ormond with an absolute promise to submit entirely to the Kings Authority and to obey his Lieutenant At their request he returned into Ireland about a year before Cromwel came over and with their united Forces they had reduced the whole Country except London-derry commanded by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the principal City wherein was Collonel Jones with no great strength and who was very jealous of the sidelity of his own men that often deserted and went over to the other party The Irish confederates with an Army of twenty two thousand men lay under the very Walls of Dublin and sent divers threatning summons into it requiring a speedy surrender but they had no effect upon the valiant Governour Jones who yet not insensible of the great danger he was in sent many earnest Messages to the parliament of England to aid him with all speed with Men and Ammunition or else all would be quickly lost and they knowing the difficulties of his condition hasten their assistance to him gave order for sending thither Iretons Scroops Hortons and Lamberts Regiments of Horse with Hewsons Deans Ewers and Cooks Regiments of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old tried Souldiers that feared no Enemy and led by victorious commanders with some other Regiments new listed to make a number sufficient to effect the business Nothing was now wanting but a General to command this gallant Army which the parliament being sensible of Cromwels conduct and fitness desired him to accept which he readily did declaring at the same time That he did not doubt but God would use him as an Instrument to execute his vengeance upon the bloody Irish with which answer the parliament were so pleased that instantly they give him a commission to be General of all their Forces and Lord Governour both in the Civil and Military affairs of Ireland and Collonel Jones was made Lieutenant-General of the Horse After which they march to their Rendevouz at Milford in Wales and July 10. 1649. Cromwel set forward from London in a Coach and six Horses attended with many of the House of commons council of State and principal Officers of the Army with a Life-Guard of fourscore who had been lately commanders very gallantly accoutred In this state he march'd to Brainford where these Gentlemen took their leaves with wishes for his happy success from thence he rides post to Bristol to put his men and Train of Artillery into the Transport-ships and afterwards goes into Wales having sent Reynolds Regiment of Horse and Venables and Monks Regiments of Foot before from Chester who with a fair wind soon arrived at Dublin to the great joy of the Inhabitants being about three thousand in all who were very careful to recover them from the fatigues of the Sea in hopes by their means to recover their Liberties And in this they found themselves not mistaken for Collonel Jones much animated with these recruits resolved to attack the besiegers with the first opportunity and accordingly Aug. 2 when the Irish with a strong party of Horse and Foot marched with much assurance to Baggor-field a little way Eastward from the city toward the Sea from whence they designed to run their Trenches towards the Works of the city to prevent the landing any more supplies from England the besieged sound a necessity to prevent them and with twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot fell upon the Enemies new Works and rout their Horse at the first encounter most of the Foot being also either kill'd or slain consisting of fifteen hundred besides their Horse which so incouraged the English that they pursued their victory to Rathunines where the Marquess of Ormond with his whole Army of nineteen thousand men were Incamped who hearing of it wished they would come that he might have some sport with them he soon had his wish but the sport was somewhat rude for in a short time his Army was utterly put to the rout four thousand being slain upon the spot and in the pursuit and two thousand five hundred and seventeen prisoners most persons of Quality with the Marquesses own brother all their Cannon and Ammunition with a wealthy Camp became the reward of the conquering Souldiers who made themselves Gentlemen with the spoils of the
the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and other persons of Quality all expressing the sence of their obligations Soon after he took his place in parliament and received the thanks of the House from the Speaker and then gave them a full account of the present condition of Ireland At this time Virginia and the Caribbee Islands revolt from the parliament and cry up the Monarchy and Liturgy who thereupon prohibit all Nations to Trade with them and in a few months they are wholly subdued by a Fleet sent thither under Sir G. Ayscough Prince Rupert infests the English Coasts from Scilly Jersey Ireland and France with the States revolted Ships to the great loss of the Merchants whereupon a Fleet well equipt is set forth against him who block him up in Kinsale which Town being taken by Cromwel they were forced to hasten away leaving three Ships behind and sailed to Lisbon where they were protected by the King of Portugal which caused a difference between that King and the English Republick About the same time that is May 3. 1649. Dr. Dorislaus who drew up the charge against King Charleâ— being sent as an Envoy to the States of Holland was treacherously murdered at the Hague by persons in disguise that broke into his Lodgings and afterward made their escape And not long after Mr. Anthony Ascham the English Agent in Spain was stabâ—d in his Inn in his way to Madrid and the murderers taking sanctuary in a church the King of Spain by all his authority could not bring them to Justice But the greatest danger to this new Common-wealth though victorious in Ireland seemed to be from Scotland for King Charles II. being in the Isle of Jersey and having notice of the great factions and differences in that Kingdom between the Covenanters and the Royalists he gives a commission to the Marquess of Montross who in the year 1645. was so successful for a time that the whole Kingdom of Scotland may be said to have been won and lost in one month by which commission he was to raise Forces in Holland and other parts wherewith if possible to abate the power of the Covenanters so that the King might be able to treat with them upon better terms He accordingly in a short time sends some Forces into the Isles of Orkney and a few more under Sir James Mongomery to the North of Scotland These the Committee of Estates resolve to oppose though raised for the Kings service and send propositions to him to Jersey which being granted they would enter into a Treaty to restore him to that Kingdom the substance whereof were That he would sign the solemn league and covenant and oblige all persons to take it To confirm all Acts of parliament in the two last Sessions and to have no Negative voice in their parliament and would appoint some place about Holland to treat in The King consented and promised in the word of a Prince to perform them and Breda a Town in Holland belonging to the Prince of Orange was the place appointed where the Scots Commissioners meet him and the Treaty in a short time was fully concluded wherein one Article was That the Marquess of Montross and his adherents be prohibited access into that Kingdom During this Treaty Montross being commissioned by the King fearing he should have an express command to desist and himself be banish'd his country landed as you heard at Orkney and in the North with some inconsiderable supplies of men and money against whom the parliament then sitting send an Army of seven thousand Foot and three Troops of Horse who utterly defeat his Forces which were only twelve hundred of whom two hundred were slain and all the rest taken except one hundred who made their escape and Montross himself who being three or four days in the open Fields without meat or drink with only one man discovered himself to the L. Aston but the pronused reward or fear of concealing him caused this Lord to send him to Edenburgh and he was soon after condemned and hanged upon a Gallows thirty foot from the ground and a few days after Sir John Urrey Sir Francis Hay Collonel Sâ—bald and Collonel Spotswood were beheaded for the same cause the last at his death confessing he was an actor in the death of Dr. Doritâ—aâ—s The King was somewhat startled at these proceedings but the Scots Commissioners desired him nor to stumble at these matters since they were all designed to promote his Interests so that finding it could not be redressed he was forced to conceal his resentments and the Treaty being finished the King prepared for his Voyage to Scotland The parliament of England having exact Intelligence of all these proceedings it was debated whether the War which was inevitable between them and the Scots should be Offensive or Defensive at length being sensible what desolations they brought along with them when they came in as Friends and afterwards as Enemies in Duke Hamiltons Invasion it was concluded to make Scotland the seat of the War and accordingly they Order the Army to march Northward but General Fairfax as well as some others being dissatisfied about the obligation of the National Covenant entred into between both Kingdoms which he conceived would not permit us to make War on Scotland desired to be excused and delivered up his commission which at first was a little startling but the parliament soon found another General of whose valour and conduct they had large experience which was Cromwel who accepted of the charge and had a commission to be General of all the Forces that now were or hereafter should be raised by the Common-wealth of England and all commissions formerly granted to Sir Tho. Fairfax were made void June 28. 1650. Cromwel with his Army marched toward Scotland and was received at York by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with great respect The report of his coming surprized the Committee of Estates who sent a Letter to the Parliament That they admired the English should advance toward them and that many of their Ships were seized contrary to the Act of pacification which allowed three months warning and that the Forces they had raised were only in their own defence defiring to know whether those of the English were designed to guard their own borders or to invade Scotland The parliament by their Declaration declare the reasons of their proceeding and among others That the Scots endeavour to seduce the people of the Common-wealth of England from their affection and duty to the parliament and to promote the laterest of the late King under pretence of the Covenant and though they could claim no authority or dominion over us yet in Scotland they proclaimed Charles Stewart to be King of England and Ireland and since that promised to assist him against the Common-wealth and had declared against the English parliament and Army ranking them with malignants and papists These with many others were such intolerable provocations and no satisfaction being
another place and soon after most of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland were taken at a place called Ellet in that Kingdom where they were assembled to propagate the Royal cause namely Old General Lesley Earl Marshal Earl of Crawford the Lords Keith Ogilby Burgoiny Huntley Ley with many Knights Gentlemen and Ministers which soon after were ship'd and sent for England Such was the sudden change of the condition of the Scots and the King that he who a few days before was proclaimed King of Great Britain had now neither Camp nor Garrison to retire to five hundred pounds sterling being offered to discover him so that after travelling in disguise and through many dangers about England he at length found an opportunity to imbark at Shoreham in Sussex for Newhaven in France where he arrived Octob. 2. following Of the great number of prisoners taken none of Quality suffered but the Earl of Derby who was beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire and Sir Tim. Fetherstone Others of less note suffered at Chester Shrewsbury and other places Nor did many of the Royalists themselves expect any better fortune in this expedition than what happened as appears by Duke Hamiltons Letter to Sir William Crofts taken among other papers a few days before the fight to this purpose We are all laughing at the ridiculousness of our condition who having quit Scotland being scarce able to maintain it yet we grasp at all and nothing but all will satisfie us or to lose all I confess I cannot tell whether our hopes or fears are greatest but we have one stout argument and that is despair for we must now either shortly fight or dye All the Rogues have left us I will not say whether for fear or disloyalty but all now with His Majesty are such as will not dispute his commands So that we see this undertaking was not the product of deliberate counsel but of necessity and desperation This battel put a period to the Kings hopes of getting the Government by Arms and on the other hand secured to Cromwel all his former Conquests the influence whereof though acted in England was great in Scotland for their principal Nobility and souldiery being cut off they were no longer able to bear up but were soon reduced to the obedience of England And Cromwel giving an account to the Parliament of this great success he concludes his Letter by telling them That this was a crowning Victory which was afterward thought to proceed from the foresight of his future Greatness This fight happened Sept. 3. 