presented to him The Bills concerning private persons I omit Those that are of a publick nature were as followeth 1. The Additionall Explanatory Petition and advice 2. An Act to adjourn this Parliament till the 20th of January London July 1. This day his Highnesse the Lord Protector was proclaimed in the City with great solemnity About ten a clock in the morning at Whitehall Gate the persons met who were to give attendance upon this Ceremony First the Messengers belonging to the Councill next Trumpetters next them the lifeguard of his Highnesse after them other Trumpetters next his Highnesse his Gentleman after them more Trumpetters next divers officers of the Army gallantly mounted then Trumpetters again next the Searjants at Armes and the Heralds of Armes and Garter principall King of Armes betwixt two Gentlemen-Ushers before his Highnesse Councill in their Coaches proceeding in this order to Temple-Bar At this place they were met by the Lord Major mounted on horseback in his Crimson Velvet Gown and his Colleâ— of ss. with the Recorder and Aldermen of London all in their Scarlet on horseback attended by his Officers Trumpetters and the loud Musick of the City From thence an officer of Arms proceeded before the Aldermen then next before the Lord Major his Mace-bearer the Sword-bearer with his cap of maintenance and a Herald of Armes Then proceeded severall Serjeants at Armes belonging to his Highnesse and councill with Norroy King of Armes next after them Garter principall King of Armes between two Gentlemen Ushers going immediately before the Lords of his highnesse councill and the principal secretary of State in their coaches In this manner they proceeded towards the Royal Exchange making two stands by the way First at chancery-lane end over against the Inner Temple gate where Proclamation was made by the common crier of London according to the tenor of the proclamation already published by act of Parliament the Lord Major Councill the Aldermen of London and all Officers standing bare The second stand was made in Cheapside at the end of Woodstreet where proclamation was made as before Thence they proceeded in order to the Royal Exchange ariving there at Exchange time where Proclamation was made as in all other places by sound of Trumpet in the form aforesaid and the humble petition and advice was published after which the Trumpets sounding three loud acclamations were made by the people Long live the Lord Protector Whitehall Novemb. 5. The fury of the Jesuited popish party in Poland having of late with all violence been executed in a barbarous manner upon the reformed professors who are of the Bohemian confession in those parts insomuch that the Churches are dispersed and the poor christians forced to fly into forein parts for safety of their lives divers of their exiled Pastors being come into England to seek for reliefe the case of the poor exiles stands referred by his Highnesse and the Councill to the consideration of those worthy and pious persons Ministers and others who are the Committee for Piedmont The most inhumane persecutions lately acted by the Papists and their party in Poland against our Brethren of the Reformed Religion are some of them as followeth The first remarkeable is that of Lesna a populous wealthy city and the great refuge of the Reformed who frequently came thither from other parts for shelter The church there was divided into three congregations the Bohemian the Polonian and the German This City they first set upon intending to put all to the Sword and destroy it with fire but the Citizens having notice of their coming on quitted the City leaving all their wealth behind flying through Woods and Boggs into Silesia so that the enemy entring without resistance found none but aged and bed-rid persons whom they barbaroufly flew and after they had plundered the City they reduced it to ashes In other places they cruelly murthered divers Minister of the Word and people of all ages and Sexes making them to end their lives by exquisite tortures The Pastor of the Church of Czvirzin had his eyes first pulled out because he would not renounce the faith then they pulled off with Pincers the Joynts of his fingers but he still remaining constant they poured moulten Lead into his mouth and lastly putting his head between the shuts of a door they severed it from his body The Pastor of the Church of Dembnick and two others after many vilanous abuses offered to their persons had their throats cut Finding also a young Minister in the field they cut off his head with a Sithe and afterwards mangled his body The like cruelty they acted also upon a citizen of Lesna and worse upon many others not sparing even the weaker sex nor children A pious Matron of Lesna with her three children not getting quick enough out of Town was murthered in the open street her hands and feet cut off and two of her children with their heads cut off laid upon her breasts the third by her side A Diuine burnte in the middell of his bookes his Childe pulled from the brest tost on a speare Cords drawne thorow the legs Armes Mens guttes pulled out of there mouthes A Catalogue of the names of those Honourable Persons who are by writ summoned to sit in the other house of Parliament THe Lord Richard Cromwell The Lord Henry Cromwel Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fiennes John Lisle Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Henry