are approved by the general Assemblies of this Kirk Parliament of this Kingdome and that I shall give my Royal assent to Acts and Ordinances of this Parliament passed or to be passed injoining the same in my other Dominions And that I shall observe these in mine own practice and Family and shall never make opposition to any of those or endeavour any change thereof The King having thus solemnly sworn the National covenant the solemn League and Covenant with the Oath subjoined was by him underwritten in the presence of them all which done the King ascended the other Stage and sate down in the Throne Then the Lords great Constable and marshal went to the four corners of the Stage Lyon king at Arms going before them who spoke these words to the people Sirs I do present unto you the King CHARLES the Rightful and undoubted heir of the Crown and Dignity of this Realm this day is by the Parliament of this Kingdom appointed for his Coronation And are you not willing to have him for your King and become subject to his commandments At this action the king stood up and shewed himself to the people round about who expressed their consent by their joiful acclamations crying God save King CHARLES the Second Then his majesty descended from his Throne into the chaire where he sate to hear the Sermon of whom the minister accompanied with som others of his Tribe demanded if he were willing to take the Cornonation Oath according as it was contained in the eighth Act of the first Parliament of King James the VI his Royal grandfather The King answered he was most willing Then was the oath read aloud by the Lyon King at Arms in these words Because that the encrease of Virtue and suppressing Idolatry craveth that the Prince and People be of one perfect Religion which of God's mercy is now presently professed within this Realm Therefore it is statuted and ordained by our Soveraigne Lord my Lord Regent and three Estates of this present Parliament That all Kings Princes and Magistrates whatsoever holding their place which hereafter at any time shall happen to reigne and beare rule over this Realm at the time of their Coronation and receit of their Princely Authority make their faithful promise in the presence of the Eternal God That enduring the whole course of their lives they shall serve the same Eternal God to the uttermost of their power according as he hath required in his most holy Word revealed and contained in the New and Old Testaments and according to the same words shall maintaine the true Religion of Christ Jesus the preaching of his holy Word and the due and right ministration of the sacraments now received preached within this Realm and shall abolish and gain-stand all false Religions contrary to the same shall rule the people committed to their charge according to the will and command of God revealed in his foresaid Word and according to the laudable Laws and Constitutions received in this Realm no waies repugnant to the said Word of the Eternal God and shall procure to the utmost of their power to the Kirk of God and whole christian people true and perfect peace in time coming The rights and rents with all just priviledges of the crown of Scotland to pre serve and keep inviolated neither shall they transfer or alienate the same They shall forbid and repress all in all Estates and Degrees Leases Oppression and all kinde of Wrong in all Judgement They shall command and procure that Justice and Equity be kept to all creatures without exception as the Lord and Father of mercies be merciful unto them And out of their Lands and Empire they shall be careful to root out all Hereticks and enemies to the true Worship of God that shall be convict by the true Kirk of God of the aforesaid crimes and that he shall faithfully affirm the things above written by the solemn Oath The Oath thus read the Minister tendered it to the King who kneeling and holding up his right hand sware thus By the Eternal Almighty GOD who liveth reigneth for ever I shall observe and keep all that is contained in this Oath Then was the King disrobed by the Lord Chamberlain of the Princely Robe with which he entred the church and vested with his Royal Robes so supported as before he removed to the chair placed on the North side of the Kirk whither the sword was first brought from the table by Sir William Cockburn of Langtown Gentleman usher who delivers it to the great Chamberlain and he making a short speech delivers it to his Majesty by whom it was given into the great Constable's hands and by him girt to the King's side Then his Majesty sitting down in the Chair the spurs are put on him by the Earlâ—marshal After which Archibald Marquesse of Argyle takes the Crown into his hands and after a short Prayer made by the minister puts it upon his Majesties head Which done the Lion King of Arms the great Constable standing by him called the Nobility one by one who came all and kneeling and touching the Crown upon the King's head with their right hand swore thus By the Eternal and Almighty God who liveth and reigneth for ever I shall support thee to the uttermost The obligatory Oath was likewise read to the people they holding up their hands Lastly after the Earls of Craford and Lindesay had delivered his majesty the Scepter he returned again to the Stage where he was installed in the Throne by the Marquess of Argyle and after a short exhortation of Master