horrid a Design discountenanced the Credit of the Relator until verified by demonstrative Arguments which gave Opportunity to the Conspirators to withdraw themselves Yet some of them were taken as Howard Essex Russel Rumsey Sidney Walcot Hone Rowse and the Lord G. but he escaped out of the hands of the Messenger The Lord Russel and Collonel Sydney were both beheaded Walcot Rowse and Hone were executed at Tyburn and others in other places suffered the punishments due to such execrable Treasons The Earl of Essex the unfortunate Son of a good Father by his own hands prevented the Kings Clemency who could not shew the utmost of his Severity against a Son of my Lord Capels Of those who fled some obtained the Kings Pardon by their ingenious Confessions as Barber Blaney Bourn How Howard Rumsey c. Nor is it unworthy of Notice that scarce any of those who were executed did dye without confessing enough to demonstrate their Crime though not their Repentance Amongst the Fugitives the most considerable were Armstrong Ayloff Burton the Two Goodenoughs Brothers Gray Holloway Norton Nizbet Row the Two Rombalds Brothers Smyth Wade Tyley and Ferguson the Shame of his Coat and Calling a Canting Teacher and more cruelly wicked than all those he had endeavoured to mislead Sir Thomas Armstrong and Holloway being intercepted the First at Leyden in Holland the other at Mevis one of our Western Plantations and brought into England were both executed according to the Merit of their Crimes The Parricide designed thus in England against His Majesty and the Duke being discovered and prevented the Conspiracy in Scotland fell also as depending on it James Stuart Monroe Melvin Cockran Bayley Castares Spence Alex. Gordon Nezbet c. were the Chief of the Party acting in all Things by Agreement with Argile This perverse Son of a wicked Father had Demanded 30000 l. of the English to buy Arms engaging himself to make a powerful Diversion in his own Country Which he also effected as we shall see hereafter having procured Supplies by other means The Duke of Monmouth youthfully rash inconstant ambitious and hurried on with the Pretense of vindicating Liberty and Religion agitated now with the Guilt of his Crimes had also withdrawn himself But being proscribed and finding but little safety in a Retreat though it his best course to implore that Clemency which he had so cruelly offended Which he did by his Letters seemingly full of Ingenuity wherein he acknowledges his Crimes of Unfaithfulness against the King and of Ingratitude to the Duke bewailing what he had done and humbly supplicating Pardon for what was past With Imprecations of Vengeance upon himself if he offended any more or violated the Promises he then made of his future Fidelity The King the mildest of Princes moved with his Submissions answered him under his own Hand in these Terms That if the Duke of Monmouth would render himself capable of his Mercy it was necessary he should surrender himself into the Hands of Secretary Jenkins and should tell His Majesty all that he knew submitting himself as to the rest entirely to his Pleasure This peremptory Declaration of the King's Will extorted other Letters from Monmouth wherein he patheticalâ—y aggravates his Sorrow and Tortures of Mind for his failings against his Majesty Confessing that being fatally circumvented by the Enchantments of others he was drawn into their Design and precipitated into those Evils the Consequences whereof he had not suspected He declares that his Crimes appeared to him with so terrible an Aspect that he would rather dye than be tormented with their stings he therefore implores the King's Grace and Pardon which he did not desire but by the Mediation of his Royal Highness He further professes That he saith this seriously and sincerely not only submitting himself for this Time to the King's Pleasure but for his whole Life Concluding That he should be the unhappiest of Men until he were raised with a grateful and mild Answer The King after this 1683. Nov. 25. not questioning the sincerity of Monmouth's Conversion admitted him to his presence Where throwing himself at his Majesty's Feet he plainly and fully acknowledged himself conscious of all the Conspiracy except the Parricide discovering many things to the King which they had hitherto been ignorant of Monmouth being by the Intervention of the Duke restored to his Majesty's Favour as formerly obtained also the Favour not to be produced as a Witness against any Body which Grace had been formerly refused to the Duke of Orleance in France and that undoubtedly was the reason that his old Associates and Friends impudently gave out that he had discovered nothing of the Conspiracy but contrarily had vindicated the Innocency of those that had so injuriously suffered The King moved with so great Arrogance and perceiving that Monmouth did continue his Society with those who seduced his unwary Youth after some Admonitions he commanded him to publish in Writing what he had declared to himself and to the Duke his Brother Nor did he refuse it writing to the King in these Terms That he was informed that it had been reported of him as if he had designed to extenuate the late Conspiracy and traduce the Testimonies against them that suffered His Majesty and the Duke knew how ingeniously he confessed all Things and that he was not conscious of the least Evil against his Majesty's Life It grieved him however that he had so greatly countenanced the said Conspiracy He would publish this for his Vindication beseeching his Majesty not to look back but that he would please to forget those Injuries which he had forgiven It should be his Care for the future to sin no more or suffer himself to be misled from his Duty Yea he would spend his whole Life to deserve that Pardon which he had granted to his most Dutiful Monmouth But these Flourishes were no less fickle than short-liv'd For the unhappy Youth being bewitcht by the Artifices of wicked Men and his own Ambition broke that Faith which he had so solemnly promised to preserve inviolable For being foolishly perswaded That the Declaration he had so lately made was a Diminution to his Honour and might rise up in Judgment against him hereafter he redemanded it from his Majesty Who tender of his Good endeavoured to divert him from so preposterous an Attempt but being more obstinately pressed he in great Anger restored it him banishing him at the same time from his Court and Presence The King did not long survive this for being intercepted by a violent Apoplectic Fit he changed his Terrestrial Crowns for one of Glory being so universally lamented by the Good and leaving so great a Desire of him behind him that our Loss was in a Manner inconsolable He was succeeded by James Duke of York who was immediately proclaimed King But he was scarce setled in his Throne when the Hydra of Rebellion lift up her Head again out of the Lake of Schism and Faction BOOK
desires to the rest But in vain for Scudmore the Governour rejecting these Invitations with Contempt told them He would deliver the City to none but to the King that had entrusted him with it or to his Majesty's Commands And thus the Scots but raise is after a sharp though no long Siege of Five Weeks seeing there was no good to be done raised their Camp and marched Northwards occasioned perhaps by their Apprehension of the King's Motion from Oxford or rather affrighted with the stupendious Victories of Montross in their own Country Rosseter being commanded thither with Six Thoufand Horse The King having again left Oxford for his private Affairs there no less than his publick abroad grew by the Distractions and Divisions in his own Court daily worse marched to Ludlow with design to relieve Chester long labouring under the Pressures of a close Siege The Parliament hearing of the Kings Motion ordered the Colonels Poynts and Rosseter to observe him with orders that in case he moved towards Hereford they should act by consent with Leven but if he should go towards Bristol they should then move by Communication of Counsels with General Fairfax their Forces being joined Four Thousand all Horse follow the King close And the unhappy City of London to promote this Design of King-Catching as they called it or rather The Common-Council of London order their Members to find each a Horse to persuethe King their own Slavery made a Decree in Common-Council that every Member of it should have a Horse with Accoutrements ready to join with the rest in pursuit of the King His Majesty in the mean time hastens towards Chester and being come to Routon-Heath within Two Miles of it Rosseter falls with great Resolution upon the Royallists who received them with no less Courage The Fight was very hot wherein the Rebels were not only disordered but had been quite defeated and an entire Victory obtained but that Colonel Jones coming in that instant with near a Thousand Men from the Siege of Chester turned the Day by confirming their own Party and restoring to them the Success they despaired of before The Fight at Rowton-heath The King being overpowered with the Accession of these new-Commers lest he should be surrounded by them charged through them and not without much Slaughter on both sides recovered Chester The untimely Death of the Lord Bernard no less eminent for Courage and Loyalty than Illustrious for the Nobleness of his Extraction aggravated the King's Loss he being the Third Brother of the Duke of Lenox slain in his Majesty's Quarrel in this unnatural War The King did not stay long in Chester the Enemy growing upon him after their Victory but retired into Wales still loyal to his Interest he being a Prince however unfortunate insuperable in Afflictions and Superior to all Calamities Nor did he at all despond however harassed trusting that the same God who from small beginnings had raised him once to an Equality with his Enemies in Power might yet of his Goodness restore him in his good time He then by his indefatigable Industry and the Accession of Prince Maurice his Troops with some other scattered Remains had got a considerable Body of Horse together which he divided and delivering Fifteen Hundred of them to Digby and Langdale Digby and Langdale defeated sent them with Commands to endeavour to conduct them to Montross which if these great Men had been able to have compassed might have