Lawrence Lord President of his Highness privy Council The Lord Charls Fleetwood Robert Earl of Warwick Edmond Earl of Mulgrave Edward Earl of Manchester William Lord Viscount Say and Seal Lord John Cleypole Mr. of the Horse Philip Lord Viscount Lisle Charls Lord Viscount Howard Philip Lord Wharton Thomas Lord Fauconbridge Lord John Disbrow Lord Edward Montague Generals at Sea George Lord Evre The Lord Whitelock Sir Gilbert Pickering Col William Sydenham Sir Charls Wolseley M. G. Philip Skippon Lord Strickland Col. Philip Jones Sir William Strickland Francis Rous Esq John Fiennes Esq Sir Francis Russel Sir Thomas Honywood Sir Arthur Hesilrigg Sir John Hobart Sir Richard Onslow Sir Gilbert Gerard Sir William Roberts John Glyn Oliver St. John Lords Chief Justices William Pierrepoynt Esq John Jones Esq John Crew Esq Alexander Popham Esq Sir Christopher Pack Sir Robert Tichborn Edward Whalley Esq Sir John Barkstead Knight Lievtenant of the Tower Sir Thomas Pride Sir George Fleetwood Richard Ingoldsby Esq Sir John Hewson James Berry Esq William Goffe Esq Thomas Cooper Esq Edmond Thomas Esq George Monck Commander in Chiefe of his Highnesse forces in Scotland David Earle of Castils Sir William Lockhart Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston William Steel Lord Chancellor of Ireland The Lord Broghil Sir Mathew Tomlinson In number Sixty The Reader is to excuse this List if the names be not set down in their due order because the Copy came to my hand as here you see it Some Heads of the Speech made by His Highnesse January 1657. HIs Highnesse
instruments to do execution at a distance more then ordinary and they had also a strange sort of long Bullets in the nature of slugs contrived on purpose to rend and tear These things are made manifest not only by many particulars of discoverie but by the confession also of one of the Parties viz. Cecil who hath cast himself upon the good grace and mercy of his Highness The seveâ—â—â— Passages and proceedings at the Tryall of Miles Sindercomb alias Fish at the upper Bench Bar in Westminster-Hall on Monday February 9. 1656. before the Lord Chief Justice Glyn and Mr. Justice Warburton being indicted of high Treason for conspiring against the Life of his Highness the Lord Protector he was found guilty by the Jury and received Sentence to be hang'd drawn and quarted at Tyborn according to Law The Indictment was for High Treason to this effect viz. THat Miles Sindercomb alias Fish and one William Boyes with divers other Rebels and Traytors against the Lord Protector and Government of the Common-wealth not having the fear of God in their hearts but moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devill on the * 17 of September 1656. and divers other dayes and times as well before as after at Westminster and divers other places in the County of Middlesex falsly maliciously and trayterously did conspire compass and imagine the death of the said Lord Protector and to subvert and alter the Government of this Commonwealth and to raise Warre within the same For effecting whereof 1 They took a Room in the house of one Edward Hilton and divers Rooms in the house of one James Mydhope in Westminster whether they brought Guns Harquebusses and Pistols charged with leaden bullets and iron Sluggs to shoot kill and murder him 2. January 1. 1656. they provided Horses and Weapons of War And 3 Took a house and Banquetting house at Hammersmith of one Henry Busby for the same purpose 4 January 9. 6. 6. they conspired to burn White-hall where his Highness was in his own Person and to that end brought a basket filled with Match Brimstone Gunpowder and other combustible Stuff and materialls and set the same on fire in the Chappel there to the great danger and disquietment of his Highness and ill example of others in contempt of the Law against their due obedience to his Highness and Government against the Peace and form of the Statute c. Thus far the Indictment Whereupon being arraigned he pleaded Not Guilty and for his Tryall put himselfe upon his Country and the issue being joyned there was immediately impanelled a Jury of Gentlemen of worth and quality to passe upon his life and death he challenged severall of them and twelve being sworn with his own consent His Highnesse Attorney Generall the Indictment being opened proceeded to the Evidence which was very full and clear and two Witnesses at the least to all the points of the Indictment with many aggravating Circumstances The particulars whereof are herein after mentioned The evidence to prove the Indictment 1. THat there was one Toope of his Highnesse Lifeguard who was drawn into the businesse and he proved fully 1. What person Sindercomb is how he inveagled him the said Toope with money in hand and promises of more and great preferment to joyn with him to murther his Highnesse saying Spain could never obtain a peace with us untill he were taken out of the way 2. The circumstances of Time Place Means and manner designed for this murther 3. That he the said Toope was to give notice when his Highness went forth and at what end of the Coach he sate 4. Their buying and keeping of fleet Horses 5. Their intent to fire White-hall the Firework placed in the Chappell and other Circumstances 6. Sindercombs resolution if the fire did not take to kill the Protector what ever came of it Also one John Cecil proved the whole