Robert Douglasses returned to his Pallace with the Crown upon his head in the same manner as he came This is a full relation of the ceremonies performed at his Majesties Coâ—â—â—â—â—ion at Scoone on the first of January 1650. which I the rather fully insert because the World may take notice of those hard Covenant Pills which the Kirkmen made him swallow Presently after the coronation the King and Nobles returned in a most solemn manner to S. Johns town the Kings Majesty having a guard to attend him consisting of most Lords and Gentlemen's sons and the Lord Lorne son to the Marquess of Argyle was made Captain of it And now his majesty intends with all possible speed the raising of an Army for the Scots having had all this while no Army on the other side the Fife to oppose the English proceedings they had reduc'd all places there under their force even Edenburgh Castle it self to which effect he orders his Standard to be set up at Aberdeen himself nobly resolving to be Generalissimâ—â—â—â— his Army the other general commands were now given as well to the Royalists as Presbyterians for Duke Hamilton was made Liev. General of the Army and Middleton Lieu. General of the Horse The levies came in apace to the general Rendezvouse which was appointed on the East part of Fife whither his Majesty in person went
losse he had saved himself by escaping out of the Field and had afterwards to disguise himself changed his habit with a Highlander yet all could not prevail to his Escape for the whole Countrey was raised up in armes in search after him and a price set upon his head by the States but especially the Presbyterian Ministers exhorted the people to endeavour his attachment as a thing necessary to their Salvation At length the whole Countrey being up in armes about him and no way left for this distressed Marquess to escape he thought it better to throw himself upon the Lord Aston formerly a friend of his and now out in the search with some of his Tenants then fall into the hands of his more inveterate and implacable enemies But this Lord notwithstanding he had formerly been Montrosse's follower either out of fear or covetousness durst not conceal him but sent him with a strong Guard to David Lesley by whom he was directly sent to Edenburgh and shortly after brought to his Tryal before the Parliament of Scotland where all the while notwithstanding those many ignominious affronts and disgraces thrown upon him as his being in triumphant manner brought through Edenburgh bound in a Cart yet he carried himself with so much Magnanimity and Courage That those of his Enemies who did not pity him yet were almost ashamed of their villanies towards him The Parliament of Scotland upon the first newes of this Noble Marquess being made a prisoner met and resolved to passe a sentence upon him before either he was come up or had at all answered for himself though when they allowed him to speak somewhat for himself which he pronounced with gravity void of Passion yet he had as good have held his peace for the sentence being agreed upon it was pass't to this effect That he should be carried to the place from whence he came and from thence tomorrow being the 21. day of May 1650. be carried to the high Crosse in Edenburgh and be hanged upon a Gibbet thirty foot high and there hang for the space of three hours in the sight and view of all people with his History and Declaration hanging about his Neck after which he should be taken down beheaded and quartered his head to be placed upon the Talbooth or Prison house in Edenburgh and his leggs and arms over the gates of the Cities of Sterling Glascow S. Iohns town and Aberdeen And in case he repented by which means his sentence of Excommunication might be taken off by the Kirk the bulk of his body might be buried in Grayfriers if not to be buried in the Common burying place for thieves and robbers Thus far did their unparallel'd hatred and malice extend even to his dead Corps This Sentence being aggravated by the Chancellor in the utmost terms of horrour that his spleen could invent was yet mildly and unpassionately received by this Illustrious Marquess who answered nothing to it But That he took it for a greater honour to have his head stand on the prison gate for this quarrel then to have his picture in the Kings Bed-chamber And least his loyalty should be forgotten they had highly honoured him in designing lasting Monuments to four of the chiefest Cities to bear up his memorial to all posterity wishing he had flesh enough to have sent a piece to every city in Christendome to witness his loyalty to his King and Countrey The next day being the day appointed for his Execution richly habited in a scarlet cloak laced with gold but his Soul adorned with constant Loyalty the far richer Ornament of the two he marched along the street with so composed a Courage and Gravity that most of his Enemies either pityed or admired him being come to the place of Execution he was some time detained with many frivolous questions of that flea bitten Clergy being ready to mount up the ladder he said it was Iacob's ladder by which he should mount to Heaven His Speech to the people was short and that much to this effect That he was sorry if his end should be scandalous to any good Christian but that it often happened to the righteous according to the wayes of the wicked that they who knew him should not disesteem