1651. that very day twelve-month wherein the Scots received that fatal blow at Dunbar afore-mentioned After the battel Cromwel staâ—d no longer than to see the Walls of Worcester levelled to the ground and the Ditches filled up with earth to discover his aversion to the Inhabitants for receiving his Enemies into it and Sept. 12. came to London being met at Acton by the Parliament and their Speaker the Lord Mayor of London Aldermen and Recorder and hundreds of others to whom Steel the City Recorder made a Congratulatory Oration extolling all his Victories and Exploits with the highest flights of Rhetorick and applying to him the words of Psalm 149 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgment written this honour have all the Saints praise ye the Lord. After which he was conducted in triumph to his House near White-hall great number of Scotch prisoners coming after him through Tuthill-fields to Westminster as Trophies of his Victories and the Colours taken there with those at Dunbar Westminster Preston were hung up in Westminster-Hall After a short repose General Cromwel and Lieutenant General Lambert went to take their places in Parliament where they were entertained by the Speaker with a second Congratulatory Oration magnifying their courage and gallantry and acknowledging the great obligation which the people of England were under toward them The same day the Lord Mayor feasted the General and his Officers where mutual returns of kindness passed between them to the satisfaction of both parties Oct. 14. 1651. Collonel Hayn with two Regiments of foot and two Troops of Horse were shipp'd at Weymouth for reducing the Isle of Jersey in eighty Vessels under the command of General Blake who came to St. Owens Bay where the ships running aground the men leapt out some to the middle others up to the neck in water and ran ashoar the enemy playing hard upon them with great and small shot and gave a hot charge with their Horse yet after half an hours dispute they fled and left behind them twelve cannon and some colours After which the English marched further into the Island within sight of Elizabeth Castle under which was a Fort called St. Albans Tower where were fourteen Guns which upon summons was delivered and so was Orgueil castle and soon after Elizabeth castle upon very good terms to the Garrison and Governour Sir George Cartaret because of its great strength The Isle of Man was likewise reduced in a short time with the castles of Peele and Rushen both very strong and almost impregnable as well as Cornet castle in the Isle of Guernsey if the besieged had had resolution to defend them About this time died Admiral Popham and Henry Ireton Son-in-law to Oliver Cromwel at Lymerick which Kingdom in a little while after was wholly subdued and brought under the obedience of the Government of England The Parliament now passed two or three considerable Acts one for Incorporating Scotland into one Common-wealth with England another of Oblivion and free pardon a third to determine the Session of this Parliament on Nov. 3. 1654. a fourth for the increase of shipping and incouragement of Navigation wherein was enacted That no Goods or Commodities of the growth or manufacture of any places in Asia Africa America or Europe should be imported into England Ireland or any of the Territories thereof but only in English ships under the penalty of forfeiting the Goods and Ships And that no Goods whatsoever shall be brought in unless they be ship'd from the places of their growth and manufacture only Also that no Fish or Oyl made of Fish or Whale-bone shall be imported but only such as shall be caught in Vessels belonging to the English Lastly that no kinds of salted fish from Feb. 1. 1653. shall be exported in any other save English Vessels with several other exceptions and provisoes in reference to East-India Goods and of commodities from Turky Spain and Portugal This last Act was very grateful to the Merchants and Seamen but did extreamly surprize and disturb the Holl inders as judging it would cause a vast diminution in their Trade which with so much advantage they had long driven to the loss and detriment of the English Nation who
Protector All the great Offices of the Common-wealth such as Chancellor Keeper of the Seal Governor of Ireland Admiral c. if they become void in parhament time to be supplied by their approbation or in intervals of parliament with the approbation of the Council The Christian Religion as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures to be the publick profession of the Nation and those that administer it to be maintained by the publick but by some way more convenient and less liable to envy than Tythes None are to be compelled to consent to the publick profession by fine or any punishment ever but only by perswasion and arguments None that profess Faith in Jesus Christ are to be prohibited the exercise of their Religion provided he do not quarrel with nor disturb others except the papists and prelatists who are debarr'd that License All Sales of Estates made by parliament to stand good All Articles of War to be made good And lastly the protector and his successor upon entring that charge to swear to procure by all means the peace quiet and welfare of the Common-wealth to observe these Articles and to administer all things in his power according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of England After this Dec. 16. 1653. the protector came from White-Hall to the Chancery Court at Westminster attended by the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England the Barons of the Exchequer and Judges in their Robes the Council of the Common-wealth the L. Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of London in their scarlet Gowns and many of the chief Officers of the Army A Chair of State being set the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered till the Instrument was read which he subscribed in the face of the Court and then swore to perform as follows I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding will govern these Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs and to seek their peace and cause Justice and Law to be equally administred Hereupon he sate down covered in the Chair the Lords Commissioners then delivered him the Great Seal of England and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Can of maintenance which he instantly returned Then the Court rose and the Protector was attended back as before to the Banquetting House at White-Hall the Lord Mayor bare headed carrying the Sword before him where an exhortation being made by Mr. Nicholas Lockier one of his Chaplains the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed And thus was the Protector confirmed in this high Dignity tho' many of his Officers and former admirers were much discontented thereat but to command obedience the Council emitted the following Proclamation which was published in England Scotland and Ireland Whereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigned their powers and Authorities the Government by a Lord Protector and successive elective parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel 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 and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations totake notice hereof and to conform and subject themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this proclamation to the end that none may have cause to pretend Ignorance in this behalf The Protector began his reign with seeming serenity and when the different parties in Religion made their complaints to him against each other he usually told them That his power was no greater in the Nation than a Constables which was to keep peace and quietness among all parties And persuant to the power given him by the new Instrument he supplies the several Courts at Westminster with the ablest Judges and Lawyers and the City of London to shew their concurrence to this great change invite the Protector to Dinner at Grocers-Hall Feb. 8. being Ashwednesday the Streets were railed to Temple-bar the Livery men standing in their Gowns he was met at Temple-bar by Alderman Vyner Lord Mayor who delivered him the Sword and receiving it again bore it on Horseback bare-headed before him all the way After a Noble enterrainment he was served with a Banquet in the conclusion whereof he Knighted Sir Tho. Vyner and would have done the same to the Recorder Steel but he declined it The Hollanders being weary of the Wars which they had maintained with such little success and so great cost send commissioners to treat with the pretector for a peace between both Nations which at length was concluded both with the King of Denmark and the Dutch who were to pay the charge of the War money being very necessary in his new Government and in April following it was proclaimed with great solemnity in London the two Dutch Ambassadors making magnificent Treatments and Fire-works to demonstrate their satisfaction therein The Protector now sends his eldest Son Henry into Ireland of which he was made Lord Deputy soon after and General Monk was sent into Scotland Likewise the Lord Whitlock who was sent Ambassador by the last parliament to the Q. of Sweden had now a new commission sent him from the Lord protector in whose Name he continued the Treaty with that Crown and afterward finished it In March following Monsieur Bordeux was sent Ambassador to England from the French King and Sir Anthony Ashly Cooper Coll. Sydenham and Mr. Strickland were appointed Commissioners by the protector to treat with him so that he was owned abroad as well as at home King Charles was then in the French Court who finding that notwithstanding his own and his Mothers endeavours to the contrary the Treaty between France and England was vigorously prosecuted by Cardinal Mazarine and foreseeing that if the peace were concluded he and his party must be obliged to depart France he thought it more Honourable voluntarily to leave that Kingdom than to stay till he were forced out by a complement so the King with his Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward retired to Chattillon a House of the Prince of Condes from whence soon after the King and Prince Rupert went into Germany and indeed it happened as they suspected for one of the Articles of the French King with the protector was That none of the Royal Family of England should reside in the Dominions of France In Feb. 1654. several persons were committed to the Tower about a conspiracy against the protector the chief whereof Sir Gilbert Gerrard Coll. John Gerrard his brother the E. of Oxford Mr. Philip Porter Mr. Vowell a School-master at Islington and in June following an High Court
of the number of four thousand which was promised and expected Coll. Penruddock finding his affairs desperate resolved to try Devonshire and Cornwall and in this condition about 100 of the most resolute without staying any where came hungry sleepy and weary to Southmolton in Devonshire hoping at worst to get away by Sea but that Night their Quarters were beaten up by Capt. Crook about ten a clock and some Houses forced but coll Penruddock maintained his Quarters till he had Articled with the Captain and then surrendred himself with him were taken coll Jones a Kinsman of Cromwels coll Grove and sixty other prisoners with 120 Horse but Sir Joseph Wagstaff Mr Robert Mason Esq Clark and Mr. Tho. Mompesson escaped beyond Sea and so this rising was quickly supprest There were some appearances of the like at Rustord-Abby in Nottingham-shire at Hessummoor in Yorkshire and in the Counties of Montgomery and Cumberland for which some few were executed but those weak efforts with some others came to nothing and the Kings Restoration which was mightily expected at this time proved unsuccesful After which the King discovered the Treachery of Manning to him upon this occasion Some Gentlemen going for England came to take leave of the King at Colen to whom the King wished a good Journey and prosperity to their Design when they arrived in England they were seized and examined before the Protectors Council whether they did not speak with the King such a day repeating what past between them Advice hereof being sent the King he recollected that none but coll Tuke and this Manning who held the candle were present at this passage He declared the whole matter to the collonel who much surprized protested his innocency and by the Kings command went directly to Mannings chamber and not staying opening the door forced it and found him chewing of papers and a packet by him newly come from Thurloe the Protectors Secretary at which Manning was so much astonish'd he could not speak a word His Father was kill'd in the Kings service and himself had been Secretary to the E. of Pembroke and upon that account was intrusted with the Kings secrets At the instance of the whole Court the King ordered him to be shot to death in one of the Castles of the Duke of Newburg The Protector had drawn 4000 foot from Ireland and 600 Horse from Scotland but upon quelling this Rising they were remanded Coll. Penruddock and coll Grove were beheaded and seven others were hanged at Exeter The Protector had a great while been preparing a mighty Fleet with all necessary provisions for some notable Enterprize and every one fearing their own States could not guess whither this design tended At length those vast preparations produced two mighty Fleets one under the command of General Blake which was fitted only for the Sea and sent to the Streights the other about two months after was committed to the charge of Gen. Pen who was to take abroad him an Army under General Venables These Land Forces being about 3000 were divided into the several Ships which were thirty sail of men of War but had not necessary provisions for so great an Army the Commanders not knowing whither nor how far they were to go Dec. 19. 1654. This Fleet set sail from Portsmouth directly to the Barbadoes where the Generals had order to break open their Commissions this being the appointed place of Rendevouz whither having a fair wind they arrived Jan. 29. following and landed all their men in Carlisle-Bay The sudden departure of these two great Fleets caused the King of Spain who doubted they were designed against him to send the Marquess de Leda Governor of Dunkirk into England as Extraordinary Ambassador to penetrate into this grand Court secret but having spent several days after his arrival without receiving that satisfaction he desired he returned back again Whilst the Fleet was at Barbadoes the Officers were very diligent in their charges and caused the Shallops which they had brought from England ready framed to be set up and the water Casks to be trimmed Two Frigates are sent to St. Christophers and Nevis to raise men to compleat their Regiments and form Regiments out of the Seamen to serve upon occasion At length they ship'd 6000 men and a Troop of Horse raised by the Barbadians at their own charge and sailing thence March 31. 