design of Sindercomb and Boyes how long it was in hand That Sindercomb engaged him the said Cecil in it what words were used how it should be done what the consequence of he murder would be the money provided and that when it should have been done he the said Cecil was designed to goe to Col. Sexby and to share with Sindercomb in his honor and profit That the first thing agreed on was to provide good Horses What moneys were paid by Sindercomb Sindercomb's resolution to assassinate his Highness when he went abroad and the manner how That they were upon the Road 5 or 6 times on purpose and in Hide Park with Swords and Pistolls charged and had notice given them by Toope of his Highness coming That the hinges of Hide Park Gate were fyled off in order to their escape That they took an house with a Banqueting house at Hammer smith to shoot him with Guns made on purpose to carry 10 or 12. Bullets at a time That Toops was to give notice of his Highness passing that way and at which end of the Coach he sat That he the said Cecil saw one of the Guns provided which would carry 12 Carbine bullets and a slugg He spake fully to the design of firing Whitehall described the fire work prepared and the nature and intention of it and other circumstances Moreover that Boyes assured them That when the Protector should be dispatched Forces would come from Spain and Flanders and a great part of the Fleet would fall off And that he beleeved Sexby to be the main Agent herein at Brussels He proved also the discourse Boyes had about seizing Portsmouth or some other Port in the West and of a great summe for that purpose That 30 or 40 are engaged in this design to kill the Protector and it was so ordered that not above two should know each other untill the matter should be ripe for execution And that Boyes knew the whole number He spake fully to that design to kill his Highness the first day of the Parliament and their taking houses for that purpose at Westminster and bringing Armes thither and other Circumstances That Boyes goes by severall names and in severall habits sometimes as a poor Priest in raged cloaths sometimes well Clad as a Gentleman It was further proved by the said John Cecill and Coll James Mydhope That in order to the destroying of his Highness he the said Cecil Sundercomb and Boyes took the said Mydhopes House near the Abbey at Westminster and when they took it Sundercomb called himselfe John Fish Clark to one Mr Havers a pretended Gentleman of Norfolke and Cecill went by the name of Mr Havers Coachman It was proved likewise That the first day of the Parliament after they had taken Mydhops house he being there Sundercomb and Cecil went thither to him from one Edward Hilton a Sempsters house in Kingstreet Westminster where they left a great * Trunk full of Arms brought from Flandors and carrying with them in a Violl case one Harquebuss and some Pistols charged with leaden bullets
and slugges about Sermon time to Mydhopes house which they found very convenient for their purpose and resolved to buy it and to build a Room in the yard next the street there being several back yards and doors and resolved also to secure Mydhope or otherwise to deale with him that he might not discover them nor hinder their designe It was proved moreover by Cecil and Mydhope that Sermon being ended all three of them viz. he the said Cecil Sindercomb and Boyes went into the yard of the House next the Abbey to shoot his Highness as he passed from the Abbey to meet the Parliament in the painted Chamber and to that end he the said Cecil stood on the wall with his Pistoll charged and Sindercomb walked in the Yard but other Company coming in thither they were prevented and Boyes went out of the Yard into the throng of people It was further proved by Cecil that this enterprize not succeeding they resolved to murther his Highness some other way to wit to furnish themselves with fleet horses to kill him as he rode forth That Sindercomb engaged Toope who constantly gave him notice of the life-guards going abroad or of the sadling of the Pad Nags That the first time they rode forth to kill him was the latter end of September last viz the Suturday after he had left going to Hampton Court That the second time was when he rode to Kensington and thence the back way to London The third time when he went to Hide Park in his Coach The fourth time when he went to Turnham Green and so by Acton home at which time they rode forth to kill him and resolved to break through all difficulties to effect it The fifth time when he rode into Hide Park where his Highness alighting asked him the said Cecil whose horse that was he rode on Sindercombe being then on the outside of the Parke and then Cecil was ready to have done it but doubted his horse having at that time got a cold That Sindercomb rode forth once himself to kill his Highness and told Cecil of it That all proving ineffectuall they resolved to desist till the Spring and in the mean time to fire White-hall That the said Cecil put on a thin Holland Shirt and thin cloathes for his better escape when he rode forth to kill his Highness and prepared his horse as if he had been to run a race To prove the taking of the house and banquetting-house at Hammersmith of Henry Busby Coachman to the Earle of Salisbury there was beside Cecil the testimony of Henry Busby himself William Page and William Neal Sindercombs servant To