him for this ignominious death That he confessed it was the judgement of God upon him for his private sins but as for his condemners they were but instruments That they had perverted judgement and justice and oppressed the poor yet he desired God to forgive them for he heartily forgave them That what he did in that Kingdome he did it in obedience to the just commands of his Sovereign to assist him against those which rose up against him That it was not his fault that he lay under the censure of the Church since 't was only for doing his duty That for what was said of him that he should blame the King he said 't was most false for saies he the late King lived a Saint and died a Martyr That if ever he should wish his soul in any mans place it should be in his That for the King now living he was a Prince under whom any people might live most happily his commands were righteous his promises faithfull and his dealings just Finally that he commended his soul to God his service to his Prince his good will to his friends and his name and charity to all good people This was the summe of his Speech on the ladder which and some private prayers being finished he mounted up to the top of that prodigious Gibbet where his History and Declaration being tied about his neck and his hands bound by the Executioner he turned about and gave him some gold asking If they had any more dishonour as they conceived it to put upon him he was ready to accept it and then with a great deal of magnanimity bidding the Executioner turn him off when he should hold up his hands it was accordingly performed Thus nobly lived and thus ignominiously and yet nobly died the truest of friends the loyallest of Subjects the faithfullest of servants the best of Masters and the valiantest of Captains Iames Graham Marquesse of Montrosse Earl of Rincardin Lord of Groam and Baron of Montdieu whose death was not only lamented as a private but rather as a publick loss most of the Princes in Europe deploring the unfortunate fall of so Noble and Heroick a person For he was endowed with such winning graces that wherever he came he was both honoured and esteemed and where-ever he Comâ—â—nded both feared and loved His enemies Malice though he was dead kept still alive for after they had beheaded him and cut off his quarters they would not permit that Bulk of his body which remained to be buried in any other place then the Borough Moor But this noble Marquess suffered not alone for soon after Col. Hurrie notwithstanding he pleaded the benefit of Quarter young Spotswood of Daersie a most compleat Gentleman Sir Francis
King of France and Queen Mother and courted according to his birth by the rest of the Grandees and Peers of the Kingdome Likewise during his Majesties abode here arrived his Quondam Preserver Mrs. Iane Lane who after she had taken leave of his Majesty at Bristow returned home and lived for some space in a great deal of security not doubting she could be betrayed Yet at length by what means I know not though indeed I have heard of many relations that I dare not relate any it came to light yet she had some timely notice of it whereupon she who had formerly disguised his Majesty in a Serving-mans habit now disguises her self in that of a Country wench and that trots on foot to save her life which she was like to loose for having formerly saved his sacred Majesties quite crosse the Countrey to Zarmouth where she found shipping which convey'd her safe into France great search after her departure there was made for her but in vain which so incensed the Souldiers that they burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where his Majesty first took shelter after his Escape from Worcester She being arrived in France sends a Letter to the Court whereupon his Majesty almost overjoyed at her Escape who had been the cause of his immediately sends some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris whither being near come himself with the Queen his Mother the Duke of York Glocester went out to meet this Preserver of the life of their Son Sovereign and Brother the Coaches meeting and she being descended from her Coach his Majesty likewise descends and taking her by the hand salutes her with this gratefull expression Welcome my life and so putting her into his own Coach conducts her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause wonder of the whole Court she could indeed deserve no less for I believe neither past or future ages can or will ever parallell so great a pattern of female Loyalty and Generosity Whilst his Majesty was thus passing away his time in France more in contemplation then action Oliver Cromwel made General of all the Iuncto's forces in England Scotland and Ireland finding now a fit opportunity to put his long-laid ambitious designs in execution had dissolved that Iuncto which had usurped the Kingly power or more over England and taken upon himself though not the title yet the Royall power authority over these Nations which the people though unwilling yet were forced to submit to and though he had not at first any basis whereon to ground his new usurped Regality yet in stead of one Iuncto he pluckt down he easily sets up another which I may the more justly call so in regard there was not one of them chosen by the free Votes of the people but by his own Arbitray Election those such persons who knew well enough what