1655. in six days arrived at St. Christophers where they had a Recruit of 1300 Voluntiers most servants to the planters who willingly ingaged because during the time their service went on and they might afterward be as free as their masters so that though the Fleet was strengthned by seizing twenty Dutch ships trading there contrary to Articles yet they were all full tho' there were scarce provisions for half the number if any accident should happen From hence they steered directly for Hispaniola and April 13. 1655. came in sight of St. Domingo the principal Town and against which they chiefly designed A Council of War being called it was unanimously concluded That General Venables should land with his Forces and accordingly next day he sent ashoar seven thousand Foot a Troop of Horse and three days provision about ten or twelve Leagues Westward of the Town the Souldiers were even ravished with the hopes of the mountains of Gold they should obtain which seemed to put universal courage through the whole Army so that there appeared a certainty of Victory But the General whether by order or to engross all to himself soon quelled their expectations by making proclamation That upon the taking St. Domingo no man should presume to plunder either money plate or Jewels or to take or kill any tame Cattel whatsoever upon pain of death This it was judged defeated the whole design the Souldiers being unwilling to endanger themselves when there was no prospect of advantage howsoever they were obliged to march forward tho' with much difficulty passing through such thick Woods that they were forced to cut their way and could not find a drop of fresh water so that with the drought caused by the excessive heat of the Sun which even pierced their Brains and their discontent of mind for sorrow is dry most of them were faint and disabled Having in two days got through the Woods without opposition from the Spaniards they at length joined coll Bullards Brigade consisting of three Regiments of foot whom Admiral Pen had landed on the side of the Bay about two Leagues from the Town near a River of fresh water being the appointed rendevouz of the whole body which now consisted in nine or ten thousand men but most of them so weak as hardly able to go much less to fight yet being joined they marched on not doubting but to take the Town quickly A Forlorn Hope of 500 men under Capt. Cox the chief guide to this place advanced first after whom followed the whole Army being within four miles of the Town a small party of Horse suddenly
accommodated that soon after she resigned her Kingdom leaving to her self only the bear Title of Queen but to him both the Title of King and possession of a Kingdom With this new King the Lord Whitlock who had been some time Ambassador there soon concluded a firm League Offensive and Defensive between these two Nations the effects whereof had soon appeared in Christendom had Cromwel lived much longer than he did The horrible massacre committed at this time upon the protestants in Piedmont and Savoy by the Forces of that Duke under the Marquess of Parella occasioned the protector to appoint a publick Fast and great sums of money were gathered in England and remitted to Sir Samuel Morland for their relief And now the Lord protector to secure himself from Insurrections constitutes new kind of Officers called Major Generals of Counties dividing the Kingdom into eleven parts the Names of whom are these For Kent and Surrey coll Kelsey for Sussex Hamshire and Berkshire coll Goff for Wilts Glocester Dorset Somerset Devon and Cornwall coll Desborow for Oxford-shire Bucks Hartford Cambridge Isle of Ely Essex Norfolk and Suffolk Lt. Gen. Fleetwood for the City of London M. Gen. Skippon for Lincoln Nottingham Derby Warwick and Leicester-shire Commissary Gen. Whaley for Northampton Bedford Rutland and Huntington Maj. Butler for Worcester Hereford Salop and North Wales coll Berry for Cheshire Stafford and Lancashire coll Wortley for Durham Cumberland York Westmoreland and Northumberland Lord Lambert for Westminster and Middlesex coll Barkstead Lieutenant of the Tower The greatest service they did was to oblige Delinquents to pay in the Tenths of their Estates for old offences and influence Elections of Parliament men but in a short time he dismiss'd them again Another design of the protectors was the admission of the Jews into England for which it was said they offered 200000 l. whereupon he proposes it to several Judges and Ministers for their approbation many arguments were used for and against it and several places of Scripture cited and divers conferences held about it with Dr. Manton Mr. Jenkyns and others who yet were not satisfied with the arguments of Manassch Ben Israel the Jewish Agent though the Irotector alledged That since there was a promise for their conversion means must be used to that end which is the preaching of the Gospel and that cannot be had unless they be permitted to reside where the Gospel is preached but no conclusion the publick re-admission of them was laid aside as a thing decried both by the Clergy and Laity The Spaniards having certain Intelligence of the attempt and repulse of the English at Hispaniola and their possession of Jamaica thought this a sufficient breach of the peace though there was never any peace made with that King beyond the Line he always taking all English ships he could meet with and master that Traded there and hereupon he makes a seizure of all the Merchants persons and Goods then in Spain so that the War begins to grow hot both in the old and new World The Protector thereupon orders the Generals Blake and Montague to block up Cadiz the chief Port Town of that Kingdom and whither the Plate Fleet used yearly to come He likewise concludes a peace with France which was at Wars with Spain a long time by the Interest of Cardinal Mazarine the French King as you have heard banishing all the Royal Family of England except the Queen mother out of his Dominions at the desire of Cromwel and by the Instigation of that Cardinal The English Fleet under Montague and Blake had for some months in a manner besieged Cadiz by Sea but could by no provocation oblige the Spaniard to fight them who hoping that the English having suffered the fatigues of the Sea would be forced to depart for want of provisions thought it better policy to lose a little honour rather than to venture either men or ships against those who had maintained such terrible Sea fights against the Hollanders but the English found in Wyers Bay in Portugal a convenient supply of water and provisions which was much nearer than the Spaniards imagined Hither were the Generals gone for fresh water and provisions having only left a squadron of 7 ships under Capt. Stainer before the port of Cadiz to observe all ships passing in or out as they were thus plying for some days it happened that a stiff gale of wind forced Capt. Stainer to stand out to Sea where he espied part of the K. of Spains plate Fleet coming from the West-Indies and making directly for Cadiz he was somewhat to the Leeward but made up toward them with all the sail they could possible and after some hours with much labour the Captain in the Speaker with the Bridgwater and Plymouth Frigates got up to them the other four ships not being able to come up and presently ingaged them the Spanish Fleet consisted in 8 tall ships or Galleons yet in a short time they were wholly spoil'd one was sunk three burnt two ran ashoar and were bulged one escaped and two fell into the hands of the English one whereof had a great quantity of plate and Cockeweal in her the other were chiefly laden with Hydes In these ships many persons of Quality were taken and among others the two Sons of the Marquess of Badajoâ— who had been Governour of Peruand having gained a great Estate in New-England was now returning to live the remainder of his days in his own country he and his Wife and Daughter were burnt in one of the ships of which and the War with Spain with the present Victory hear what the Poet Laureat of that Age elegantly sings Now for some Ages had the pride of Spain Made the Sun shine on half the World in vain Whilst she bid War to all that durst supply The place of those her cruelty made dye Of Natures bounty men forbore to taste And the best portion of the Earth lay waste From the New World her Silver and her Gold Came like a Tempest to confound the Old Feeding with these the brib'd Electors hopes Alone she gave us Emperors and Popes With these advancing her unjust designs Europe was shaken with heâ— Indian Mines When our Protector looking with disdain Upon this gilded Majesty of Spain And knowing well that Empire must decline Whose chief Support and Sinews are of Coin Our Nations solid Virtue did oppose To the rich Troublers of the Worlds repose And now some months Incamping on the Main Our Naval Army had besieged Spain They that the whole Worlds Monarchy design'd Are to their Ports by our bold Fleet confin'd From whence our Red-cross they triumphant see Riding without a Rival on the Sea Others may use the Ocean as their Road The English only make it their aboad VVhose ready sailâ— with every wind can fly And make a Covenant with the unconstant Sky Our Oaks secure as if they there took root We tread on Billows with a steady foot Lords of the
complain of want of pay of the neglect of Church-Government and the Covenant The Parliament answered That in two years space they had received above two hundred thousand pounds for pay besides a vast sum of money which had been extorted from the weeping Inhabitants of the Northern Counties and that their Army had not answered expectation lying idle the best time of the year and if they were so precise in observation of the Covenant why contrary thereto had they put Garrisons into Newcastle Tinmouth and Carlisle Neither ought they to mention Religion being unsettled since the Parliament were consulting about it being a matter which requires time and mature deliberation From these dissentions the King expected some advantage but yet Oxford was already block'd up by Fleetwood and Ireton and Fairfax was daily expected to come and turn it into a close siege therefore before this should happen the King resolved to go out of the City and consulting with some of his inward Councellors it was concluded he should go to the Scots Camp then lying before Newark the King sent Montruel the French Ambassador before and himself soon after as Coll. Ashburnhams man who had a pass from Fairfax to go out of Oxford about some private business with a Cloak-bag behind him escaped unknown and came to Newark which when the besieged Newarkers had notice of being in great streights they upon conditions surrendred the Town The Scots seemed amazed at the Kings unexpected coming to them and so signified the matter to the English Commissioners then on the place Letters were instantly written to London and Edinburgh and the Parliament at Westminster required the Scots to detain the King at Southwell near Newark but contrary to this Order they carried him to Kelham where a greater part of their Army lay and soon after without further Order removed their Camp Northward and carried him away to Newcastle with them excusing their departure by alledging Newark being yielded no work was left for them but that as the King came to them of his own accord unexpected so he followed their Army neither being intreated nor forbidden by them but they seemed to hasten their departure by reason of a rumour that Cromwel with all his Horse was marching toward them This action much offended the English Parliament and they complain'd both of the Scots and the King In the beginning of May General Fairfax with his whole Army came before Oxford the City was very strong having been fortified according to the most exact rules of Art to make it Impregnable invironed with regular Forts and provided with a potent Garrison of five thousand valiant Souldiers having great stores of all manner of provisions and the Governour Sir Tho. Glemham a person who had sufficiently demonstrated his courage and conduct in holding out York and Carlisle to the last extremity The General disposing his Quarters round about the City summoned the Governour to surrender who returned That he would send to know the Kings mind and then act accordingly This answer was not satisfactory yet Fairfax and his Commanders doubting it would be a tedious Siege were put in hopes by some spies that it could not hold out long by reason of the divisions between the Nobility and Souldiers the first being for treating now and so obtain honourable conditions which they did accordingly and the Parliament decreed That the besieged should have the best conditions rather than waste their Army which might be more useful elsewhere for they designed to send them into Ireland against the Rebels there Thus was Oxford surrendred and the Garrison marched out in sight of Fairfax's Army with great quiet and modesty on both sides The D. of York was honourably conducted to London where two of the Kings Children remained thither also went all the Noble-men neither were any of the besieged denied to go to London but the Princes Rupert and Maurice who being commanded to go out of England prepared for their departure Prince Charles about this time sailed from Scilly with a few of his inward Counsellors to Jersey in order to go to his Mother in France which the King having advice of sent him this short Letter from Newcastle Charles I write to you only that you should know what I am and that I am in health not to direct you at this time in any thing for what I would have you do I have already written to your Mother to whom I would have you obedient in all things except Religion about which I know she will not trouble you and go no whether without her or my command