changed the whole Face of Affairs He had already acted to a Prodigy as will be hereafter declared but they could not reach the Borders and Confines of both Kingdoms For though they had broke Colonel Wren's Regiment of Horse and taken Eight Hundred Foot at Sherburne and Mylford they were afterwards surprised by Copely and Lilburne who being fresh fell upon their wearied Troops and defeated them Carnaby and Hutton Two Knights with some others were slain and Four Colonels together with many Inferiour Officers and Four Hundred Horse fell into the Enemies Hands The Lord Digby's Coach was also made a Prize wherein amongst other Spoils several of the King's Letters too carelesly guarded were found And these as those formerly taken at Naesby were printed with the same Malice and Impudence Nor is it to be wondred that as they began the War with Tumults Scandals and all Kinds of Barbarity so they should end it with the same Arts and the same Brutality Digby was again routed by the Scots upon Carlile-Sands and scarce saved himself by with-drawing with very few Attendants into the Isle of Man and from thence into Ireland So that this whole Party together with its Design was destroyed and vanished But to return to Fairfax into the West where the main Stress of the War was for what happened in other Provinces were rather Velitations and Encounters of Parties than formed Designs of Battels after the taking of Bristol the Enemy consulted what to undertake next Many were of Opinion they should march to the Relief of Plymouth labouring under the Evils of a very long and irksom Siege But that Town having the Sea open and the Parliamentarians abounding in shipping having the Navy at their Disposal it was thought more expedient to dislodge the Royallists out of those Garrisons which impeded the Commerce betwixt London and the Western Counties and so open a Passage for Travellers to and fro at Pleasure In order to this Barclay-Castle as nearest was first attempted This Fortress lying betwixt Glocester and Bristol did not only disturb the Commerce of both those Cities but extreamly incommoded the Country on every side with Excursions Fairfax had formerly sent some Horse to hinder their Cavalcades and now Colonel Raynsborough is ordered with Three Regiments of Foot to besiege and reduce them Which he also did having forced their Out-Works Barclay-Castle taken by Raynsborough and particularly the Steeple and Church which overlooked the Castle For Sir Charles Lucas however brave being unequal to the Enemy in Power was forced to surrender which he did considering the State of Affairs upon no contemptible Conditions In the mean Time Cromwell took the Devizes The Devizes by Cromwell without any great Opposition as also Laicock with the same Facility the Souldiers being permitted to march away with their Arms. And now Fairfax commands him with Three Regiments of Horse and Four of Foot to reduce Winchester and Basing-House the Seat of the Marquis of Winchester whilst he himself marches with the Rest of his Army Westward His Souldiers were mustered and paid and new cloathed Being come to Chard he was advertised that the Royallists had a design to break through his Army and join with the King Which seemed neither incredible nor unreasonable for that being effected the Enemy would be obliged either to divide his Forces which might expose both Parties or follow with his whole Army and so leave the Two fertile Provinces of Devonshire and Cornmall entirely in the Prince's Hands He
the Universality of Mankind for Quae Regio in Terris nostri non plaena Doloris did lament the undeserved Fate of this Prince Nay the outragious Faction it self did blush to approve the Infamy of so flagitious an Act. The Factions disapproving the Infamy of the Regicide impute it to each other The Presbyterians to shift the Envy of it from themselves threw it upon the Independants condemning upon the Stage what they had designed in the Tyring-room But whether out of true Sentiments of Repentance or that they could act no further let them look to that being equally Regicides in their Intentions though not in the Execution The Independants said That they only put to Death a Private Man and an Enemy The King had been long since killed by the Presbyterians as being despoiled of his Prerogative whereby he excelled others of the Militia wherewith he protected his Subjests and of his Freedom of Vote whereby he made Laws They also remembred How he had been divested and robbed of his Liberty as a Commoner of the Society of his Wife as a Husband of the Conversation of his Children as a Parent of the Attendance of his Servants as a Master Yea of every Thing that might render his Life comfortable So that there was nothing left for the Independants to do but to put an end to the Calamities wherewith this Man of Sorrow had been so cruelly overwhelmed and afflicted by the Presbyterians But who ever were the Authors of this Impiety we grieve at what they did which seeing it cannot be undone we may wish that the Memory of it may perish with them who designed and perpetrated so Hellish a Mischief Nor had the Scelerates of the Faction yet satisfied their Cruelty They were inhumanly barbarous to his Dead Corps Their Inhumanities after his Death His Hair and his Blood were sold by Parcels Their Hands and Sticks were tinged with his Blood And the Block now chipt as also the Sand sprinkled with his Sacred Gore were exposed to sale Which were greedily bought but for different Ends by some as Trophies of their slain Enemy and by others as precious Reliques of their beloved Prince It is certain that Cromwell to satisfy his greedy Eyes had caused the Coffin to be opened in White-Hall and did with his Fingers search the-Wound as if he had still doubted of the effecting of his Hellish Cruelty Nor did it suffice to have raged against him living and dead they will also for as much as in them lies kill his very Fame Which they endeavoured to do by the enslaved Pen of a needy Pedagogue one Milton Salmasius indeed had writ a Defence for the King but he being a Presbyterian as the other an Independant both very good Latin if we believe the Learned Hobbs and hardly to be judged which is better and both very ill Reasoning and hardly to be judged which is worst And thus both Houses as they had often sworn with hands lift up to Heaven did make him a Great and Glorious King by changing his Fading Crown which they had interwoven with Thorns into an Immortal and Incorruptible one They made him great indeed great in Suffering in Patience His Character and great in his Martyrdom Thus fell Charles the Great and Just Monarch of sometimes Three flourishing Kingdoms A great Example if any of both Fortunes The Best of Kings The Meekest of Men. His Countenance was Comely and Majestic He was Constant Valiant Pious Eloquent of infinite Reason and Reading His Integrity was entire and no Guile found in his Mouth His publick and private Vertues were eminent He had been born for the Good of Mankind if he had not fallen amongst Monsters not Men. The best of Princes the best of Men the best Parent the best Husband the best Master Famous for Patience for Piety for Chastity for Justice and of an unshaken Fidelity towards God and Man His Greatness only rend'red him Guilty being by the Suffrages of his most bitter Enemies worthy of Empire if he had not reigned The Royal Corps being embalmed and exposed for some Days to publick View at St. James's was afterwards delivered to Mr. Herbert And Funeral one of his Servants to be translated to Windsor He had earnestly solicited to have had it deposited in Henry VII's Chappel near to the Monument of King James But they refused it lest the Place as they said might be prophaned by the Superstitious Concourse of the People He was therefore carried â—o Windsor by the Direction of the Duke of Lenox the Marquess of Hartford and the Earls of Southampton and Linsey who had got leave â—â—om the Faction for the decent Enterrment of their â—ear Lord provided the Funeral-Charges did not â—xceed Five Hundred Pounds These Sacred Reâ—â—ques being then born by the Officers of the Garriâ—on attended on by the Four Lords were laid 〈◊〉 Henry VIII's Vault It is observable that â—â—ough the Air was serene when they set out â—efore they reacht the Chappel-Door the â—â—erse of Black Velvet which covered them was all White with Snow which seemed to fall to testify their Candor and Innocence But it troubled the Assistants that the Fanatic Governour would not permit them the Use of the Common-Prayer the Bishop of London attending there to do this Last Office to his Dearest Master So that he was interred with the Sighs and Tears of his Servants And thus Lam. C. 4. V. 20. the Breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord was taken in their Pits of whom we said Vnder his Shadow we shall live among the Heathen COMMENTARIES ON THE REBELLION OF England Scotland and Ireland PART II. BOOK I. The Regicides prohibit the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales They abolish the House of Lords and the Government by Kings Choose a Councel of State Displace and Fine the Lord Mayor for refusing to publish the Act for abolishing of Monarchy Declare they will-maintain the Fundamental Laws Erect a High Court of Justice Hamilton Holland and Capell condemned by it and murthered Several Acts of State The Scots proclaim Charles II. Some Actions of the Levellers The King leaves Holland and goes by Brussels into France The Duke of Gloucester banished Continuance of the History of Ireland The King at Jersey Prince Rupert Sails from Kinsale to Portugal Loseth his Brother Prince Maurice by a Hurrycane The King at Breda Treats and Concludes with the Scots Montrosse's unfortunate End Fairfax routed and Cromwell General His Actions in Scotland The Scots barbarous Vsage of the King They are defeated at Dunbar The King crowned at Schone He enters England The Battle of Worcester The King 's miraculous Escape CHarles the Martyr being removed by a Parricide black as its Authors as is declared in our former Commentaries the Regicides endeavour with the same Fury to supplant his Son Heir of his Diadems and Vertues in order to which they immediately after his Fathers Death The Regicides prohibit the proclaiming of the