they had to doe before they met these after a short time of sitting without doing any thing besides the making of some impertinent laws which were forceably imposed on the people surrender their power as dying men do their souls to God into his hands that gave it who by the help of the Officers of the army Lamberts instrument makes himself immediatly King of England Scotland Irelaand which government he had often swore against though under the title of Protector This I must needs say Noble Tyrant having got the Dominion of three such Kingdomes into his possession made it now as much his study to preserve himself safe in his Estate and Grandezza as he did before to acquire it to which purpose he thought it most suitable to that design to make some remarkable disturbance amongst the neighbouring Princes then to contine that War begun by the Iuncto of Parliament with the Dutch to which purpose several motions of a Treaty passed His sacred Majesty though he had sundry times before solicited the assistance of those United Provinces for the regaining of his Right in his Kingdomes now more earnestly upon secret intelligence of the first motions of this Treaty sends the Lord Gerard his Embassadour to the United States more earnestly intreating them to own his Interest then before proffering that if they would vest out a squadron of good Ships under his Flag he would command them himself in person His Sister the Princess of Orange and other of his friends in the Low Countries addicted to his Interest earnestly prosecutes his desires and use their utmost influence on the States of the United Provinces for the performance of his propositions Nor are there five of these Provinces nor Van Trump himself their Admiral unwiling to comply with him Only the Province of Holland the most potent at sea stands out chiefly out of the disgust they had lately taken to the family of Orange whose Interest and command they were fearfull might be restored should his Majesty who was Uncle to the young Prince be invested in his Territories His Majesty likewise to advance his hopes of their assistance when Monsieur Bortell came from those United States to negotiate a League with the King of France used his utmost Interest to promote the Treaty and in fine brought it to a desired period notwithstanding the United States sent no other answer to his Embassy then a cold Letter of Complements His designs thus failing him here he directed himself to a more hopefull course by interposing himself a Mediator with the Pope other Catholick Princes for an accord and peace between the two mighty Crowns of France and Spain And indeed two such potent Monarchs had been in better capacity with their joynt forces to have assisted him had the peace went forward as there was great hopes then the United States of the Netherlands but Cardinall Mazarine by a piece of secret State-policy endeavoured to obstruct all proceedings which might tend to a Treaty or accord Nor was this Cardinal's Spleen to his Royall Majesty yet allayed for his supposed Council against him in the forementioned difference between the King and Princes but farther to prejudice him his affairs he endeavours the promotion of a peace betwixt the Protector of England the French King his Master which though opposed by all the force Interest that either himself or the Queen his Mother had in the French Court yet was by the Cardinal whose will was a law all other government in that Kingdome being but a meer shadow vigorously carried on and an Ambassadour sent over to treat of an accord where having been sometime in England his Majesty was by secret intelligence informed that the chief Article insisted upon in the Treaty by the Protector of England was the excluding himself relations and followers out of the Kingdome of France and it 's Territories wherefore least the treaty should be suddenly concluded upon those terms and he ceremoniously excluded he thought it more honourable himself to leave that Kingdome of his on accord and having
or trust to the swiftnesse of their horses heels but very few of them escaped among which were the Dukes of York and Glocester though the first was not heard of till three daies after which made some suspect that he was taken by the French Forces but by Turine after at a fit opportunity nobly releast I may particularly take occasion here to commend the valour of the Duke of York's own Troop who indeed bore the brunt of the whole Battel though I cannot deny but they were seconded by some very Noble spirits of the Spaniards but the personal valour of Mr. Henry Bendish son to Sir Thomas Bendish Ambassadour for the English Nation in Turky who had the ill fortune to be taken prisoner must not be forgotten Let us now change the Scene a little to England where the Protector begins to die the Scaffold in as deep a purple as the Vest given him at his late Instalement bore and that not onely with the bloud of those seculars that were loyal to their Soveraign but having as he thought now secured to himself the Government his hand reaches to the sacred Clergy nor will he strike at a reed or a shrub amongst them but imitating the Ancient fable of the Iupitrian Thunder strikes at the Olympus the Atlas the mainest pillar and support of the Protestant Religion for no lesse then the Reverend Doctor Hewet's blood will now satisfie his insatiate Cruelty a man whose vertues and