Write often to me God bless you Your loving Father C. R. Soon after the surrender of Oxford followed the end of this fierce War for Worcester Wallingford Pendennis and Ragland yielded to the Victors Peace now seemed to be restored to England but they had no security the Parliament being grievously troubled with factions among themselves and divided under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants not only in matters of Church-Government but often in their Votes and in transacting almost all other business and this humour spread it self into the City Country and Camp and the Parliament doubting Coll. Masseys Forces might muriny upon that account sent Fairfax to Disband them being two thousand five hundred Horse which was quietly done in eight days time though they did not then receive their pay The Scots as you have heard carrying the King into the North the parliament Voted That the person of the King should be disposed of by the Authority of both Houses of the parliament of England But the Scots denied to deliver him up alledging That he was no less King of England than Scotland which caused great dissention between the two Nations But at length upon paying the Scots two hundred thousand pounds they agreed to deliver up Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle to the parliament of England and the Kings person also to the English Commissioners to be carried into the South who was received with great respect and honour by the Earls of Pembroke and Denbigh and the other Commissioners and by them waited on with much observance and an honourable Guard to his palace at Holmby in Northampton-shire But the Civil Wars being ended a dissention more than Civil arose among the Conquerors which still increased under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants and extreamly imbittered the minds of men against each other one party complaining That the Covenant was broken The other That it was not rightly Interpreted by them And on both sides were men of Reputation and several petitions were drawn up against the Army lately so much admired as maintainers of the Independent party who then lay about Saffron-Walden in Essex Yea it was debated in parliament whether they should be Disbanded or not which Cromwel who sided with the Independents having notice of he thereupon with Ireton insinuated into the common Souldiers That the parliament intended to Disband them without their Arrears or else to
not at all restrained but lived like a Prince in all the splendor of a Court all sorts of people being freely admitted to kiss his hands and wait upon him yea his servants from beyond Sea even those who had been Voted Delinquents as Ashburnham Barkley and the rest were permitted by the Army to have safe recourse to him which was generally wondred at About this time a disturbance arose in the Army by a party called Levellers some of whom were seized at Ware and the principal sticklers shot to death others Imprisoned and all their favourers cashier'd twenty being discarded out of one Troop And now propositions were sent to the King at Hampton-court agreed upon by both Houses and with the concurrence of the Scotch Commissioners but the King refused to comply with them for Loâ—don and Lancrick newly come out of Scotland having privately discours'd with the King sent Letters to the Parliament requiring That the King may come to London and there personally treat with the Parliament about the matters in controversie Though not long before they denied it to be just that before the King had given satisfaction and security to the people he should be admitted to London or to any personal Treaty with the Parliament and refused to receive him into Scotland lest he might raise commotions there but they alledged in their defence That the King had been taken from Holmby against his will and without the consent of Parliament and still remained under the power of an Army not in that freedom proper for treating of matters of so great concernment But while the Parliament were framing propositions they were suddenly surprized with the news that the King was secretly withdrawn from Hampton-court Letters coming from Cromwel about midnight to the Speaker For Nov. 12. whilst the Commissioners of Parliament and Collonel Whaley who commanded the Guard expected when the King would come out of his Chamber to supper and wondred at his long stay at last about Nine a clock some going in missed the King finding his Cloak and a Letter written with his own hand to the Commissioners to be communicated to the Parliament wherein having discoursed about captivity and the sweetness of liberty he protested before God He did not withdraw to disturb the publick peace but for his safety against which he understood there was a Treasonable Conspiracy c. and that if he might be heard with freedom honour and safety he should instantly break through this cloud of retirement and shew himself the Father of his Country The Parliament startled at his departure sent some persons to the Sea-coasts to prevent his going beyond Sea and when it was reported he was concealed in London Ordered That if any man should closely detain the Kings person he should be punish'd with loss of Estate and Life But this cloud soon dissolved Letters coming from Coll. Hammond Governour of the Isle of Wight that the King was come thither and had delivered himself into his proâ—ection and that he would dispose of him as the Parliament should appoint who commending Hammond ordered That he should Guard the King with diligence and wait on with respect and honour and that all necessaries should be sent him The King sent a long Letter from thence to the Parliament wherein he desired to come to a personal Treaty at London which was also vehemently pressed by the Scots Commissioners Whereupon after a long debate Nov. 26. they drew up four propositions in the form of Acts to be signed by the King in the Isle of Wight and then he should be admitted to a personal Treaty which were 1. To pass an Act for settling the Militia of the Kingdom 2. An Act for calling in all Declarations Oaths and Proclamations against the Parliament and their adherents 3. For Incapacitating those Lords who were made after the Great-Seal was carried to Oxford from sitting in the House of Peers thereby A power to be given to the two Houses to adjourn as they shall think fit The Commissioners of Scotland declared against these Bills however Dec. 24. they were presented to the King who understanding the minds of the Scots and the Factions in London absolutely refused to sign them Which deniâ—l was sharply debated in the House and it was affirmed That the King by this denial had denied his protection to the people of England for which only subjection is due to him And therefore Jan. 17. a Declaration and Votes passed both Houses of Parliament That they will make no further Addresses to the King nor any other to make application to him without their Order under penalty of High-Treason That they will receive no more Messages from him to both or either Houses of Parliament or any other person This was seconded by a Declaration of the General and Officers of the Army which was presented to the House and thanks returned them for their Resolutions to adhere to the Parliament in their proceedings concerning the King and against him or any other that shall partake with him The Parliament likewise by their Declaration did endeavour to appease the minds of the people many of whom were extreamly discontented with these proceedings Tumults and Insurrections being daily feared so that the Parliament though victorious and guarded with a conquering Army no Forces visibly appearing against them yet were never in more danger and every man began to foresee Slaughter and War as Mariners observe a rising Tempest ' The threatning Waves in Tracts voluminous ' Boil up The Seas by blasts uncertain blown ' Betoken many Winds conception The Kings party though conquered had great hopes of retrieving their Cause and the same thing seemed to be the wish of many of those called Presbyterians out of their strong aversion to the Independents so that the King though set aside and confined within the Isle of Wight was more formidable this Summer than in any other when he was followed by his strongest Armies The Name of King had now a farther operation and the pity of the vulgar gave a greater Majesty to his person Prince Charles also by his absence and the Name of banishment was more desired of them and by his Commissions privately sent from his Father and Commands under his Name he was able to raise not only Tumults but Wars The Parliament for their security Quartered part of the Army about Westminster the Mewse and other places of the City and some Lords and Commons were chosen out of the House and called A Committee of Safety and sate at Derby-House with power to suppress Tumults and Insurrections and to raise Forces upon occasion which were the Earls of Northumberland Kent Warwick and Manchester the Lords Say Wharton and Roberts and thirteen of the H. of Commons among whom was Lieutenant-General Cromwel And it was not long e're they had occasion to make use of their Authority for upon Sunday April 9 1648. some Apprentices and other loose people playing in Moor-fields set upon a Company of the
Trained Bands and with sâ—ones beat the Captain out of the Fields taking away his Colours with which they marched in the head of a disorderly Rout increasing continually by the way to Westminster crying out They were for King Charles but by a Troop of Horse out of the Mewse were soon dispersed yet running back into the City and others joining them they remained all Night in a body to the great terror of the Citizens so that the Lord Mayor who was for the Parliament escaped privately out of his House and went to the Tower In the morning Fairfax sent part of his Army into the City who drove them into Leaden-Hall taking some prisoners and scattered the rest so that this Tumult was instantly suppress'd for which service he had the thanks of the Parliament and some of the principal Citizens and a thousand pound gratuity to his Souldiers May 26. about three hundred came out of Surry to Westminster with a Petition to the Parliament wherein they demand That the King should be presently restored to his former Dignity and come to Westminster with honour freedom and safety to treat personally there about all Controversies That the Army should presently be Disbanded and the free people of England be governed by their known Lâ—ws and Statutes These Petitioners were so earnest for an answer that they would not stay â—â—ll the Parliament could debate it but set upon the Souldiers that guarded the House of whom some they hurt and killed one Whereupon some Horse and Foot were sent from the Mewse who gave them a feeling answer killing some and scattering the rest so that they were utterly vanquished At the same time the Kentish-men were coming with a Petition and a formidable Army to back it being inraged at the death of their Companions who raised a Tumult at Canterbury to prevent their arrival Gen. Fairsax was sent with seven Regiments to Black-Heath In the mean time some small Insurrections happened in Suffolk at Stamford and in Cornwall but were soon suppress'd by Coll. Wait Sir Hardrefs Waller and others Sir Thomas Glemham had seized upon Carlisle and Sir Marmaduke Langdale upon Berwick and fortified it and the Royalists had taken the strong Castle of Pomfret To manage these Wars in the North Coll. Lambert was left with some Regiments of Fairfaxes Army but the most formidable danger seemed to be in Wales where Poyer Powel and Langhorn three Parliament Collonels had raised an Army of eight thousand men by a Commission from Prince Charles but Collonel Horton with three thousand ingaged them near Peterstone and totally routed and put to flight their whole Army A great slaughter was made and about three thousand prisoners taken equal to the number of the Victors among whom were one hundred and fifty Officers many Colours a great quantity of Arms with all their Cannon Langhorn and Powel escaped with Poyer into Pembrook-castle Cromwel himself about the beginning of May was sent into Wales with some Regiments who coming to Chepstow-castle resolved to besiege it but hastening to Pembroke he left Coll. Ewer at Chepstow who within fifteen days took that Castle and klled Kemish to whom the Governour had treacherously surrendred it May 20. Cromwel came to Pembrook of which Collonel Poyer was Commander who relying on the great strength of the place refused all conditions being sensible that time was very precious with the Parliament who were surrounded with so many difficulties at once but Cromwel to whom despair was altogether a stranger prepared for the Siege being much furthered in his work from the Sea by the great Industry of Sir George Ayscough who continually furnish'd him by the assistance of a Squadron of Ships with great Guns and Provisions of all sorts from Bristol Having taken a full survey of the strength of the Castle he resolves to batter it with his Cannon because he had notice their Powder and other provisions would soon be spent and that the divisions he heard were among them might occasion them to yield and so save the loss of his men of whom he was very careful since so much Work lay upon their hands In the mean time he strictly guarded the Trenches to prevent them from coming out which had the effect he expected Hunger if not breaking through stone Walls yet occasioning them to deliver up the Town and Castle the Souldiers upon Quarter but Langhorn Poyer Powel and some others upon mercy which the rest found but Poyer was shot to death While Cromwel was acting these things in Wales Fairfax with his seven Regiments marched from Black-Heath toward Rochester and about Gravesend a great number were got together and among them above twenty Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of the County with several of the Kings old Commanders but they durst not ingage Fairfax though more numerous some marching to Maidstone a few to Rochester others to Dover to besiege that Castle but were soon removed by Coll. Rich and Sir Mich. Livesey About two thousand were got to Maidstone and resolved to defend it which they did with such obstinacy that the valour of Fairfax and his Souldiers were never tryed so much before nor a Victory got with greater danger for after they had broke into the Town with much difficulty they found a War in every Street and Cannon planted against them so that they were forced to fight for every corner of it but at length with the loss of forty men it was taken two hundred of the Royalists being slain and fourteen hundred made prisoners four hundred Horse and two thousand Arms taken and it was remarkable that at the same time another Army of many thousand Kentish-men coming from Rochester to aid their Friends yet when they came near durst not assist them but stood in sight while Fairfax took the Town Kent seemed now to be quiet when the Lord Goring with the remains of the Kentish-men being about two thousand marched as far as Greenwich sending to see how the Citizens stood affected to the business but while he staid expecting an answer some Troops of the Army came in sight upon which Goring and all his company fled the Horsemen persuing took some Booty and the Kentish-men generally went home to their own Houses but the Lord Goring with about five hundred Horse coming to Greenwich they got Boats and passed over into Essex and the Lord Capel with Forces out of Hartford-shire and Sir Charles Lucas with a body of Horse joined him at Chelmsford with several of the Kings Souldiers and many Londoners who flock'd to them The General followed them crossing the Thames at Gravesend and at length drove them into Colchester where after near three months Siege being reduced to that extremity as to live several VVeeks upon Horse-flesh despairing of relief they at length yielded themselves prisoners Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle being shot to death At this time Cromwel marches Northward to endeavour to prevent the danger from Scotland from whence D. Hamilton was marching