Gods immediate Finger which commands Obedience to the Magistrate and paying his Duty to his King the most pious most vertuous and most sufficient of Princes As for the present King having been his Councellor he affirmed That he never saw greater Hope of Vertue in any young Person than in him great Judgment great Vnderstanding great Apprehension much Honour in his Nature and a very perfect English-man in his Inclination By which just Character he raised and renewed the Desires of the People after so deserving a Prince As for himself in Imitation of our blessed Martyr's Ingenuity about the Death of the Illustrious Strafford he confessed That he had given his Vote to that Bill that took away hâ—s Life which he greatly bewailed And at length having earnestly prayed for the King the People and his Murtherers he was indisputably added to the Number of the Blessed Norwich and Owen reprieved The Earl of Norwich and Sir John Owen both signal for their Loyalty and eminent Endeavours in the late War were likewise condemned to the Block but both reprieved by the glutted Votes of the House tho they will make other Examples in other parts of the Kingdom Beaumont a Minister was hanged at Pomfret Others in other parts put to Death being Chaplain to that Garrison Major Monday was shot to Death at Lancaster Morris dyed with no less Bravery than he had lived Nine Months in the Defence of Pomfret Poyer one of the Three revolted Grandees in Wales was likewise shot to Death his Comrades Laughorne and Powell escaping by Lot which was indulged to all by reason of their former great Services the to Rebel-Parliament There were also some others slaughtered upon the same accompt Unhappy Monuments of unfortunate Loyalty and the Regicides Cruelty Tho several considerable Persons eluding the Sagacity of their Keepers escaped as Col. Massey Sir Lewis Dives Mr. Holden the Lord Capell tho unfortunately betrayed into their Hands again the Lord Loughberow and others Nor was it only against the persons of Men that these Tyrants raged they also seized the King and the Churches Patrimony Revenues Pallaces c. and force such of the Cavaliers as they did not confiscate to a ruinous Ransom of their Estates And now to render the Peoples Obedience to the Usurpation more easy they absolve them from all Oaths made to their Sovereign and his Posterity but will enchange them with a more rigid one obtruding an Instrument upon them whereby they engage themselves to be true to the Common-wealth of England Several Acts of State without King or House of Lords And now having declared themselves a Free State make it Treason in any who by Word or Writing should dare to oppose them as such or should contrive the death of the General the Lieutenant General or kill any Member of their Parliament They also put a Period to their Monthly Fast God having indulged them what they fasted for the Death of the King and Possession of his Inheritance They had already made a new Great Seal with this Inscription In the first year of Freedom by God's Blessing restored 1648. They also took down the King's Statue from the West End of St. Paul's and that other in the Old Exchange putting this Inscription under the Niche in Letters of Gold tho with no less Falseness than Impudence Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus 1648. But they could perswade but half of their Judges tho all made such by them to comply with their Change however they easily supplied the Vacancies And now they proceed to another Act of State which was coyning of Monies markt with the Arms of England and Ireland on one Side and on the Reverse with the House of Commons to demonstrate thereby their Sovereignty where-ever their Traffick might extend The Scots in the mean Time in whose power it had once been to restore the late King to his Royal Throne exagitated with the Guilt of having sold him found the Infamy of it aggravated by his calamitous Murther They therefore to vindicate themselves from so black a Crime as they had declared their Dissent against His Majesty's Tryal so they protested highly against his Death and acknowledging the Succession of his Son Charles II. proclaim him King with great Pomp and Solemnity The Scots proclaim K. Charles II. which being done they dispatcht Commissioners to acquaint his Majesty with it who was then at the Hague attended by a noble Train of Peers and Gentlemen who followed his Fortunc It will be now Time to return to the Army The Faction had quite supprest the Fast and Perversness of the Presbyterians And with the same ease oppressed the Levelling Sect of those The Story of the Levellers who pretended to a Community and Equality of all Things The Souldiery actuated with the Leven of the Agitators did not only dream but consult of dividing the Possessions of the Kingdom amongst the Godly that is themselves Cromwell had brought them to his Lure with these kind of Baits before the King's Murther with the Hopes whereof they were grown numerous in the Army But seeing no Effects of these fine Promises began to be troublesome and tumultuous in so much that Lockier one of their Ring-leaders was shot to Death though sumptuously butyed by the Rable of his Party This Execution rather madded than appeased them and being too feeble a Remedy for so growing an Evil it was thought fit to separate them which was attempted by voting Eleven Regiments of these Mutineers for Ireland But this enraged them to that Height that perceiving that instead of enjoying those Happinesses they had been deluded with they were exposed to new Hazards and the Dangers of a starving War they absolutely declare they will not go for Ireland till the Peoples Liberties for which the Army first engaged were secured These also require that the so often promised Representative might be chosen They inveigh against the High-Court of Justice and Council of State as tyrannous not without blaming the Injustice and Illegality of the Regicide They add That the People had only changed not shaken off their Yoak and that the Rump's little Finger was heavier than the King's Loyns c. And because Discourses were fruitless they flye to Arms. Scroope's Regiment of Horse quartering at Salisbury having cashier'd all their Officers march with their Colors to joyn with those of Harrison Ireton Skippon and others confederated by the briguing of the Agitators which they had also done if they had not been prevented by the extraordinary Diligence of Cromwell and Fairfax who posting Forty Miles in one Day overtook them at Abington But being doubtful of the Event they offer a Treaty wherein satisfaction might be mutually given and till that were effected that neither Party might come within Ten Miles of each other Things being upon these Terms the Levellers march to Burford where resting secure upon the Engagement of those Twins of Perfidy and Ambition They are supprest the
He had no command in the Common-wealth altho all its Forces were raised in his Name And even now their Army being lost they did not cease unseasonably to torment this excellent Prince with their Impertinencies They impose new Conditions upon him pretend to reform his Family and endeavour to extort a Declaration from him against himself and such who were faithful to him Provoked with these insufferable Indignities and with the Impatience of bearing with their reiterated Follies he withdrew himself privately our of their Guardianship and taking Horse under pretence of taking the Air in his Shoes and Steekings he rode towards the Provinces of the North where the Atholians and the Guordons expected him in Arms. It is incredible how unworthily he had been used since his first Arrival in Scotland It may not be impertinent to mention some of those barbarous Passages In his way from Spey to Edinburgh some of the Towns did not only congratulate his happy Arrival with their Acclamations but with their Presents also Aberdene bestowed Fifteen Hundred Pounds upon him which the Commissioners took so ill that to prevent the Liberality of the other Towns they commanded That such who had Money to lavish away should bring it into the Treasury Cautioning hereby that the People should not demonstrate their Affection to their Prince or the Prince be sensible of the good Will of his Subjects towards himself Yet more when the English Parricides had reproached them with their Agreement with their King they declared They would not own his Cause until he acknowledged and repented his own Sins the Transgressions of his Father and the Idolatry of his Mother By all which it is evident That his Majesty was now in the same Danger his Royal Father had formerly been in the Hands of the Presbyterians But the Parliament seriously considering the King's Recess and perceiving their own inevitable Ruin at Hand if they persisted in their Obstinacy and Follies they sent Montgomery with a choice Party of Horse after his Majesty humbly to desire his Return Which he also effected upon promise of better Conditions for the future which were also performed the Grandees being much mollified by their late Overthrow And now the King was admitted as concerned in the Publick Transactions tho the Ministers mainly opposed it not yet sensible of the imminent Destruction which threatned the continuance of their Dissensions and Feuds The King now at the Helm Orders were given out for new Levies his Friends were admitted to Publick Employments and he was crowned with as much Pomp and Magnificence as the Troubles would permit at Scone And now the Minds of the most Seditious being in some sort appeased the King's Standard was set up at Aberdeen and all who were fit to bear Arms were invited to take them up against their invading Enemies Whilst the King is busied in raising Forces Cromwell was no less intent in Prosecution of his Victory Edinburgh and Leith opened their Gates to him And the Castle annexed to the City Inexpugnable in it self by reason of its Situation after no long siege was surrend'red to him He took also all the Fortresses by himself or Liuetenants on this side the Frith so that the King solicitous for Sterling encamped under the Walls of it He removed thence to Torwood where being well entrenched he slighted the Provocations and Attempts of the Enemy resolving to hazard nothing before his new Levies which were raising for him in the Northern Counties were come up to him Whilst the Two Armies were thus in fight of each other a Presbyterian Plot was