piety as they were beyond expression so I think was the manner of his death beyond example This Doctor Sir Henry Slingsby who had ever since the forementioned rising in Yorkshire layn prisoner in Hull Castle with many others are accused of a design to have seized on the Tower of London and the Magazine at Hull both in one day the one by a divine the other by a Prisoner but these persons must have several others to be their assistants and that especially in London who while the Doctor was securing the Tower must fire the City of London in several places Those that make plots may as easily discover them and with as much ease prevent them the Protector could do both but to make some shew of a great deel of fear in the businesse Worthy Alderman Tichburn then Lord Mayor of London is immediately commanded to settle the Militia the Protector telling him as he easily might that there was a grand design in hand probably of his own contriving against his Government that the Marquess of Ormond had lately been in England transacting about it that the Common Enemy for so was his sacred Majesty then styled lay ready with a potent Army ships hired to transport them on the Sea coasts of England and that therefore the Militia should be settled in confiding hands meaning such either whose interest or fear must render them faithful to the Protector shortly after according to the common course the persons to be accused are apprehended the chief of which were Dr. Hewet Mr. Iohu Mordant brother to the Earl of Peterborough Col. Ashton Capt. Henry Mallory Mr. Woodcock Iohn Betteley Edmund Stacy Henry Fryer Iohn Sumner and Oliver Allen who were all accused to be complices of this grand design And because no English Law could take away these mens Lives The ordinary Tyrannical way of a High Court of Justice must do it Sir Henry Slignsby who was brought prisoner from Hull Castle was the first who came before them and is accused for having endeavoured to draw the Governor of that Castle from his Allegience excellently good to the Protector and pleading not guilty yet was by two Witnesses found ready convicted and condemned Dr. Hewet being come before them according to the example of his Royal Master King Charles the first refused to plead or own the Iurisdiction of the Court for which contempt as they were pleased to interpret it he had the same sentence pronounced against him and was afterwards together with Sir Henry Slingsby executed on Tower-hill Mr. Mordant brother to the Earl of Peterborough disavowed likewise the Authority of the Court but at last being induced to plead was acquitted so was Mr. Woodcock Mallory Fryer sumner and Allen were sentenced but reprieved Ashton Stacy and Bettely were hanged drawn and quartered in several places of London And here we must not forget the magnanimous death of Iohn Betteley who having made a Speech clearing his Innocency and the justness of his Cause undauntedly leapt off the Ladder and died a worthy sufferer for the Royal Interest His sacred Majesty during these strange Murders and oppressions of his Subjects in England by a power which had usurpt the Regality is forced to sit still his urgent necessities not giving him leave either to revenge their deaths or redeem the surviving who heavily groaned under the yoke his onely remedy now was his prayers to God which he pursues with an earnest devotion that he would be pleas'd in his good time to deliver his faithful Subjects from those miseries and burdens they then struggled under and without doubt God hath heard and will perform his pious desires As an introduction to which it pleased the DIVINE MAJESTY to take out of this world the grandest opposer of his Majesty's Right OLIVER CROMWELL who from a mean beginning had raised himself by force to be the arbitrary Governour of these Nations is by the Almighty called to give an account of his actions before the High Tribunal of Heaven where are neither false witnesses nor interessed Judges and that on the same day on which he had gained two such signall victories over his Majestie's forces at Dunbar and Worcester viz. on the third day of September Yet he thought he had so certainly secured the Government of these three Nations for himself and that he nominates his son Richard for his Successour a person to speak the truth as not at all endowed with his fathers courage so not at all inclined to his ambition one whom if fame lies not of him could have willingly been content to have surrendred his Protectorship to the Kingship of the lawfull heir and by law undoubted Successour But those Officers of the Army whose ambition though not in so high a degree had so engaged them as Complices to Oliver Cromwell in his high late designes against his King and Countrey had so great a load of guilt upon their consciences that they could not hear of much less agree to the admission of his sacred Majesty Nor was it indeed only thus but some ambitious spirits there were and particularly Maj. â—eneral Lambert whose high-flown thoughts made him fancy Idea's in his brain and forc't him to attempt the enterprising to make him Commander of these three Nations as Oliver by his means had done before which designes of his in the sequell ruin'd him and discovered those grand cheates and abuses which that party had put upon the Nation endeavouring to enslave them to their own arbitrary power whilst they pretended those