submission than ever was before resolved on the eleven Impeached Members were restored to their seats and the Houses debated of treating with the King upon his own security personally at London with honour freedom and safety But this was not carried only a Treaty was Vored to be in the Isle of Wight and that the King should chuse the place in that Island In persnance whereof the E. of Middâ—esex and two of the H. of Commons were sent to the King who answered That he was very ready to treat of peace Upon which five Peers and ten Commoners were immediately chosen and sent to Newport During this Treaty the King found all kind of respect and observance from the Commissioners being attended with a Royal Retinue the D. of Richmond Marquess of Hartford the Earls of Southampton and Lindsey with a number of other Gentlemen of Quality who waited in his Train his own two Chaplains and divers of his Lawyers to advise him in the Treaty being likewise allowed him While these things were Transacting at Westminster Cromwel having finished matters in Scotland prepares for his return and Octob. 16. 1648. leaves Endenburgh being conducted some miles on his way by Argyle and other Scotch Noblemen who took their leaves with mutual demonstrations of kindness and marching toward Carlisle when he came into Yorkshire he was defired by the Committee to reduce the Castles of Scarborough and Pomfret in his way the last of which was defended by Coll. John Maurice with great courage not by the strength of the place but the valour of the Defendants The Garrison consisted of four hundred Foot and one hundred and thirty Horse but all daring fellows who daily performed some notable Exploit by their sallies as one time by seizing Sir Arthur Ingram with a Troop of Horse and obliging him to pay fifteen hundred pounds to obtain his liberty Soon after they took Captain Clayton and most of his Troop and brought into the Castle two hundred head of cattel and many Horses though Sir Hen. Cholmly at that time beleaguered it to keep them in One morning before day forty Horse sallied out and speeding to Doncaster where Coll. Rainsborough who had a commission to command the siege in chief then Quartered three of them went into the Town and inquired for Coll Rainsboroughs Quarters to which being directed they went thither pretending to deliver him letters from Lieutenant-General Cromwel the Collonel little suspecting their business considently opens the door to receive the letters but one of them instantly stabb'd him to the heart and though his Forces guarded the Town yet they got back into the Castle at mid-day To reduce this place Cromwel having settled the Northern counties now comes and orders the siege to be streightned leaving a strong party under Lambert who was come from Scotland to prevent their ranging abroad and in a while it was surrendred Cromwel marches up to London and takes his place in parliament who in his absence had recalled their Vote of Non-addresses and were treating with the King at Newport but while this Treaty proceeded and some months were spent in debates concessions and denials another sudden alteration happened which threw the King from the height of honour to the lowest condition for some fearing they might be in danger if the King were restored to his Throne contrived to take him away quite while others were as earnest for re-advancing him so that things were brought to no issue before Cromwels return who had now the thanks of the House given him by the Speaker for his prudent conduct of affairs in Scotland At the same time several petitions were presented to the Parliament and some to General Fairfax That whoever had offended against the Common wealth no persons excepted might be brought to speedy Jnstice that the same fault may have the same punishment in the person of K. or Lord as in the person of the poorest Commoner That such as speak or act on the Kings behalf till he be acquitted of shedding innocent blood be proceeded against as Traytors c. The first petition of this kind was presented to the parliament Sept 11. the Title was To the most Honourable the Commons of England assembled in Parliament The humble petition of many thousands of well-affected men in the Cities of London and Westminster in the Burrough of Southwark and the neighbouring Villages Inhabitants This petition which broke the Ice was in a month followed by several others from divers Counties in England and from several Regiments of the Army as from Oxford Leicester from many commanders in the Army from Iretons and Ingolsbys Regiment the design of all being the same That Justice might be done on the chief Authors of so much Bloodshed in England and that those who had been raisers of this second War and were now in the Parliaments custody Hamilton Holland Capel Goring and the rest might be punish'd and especially the King himself c. These petitions were daily presented to the Parliament during the Treaty and by them laid aside but at last these desires prevailed especially after the Remonstrance of Fairfax Cromwel and the General Council of Officers at St. Albans of Nov. 11. 1648. At the same time Cromwel sent Coll. Ewer to the Isle of Wight to take the King out of the custody of Coll. Hammond at Newport and to confine him to Hurst Castle till further Order and this without consent of the Parliament and thus the Treaty was violently broken off though the House of Lords Voted That the Kings Concessions were a sufficient ground of peace and the major part of the Commons did the same But Cromwel and the Army being now come to London resolve to hinder the same and discharge the Trained Bands from guarding the parliament Collonel Prides and Riches Regiments supplying their rooms by whom above forty Members of the House of Commons as they were coming to the House were seized and made prisoners Nay further they accuse M. G. Brown and above Ninety Members for inviting the Scots into England the last Summer and therefore desired they might be excluded the House which being done and the House new modelled they Voted That no message be received from the King upon pain of High Treason That Fairfax and the Army take care of the King and that the Council of War draw up a charge against him Dec. 13. 1648. The King is brought from Hurst Castle to Windsor and the Commons declare the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to be void and that it is Treason for the King to levy War against the Common-wealth but the Lords deny that the King can commit any Treason against the Common-wealth and reject the Ordinance for his Tryal by a new Tribunal which they had erected to consist of one hundred and fifty Commissioners six whereof were of the Lords House the rest Officers of the Army and some few Citizens And the Commons further declare That the people under God are the original
of all just power and that the Commons of England being the peoples Representative have the supream Authority and what they Enact has the force of a Law though the House of Lords do not consent thereto Upon these and several other new political principles they proceed to Try Judge Condemn and Execute the King before his own palace-gate at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. But having already published a Book called The Wars of England Scotland and Ireland wherein is an exact relation of the Kings Tryal with the Reasons he would have offered against the pretended Jurisdiction of their Court of Justice and his last speech at the time of his suffering I shall refer the Reader to that and wholly omit it here The fatal blow being given the remainder of the House of Commons and the Army made it evident that they were not only for cutting off the King but Kingship it self and thereupon the House Voted That Kingly Government is unnecessary burdensome and dangerous and that whereas several pretences might be made to the Crown that any person who should proclaim Charles Stewart Son of the late King or any other King of England should suffer as in case of High Treason And soon after the House of Lords was likewise Vored useless and dangerous at which the Lords were so highly Incensed that a Declaration was suddenly published in the Name of all the Peers and Barons of England against the proceedings of the Commons and in definance of all Votes Acts and Orders to the contrary Charles the second was proclaimed King in the Name of all the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom but they still proceed assuming new Ensigns of Soveraignty and cancelling the old causing all Writs Commissions c. to issue out under a new style and title that is The Keepers of the Liberties of England by the authority of parliament causing the old Great Seal to be broken and a new one made with this Inscription In the fifth year of freedom by Gods blessing restored And soon after they pulled down the Kings Arms in all places and his Statue at Guild Hall and the Royal Exchange A Council of State was constituted of forty and Bradshaw made president and the Council of Adjutators of the Army who had been so Instrumental in the late Revolutions was now dissolved who soon after petitioned the Lord Fairfax but those that subscribed it were by a Council of War Ordered to ride with their faâ—es to the Horses Tails before their Regiments with their crimes on their breasts to have their swords broken over their heads and to be cashier'd the army which much provoked their fellow souldiers so that a while after the Army Rendevouzing at Ware several Regiments in persuance of the former petition wherein they complain of erecting Illegal Courts of Justice and trying the free people of England by Martial Law with divers other grievances wore white colours in their Haâ—s to distinguish themselves among whom was Cromwels own Regiment of Horse who having notice of it ordered two other Regiments from remote Quarters to be there who knew nothing of the Intrigue and being all drawn up in Battalia Cromwel with a frowning countenance rides round and suddenly commands those two Regiments to surround a Regiment of Foot and then calls four men by their Names out of the body and with his own hands put them in custody of the Marshal instantly summoning a Council of War while their adherents secretly put their white colours in their pockets and were astonished at the action These four were tryed and found guilty but had the favour to cast lots for their lives whereby the two principal Mutineers escaped and the two ignorant fellows were shot to death upon the place in the view of the whole Army These now had the Name of Levellers given them and one Lockier was afterward shot to death for promoting a paper called The Ingagement and Agreement of the people c. in St. Pauls Church-yard and his Funeral was attended by above one thousand of the Lilburnian Faction all wearing black and Sea-green Ribbons the Army being now in a violent ferment and even ready to destroy one another which humour was cherished by John Lilburn not without incouragement from the Royal party who from their divisions hoped to reap advantage In persuance hereof Collonel Scroops Regiment of Horse dismissed their Officers at Salisbury and with colours flying marched to join Harrisons Iretons and Skippons Regiments who by the contrivance of the Agitators were all ingaged in the same designs This defection seeming of very dangerous consequence Gen. Fairfax and Cromwel with his own Regiment marched to Alton and had advice the Mutineers were gone to Abington after whom Cromwel made such haste that in one day he marched forty miles and having met with them he politickly proposed a Treaty before Harrisons Regiment should join them wherein all parties should receive satisfaction and that neither of them should keep at ten miles distance upon which the Levellers went to Burford and being opposed by the Souldiery at New-bridge to prevent Quarrels they went a little lower not doubting but they should all join upon Treaty and then put most of their Horses to grass they being in all above nine hundred consisting of twelve Troops entire of the best in the Army and leaving a guard of about sixty men some of their companions who were brought over to Cromwel giving Intelligence of their posture Coll. Reynolds about midnight rusht into their Quarters they â—â—ttâ—e expecting such rough treatment and seizing the Guards took the greatest part of the rest either asleep or drinking together with nine hundred Horse and four hundred prisoners whereof Thompson and two more only were Executed Cornet Don declaring such sorrow that he was reprieved at the place of Execution which their fellows beheld from the Leads of the Church and were told That every tenth man of them should die but Cromwel proposed the pardoning of them which was agreed to and they sent to their own Houses This proved the utter suppression of that Faction and rendred the Army wholly at the devotion of Cromwel About this time another illegal High Court of Justice was erected wherein Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Lord Capel and Lord Goring were brought to their Trial the three first were condemned and beheaded at the Palace-yard in Westâ—minster and a proclamation was published declaring the Kingdom of England to be a free State and Alderman Reynoldson was commanded to proclaim it in the City which he refusing was committed to the Tower and a new Lord Mayor was chosen by a â—ommon Hall who attended with several other Aldermen of the same temper readily proclaimed the Edicts of this new Republick in several places in the City England being thus subjected to the power of the House of Commons and the Army and Scotland not yet ripe for Invasion and the Nation full of Souldiers who having for so long a time led