discovered which was detected by I know not what Letters found in a Ship at Ayre The Design was formed by their Parsons in London who expecting a choice Body of Horse from Scotland under the Command of Massey pretended to raise some considerable Disturbances in Absence of the Army But the Secret being laid open Love and Gibbons for Terror to others were by Cromwell's Recommendation both heheaded Cromwell when he saw he could neither provoke nor compel the King to fight impatient of Delay he commanded Col. Overton to attempt a Passage into Fife which he did with Fourteen Hundred Foot and Four Troops of Horse And after some light Skirmishes landing at North-Ferry he immediately cast up some Works for his Defence where he also contained himself until more Succors came Which quickly happened for Lambert flying to his Aid with Two Regiments of Horse and as many of Foot they fought and defeated Browne who was sent thither by the King with near Four Thousand Men. Him they slew and kill'd and took well nigh all the Royallists Whilst this was in Action Cromwell braved it before the King's Trenches and seemed to design to assault them but hearing of Lambert's Success he marched back with his Army and passing the Forth joined the rest of his Victorious Forces and marching with speed to St. Johnstone after having drained the Mote and planted his Cannon he had the Place delivered to him without any further Resistance The King who had long since designed to march into England is now necessitated to do it and to transfer the War into England which he was not in a Condition to support in Scotland Hearing therefore of the Siege of St. Johnstone whilst the Rebels were busied there he removes his Camp with swift Marches towards England permitting all such who were dissatisfied with the present State of Affairs to depart at pleasure Many especially of the Faction of Arguile and the Kirk leaving him he led the Rest now entirely at his Command along with him Cromwell being informed of the King's Departure sent his Horse after him and having left Monk behind him with Six Thousand Men to finish the Reliques of the War in Scotland follows with the Strength of his Army whilst the rest of his Forces which guarded the Borders endeavour to hinder the King's Advance The Rump terrified with the Rumour of this Invasion condemned Cromwell of Temerity and Precipitation but raised with his Letters prepare for Defence And lest the Provinces wearied with their Tyranny should look back towards their Lawful Prince they fill them with their numerous Troops forcing the Trained Bands of the Counties to joyn with them against the Invading Scots The King's Army not exceeding 12000 Effective Men had entred England July 1. 1651. and being advanced into Lancashire notwithstanding Lambert and Harrisons Interruption with their numerous Cavalry joyning with the Earl of Darby out of the Isle of Man forced their Passage at Warrington-Bridge and continuing their March through the thick Squadrons of the Enemy and the Opposition of frequent Encounters came at Length to Worcester a City affectionate to His Majesty's Service The King left the Earl of Derby behind him in Lancashire to raise new Forces But this excellent Personage however great in Reputation in that Country had scarce got Fifteen Hundred Men together when he was attacked by Collonel Lilbourne with far greater Numbers
Necessities he would not only consent to remedy all their just Grievances but remit his Right to Ship-money for ever though adjudged to him by all the Justices of the Kingdom Nor did he thus obtain his desires the Parliament opposing them not only declaring that Tribute to be illegal but were also dissolved if they had not been prevented by their Dissolution upon the point of voting against the War they so much abominated There were many good Men who were much troubled at this unexpected Dismission of the Parliament fancying that the Heats and Differences betwixt the King and his People might have been dispelled by the Continuance of the Assembly which seemed now on the other side highly exaggerated The enraged Commonalty exclaimed mightily against the Authors of this Counsel Some attributed it to Marquiss Hamilton the ambitious Son of a Mother wholly devoted to the Covenanters Others to the Earl of Strafford But the greatest Crowd would have it to be the Archbishop of Canterbury and to be revenged on him about five Hundred of the Apprentices and Rabble furiously assault his Palace at Lambeth though without Success But the true Authors were the subtle Contrivers of the following Rebellion For Sir Henry Vane one of the principal of them then his Majesty's Principal Secretary being ordered by his Master to move for a Supply of Twelve Subsidies with Power to descend to Eight he when the House by an Offer of Five nay Six were mentioned to advance towards a Complyance peremptorily told them that less than Twelve would not do whereby he not only irritated the Seditious but the more modest part of the Assembly which seemed to be his Design by the Effect The factious were not displeased with the King's Necessities The King's Necessities which they themselves did from time to time contribute to since there were no Subsidies to be obtained but upon Conditions ruinous to Monarchy it self or by exposing his best Friends and Ministers to their Rage and Slaughter And thus they constrained the King though unwilling to unusual ways of supplying his wants that they might thereby expose him to the Contempt and Odium of an irritated People But the King raised Moneys by other means his Council the faithful Nobility and Gentry His Friends contribute to his Supply the Judges but more eminently the Clergy who contributed a fifth of their Revenues whence it was called the Bishops War largely supplying him The Earl of Strafford subscribed 20000 pounds which the Duke of Lenox also did as likewise others proportionably except Hamilton who pretended Poverty though the Author of his Memorials against the current of the English Writers delivers that he also subscribed 20000 pounds Being thus furnished the King raises another Army and marches against the Scots but slowly not supposing them so forward who had already passed the River Tweed near Berwick The Earl of Northumberland was General and Strafford Lieutenant-General of the King's Army but they being both absent the Lord Conway General of the Horse commanded lying with 3000 Foot and 1200 Horse to keep the Passage of the Tine at Newburne Lesley the Rebels General desired permission to pass with his Army with a Petition to the King but being denied he attempted the Passage with Three Hundred Horse which were repulsed Hereupon he plies his great Guns with such Success that the English Lesley forces his Passage at Newburne being for the most part Raw and Unexperienced throwing down their Arms ran away Commissary-General Wilmot made stout Resistance with the Horse till over-power'd by Numbers he was forced likewise to retreat The Scots possessed themselves of New-Castle the same Day being abandoned by Sir Jacob Ashly who sunk his Great Ordnance in the River for haste whilst the whole Army retreated in much disorder towards York Two Days after they took Durham with the same Facility and putting the Northern Counties under Contribution forced them to supply their Needy Troops with Provisions and Moneys in abundance The King Summons the Peers to York Makes a Truce with the Scots The King streightned with these Pressures summoned the Peers to meet him at York by whose Counsel or rather Faction a Treaty was commenced and a Cessation of Arms concluded upon very dishonourable Conditions The Four Northern Counties being allowed the Rebels for their Winter Quarters and 850 Pounds per diem during the Truce for their Maintenance Nor could it be otherwise hoped for since Eleven of those Sixteen Lords which the King had appointed to treat with the Scots were either Principal Leaders or Assertors of the Rebellion in the following War It will not be from the purpose to mention what further happened in this Convention The Scots seemed to wonder that they appearing in Arms upon the Invitation of the English Lords none of them unmindful of the Favour had made any mention of it affirming they had not come without the invitation of their Letters The English Lords surprized with this Reproach assured them That they had made them no Invitation at all The Scots being highly moved with this denial produced an Instrument subscribed with most of their Hands which strangely surprised them until upon a strict scrutiny they found it to be an Invention of the Lord Savil's who had really sent them the said Invitation counterfeiting the subsigned Hands which being now discovered by his own Confession it was thought fit seeing the Cheat had succeeded so well not to publish it Strafford alone did dare to advise against this sordid Compliance with the Enemy urging That the Scots were to be forced back with Steel not Gold He further advised the King to grant them no Conditions unworthy himself or the English Nation Let him but give him leave and he would upon peril of his Head oblige them to return to their Country and Duty to their Prince again This vigorous Advice did so far irritate the Scots that they prosecuted the Author of it to Death On the other side Hamilton suspected to favour his Countrymen perswaded a Peace to which the rest of the Peers did also assent upon a supposition that a Parliament and an Agreement were the securest Remedies against the impending Evil. The Cessation being thus concluded the main of it was referred to the Arbitration of a Parliament Nov. 3. 1640. The Rebel-Parliament meets which the King had already summoned to meet at Westminster And this is that fatal Convention which by the Predominancy of the Puritans in it consummated their Impiety and Disobedience by ruining the most Apostolick Church under Heaven and Murthering the best Prince that ever swayed the English Scepter The King might have expected better treating from this Meeting seeing he did not call it to use his own Words more by others Advice and the Necessity of His Affairs than by his own Choice and Inclination who always thought the right way of Parliaments most safe for his Crown as best pleasing to His Subjects and People In the