prove the Basket of stuff for firing the Chappel there was the testimony of Cecil and Toope and others who were persons of quality To prove the buying and keeping of the Horses there was the testimony of Henry Busby who sould them one Horse for fourscore pounds also of William Page and William Neale Sindercombs servant To prove the Hinges of Hide-Parke gate filed off and the Pales cut there was the testimony of John Cecil and Thomas Shell The prisoner seeing the evidence so clear against him had nothing materiall to say for himselfe by way of defence yet carried himself very insolently at the Bar and when the Court asked him touching any of the matters proved against him he would confidently deny what was laid to his charge And after all the evidence given and the prisoner heard what he had to say for himself the Court summed up the whole to the Jury of Life and Death and declared That by the Common Law to compass or imagine the death of the chiefe Magistrate of the Land by what name soever he was called whether Lord Protector or otherwise is high-treason he being the Chiefe Magistrate and the spring of Justice in whose name all Writs run all Commissions and Grants are made and that the Statutes of Treason made 25 Ed. 3. as to this did only declare what the Common Law was before the making of that Statute and was not introductive of a new Law and more to that effect and then proceeded to Judgment against the Prisoner in this manner The Sentence IT is considered by the Court that the said Miles Sindercomb alias Fish be sent from hence to the Prison in the Tower of London from whence he came and from thence be drawn upon a Hurdle through the streets of London to Tyburn there to be hanged on the Gallows untill he be half dead and then to be cut down and his Intrals and bowels taken out and burnt in his own sight and his body divided into four quarters and be disposed of as his Highness the Lord Protector shall think fit Tower of London February 14. Sindercomb having upon his tryal by a Jury in the Upper Bench received sentence to be hanged drawn and quartered at Tyborne for his treisonous designe against the life of his Highness and having some dayes time afterward given him for the preparing of his soule for another world care was taken by the honourable Sir John Barkstead Lievtenant of the Tower to send unto him at severall times divers eminent and Pious Ministers of the City to conferr with him touching his concernments in the life to come Two things in his discourse were observable that when any of the Ministers came to him he would first condition with them that they should not treat with him at all touching the crime for which he stood condemned The other was that he told them alwayes as an entrance to his discourse that he was for the Universal poynt and being pressed to explaine his meaning he told then he beleeved that all men were brought into a saveable estate by the death of Christ and he doubted not but himselfe should fare as well as others Which expression shews him to have been infected with that un-Evangelicall conceit of Universall Redemption Little good could be wrought on him by any of the Ministers And no marvell if it be considered what discourse passed from him to others since the time of his condemnation for he was of the same opinion with many others that have slipt into Libertiâ—ism viz. That when man dyeth the soule sleepeth with the body and said he it may be it shall rise again This is that wretched opinion of that sort of men whom we in English call Soul sleâ—pers persons so far unworthy the name of Christians that the ancient Heathens will rise up in judgment against them and in the tendency of it so destructive to the conveniency of Government that it disposeth these who embrace it to attempt any wickedness whatsoever any Treason Sedition or Assassination and to despise vertue seeing it at once destroyeth both the hope of reward and the fear of punishment after this life is ended During the daves alotted him for his preparation he made severall attempts with promise of a good summe of money 700 pounds first and last to perswade his Keeper to permitt
rest were fired only two that sunke down to rights and had little but their Masts appearing above water It remained to compleat this Mercy that our own shiâ—s should come off well wherein the greatest hazzard and difficulty lay for some riding near into the shore and being sorely maimed did require to be warped off others when we came to weigh drove with the wind all the while blowing right into the bay and one of our best Frigates strook The enemy in the mean time supplyed fresh men into his Forts for those we had killed and beaten out in the heat of the Action and from them and the Castle continued plying upon us till about seven of the Clock at night every Ship and Vessell belonging to our Fleet were by the good hand of God got safe out of Command In this service we had not above fifty slain outright and one hundred and twenty wounded and the damage to our ships was such as in two days time we indifferently well repaired for present security Which we had no sooner done but the Wind veered to the Southwest which is rare among those Islands and lasted just to bring us to our former Station neer Cape Maries where we arrived the second of May following For which mercifull appearance all along with us we desire the Lord may have the