which the English had taken near Burnt Island after he had delivered his message he confidently told the souldiers their General was dead and that they did well in concealing it but he would never believe otherwise nor could he be convinced till the General ordered him to be brought into his presence who was now somewhat recovered so that upon his return this false rumour vanished But the Parliament of England hearing that he had a relapse afterward and a violent Ague they sent him two eminent Physicians Dr. Wright and Dr. Bates to use their utmost Art for his reâ—overy with an Order that gave him liberty to repair into England for recovering his health To which he made a return of Thanks by a Letter to the Lord President in which among others are these unusual expressions My Lord my sickness was indeed so violent that my Nature was not able to bear the weight thereof but the Lord was pleased to deliver me beyond expectations and to give me cause to say once more He hath plucked me out of the Grave So that now by the goodness of God I find my self growing to such a stare of health and strength as may yet if it be his good will render me useful according to my poor ability in the station wherein he hath set me I wish more steadiness in your affairs here than to depend in the least upon so frail a thing as I am indeed they do not nor do they own any Instrument this Cause is of God and it must prosper Oh that all that have any hand therein being so perswaded would gird up the loins of their minds and endeavour in all things to walk worthy of the Lord. So prays my Lord Your most humble Servant O. Cromwel Edenburgh June 3. At this time Ambassadors came to the Parliament of England from Spain Portugal and Holland the first was reminded of delaying execution on the Assassinates of the English Resident at Madrid The second not having full power to give satisfaction for the expences of the state and loss of the Merchants Goods by means of that King was quickly dismiss'd The Hollander kept at a distance rather wishing prosperity to the Royal party than heartily desiring peace with the Common-wealth of England Soon after Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland were sent Ambassadors Extraordinary to the States and were received with great splendor and having audience of the States-General at the Hague the Lord Ambassador St. John made a learned and elegant speech declaring That they were sent over to the High and Mighty States of the Netherlands from the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England to make a firm League and Confederacy between the two Republicks if they think fit notwithstanding the many injuries the English have received from the Dutch Nation Likewise to renew and confirm the former Treaties and Agreements of Trade and Commerce made between the two Nations wherein he shewed them the notable advantages of England in respect of its commodious scituation for advancement of Trade and all other benefits Lastly That he was commanded to let them know how highly the Parliament resented the murder of Dr. Dorislaus their Agent not doubting but they would do their utmost to discover the Authors thereof After which the Ambassadors Gentlemen receiving several affronts from the Royal party there the States published a Proclamation to prevent it yet these abuses continued and no punishment being inflicted on any though the common people often swarm'd about the Ambassadors Gates and assaulted their Servants and the States evading any Treaty till they saw how matters would succeed in Scotland the Parliament highly resenting these proceedings suddenly recalled their Ambassadors to the great surprize of the States Who thereupon endeavoured by frequent visits to them to insinuate their amicable Intentions but the Ambassadors returned to England And that which gave some jealousie to the Parliament of their designs was Because Admiral Van Trump with a Fleet of Ships lay hovering upon the Coasts of Scilly as though he would attempt something against it and the occasion of it being demanded of the States they replied They had no other intent but to demand the restitution of such Ships and Goods as the Pirates thereof had taken from their people With which answer the Parliament were somewhat satisfied yet to prevent the worst April 18. 1651. Sir George Ayscough with a Squadron of ships designed for reducing the Caribbee-Islands was sent thither and landed three hundred Seamen besides souldiers and soon became masters of the Islands Tresco and Briers taking therein one hundred and fifty prisoners and killing twenty They took also two Frigates of thirty two and eighteen Guns and secured the best Harbour belonging to those Islands Hence the Enemy fled to St. Maries their chief strength which yet was soon surrendred Cornet-castle in the Isle of Guernsey was at this time attempted but through mis-information of the weakness of the place the design miscarried with the loss of many Officers and souldiers About this time Brown Bushel a very earnest stickler for the Royal party both by Sea and Land and who when in the service of the Parliament had delivered up Scarborough to the King was taken and beheaded at Tower-hill The Parliament of Scotland having adjourned during the Coronation of the King met again in March and some differences arose about restoring several Lords of the Royal party to their seats in the House which yet the Assembly would not admit of till they had passed the stool of Repentance which Duke Hamilton did with some kind of splendor having a Table placed before him with a black Velvet cover and a Cushion of the same and making a great Feast that day The King having now got some power endeavoured to regain reputation among his subjects by putting all the Garrisons of Fife into a posture of defence against the landing of the English drawing what Forces he could spare both Horse and Foot from Sterling and joining them with the new Leavies which for better security he Quartered on the Water side and then goes to the Highlands to compose all differences there and to incite them to rise and join with him from whence Midleten soon after brought a considerable body of Horse and Foot and the Town of Dundee raised a Regiment of Horse at their own charge and sent them with a stately Tent and six fine brass cannon for a present to the King then at Sterling whose Army now consisted in six thousand Horse and fifteen thousand foot but the Earl of Eglington being sent to the West with some other commanders to raise more forces coming to Dunbarton Collonel Lilburn upon notice sent a party of Horse who suddenly seized the Earl his Son Collonel James Montgomery Lieutenant Collonel Colborn and some others whom they carried prisoners to Edinburgh At the same time a design was discovered the English Covenanters intending a general rising in Lancashire to join with the Scots the chief
Agent herein being Thomas Cook of Grays-Inn Esq who was taken and committed After this a ship bound from the North of Scotland to the Isle of Man being by Tempest driven into Ayre was searcht and many papers seized that gave light into the business And a party of Horse and Dragoons marching to Grenoch seized Mr Birkenhead another Agent for the Royal designs about whom they found such Letters Commissions and Instructions as the whole Intrigue was discovered upon which Major General Harrison was sent with a Detachment of Horse and Foot to Carlisle to prevent Insurrection or oppose the Inroads of the Scots At London several were taken up viz. Mr. Christopher Love Major Alford Major Adams Collonel Barron Mr. Blackmore Mr. Case Mr Cawton Dr. Drake Mr. Drake Captain Farr Mr. Giobons Mr. Haviland Major Huntington Mr. Jenkyns Mr. Jequel Mr. Jackson Lieutenant Collonel Jackson Captain Mussey Mr. Walten Captain Potter Mr. Robinson Mr. Sterks Collonel Sowton Collonel Vaughan and others of all whom only Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons suffered being both beheaded on Tower-hill Aug. 22. 1651. The rest among whom were seven or eight Ministers of London upon their humble petitions and acknowledgments were released and pardoned There happened about this time an Insurrection of two or three hundred in Wales who declared for King Charles upon a report that the English Army under Cromwel was defeated in Scotland but they were soon suppressed Collonel Monk was now sent by Cromwel to set down before Blackness which had sheltred some that had much annoyed their Quarters After the Batteries were made and some shot spent they required Quarter which was given and the place surrendred Yet the Scots grew very formidable and made many Infals upon the out Quarters and Garrisons of the English with much success by having the advantage of knowing the country so that several were slain whereupon Orders were given for contracting their Quarters by slighting the remote Garrisons and the Army was put into a marching posture for Fife Blackness being made their Magazine Captain Butler at the same time arriving in the Success Frigate at Leith with eighty thousand pounds for paying the souldiers which being distributed among them infused fresh courage into their hearts June 24. The Army being ready for a Campaign General Cromwel ordered them to march to Red-hall and thence to Peneland-hills where they Incamp'd and the General in his Tent treated the Lady Lambert General Deans and other English Ladies and Gentlewomen who came from Leith to view the Camp and then returned again The Army hearing the Scots were at Falkirk marched to Lithgow from whence they might see the Tents of the Scotch Army at Torwood four miles on this side Sterling and hoped to come to a Battel but the King having drawn his foot into Torwood fortified his camp which with the River and Bogs prevented any assault though Cromwel marched in sight of them and stood from twelve to eight at Night expecting the Scots approach but they only plaid on the English with their cannon at a distance so that the Army drew off to Glasgow and from thence to Hamilton but not being able to ingage them he attack'd Kalender-house where part of their forces were which denying to yield upon fummons the souldiers with Faggors passed over the Mote and in half an hour possess'd the house putting the Governour and sixty two souldiers to the sword and this in sight of the whole Scotch Army who did not once stir to relieve their friends Cromwel finding the Scots would protract the War resolves once more to attempt the taking of Fife whereby to prevent them from having any further supplies Whereupon there were drawn out sixteen hundred foot and four Troops of Horse who under the command of Collonel Overton were designed for this service and being imbarked in the twenty seven flat bottom'd boats sent from England for this purpose early in the morning they attempted to land at Queens-ferry which with the loss of six men was effected and presently fell to intrench themselves While this was doing Cromwel with his Army marched up close to the Scots that if they had gone toward Fife he might have ingaged them before they could have reached Sterling The Scots receiving the alarm the same day sent four thousand horse and foot under Sir John Brown to force the English out of Fife upon which Cromwel sent Lambert with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot to reinforce the other party who in twenty four hours were ferried over and joined Whereupon collonel Okey with his Regiment fell in among the Scots whereby they were forced to draw up in Battalia and so did the English who were superiour in number but had the disadvantage of ground In this posture they continued facing each other about an hour and half when the English resolved to attack the Scots by ascending an Hill and thereupon Lamberts right wing falling furiously upon the Scots left they endured the shock with much resolution after a while the whole body ingaging in a very short time the Scots were utterly routed two thousand being slain and fourteen hundred taken prisoners with their commander Sir John Brown Collonel Buchan and many others of Quality Of the English few were killed but many wounded After which other Detachments were sent over to Fife so as to inable them upon occasion to ingage the whole Scots Army Immediately after the strong Castle of Innesgarrey scituate on a Rock in the midst of the Fryth between Queens-ferry and North-ferry was surrendred to the English the Garrison being so terrified that they were content to march out only with their swords by their sides to shew what profession they were of leaving behind all their Ammunition and Provisions with sixteen pieces of cannon July 27. The whole English Army appeared before Burnt-Island and the General sent a summons for the rendition thereof to which the Governour returned a modest answer and the next day desired a parley Commissions on both sides were chosen and after some debates it was agreed That all the Provisions Guns and Shipping of War should be delivered to the English c. and all the Officers and Souldiers to march out with Drums beating c. Thence they marched instantly to St. Johnstons a place of great strength and importance into which the King had lately put a Regiment of foot and therefore they made some difficulty at first to surrender but finding that Cromwel had ordered the draining of the Moat round about the Town the courage of the Scots failed them so that they soon delivered it up The King finding his affairs in Scotland grow very desperate he muster'd his Forces and finding them to be about sixteen thousand Horse and Foot with these and hopes of further supplies from his friends he resolves to return for England it self and accordingly the Scotch Army began their march from Sterling July 31. 1651. and the sixth day after entred England by the way of Carlisle
possible to perswade them That it should be no Question but be absolutely carried in the affirmative This was as rigorously opposed by the majority of the House and among the rest a Gentleman who had all along stron ly opposed Monarchy as disagreeable to his Interest stood up and said The parliament cannot but discern the snares that are laid to intrap the priviledges of the people and for my own part as God has maâ—e me Instrumental in cutting down Tyranny in one person so now I cannot endure to see the Nations liberties shackled by another whose Right to the Government can be measured out no otherwise than by the length of his Sword which was the only thing that emboldened him to command his Commanders Many others seconded this motion confirming what he had said and directly against a single person These debates and divisions upon the protectors Instrument which continued eight days successively did much disturb him fearing they would produce irreconcileable differences and therefore to remedy it in time and put the parliament into a milder temper he goes from White-Hall to Westminster and sending for the members then sitting into the painted chamber he thus addresses them Gentlemen The God of Heaven knows what grief and sorrow of heart it is to me to find you falling into heats and divisions but I would have you take notice of this That the same Government made me protector which made you a parliament and that as you are intrusted with some things so am I with others and that in the Government there are certain Fundamentals which cannot be altered As 1. That the Government should be in a single person and a parliament 2. That parliament should not be perpetual 3. That the militia should not be trusted into one hand or power but so that the parliament should have a check upon the protector and the protector on the parliament 4. That in matters of Religion there ought to be Liberty of Conscience and that persecution in the Church was not to be Tolerated The rest of the things in the Government are examinable and alterable as the state of affairs do require and for my own part my heart is even over-whelmed with grief to fee that any of you should endeavour to overthrow what is settled contrary to the Trust received from the people and which cannot but bring very great inconveniency upon your selves and the Nation This was the substance of his perswasions but doubting that this would not sufficiently bring them over to his Interests he contrived a Recognition and acknowledgment which was to be signed by every member before he should be admitted to sit in the House as followeth I do hereby promise and ingage to be true and faithful to the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and shall nor according to the tenor of the Indenture whereby I am returned to serve in parliament propose or give any consent to alter the Government as it is settled in one person and a parliament This was subscribed by several of the members tho' the greater number at first refused especially those of the late long parliament so that of 400 there appeared only 200 but afterward were made up 300 who fell afresh upon the same disputes and run over all the Articles of the Instrument of Government resolving to have the Judgment of the whole House upon them in one entire Bill and so present it thereby to waste time and hinder the Protector from having money which he much wanted so that after five months dilatory proceedings and that they had not yet settled him in the Government the time being expired wherein the Instrument gave him leave without losing one day nay scarce an hour he dissolved the parliament This dissolution incouraged the most opposite parties to conspire against the Protector that is the fifth Monarchy men and Royalists the first expected King Jesus or the erecting of a fifth Kingdom the second longed for the Restoration of King Charles and the Protectors Favourites desired King Oliver and every party manifested their impatience but none of them could attain their wishes and when Oliver might afterwards yet he thought it not safe The protector was not ignorant of their designs and resolved first to deal with the weakest for finding this Millionary principle spread in the Army he discarded Major General Harrison and coll Rich and after sent them with coll Carew and Courtney prisoners to remote Castles and General Monk had order to seize Major General Overton and Major Bramston Holmes and other Officers and cashier them Overton was sent up prisoner to the Tower and his Regiment given to coll Morgan coll Okeys Regiment was given to the Lord Howâ—â—d Cornet now collonel Joyce was likewise dismâ—st having reproach'd Cromwel to his face with his services And thus the danger from the Army was quickly suppress'd But the design of the Royalists or Cavaliers would have been more formidable had not the whole contrivance thereof been discovered to the Protector by one Manning who was with King Charles in Germany and a Spy upon all his actions so that Cromwel knew the rise and progress and first appearance of those Arms against him without being surprized though all the Gentlemen of that party in England were one way or other ingaged or at least privy to iâ—â— but the seizing the principal of them throughout the Kingdom a little before the execution much frusâ—â—â—ted the probable effects of that Insurrection The L. Mayor was sent for and acquainted with it and 〈◊〉 militia settled Skippon being made Major-Generâ—â— All Horse Races forbidden and several dissolâ—â—â—â—â—â—sons were seized upon suspicion Counter ploes 〈◊〉 used all sorts of Ammunition being sent down â—â—â—veral Gentlemens Houses with Letters without Nâ—â—â—â— and the Gentlemen for not discovering them sâ—â—â—â—â— Yet notwithstanding all these discouragements 〈◊〉 Western Association thought themselves ingaged in honour to rise upon the day appointed and which they had signified to K. Charles who was come from Colen to the Sea coasts in order to have passed over to his friends with the first opportunity accordingly March 11. 1654. a party of 200 under Sir Joseph Wagstaff coll Penruddock and Grove march'd into Salisbury where the Judges Rolls and Nichols were sitting at the Assize and seized all their Horses declaring the cause of their appearance without further injury or taking any money which lay in Serjeant Maynard and other Lawyers chambers promising to return and break their fasts with the Judges provisions which they did and increased their number to four hundred the whole City being well affected to them Thence they marched to Blanford where coll Penruddock himself proclaimed the King in the Market-place and so marched Westward Captain Butler with two Troops of Cromwels Horse following at a distance in their Rere to give them opportunity of increasing but by the Protectors taking up so many before very few came in and many deserted when they saw no hopes
pretector might be desired to assume the stile of King as the most known and most agreeable Government This motion was seconded by several of the protectors Courtiers and April 9. the parliament having desired a meeting with him came to the Banquetting-house at White-Hall where-the speaker Sir Tho. Widdrington commended the Title and Office of a King as being settled in this Nation with Christianity it self approved by our Ancestors and consistent with our Laws and the temper of the people and then presented him the model of their humble petition and advice to that purpose His Highness in answer hereto said Mr. Speaker this is a weighty matter and therefore I desire space to seek God the charge that you would lay upon me being too heavy for me to bear without his assistance for the ENglish are the best people in the World and require all tenderness and consideration whatsoever to be used for preserving their liberties and properties The next day a Committee was appointed to wait upon him and receive his scruples and to offer reasons for his satisfaction The objections the protector made were First That the Title of a King is a Name of Office and any Name that may imply the supream magistrate hath the same signification and therefore there is no necessity of a change To this they reply That the Name of a King is only equal to and comprehensive of the Office of the supream magistrate It is a rule That the King of England cannot alter the Laws by reason of their Name and that there is no obligation upon any other that the very Title was declared necessary in the 9th of Edw. 4. in the controversie betwixt him and Hen. 7. and every action done by the King in possession was valid and that the Name King had beginning with our Laws and that new Laws must be made for settling the Government in a protector The other objection was the danger and difficulty of altering the same Government to a Common-wealth and the refusal of some Judges and acting of others upon that ground That another parliament might change those resolutions The dislike of the good people and Army that providence had laid aside the Title of King after seven years War and many of the chief of those who were Instrumental therein were dissatisfied These scruples the Committee endeavoured to remove by alledging That providence had now brought about affairs so that it seemed necessary for His Highness to comply with it and as for discontented persons they have been always found in the best of Governments But because this was a matter of consequence I shall repeat the speech made by the Lord Whitlock one of the Committee sent to the protector with his answer thereto who after several others had offered their sentiments summed up the most material reasons as followeth Sir I have but very little to trouble your Highness with so much hath been already spoken and so well that it will be hard for me or any other to undertake to add to it only the duty of my Imployment and something due to your Highness occasions me to speak a few words to acknowledge with very humble thanks the Honour and Right which you have done this Committee by the clear and free discourses and conferences which they have had with your Highness and for your frequent expressions and testimonies of affection and respect to the parliament whose-sense in this I may presume to speak That never any persons met their supream magistrate with more love duty and honour than the parliament have met your Highness with in their addresses which argument of love deserves that esteem and force which I doubt not but your Highness will put upon it I am fearful to be too tedious at any time especially at so late an hour and therefore shall speak but short to some things which I remember not to have been mentioned Your Highness was pleased at the last meeting to say That the original Institution of the Title King was by common consent and that the same common consent might institute any other Title and make it as effectual as that of King This must be acknowledged but withal you may be pleased to observe That the Title of King is not only by an original common consent but that consent also approved and confirmed and the Law fitted thereunto and that fitted to the Laws by the experience and industry of many Ages and many hundreds of years together whereas any other Title will be only by present common consent without that experience and approbation For that experience which your Highness mentioned to have been of other Titles and the due administration of Justice under them this experience is far short of the other and for the course of Justice we have cause to thank that care which placed so good Judges and Officers over us Yet give me leave to say That in private causes between party and party and in publick matters in nominal causes it was not easie to find Justice to be done by some Jurors and many questions have risen upon the occasion of those new Titles Concerning that tender point of good mens satisfaction I think it requires a very great regard from us and I doubt not but those good people will be fully satisfied if they consider the covenants promises and precepts which in the scripture are annex'd to the Name of King and although some have alledged that they belong to any chief magistrate as well as to King yet no man did ever read the original word translated otherwise than King Neither do I find the Title of Protector once mentioned in the holy Text. If the present Authority be a lawful Authority which I hope none of us will deny surely those good men who are so well principled in Godliness will not forget that precept of submission to Authority and to be satisfied with that which lawful Authority shall ordain their Rights and Liberties are the same with ours and the parliament cannot advise any thing for the preservation of the peoples Rights but these good men are included which I hope will be no dissatisfaction to them In all the changes which we have seen there hath been a dissatisfaction to some yet still the blessing of God hath gone a long through all these changes with those who carried on his Interest and the cause being the same the same mercies have been continued And I doubt not but if the intended change and restitution be made as I hope it will I doubt not but the same God will continue his blessings to that Good Old Cause wherein we are ingaged and that good men will receive satisfaction by it Your Highness hath been told That the Title of King is upon the foundation of Law and that a new Title must have a constitution to make the Laws relate unto it and that unto the Laws I shall only add this That a Title by Relation is not so certain and sale as a Title
upon the old foundation of the Law and that a Title upon a single present constitution as any new Title must be cannot be so firm as a Title built upon the present constitution and upon the old foundation of the Law likewise which the Title of King will be If any inconvenience should ensue upon your acceptance of this Title which the parliament adviseth your Highness's satisfaction will be that they did advise it On the contrary part if any inconvenience should arise upon your Highness refusal of this Title which the parliament hath advised your burthen will be the greater and therefore whatsoever may fall out will be better answered by your Highness complying with your parliament then otherwise the Question is not altogether new some instances have been given of the like to which I shall add two or three The Title of the Kings of England in the Realm of Ireland was Lord of Ireland and the parliament in the 33 year of Hen. 8. relating That inconveniences did arise there by reason of that Title did enact That Hen. 8. should assume the Stile and Title of King of Ireland which in the judgment of the parliament was preferred before the other In the State of Rome new Titles proved fatal to their Liberties their case was not much unlike ours they were wearied with a Civil War and coming to a settlement some would not admit the Title of Rex to be used but were contented to give the Titles of Caesar Perpetual Dictator Prince Senate Emperor So that at length the will of Caesar was their Law who said I am not a King but Caesar The Northern people were more happy among themselves a private Gentleman of a Noble Family took up Arms with his country-men against a Tyrant and by the blessing of God rescued the Native Liberties and Rights of their country from the oppression of that Tyrant This Gentleman had the Title of Marshal given unto him which continued for some years afterward their Parliament judging it best to resume the old Title Elected this Gentleman King and with him was brought in the liberty of Protestant Religion and the establishment of the Civil Rights of that people which have continued in a prosperous condition ever since in Sweden unto this day Sir I shall make no other application but in my prayers to God to direct your Highness and the Parliament as I hope he will to do that which will be most for his honour and the good of his people This speech was made April 26. 1657. but the Protector finding the inclinations of some of the people and especially of many Officers and Souldiers of the Army to be very averse to the Title of King which they had lately renounced and likewise doubting as it was then discours'd that they would fortifie his Title but weaken his Revenue who required Nineteen hundred thousand pound a year for the support of his Government besides the charge of the Spanish War he thereupon sent for the Parliament to the Banquetting-house at White-Hall May 8. following where he gave them his last and positive answer to this purpose Mr. Speaker I am come hither to answer that which was in your last paper to your Committee you sent me which was in relation to the desires which were offered me by the House in that they called their petition I confess that business hath put the Parliament to a great deal of trouble and spent much time I am very sorry that it hath cost me some and some thoughts and because I have been the unhappy occasion of the expence of so much time I shall spend little of st now I have the best I can resolved the whole business in my thoughts and I have said so much already in testimony of the whole that I think I shall not need to repeat any thing that I have said I think it is a Government that the aims of it seek much a settling of the Nation on a good foot in relation to Civil Rights and Liberties which are the Rights of the Nation and I hope I shall never be found to be of them that shall go about to rob the Nation of these Rights but to serve them what I can to the attaining them It hath also exceeding well provided for the safety and security of honest men in that great natural and religious liberty which is Liberty of Conscience These are great fundamentals and I must bear my Testimony to them as I have and shall do still so long as God lets me live in this World that the intentions of the things are very honourable and honest and the product worthy of a Parliament I have only had the unhappiness both in my conferences with your Committees and in the best thoughts I could take to my self not to be convicted of the necessity of that thing that hath been so often insisted upon by you to wit The Title of King as in it self necessary as it seems to be apprehended by your selves and I do with all honour and respect to the judgment of the Parliament testifie that ceteris paribus no private judgment is to lye in the ballance with the judgment of a Parliament but in things that respect particular persons every man that is to give an account to God of his actions he must in some measure be able to prove his own work that is To have an approbation in his own conscience of that he is to do or forbear And whilst you are granting others liberties surely you will not deny me this it being not only a liberty but a duty and such a duty as I cannot without sinning forbear to examine my own heart and thoughts and judgment in every work which I am to set my hand to or to appear in for I must confess therefore that though I do acknowledge all the other yet I must be a little confident in this that what with the circumstances that accompany humane actions whether they be circumstances of time or persons whether circumstances that relate to the whole or private or particular circumstances that compass any person that is to render an account of his own actions I have truly thought and do still think that if I should at the best do any thing on this account to answer your expectation it would be at the best doubtingly and certainly what is so is not of faith whatsoever is not of faith is sin to him that doth it whether it be with relation to the substance of the action about which the consideration is conversant or whether to circumstances about it which make all indifferent actions good or evil to him that doth it I lying under this consideration think it my duty only I could have wished I had done it sooner for your sake for saving time and trouble and indeed for the Committees sake to whom I must acknowledge publickly I have been unseasonably troublesome I say I could have wished I had given it sooner but truly this
the House in obedience to his commands dissolved This was the fourth parliament he had dissolved having turned out the Long parliament the Little parliament the Recognition parliament and the present Juncto It was said of the three latter which was summoned by Cromwel himself That the first was called but not chosen The second did just nothing And the third did nothing Just The Royalists now make another attempt for restoring King Charles of which the protector had Intelligence by his Emissaries so that when the design was just ripe for execution he published a Proclamation for all Cavaliers to depart twenty miles from London and VVestminster and the Marquess of Ormond who was personally concerned in the Intrigue with much difficulty escaped in a small Boat from Sussex to Flanders but several others were seized as coll Russel Sir Will. Compton Sir Will. Clayton Mr. Mordam brother to the Earl of Peterborough Dr. John Hewit preacher at St. Gregories by St. Pauls Mr. Woodcock Mr. Mansel Mr. Mallory Sir Henry Slingsby and many more most of them were kept close prisoners till some were prevailed upon to be Witnesses against others The design was laid in Kent Essex Surrey and Sussex the King being ready to have passed over from Flanders with an Army under the conduct of Count Marcin the P. of Condâ—'s General and Portsmouth Hull and other Maritime Fortresses were treated for The Protector sent for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London acquainting them with what discoveries he had made and the danger they were in who thereupon chose a new Lieutenancy and changed the Officers of the Trained Bands and the Protector doubled his Guards and an alarm was given that on May 16. the Cavaliers had appointed for their rising and firing the Town and all the Souldiers about the City were to be murdered whereupon all the six Regiments were raised at once and divers Citizens seized Soon after another High Court of Justice was erected before whom Dr. Hewit and Sir Henny Slingsby were brought and charged with High Treason upon these Articles 1. That they had traiterously and maliciously endeavoured to raise force and Ievy War against his Highness and the Government and to subvert and alter thesame 2. That they had traiterously declared published and promoted Charles Stuart eldest Son of the late K. Charles to be King of England Scotland and Ireland 3. That they had held Intelligence with the said Charles Stuart Dr. Hewit would not own the Court but pleaded several cases against it and was therefore condemned as mute Mr. Mordant was next set to the Bar who argued so very plainly and fully against the Evidence that he was acquitted by one voice only Sir Henry Slingsby defended himself by alledging That what was said by him about seducing the Governor of Hull and perswading him to surrender that Garrison to the King was but only in Jest and discourse He was found guilty and condemned Mr. Mallory pleaded guilty and was saved Mr. Woodcock cleared-himself so well that they could fasten nothing upon him June 8. 1657. Dr. Hewit and Sir Henry Slingsby were Beheaded on Tower-hill though many endeavours were used and much sollicitation made to save their Lives Some other persons of inferior quality were likewise Tryed and Executed upon this account as Coll. Edw. Ashton who was Hang'd and Quartered at Mark-lane-end in Tower-street Edmund Stacy against the Royal-Exchange and John Bettely in Cheapside About this time a great Whale of sixty foot long came up as far as Greenwich to the admiration of all that saw his vast bulk being persued with Guns and other weapons with great danger and at length was brought dead to the shore The French and English Armies being joined now sate down before Dunkirk resolving to take it before they stirred which hotly alarmest the Spaniards in all their Quarters whereupon Don John of Austria considering the importance of this place as being the Key of Flanders and a Frontier of France so that if the English possessed it they might have an opportunity to conquer all Flanders by the Forces that might be continually landed from England with the supplies of money which this Town by their Booties brought into the Treasury Upon these and the like motives he resolved to attempt its relief though with the hazard of his whole Army but whilst he is getting them together the English and French Forces had in a short time run their Trenthes to the Spanish Counterscarp and still approached nigher the wall which the Spaniards having notice of and fearing their relief might come too late he made all possible halfe to its assistance the better to effect which Don John their General dreins most of the Garrisors and compleats a body of sixteen thousand men with which he marches with all speed through Fuernes and Incamps within a wile and half of Marshal Tureins Quarters of which the Confederates having advice immediately dislodge with a body of about fifteen thousand leaving still enough to Guard the Trenches and make good the approaches if the Townsmen should attempt a Sally With this Detachment of men and ten pieces of Cannon Tâ—rem faces the Spaniard The English Foot were drawn up in four great Battalions and were ordered to give the first assault upon four other Battalions of Spanish Foot who had the advantage of the ground being placed upon three rising Hillocks and were seconded by Don John himself The English were commanded by the Lâ— Lockhart who having first ordered a Forlorn Hope of 300 Musketeers to mount the Sand Hills together with his own Regiment of Foot under Coll Fenwick they stoutly maintained their ground though the Spaniards played down continual Volleys of shot among them and the French refused to second them He then sent another considerable Brigade to their relief who instantly fell in with the But end of their Muskets among the Spanish Foot and they not being used to such Club Law left the Field and fled whereupon the French Horse seeing the good fortune of the English Foot fell in upon the Spanish Horse few of whom stood the charge except those under the command of the Dukes of York and Glocester who after some resistance were forced by the number of the assailants to follow the rest In this Battel a great part of the L. Lockharts Regiments were either slain or wounded and Lt. Coll. Fenwick was killed by a Mnsket Bullet The slaughter was great the French Horse being very severe in the pursuit so that near 3000 were slain and many Spanish Noblemen killed wounded and taken Prisoners This total rout of the Relievers Army put dispair into the Dunkirkers who could now expect no relief either by Sea or Land the English Fleet blocking them up by Sea and Don John of Austria not being able to recruit his Army by Land Yet the Marquess of Leda their Governour to demonstrate some courage made frequent strong Sallies upon the French Quarters which seemed to proceed rather from Despair than