descending Edge-hill in Battalia and very Chearful had a Sight of the Enemy who were busie in ordering their Army in the Valley below The King viewing of them being asked what he intended to do answered briskly I never saw the Rebels before in a Body I am resolved to fight them God and all good Men assist my Righteous Cause Prince Rupert commanded the Right Wing Lieutenant General Willmot to whom the Earl of Forth was added the Left and the Earl of Lindsey General of the Field led the Main Battel on Foot with a Pike in his Hand and each Division had their Reserves Essex who had Quarter'd at Keynton drew his Army into Battalia in the Vale saluting or provoking the Adversaries with Three great Shot and as many Shouts of his whole Army This Summons was answered by Two great Guns and being advanced nearer the King observed the Rebels Army to be drawn up as followeth Two Regiments of Horse composed the Right Wing commanded by the Two Colonels Balfore and Stapelton and the Lord Fielding had his Regiment in their Rear for a Reserve Essex commanded the Battel at first also on Foot as the adverse General and the Left Wing consisting of Twenty Troops of Horse was led by Colonel Ramsey a Scot. And now the Cannon began to play on both Sides but without any considerable Execution Prince Rupert charged Ramsey with so much Courage that he not only forced him from his Station but off the Field also and the Brigade of Foot next to them frighted with the Flight of their Horse and surprized with the Defection of Sir Faithful Fortescue who mindful of his Duty went over with his Troops to his Majesty threw down their Arms Colonel Essex who commanded them retiring to the Main Body But our Horse following the Chace too far and their Reserves commanded by the Earl of Carnarven and hurried with the same Violence suffered the Victory to slip out of their Hands by their too much eagerness to overcome For if they had charged their Flank bared of their Horse they had probably much incommoded them Essex was more cautious who sending Fielding's Reserve with others under the Command of Hurrey did much disturb the King's Foot destitute by the Absence of their Horse The Left Wing had not the same Success for Balfore had forced Willmot to a disorderly Retreat and breaking Two Battalions of Foot left naked by the Flight of their Horse on that Side opened a passage to the King's Standard The Foot by this were all engaged and the Fight growing very hot the Standard it self was seized on Sir Edmund Varney that carried it being Slain but it was recovered again by Sir Jo. Smith for which generous Act he was by the King the best judge of Merit Knighted upon the Place and honoured with the bearing of that Standard he had so bravely recovered The Earl of Lindsey was slain there having performed all the Parts of a great Captain and his Eldest Son hastning to his Assistance was taken Prisoner The Battel being restored by the Accession of fresh Supplies on the King's Side and the Evening approaching they left combating as if by consent both Sides being weary and the Rebels also in want of Ammunition Both Sides therefore rallying their shatter'd Forces drew up into Battalia as at the Beginning By this the Prince was returned who if he had not amused himself in that vain pursuit and Plundering of the Enemies Carriages at Keynton the War had been ended at this first Blow Essex was strengthened in the Field with Colonel Hamden's Regiment and presently afterwards by Colonel Hollis his Foot and the Lord Willoughby's Regiment of Horse who meeting Prince Rupert's Wing in the Lanes pursuing of Ramsey forced him back into the Field Although Essex was more numerous by the Addition of these Three fresh Regiments he did attempt no farther upon the King considering also that the Prince's Horse of whose Bravery he had had Experience were fresh and entire Night being come the King withdrew to the Hill from which he had descended where he lay all Night in his Coach with the Prince of Wales the Hopes and future Glory of our Nation the Camp shining with Fires The next Morning the King sent off his Foot towards Ayno and having stood sometime in Battel-array with his Horse did also follow Essex lay in the Field where he had fought and however recruited with the Accession of Three entire fresh Regiments attempted no farther upon the Royallists but retreating to the Banks of Avon under the protection of Warwick-Castle Essex retires to Warwick suffered the King to march whither he pleased The slain on both Sides were at first believed to amount to near Five Thousand though the Country by a stricter Enquiry affirmed they had not buried above a Thousand which is the more probable seeing Slaughters of this Kind are ordinarily magnified On the King's Side the General bravely performing the Duty of his Place as also that of a private Souldier was slain together with the Lord Aubigny and Sir Edward Varney who died in this Field of Honour The Rebels lost Colonel Essex who signalized himself by his Bravery Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey and the Lord St. Johns who being taken died of his Wounds Both Parties attributed to themselves the Honour of the Victory The Essexians said That the Field and Dead were left to their Disposal The Royallists likewise gloried that they had done what they designed by removing the Obstacles that hindred their March towards London The King continues his March adding farther That the Rebels however strengthned with Three Regiments durst not oppose themselves to the King's Passage the next Day And truly though the King's Forces were much shattered they grew accidentally more formidable than before to whom it proved no small Victory considering his Discouragements not to have been vanquished For many Eminent Persons who stood at gaze before seeing the Party equal ranged themselves now without difficulty on the better Side where their Duty and Inclination invited them How fair this Enemy behaved themselves in other things may be guessed by Letters taken amongst their Baggage in the Battel discovering the Treasons of one Blake in the King's Army Blake's Treason Punishment who daily gave Intelligence of what passed to the Rebels and particularly in what part of the Army the King fought that they might direct their Bullets with more Certitude at so Illustrious a Mark. Perhaps thus designing as they had Religiously affirmed to defend the King's Person But the unhappy Contriver of this nefarious Treason expiated his Crime with his Life being hanged on the next Tree O. Cromwell 's first Adventure I cannot omit what is affirmed of Cromwell then a Captain of Horse in Essex his Regiment who absented himself from the Fight He had observed from the Top of a Steeple in the Neighbourhood the Disorder of the Right Wing of their Army wherewith being greatly terrified he slipp'd down
hardship to renounce his Honour or depart from his Judgment Not that he would peremptorily deny what was fit to be granted but lest he might yield to that which both Reason and Religion commanded to deny As soon as he was come to Newcastle Leven commanded by Proclamation That no Papists or Delinquents that is any who was Loyal or Faithful to the King should be permitted to approach him And it was moreover cautioned That no Soldiers or Officers should contract any commerce of Friendship or Civility with Malignants that is such as were addicted to his Majesty But the Independant Grandees did fret and fume that the King was detained by the Seots their Mercenaries and Hirelings as they termed them as being nourish'd by their Pay Affirming further Contests betwixt the Independents and Scots That the Kingdom of Scotland had no right or joint Interest in disposing of the Person of the King in the Kingdom of England Hence they come to Threats and Vote That they have no more Occasion for their Assistance the Kingdom being no longer able to bear them Yea they took care to publish to the World by Declaration their Rapines Extortions Cruelties and Errors The Scots on the other side pretending the Laws of Nature of Nations and Hospitality affirm That it is in no Kind permitted them to deliver up the King and especially their own King to any whosoever against his Will His Majesty having refuged himself under their Power of his own Accord But lest they might altogether displease their Dear Brethren they force the King to send Orders to his Governours to deliver such Places as they had yet in their Power to the Parliament to the Marquess of Ormond not to conclude any Treaty with the Irish and to Montross to disband all his Forces in Scotland These things being extorted from the King they also would wrest his Assent to the Parliament's Imperious Propositions which they sent to Newcastle to him viz. That he should ratifie the Solemn League and Covenant abolish Episcopacy deliver the Power of the Sword into the Hands of his Enemies and exclude the Peers made by him with several others of his chief Friends from Pardon c. They had themselves not as yet corrupted with English Gold condemned many of these Propositions which they advance now with Menaces lest both Kingdoms should agree he refusing to settle Peace and Religion without him to his and his Posterity's irrecoverable Loss Nor did they thus terrifie this magnanimous Prince who chose rather to expose his Crowns and Scepters than his Honour and his Religion and to see himself and Posterity divested of the Imperial Dignity of Kings Montross disbands by the King's Command by the violence of others than his own Act by a tame Subscription to the unjust demands of his Enemies The Scots had deputed Duke Hamilton the Earl of Crawford and others to the King altho ' their Parliament had Voted That he should not come into Scotland declaring it to be contrary to their agreement with the English and the Treaty to perswade exhort warn and urge his Assent to the Covenant And that he would be pleased also to approve and enact the English Propositions These were followed by Delegates from their Synod denouncing in case he were refractary The Scots barbarous usage of the King the Wrath of God against him and the hate of his Subjects Some of these were appointed to remove his Scruples and clear his doubts whereof one being admitted to Preach before him after several bitter Invectives in the Pulpit his Sermon being finished he commanded the fifty second Psalm to be sung Why dost thou Tyrant boast c. But the King perceiving his malicious Reflection unexpectedly stood up and ordered the fifty sixth Psalm Have Mercy Lord on me I pray to be sung Which the People neglecting the Parson unanimously did Nor were the Fortunes of David and Charles much unlike the one being detained by the Philistines at Gath and the other by the Scots at Newcastle when this Psalm was composed by the Royal Prophet and sung by the Royal Sufferer But now the main Controversie amongst the Rebels was about the disposal of the King's Person Until the Scots moved by Contumelies and the Sarcasms of the Cromwellists and perceiving the Parliament although they had conquered England did not disband were more inclined to agree with them and perhaps softned by the Parliament's offers after some previous formal disceptations to heighten the Price of their Treachery they at length resolved to deliver him up And he was delivered to the English Rebels by his native unnatural Subjects of Scotland to whom he had fled for Security with all the circumstances of Irreligion of Impiety of Perjury of Treason and of detestable Avarice being sold for Two hundred Thousand Pounds They sell him Which they having received and evacuated their Garrisons in England they returned with this Reward of their Iniquity into their own Country But with a Curse also for it is observable That after that time they did never thrive nor nothing they undertook prosper There had indeed been some attempts made for the King's escape But they were all prevented by the vigilancy of his cruel Keepers Leven assuring the Parliament That he would according to their desire take care that his Majesty depart not away And he was as good as his word for his Majesty having changed his Keepers being as he had truly said Bought and Sold and now in the hands of his bloodiest Enemies He is imprisoned in Holmby and cruelly used was carried to Holmby-House not far from Naesby where he had so unfortunately fought that he might be perpetually tormented with the sight of that odious Companion Nor was he less perplex'd within doors not being permitted to enjoy a freedom in his Solitude His Friends and his Chaplains which a common Civility would not refuse to the most Criminal being inhumanly kept from him whilst some of their own unknowing Factious Levites are obtruded upon him These mistaken Creatures had neither Modesty to cohabit nor Learning to dispute with this Royal Divine who being equally capable of the Mitre as well as Scepter of the Sacerdotal as well as Kingly Office was truly inimitable in both How good a Divine he was appears by his Controversies with the Marquess of Worcester a Person no less Eminent for Learning than Nobility of the Roman Catholick Religion and with the Parliament Ministers especially by his Writings to Henderson a Scots Presbyterian and Champion of the Party who being vanquished by the strength of his Arguments testified his Conviction by his Repentance and died for Grief as is credibly reported that he had offended so good and so pious a Prince not as the Enemy affirm because he could not perswade his Majesty to sign the Propositions a reconciled Son to the Church of England Whilst the King is afflicted in his noisom Prison at Holmby it will not be from the purpose to
been excluded from the Conversation of his Friends and as it were buried alive in his own Palace by the Severity of his Adversaries The King not displeased with this Change desired to go to his own House at New-market which after some time was permitted Fairfax and especially Cromwell in the interim affirming That his Majesty could be no where safer or more eminently honoured than in the Army And to improve their Promises his Chaplains and the usual Forms of Divine Service a thing which he had greatly desired and the only Artifice to beget a Confidence in him of their Reality were permitted him at pleasure His Friends and Servants were likewise admitted to his Presence and Attendance so that the Royallists were dazzl'd with the Lustre of these Concessions Nay more he was indulged the Liberty of writing to the Queen and her Majesty's Messages were in no wise interrupted His Children had free Access to their Royal Father and moreover the sick of the King 's Evil were without Difficulty suffered as formerly to be touched by him But all this was precarious being the Contrivance of those impious Impostors the Father and Son in-law Cromwell and Ireton not out of any Favour to the King but that by his Accession they being paramount might more securely triumph over the Presbyterians Upon the King's Arrival in the Camp Fairfax not a little surprized acquainted the Parliament with it professing That it happened without his or his Officers Knowledge And truly it is not incredible but that this servile General might be ignorant of the Authors of so great an Attempt it being also told him by the Council of War that seeing the thing was done it was advisedly and opportunely enough performed and that this was the Opinion of the Army He therefore had done enough in giving them at Westminster notice of it But the more piercing and quick-sighted found that it was contrived by Cromwell and his Son-in-Law and executed by the Agitators by their Instigation no less insolent in their Licentiousness by confidence of Impunity than the other Two Impostors were famous for their Dissimulation and Sagacity The Pretended Parliament alarmed at the Surprisal of the King The Parliament is alarmed with the Surprisal of the King and the Rumour of the Armies approach stopp'd them at present at St. Albans with Intreaties and Money In the mean time they advise with the City and joining Forces with them prepare for Defence But the Citizens Preparetions were tumultuous and full of Confusion and Distraction as is usual in unexpected Occurrences And now the Dissentions betwixt these Parties growing to a Height they attacked each other with the same Method and Arts wherewith they formerly had tormented the King Petitions were suborned on both sides from the Provinces and City and nothing more frequent than tumultuous Resorts at the Parliament-Doors And 't is observable that none did so much apprehend or more condemn these Seditious Concourses than those who formerly had fomented and stirr'd up the like against the King The Houses were no less agitated with Seditions than the City especially upon publishing a new Declaration from the Army The Army's Declaration The Sum of it was That the Parliament should be dissolv'd upon a set-day another being called to succeed it That they should give an accompt to the Kingdom of the vast Treasures they had received and That they should suspend from sitting in the House Eleven Members they named viz. Hollis Stapleton Lewis Clotworthy Waller Massey Glyn Maynard Long Harley Nicholas being the chief Champions of Presbytery and now accused of High-Treason c. The Houses silent to the rest answered only to the Point of Suspension affirming That it was not lawful to exclude any from the House without first shewing cause Forgetful of what they themselves had formerly done in the case of Strafford and Canterbury which was also seasonably retorted upon them now by the Souldiers Having thus affrighted the Parliament they thought good to terrifie the City also by demanding That the Militia thereof might be put into other Hands This so enraged the Londoners that running tumultuously to Westminster they forced the House by keeping the Speaker in his Chair To confirm their former Grant of the Militia and to invite the King by Votes to London They also made new Levies and giving Massey Waller and others the Chief Commands amongst them made suddenly a considerable force by the Addition of their Reformado's Whilst they are thus busie the Two Speakers with about Fifty Members fly to the Camp and crying out That the Houses were under a Force sate daily and voted with the Chief Officers of the Army in a sham form of Parliament The Soldiery glad of the Occasion march towards London under pretext of reconducting these Tribunes the fugitive Members back and removing all force from the Parliament The City the Parent and Nurse of that nefarious Rebellion against the King now distracted with their own terrors and apprehensions neglecting a generous defence delivered themselves up to the disposal of the menacing Army And surrendring their Tower and Forts into Fairfax's Hands they were forced to give new assurances of Fidelity to their new Masters The chief Citizens and Members of the contrary Faction were imprisoned and banished the Militia was put into trusty hands of their own Party and all the Works raised with so much heat and violence against their King are now to prevent new Rebellions against their Mercenaries demolished by them Nor did this empty obsequiousness suffice A Months stipend was paid to these Janisaries for their good Service and a Donative of Fifty Thousand Pounds bestowed upon their Deliverers Fairfax lest the Senate might seem ingrate was constituted Generalissimo of all their Forces more to his Honour than intrinsick Power he still acting but as Cromwell's Substitute for whilst he seemed satisfied with the Title and Shadow the Independents did in effect possess the Substance and Advantage The Army having triumphed over the City by their pompous marching through it and over the Parliament by modelling it according to their Interest harsher Propositions than the former were sent to the King whereunto the chief Officers had likewise given their Suffrages in the House but take care in the Camp that his Majesty should not consent to them promising that they would obtain or give him better themselves declaiming much against the Presbyterian arrogance and severity And they indeed did produce easier and more equitable Terms with which artifice the King being circumvented seemed to prefer them before the other to the great satisfaction of the Heads of the Army as if now the Camp were more valuable in the King's Esteem than the Parliament And yet these Catifs did not cease to imbitter these Members against him as if despised by him Nay themselves forgetting their former Civilities Risum teneâ—â—is grew more morose and now they delay and pretending a reverence for the Parliament reason and dispute
closely pursued by the Enemy with Hopes of strong Assistance from the Inhabitants of Norfolk and Suffolk But these failing and indeed joyning with the Rebels contrary to their solemn Promises the Royallists were besieged in this Town no way tenable but by the rare Fortitude of the Defendants Cromwell the Welch Nor was Cromwell less successful in Wales Laughorn having been beaten at St. Fagons by Col. Horton with scarce half his Number Fifteen Hundred of his Men being killed and near Three Thousand taken Prisoners Cromwell besieged the Fugitives in Pembroke having first taken Tenby Castle and forced that of Chepstow by Col. Eure who slew the Governour in cold Blood The Rumor of the Scots Invasion greatly encreasing animated Cromwell to employ all his skill and force for the Reduction of this important Post The Garrison within was strong and the Place well fortified which he resolved however to attempt by Storm And falling on with great Courage was as bravely received and at length beaten off with great slaughter of his Men. After this not thinking it adviseable to expose his dismayed Souldiers to new hazards he resolves to gain that by famine which he could not effect by force Which being perceived by the Garrison they chose rather to surrender upon Terms than lanquish in the Toyls of a long Siege tho they saw a Prospect of a General Rising in the Kingdom and the certainty of the Scots Invasion But Cromwell knowing how precious time was offering the Souldiery and Inferior Officers very good Conditions he had this strong Place with the Three chief Leaders Laughorn Poyer and Powell delivered into his hands by these faithless Miscreants Nor was Sir John Owen more fortunate in North Wales being defeated and taken Prisoner by Colonel Mitton So that the whole Country being reduced to the Parliaments Obedience again Cromwell was at liberty to march against the Scots with all his Power The Earl of Holland defeated The Earl of Holland the Duke of Buckingham with the L. Francis his Brother the Earl of Peterborough and some others of Quality appeared near Kingston with Five Hundred Horse and some Foot but were instantly suppressed tho not without some bloody Shirmishes in one of which the Young and Generous Lord Francis refusing Quarter was barbarously slain by an unknown Hand Holland was taken in his flight at St. Neots by Col. Scroop where Dalbier sometime a Favourite of Essex's and a great Parliamentarian was killed in his Quarters But the Scots seem now to demand our Attention being advanced with a very numerous and well accoutred Army far into the Kingdom And here may be observed the Vicissitudes of the Times as well as of Affairs For the Scots whom the Parliament had formerly with great Endeavours and Charges allured to their Assistance and whom the War being done they had likewise twice dismissed with vast Rewards as Friends These same Scots the Faction being changed become Enemies and invading England again joyn Forces with the Royallists their now reconciled Friends against their sometimes dear Brethren of the Parliament Duke Hamilton upon the surrender of Pendennis Castle where he had been detained Prisoner by the King's Command being set at liberty was now General of this great Army consisting of Fifteen Thousand fighting Men to whom Langdale and Musgrave brought Three Thousand English which forces if God had not determined otherwise might have effected what they designed As soon as the King was informed that Hamilton commanded the Scots Army he too prophetically foretold the Fatal Issue of the Expedition as fancying him unfortunate or inconstant But Cromwell being come out of Wales with a victorious and disciplined Army and joyning with Lambert who had hitherto attended the Enemies Motion fell upon the main Body of the Scots within Two Miles of Preston in Lancashire and routed them by Skirmishes Cromwell defeats the Scots at Preston and beating up of Quarters without the Formality of a Battle Langdale and his English fought bravely but being neglected and no ways succoured were oppressed by the adverse Multitudes The Scots presumed perhaps upon their own Power and thinking to conquer by themselves and consequently reap the whole Advantage of the Victory as also the entire Honour of restoring the King if they had any such design abandoned them that fought so well and by this foolish precaution or presumption contributed to their own ruin Besides the Scots Forces either by Ignorance or Malice or Discord for Hamilton and Calander who was Lieutenant-General of the Army did not agree well were so untowardly marshalled that they could not all be brought to fight or assist each other by reason of the over great distance of their Wings whereby they were all defeated Bayly after sharp encounters with those who pursued him having recovered Warrington-Bridge delivered up himself and Four Thousand Foot to the Conqueror upon Quarter Major-General Midleton was intercepted with Four Hundred Horse and Hamilton himself General of the Expedition with Three Thousand Horse was taken without a Blow at Vttoxeter by the Lord Gray and Colonel Waite Very few returning by the way they came met with Monroe who followed Hamilton with a Supply of Six Thousand more but hearing of the Defeat returned with the other Fugitives back into Scotland Cromwell following in the Rear of these came to Edinburgh where joyning Forces and Councils with Argile by whom he had been invited they not only obliged the contrary Faction to lay down Arms but having summoned another Parliament condemned the late Expedition as unjust Scotland being pacified Cromwell secure on that side having also concerted with Argile concerning the Ruin of the King and Extirpation of Monarchy it self they also advised and agreed on the Form and Method of the future Regicide And so after sumptuous Treats and many high Expressions of Gratitude and Acknowledgments for his meritorious Services Cromwell returned into England All this while Colchester held out with incredible Courage and Constancy upon hopes of Relief from the Scots and not only content to defend themselves did extreamly annoy the Enemy by their frequent Sallies and Camisadoes They had consumed their Horses Dogs Cats and what else was no less abhorring to Nature but their hopes with the defeat of Hamilton being likewise spent they were forced to surrender Which they did upon no other Terms than Quarter for life to the Souldiery and Mercy to the Officers But Colchester surrendred how cruel the Mercies of these Scelerates were instantly appears for they had no sooner possest the Town but Three most Noble Persons Men of Eminent Valour and Loyalty the Lord Capell Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle to whom was added Sir Bernard Gascoyn but exempted upon the accompt of being a Stranger were sentenced to be shot to death by the Court-Marshal tho the War was done Sir George and Sir Charles were immediately murthered by Souldiers appointed for the Slaughter The Stone they fell upon being sprinkled with their Blood could
not as absolutely refusing it but as desiring time to consider of it For the Rump compell'd all in Office to a Renunciation of the Right and Title of the King By which means they insured them in their Society and insnared them in the same Bond of Rebellion with themselves The Londoners deceived in their Expectations began to Mutiny They will acknowledge no Authority but that of a Free Parliament and make a Decree in their Common Council that for the future they will pay no Taxes nor Imposts whatever to any but by order of such a Convention full and entirely their own Masters The Rump mad with Anger command Monk to march into the City with his Army and order him to beat down the Gates and Portcullises break their Posts and take away their Chains out of the Streets Several also of the Prime Citizens Assertors of Liberty were put in the Tower Sectaries and Fanaticks being introduced into their Vacancies The People were amazed at these Actions of Monk from whom they had hoped better things Whilst he revolving the Odiousness of what he had done however necessitated to it by the pressing Commands of the Juncto and lest he should imprudently spoil what he had so well begun and not ignorant that these Tasks had been imposed upon him as well to try his Obedience as to break the Friendship and Intelligence which was betwixt him and the City resolved to attempt greater Matters To all this he apprehended a Diminution of his Power with the Souldiers which was likewise effected that very Day the Command of the Army being given to a Septemvirate of their own Confidents he being but one of the Number This highly displeased him nor could he endure Co-Equals in Power which the Rump forgetful that it was Lambert's Case had obtruded upon him And who indeed can endure Sharers in that Power he is solely Master of Monk impatient of so sordid an Indignity complains to his Officers of this Mutilation of his Authority who upon consideration of the Matter of Fact did unanimously declare That the Parliament forgetful of them by whose Merit they did reign had designed and resolved to casheer them and by continuing their Session to perpetuate their Tyranny over the most Noble English Nation Upon these Grounds the Army marches into London resolving to joyn Hands with the Citizens now Assertors of the Publick Liberty and declare together with them for a Free Parliament as the only Remedy for so many Evils Being thus united the Souldiers pathetically testified their Resentments and Sorrow for the Injuries and forced Violence done to that Noble City which was put upon them against their Wills This happy Conjunction fill'd the Town and whole Kingdom with so universal a Joy that the People demonstrated their Satisfaction by their Acclamations Feb. 9. ringing of their Bells and infinite Bonfires besides the roasting of all manner of Rumps in Contempt of the present Juncto resounding in these Transports and glad Ecstasies the Name and Fame of the General The Mock-Parliament troubled at this unexpected Change and forseeing their infallible Ruin if Monk persisted omitted no Arts no Allurements Wiles Flatteries Threats Treasons or any other means whereby they might reclaim Monk or destroy him It is affirmed that the Sectaries who could suffer any Lord but their own whom they had so cruelly offended offered him the Protectorate upon condition he would not change Party Which he Prudently as well as Loyally refused considering that tho the Employment was magnificent yet it was very hazardous the stream of the Peoples Inclinations flowing towards their old Government It was reported that Monsieur Bourdeaux the Embassadour of France offered the same but with the same success though he had also offered the Assistance of France for securing of the Dignity Monk had given the juncto who had usurp'd the Power over their Colleagues they themselves being scarce an eight part of the whole a Day by which they were to fill their Vacancies with new Elections Which being omitted by the Fanaticks the Secluded Members having given him satisfaction in several Conferences why they ought to be readmitted were however mainly opposed by the Rumpers and chief of their Conspiracy freely permitted to return to their Duty again The House being encreased by double the Number and at liberty to act began where they had ended in 1648. Voting the Concessions of Charles the Martyr in the Isle of Wight to be satisfactory and declare That what ever had been done by their Vsurping Colleagues since was null and of no effect But these Gentlemen being Presbyterians and consequently tenacious of their old Principles condemned indeed what was done by the Independants but recall'd none of their own Unjust Decrees nor voted any thing at present in favour of the King On the contrary they declare That Charles I. did first raise up Arms against the Parliament They impose again the Solemn League and Covenant the Root of all our Evils and Vote That none who had born Arms against the Parliament should be admitted in the next Elections But withal they make Monk Captain-General of all their Forces vote the Gates Portcullises Posts Chains c. of the City to be set up again at the Publick Charge release Booth and others out of Prison put the Militia of the Kingdom into good Hands and having fixed a day for their Dissolution as they had been obliged by Monk they appointed a Free Parliament to convene in April next These things being done to the Satisfaction of all Men they further constitute a Council of State who should govern during the Interregnum And recommending the Souldiery to Monk's Care and Prudence they dissolve themselves by their own Act and Decree putting an end to that Long and Bloody Parliament which could not be determined but by their own Consent after they had exercised their Tyranny upon their Fellow-Subjects besides the Horrid Murther of their Sovereign the Space of Nineteen Years except Oliver's Quingquennium Richard's short Empire and Lambert's Ten Weeks domineering And thus ended that unhappy Parliament which gave Life and Being to those viperous Factions of Presbytery and Independency by whose violence and impetuous ambition of ruling they did not only destroy the Hierarchy of the Church but Monarchy out of the Common-wealth involving themselves in the Ruin of that Parent that begot them 'T is scarce credible with what excess of joy the People wearied with the continuance of that Black Parliament and freed from the fear of its Refurrection entertained the News of its Dissolution The Fanaticks only and the Dependants of the Hated Juncto who left nothing unattempted for the perpetuating the Session of the Regicides were averse to it To effect which they solicited Petitions out of the City against their Dissolution they tempted the Tribunes and Chief Officers with the usual Charms of Largesses to their Party they caused fictitious Lists of the Militia to be printed And when all would not prevail some of
Barrels of Powder with Back Head and Breast-pieces for near Five Thousand Men and Lime it self was secured by a Garrison sent thither from the Duke of Albemarle of Three Companies The Rebels changing their Quarters often and in perpetual Motion seemed desirous to pass into Gloucestershire but were repelled at Canisham-Bridge between Bristol and Bath with the Loss of Two Troops of their Horse They hereupon returned back by Bath where the King's Forces were and marched towards Philips-Norton being followed in their Rear by the Royallists For that purpose a Detachment of Five Hundred Foot with some Dragoons and Horse-Granadiers commanded by the Duke of Grafton whilst the Rest of the Forces followed with the Cannon were sent in Pursuit of them Being advanced near the Town he fell into an Ambush the Lane being lined on both sides with Foot and Horse behind the Hedges who made very great Fire upon our Men. Grafton went as far as the Gate of the Town with as much Courage and Resolution as can be expressed but the Enemy continuing their fire he retired and passing thro the Rebels Horse with no less Bravery than good Fortune got safely off Eight of his Men were killed in the Adventure and about Thirty wounded The Rest of the Army being come up the Earl of Feversham drew it up in good Order upon a little Hill within Distance answering the Rebels Cannon with the Noise of his own tho with no great Effect on either side He had designed to have fought the Enemy there but was impeded by the Excessive Rains which fell at that time So that towards the Evening the Royallists marched to Bradford and the Enemy to Frome But the Rebels doubling and changing Quarters often to avoid their Pursuers came to Wells where they prophaned the Cathedral with unusual Barbarity plundered ravished and robbed the Citizens upon pretence of wanting Pay From hence they marched to Bridgewater and the Earl of Feversham from Somerton to Weston where he encamped Three Miles distant from the Rebels The Horse and Dragoons lay in the Town and the Foot in the Field covered towards the Campaign with a Parapet and Trench formerly made by the Country-men against Inundations and their Rear was secured by the said Village behind them Towards Evening it was told my Lord Feversham that the Rebels were stirring in Order to march Whereupon he sent frequent Scouts out to learn News of them But Monmouth eluding the said Scouts enters unobserved and with great Silence into the Plain before the Royallists Trench Where drawing up his Army which consisted of Six Thousand Foot and having entrusted the Lord G. with the Horse which amounted to Twelve Hundred he marched in Battle-Array against the Adversary The alarm being taken the Royallists consisting only of the Guards and part of Dunbarton's Regiment were quickly ready to receive them The Fight began with great shouts and brisk firing The aforesaid Dike being in the Nature of a Parapet was of great use to the Royallists which occasioned the Enemies shot as being aimed higher to five for the most part over their Heads whilst they as being more exposed in the open Field were more directly armed at and woundded The L. G. hastening with his Horse to the Assistance of the Foot loosing his way in the Night fell unexpectedly upon a Party of the Royallists Which he endeavoured to avoid by wheeling from them But turned upon his own Men who thinking he ran away did effectually do so themselves and filling all with Fear and Confusion the whole Horse were broke and routed and that without a Blow every one shifting for himself and searching his Safety in his Flight instead of fighting The Foot stood bravely to it until attacked by our Horse at length come up in Flank and Rear as also our great Guns beginning to play upon them they seeing themselves abandoned by their Cavalry were also broke routed and slaughtered The slain on the Rebels side amounted to near Two Thousand besides many taken Collonel Holmes Major Perrot Crookhorn and other unknown Names were made Prisoners There were also taken Three Field-Pieces and Six and Twenty Colors Of the King's side Three Hundred were slain and many wounded And undoubtedly the loss would have been greater but for the fore-mentioned Breast-work the Rebels so far out-numbering them Immediately after this Victory Feversham marched with Five Hundred Men to Bridgewater the Rebels next Station Which he possest himself of without Resistance they dispersing and flying upon his Advance And here he left Collonel Kirk to compose the Disorders of the Town Monmouth and Gray seeing all lost escaped out of the Battle and changing their Vestments sought where best to conceal themselves But the Lord G. was taken in the disguise of a Shepherd one other only being in company with him and being brought to the L. Lumley he was discovered at first sight being also known by a Servant of the said Lord's who had formerly been his Groom So that putting off his Disguise he professed That since his landing in England he had never had one good Nights Rest or eat one Meal in quiet Nor is it a wonder being perpetually agitated with the perturbations and cares which accompany unfortunate Ambition Two Days after Monmouth himself fell into the Hands of his Pursuers The Immensness of the Rewards raised the Country in the search so that the Ways and Woods were filled with their Numbers Some went out by break of Day and taking a Dog with them as Men usually do in Hunting Beasts of Prey the Dog made the first Discovery of one hid in a Ditch who proving to be a Foreigner which appeared by his broken Language and threatningly required to tell where Monmouth was pointed at his Covert whither they immediately went and there seized this unhappiest of Men in great Distraction pale trembling and full of Disorder He was brought thence to the Lord Lumley's and from Ringwood sent a Letter to the King Protesting the Remorse in him for the Wrong he had done His Majesty in several things and now in taking up Arms against him He complained of his Misfortune in meeting some Horrid People that led him away to believe That it was a shame and a sin before God not to do it But he would not trouble his Majesty at present with many things he could say for himself that he was sure would move his Compassion The chief end of this Letter being only to beg That he might have the Happiness to speak to his Majesty having that to say to him that he hoped might give him a long and Happy Reign He concluded That he really thought himself the most in the Wrong that ever any Man was and had from the Bottom of his Heart an Abhorrence for those that put him upon it and for the Action it self Hoping that God Almighty would strike his Majesty's Heart with Mercy and Compassion for him as he had done his with the Abhorrence of what he had done