praise and glory to whom only it is due And that all thar hear of it may turne and say as of a truth we have found that among the gods there is none like unto him neither are there any workes like unto his workes The Names of the Commanders of the New Spain Fleet and of the other Ships that were burnt in the Sancta Cruce Road on the 20th of April 1657. Don Diego Diagues Generall Don Josepho Sentenno Vice-Admirall Roque Gallindo Rear-Admirall Gasper Goteras in the Great Campeachan Martin De Laxando in the little Campeachan These Commanders with their Ships came from Lavela Cruce in New Spain Iohn Quintero Francisco De Estoâ—ta Pedro Fegoroa Don Francisco Velasques Pedro Oreguel Commanders of the Admirall and Vice-Admirall of Hundoras Francisco Martines Francisco De Arana Pedro Sorrilio Commander of the Ship which came from Sancto Domingo These Commanders with their Ships were in Sancta Cruce before their Fleet arrived from the Indies Gregory Gomes Francisco Marcadel Fernando Sohes An exact Relation of the manner of the Solemn Investiture or happy inauguration of his Highnesse the Lord Protector at Westminster Mr Speaker in the name of the Par presented Seuerall thinges to his Highness Viz a Robe of Purple Veluet Lined wth Ermine a Large Bible Richly Guilt Bossed Next a Sword Lastly a Septer of Massiâ— Gold and then administred the Oath to his Highnesse Iune 26 an 1â—â—â— FRiday the 26 of June 1657. being agreed upon for the Investiture of his Highness the Lord Protector and a large place being raised and prepared at the upper end of Westminster Hall for that purpose there was in the midst thereof under the great Window a rich cloth of Estate set up and under it a chair of state placed upon an ascent of two degrees covered with carpets and before it a Table with a chair appoynted for the Speaker of the Parliament and on each side of the Hall upon the said structure were seats raised one above another and decently covered for the Members of Parliament and below them seats on one side for my Lords the Judges of the Land and on the otherside for the Aldermen of the city of London About two of the clock in the Afternoon his Highnesse came from Whitehall by water and Landing at the Parliament stairs went up into the chamber called the Lords house where having retired himself a while Mr. Speaker and the members of parliament being come to the Painted Chamber his Highness attended by his Councell the Officers of State and the Judges met them and gave his consent to the Additionall and Explanatory Petition and advice of the Parliament and all such other Bills as were then presented to him From thence the Speaker with the Members of Parliament departed to the great Hall at Westminster where they seated themselves in the places provided for them His Highnesse after a short retirement in a Boom near the Painted Chamber returned into the Lords House the Lords Commissioners of the great seale the two Lords Chiefe Justices the Master of the Rolls and the Judges in the interim placing themselves on one side of the said House and the Lord Major Recorder and Aldermen of the City of London on the other From the said House his Highnesse passed towards the Hall in manner following In the first place went his Highnesse his Gentleman and other persons of quality next an Officer of Arms going before the Recorder and Aldermen of London in their Scarlets next another Officer of Arms went before Master Attorney Generall and my Lords the Judges in their Robes and Order next them Norroy King of Arms then four Searjants at Armes with their Maces going before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and of the Great Seale the Lord Commissioner Fiennes bearing the Seal and the Lord President of his Highnesse Councill Then came Garter principall King of Armes before the Earl of Warwick who bare the Sword before his Highnesse on whose left hand went the Lord Major of London by his Highnesse speciall favour bearing the City sword After whom came his Highnesse being attended by his Councill the Principall Secretary of State and divers of the Nobility and other persons of great quality His Highness being entred on the place and standing under the Cloth of Estate Master Speaker did in the name of the Parliament present severall things ready laid upon the Table to his Highness viz. A Robe of purple Velvet lined with Ermine being the habit anciently used at the solemn investiture of Princes Next a larg Bible richly guilt and boss'd next a Sword and lastly a Sceprer being of Massy Gold which being so presented Mr Speaker came from his Chair took the Robe and therewith vested his Highnesse being assisted therein by the Earle of Warwick the Lord Whitelock and others Which being done the Eible was delivered unto his Highnesse after that Mr Speaker girt about him the Sword and lastly delivered his Highnesse the Scepter These things being performed Mr Speaker returned unto his Chair and administred the Oath to his Highnesse prepared by the Parliament the form whereof is as followeth I Doe in the presenec and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear that to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the True Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and encourage the Profession and Professors of the same And that to the utmost of my power I will endeavor as Chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance