Parliament in case they were elected ¶ The next thing of Note that hapned was the Proclaiming of Prince Charles at Edenborough in Scotland to be King of Great Britain France and Ireland his Royal Father being thus destroy'd But 't is to be noted that this Proclamation ran thus Whom all the Subjects of his Kingdom are bound humbly to obey maintain and defend according to the National Covenant betwixt the Two Kingdoms with their Lives and Goods against all deadly And that before he should be admitted to the exercise of His Royal Power he was to give satisfaction to that Kingdom in those things that concern'd the security of Religion the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and the Good and Peace of that Kingdom according to the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant And for Establishing the Dominion of these Bloody Regicides at Weâ—tminâ—â—er the Members there Sitting went on Vigorously First Voting the absolute abolition of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Next in devising and appointing A new Stamp for Coyne And by Erecting a Council of State consisting of Thirty Persons viz. the Earles of Densigh Mulgrave Pembroke Salisbury Lord Grey of Warke Lord General Fairfax Lord Grey of Groby Lord L'isle Son to the Earl of Leicester Lord Chief Justice Rolls Lord Chief Justice St. Iohn Lord Chief Baron Wylde Lord President Bradshaw Lord General Cromwell Major General Skippon Sir Gilbert Pickering Sir William Masham Sir Arthur Haselrig Sir Iames Harrington Sir Henry Vane Jun. Sir Iohn Davers Sir William Armyn Sir Henry Mildmay Sir William Constable Alderman Penington Alderman Wilson Bulstrode Whitlock Esq Henry Martin Esq Colonel Ludlow Anthony Stepeley Esq William Heveningham Esq Robert Wallop Esq Iohn Hutchinson Esq Dennis Bond Esq Alexander Popham Esq Valentine Walton Esq Thomas Scot Esq William Purefey Esq Iohn Iones Esq But the Lord Grey of Warke waving that employment Mr. Iohn L'isle of Hantshire Cornelius Holand and Luke Robinson were added to this Number who were called the Committee of Estates appointed by Parliament ¶ It is not unworthy of Observation that as the Scots and this unhappy Long Parliament at the beginning of their desperate Practises against the King did declare that their whole Proceedings then were according to the Fundamental Laws So these wicked Regicides after their Bloody Murther of the King in answer to an Embassy from the Dutch expressed that these their Proceedings against the King were consistent with the Fundamental Laws of this Nation of England which were best known to themselves Nor was the project for their new Church-Discipline less notable as may seem by this following Petition and Advice which was presented to the General of their Army and the Council of War by many Christians as they call'd themselves dispersed abroad throughout the County of Norfolk and City of Norwich in these words That your Petitioners acknowledge themselves unspeakably engaged to the God of Heaven and Earth for his great Mercy to us in giving you Hearts to offer your selves so willingly among the People in the late Great undertaking of the Nation against the Enemies of the Peace thereof and Blessing your Faithful endeavours with such Glorious and wonderful successes whereby as the Lord hath put great Honour upon you Crowning your Valour with Victory and making you the War-like Glory of the World so hath be no less put great Obligations upon you all to exalt him that hath exalted you and to lift up his Glory in the World where he hath given you a name so Great and Glorious c. Therefore our dayly Prayers shall be for your selves and your Noble Army that you may never stumble at the stumbling-stone nor take the honour to your selves that is due to Christ nor be Instrumental for setting up of a meer Natural and Worldly Government like that of Heathen Rome Athens c. To which end we humbly pray that your selves would enter into Serious and Grave consideration and debate the Particulars in the Papers here humbly offered to you and also present them to the Honourably Parliament that they may be improved so far as shall be found agreeable to the will and word of God Which done we doubt not but God shall have much Glory the Godly Party shall be comforted Natural men enjoying their Estates will be at rest also and much satisfied and this Common-wealth will be exalted to be both an Habitation of Iustice and Mountain of Holiness even such a People as God shall Bless An humble Advice concerning the Government of the Kingdom according to the former Platform or Model 1. That you would stir up Godly Ministers and People throughout the Kingdom to Associate or incorporate into Church-Societies and grant them your special Favour Provision and Protection so shall you be Saints Nursing Fathers 2. That you would please to satisfie the Godly-dissenting Brethren both of Presbytery and Independency by such ways and means as your Wisdoms shall think fit how both their Interests may meet herein that so they may concur with one heart in the work 3. That Sister-Churches over-see such Incorporations and Imbodyings that only such as be of approved Godliness may have the Right-hand of Fellowship given to them 4. That such Churches where more of them are thus Collected and imbodyed in any Division Circuit Province c. may choose and send out some Delegates Members and Officers to Meet in one Sessions Lesser-Parliament Presbytery or Assembly for ordering of all such affaires as there occur according to the word if appertaining alone to that division 5. That all such Churches and the Members thereof have voices in Elections of such as are to sit in General Assemblies or Church-Parliaments so often as occasion is and those Elected to Sit there as Christ's Officers and the Churches Representatives and to determine all things by the word as that Law which God will exalt alone and make honourable 6. That you take special care to send out and encourage Godly Preachers that may go into the rest of the Kingdom to Preach the Gospel that so when others are converted and the Son of God makes them Free they may enjoy the former Freedom with the rest of the Saints And in father order to the utter abolishing of Kingly Government they appointed all those Antick and most Venerable Regalia conserved in the Treasury at Westminster and chiefly made use of at the Magnificent Coronations of the Kings of the Realm and solemn Proceedings to Parliament And also the costly Hangings precious Jewels with other of the Kings Goods and rich Furniture for his several Princely Palaces to be sold. And within few days following caused the Heads of Iames Duke of Hamilton Henry Earl of Holand with that truly Noble Arthur Lord Capel to be cut off Touching whose actings against them having already made some brief mention I shall only take notice of their dealing with Duke Hamilton a little before his Execution which was that in order to his discovery
Iohn Lisle Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Henry Lawrence Lord President of his Privy-Council Charles Fleetwood his Son in Law Robert Earl of Warwick Edmund Earl of Mulgrave Edward Earl of Manchester William Viscount Say and Sele Iohn Cleypole his other Son in Law and Master of his Horse Philip Lord Lisle eldest Son to the Earl of Leicester Charles Howard of Waworth Castle Philip Lord Wharton Thomas Lord Fauconbridg Iohn Desborough Edw. Montagu Admirals 〈◊〉 Sea George Lord Eure. Bulstrod Whitlock Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. Collonel William Sydenham Sir Charles Wolfesley Baronet Major General Skippon Strickland Collonel Philip Iones Richard Hampden Sir William Strickland Francis Rous Esq Iohn Fiennes Esq Sir Francis Russell Baronet Sir Thomas Honywood Kt. Sir Arthur Haselrigg Baronet Sir Iohn Hobart Sir Richard Onslow Kt. Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir William Roberts Kt. Iohn Glyn his Chief Justice of the Upper-Bench Oliver St. Iohn his Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas William Pierpont Esq Iohn Iones Esq Iohn Crew Esq Alexander Popham Esq Sir Christoph. Pack Alderman Sir Rob. Tichburne Alderman Made Kts. by Cromwel Edward Whalley one of his Major Generals Sir 〈…〉 but 〈◊〉 sold Thimbles and Bodkins Sir George Fleetwood another of his Knights Sir Thomas Pryde another of his Knights formerly a Dray-man Collonel Richard Ingoldesby Sir Iohn Heuson another of his Knights formerly a Cobler Iames Berrey one of his Major Generals formerly Clerk to a Forge Collonel William Goffe Thomas Cooper Edmund Thomas George Monke then Commander in Chief of his Forces in Scotland David Earl of Cassils in Scotland Sir William Lockart another of his Knights Sir Archib Iohnston a Scotchman William Steele his Lord Chancelour of Ireland The Lord Broghil Brother to the Earl of Corke in Ireland Sir Matthew Tomlinson another of his Knights The Sitting of which House began upon the twentieth of Ianuary at which time likewise those of the Commons who had formerly declined to sign the Recognition were freely admitted But so much were those new Lords despised and scorned by the Honse of Commons that the Protector finding no advantage by their Sitting Dissolved that his Second Parliament Which was not more slow in complying with his advancement than the Royallists were forward in their contrivances for pulling him down But so great was his vigilancy and no less his cost whereby he had allured some Birds of that Feather that the Consultations of his Adversaries were no sooner had than apparently discovered so that when ever he pleased he could take them in his Net as he always did when he thought that examples of severity might be for his advantage It being therefore once more expedient to renew those terrors to the people he caused his bloody Theatre called the High-Court of Iustice to be again erected in Westminster-Hall where for the more formalities sake the persons whom he did design for destruction were brought the one Dr. Iohn Heuit a Reverend Divine the other Sir Henry Slingsby Kt. a Yorkshire Gentleman of great Loyalty and Valour who being charged with High Treason against his Protectorship and stoutly denying the Authority of that Tribunal had Sentence of death soon passed upon them which they did accordingly suffer with great magnanimity though there was no little endeavour used for to save their lives his Daughter Claypole whose interest otherwise with him was beyond expression solliciting for the Doctor with all earnestness that could be But it concerning him at that time so much in point of Policy to sacrifice some for a terror to others neither her incessant Supplication nor Tears could prevail which brought upon her such excessive grief of mind that falling into a sharp fit of sickness wherein crying out against him for Dr. Heuits blood she dyed with the most bitter torments imaginable Which death of hers was the fore-runner to that of this wicked Tyrant for soon after a deep Melancholy seized closely upon him in which the guilt of so much innocent blood as he had spilt might perhaps somewhat touch him But without doubt that which stuck nearest to him was his real consideration that he could never ascend unto such an height of Sovereignty as his ambitious desires had long gaped after For he plainly saw that the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men whom in order to the destruction of his lawful Sovereign he had so much cherisht then were and were ever like to be as thorns in his sides and blocks in his way thereto And which is more that not only Fleetwood his Son in Law whom privately he had designed to be his Successor in the Government was an especial friend and favourer of those desperate Fanatics but that Desborough Sir Gilbert Pickering Collonel Sydenham and many other of his Council were underhand well-wishers to Lambert and his party who were known enemies to all Monarchick Rule and consequently to that wherein he had so long aimed to be setled Which sorrows and perplexities of his restless mind meeting with some Natural infirmities of his Body struck him into a sharp and Feaverish distemper whereat his Physicians expressing their thoughts he told them that if they supposed him in a dying condition they were utterly mistaken forasmuch as he had been comforted with Revelations to the contrary Nay he was farther so transported with those vain Enthusiasms and had such brain-sick persons about him even those of his Chaplains who were equally possest with such giddy-headed conceipts that they foolishly dreamed and fancyed as much and told it in publick that having sought God by Prayer for the prolongation of his life they received such assurances of his grant to their Petitions that they not only gave out that he effectually recovered but kept a solemn Thanksgiving for the same at Hampton-Court where he then lay Which strange and bold confidence caused forthwith his removal from thence to White-Hall where he had not been from that time many days but his Physician allarm'd them with his near approaching death Which so awakened the best of his Friends that they soon fell to enquiry whom he intended for his Successor But so little sense had he then of that question that he made them an answer no whit to the purpose Whereupon they askt him whether it was not his Son Richard to which he made them some signs of assent But farther enquiring of his last Will and Testament whereby they presumed that he had nominated his Successor he directed them to his Closet and other places for search but all to no purpose for nothing could be found In which discomposure departing this life upon the third of September to the end that the Government might not fall to the ground some few of the Council giving out that Richard was according to the Instrument the Person declared they immediately caused him to be Proclaimed Protector Having thus traced this Monster to his death which happened on the same day of the month whereon he had been twice wonderfully victorious
in the Margin whereof he had with his own hand Written many Annotations To the Duke of York his large Ring-Sun-Dial of Silver which His Majesty much valued it having been invented and made by Mounsieur De la mine an able Mathematician and who in a little Printed Book hath shewed its excellent use for resolving many Questions in Arithmetick and other rare operations in the Mathematicks to be wrought by it To the Princess Elizabeth his Daughter the Sermons of the most Learned Dr. Andrews sometimes Bishop of Winchester and Arch-bishop Laud's Book against Fisher the Jesuit which he said would ground her against Popery with Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Policy As also a Paper to be Printed in which he asserted Regal Government to have a Divine Right with Proofs out of sundry Authors Civil and Sacred To his Son the Duke of â—aucester King Iames his works and Dr. Hamond's Practical Catechism To the Earl of Lindsey Cassandra To the Dutchess of Richmund his Gold Watch And to Mr. Herbert himselfe the Silver Clock which usually hung by his Bed-side Hereunto it will not seem impertinent I presume to add a Catalogue of the other Books which His Majesty had with him in this His disconsolate condition they being these Dr. Hamond's other Works Villalpandus upon Ezekiel c. Sands his Paraphrase upon King David's Psalmes Herbert's Divine Poems Godfrey of Bulloign Written in Italian by Torquato Tasso and Translated into English Heroick Verse by Mr. Fairfax a Poem which His Majesty much commended as he did Ariosto by Sir Iohn Harrington a Facetious Poet Spenser's Fairy Queen and the like for alleviating his Spirits after serious Studies Nor can I here omit to tell that this excellent Prince with his own hand Translated that Learned Discourse written in Latin by Dr. Saunderson afterwards Bishop of Lincolâ—e de Iuramentis which he caused Mr. Herbert and Mr. Harington to compare with the Original who found it most accurately done Those particulars are such whereof those who have publisht much of his Life and Reign have not taken notice To give a Character of his Eminent virtues I shall not need it being already so well done by Dr. Pireinchief in the short History which he hath publisht of his Life but shall take notice that his delight in Learning was such that he understood Greek Latin French Spanish and Italian Authors in their Original Languages which Three last he spake perfectly no man being better read in Histories of all sorts being able also to Discourse in most Arts and Sciences In one of his Books he wrote this Distich of Claudian Rebus in adversis facile est contemnere vitam Fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest And out of another Poet against the Levellers and Antimonar chists then predominant Fallitur egregio quisquis sub principe credit Servitium Nunquam libertas gratior extat Quà m sub Rege pio Whereunto I shall add that after Mr. Herbert had much sollicited those who were then in Power that His Royal Corps might be Buryed in King Henry the Seventh's Chapel at Westminster near to the Grave of King Iames which they refused alledging the danger of much concourse to that place out of a superstitious respect they thereupon granted a Warrant to him bearing Date the Sixth of February for the Interring thereof at Windsor Hence it was that Mr. Herbert having often heard His Majesty speak with Great Honour of King Edward the Fourth from whom he was descended he resolved to Bury the Corps in that Vault under the Monument of that King which is betwixt the High Altar and the North Isle and gave order for the opening thereof accordingly but the Duke of Richmond Marquess of Hertsord Earl of Southampton and Earl of Lindsey coming to Windsor to perform their last duty of His Memory in seeing His Royal Corps decently Interred and walking up the Quire where they found by knocking on the Pavement an hollow found they caused the place to be opened it being near to the Seats and opposite to the Eleventh Stall on the Sovereign's side in which were Two Coffins one very large of King Henry the Eighth the other of Queen Iane his Third Wife both covered with Velvet whereupon they concluded to deposit it there It was therefore brought down accordingly out of the King's Lodgings in the upper Ward of the Castle into the Court the Air being then Serene but which is observable before they came to the Door of the Chapel there hapned Snow to fall which covered the Hearse of Black Velvet in which it was carryed that it was all White It being brought to the Grave the Reverend Dr. Iuxon Bishop of London who had been permitted to wait on His Majesty in the time of His Preparation for Death and on the Scaffold was there ready to have performed the Office of Burial as it is prescribed in the Publick Liturgy of the Church but the Governor of the Castle Colonel Whitchcot would not suffer it CHAP. XXXIII HAVING thus finished what I thought proper to be said in reference to His Late Majesty King Charles the First thus destroy'd by these great Pretenders to Godliness as hath been observed I shall now go on with the remainder of this Story until I come to the most happy and Miraculous Restoration of our present Sovereign King Charles the Second whom God long preserve and continually defend from the Infernal Plots and subtile Machinations of this dangerous Brood of Cruel men Proclamation being therefore made in London and afterwards throughout all England forbidding to Proclaim Prince Charles the Members remaining in the House of Commons passed an Act for thenceforth their Edicts were so called that such as had assented to the Vote of December the Fifth viz. that the King's concessions were a ground for the House to proceed to a settlement should not be re-admitted to Sit as Members As also that such as were then in the House and Voted in the Negative should first enter their dissent to the said Vote And that such as were absent should declare their disapproval before they Sate Soon after this they passed an Act for the setting up of another High Court of Justice for the Tryal of Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holand the Earl of Norwich Lord Capel and Sir Iohn Owen Which Court upon the Fifth of February met in the Painted-Chamber and Elected their President It being then also debated in the House of Commons whether they should continue the House of Lords as a Court of Judicatory or Consultatory only And the day following it being put to the Question both were carryed in the Negative and farther Voted that the House of Peers in Parliament was Useless and Dangerous and ought to be abolished and that an Act should be brought in for that purpose as also that the Peers should not be exempted from Arrests but did admit that they should be capable of being Knights and Burgesses in
House of Commons at Westminster and there taking their places and chosen Mr. Rows to be their Speaker admiring the great goodness of God that had put it into the Generals Heart to select them for so great a work they Voted themselves to be the Parliament of England and by that Title to be known and called Having so done they fell vigorously to work for a thorough Reformation Dreaming of nothing less than that Iesus Christ must shortly Reign with them here on Earth To prepare the way therefore to his Personal coming they considered of abolishing the Ministerial Function as favouring in their opinion totally of Popery Likewise for the taking away of Tithes as the Reliques of Judaism Also to abrogate the Old English Laws as Badges of Conquest and Norman Slavery And lastly to suppress the Universities and all Schools for Learning as Heathenish and unnecessary with all Titles of Honour and distinctions as not agreeable to Christianity All which they had without question soon effected but that some few of them of better judgments gave a stop to their Frenzy But the Court of Chancery they really Voted down and passed an Act for the solemnizing of all Marriages by Justices of Peace after Publication made of such purpose in the Church or open Market and that the Birth but not Baptizing of Children should be thenceforth Registred which shews of what Judgment they were in that point The Act likewise for Subscribing that Instrument call'd the Engagement which was passed 2. Ian. An. 1649. they Voted unfit to continue and totally repealed it And for the Tryal of what they called Treason or High Crimes they Erected a new High Court of Iustice. By which Phrentick doings having made themselves as well distastfull as ridiculous to the World their Grand Master Cromwel to ingratiate himself farther with the People put a Period to their Sitting the manner whereof was thus In the Morning a little sooner than usual 12. Dec. those of the Members which were Cromwel's chiefest Confidents came to the House where finding then but few of the Anabaptists an Eminent Member stood up and addressing himself of the Speaker told him that he must disburthen himself of some things that had a long time lain upon his Heart That he was now to speak to the Esse or being rather than the Bene Esse or well-being of the Common-wealth which was ready to sink under them through the ill management of the power betrusted with them and that for his own part he must resign his power from whence he had it foreseeing cleerly that their Waitings and Expectations of ever coming on the things of publick good were more and more disappointed and so descended to these particular instances 1. That they had dealt disingeniously with the Army in moving that the Officers should be treated with to lay down their Pay and when they could not effect that the Bill of Assessments was endeavoured to be cast out 2. That they had not a Spirit to do Justice which appeared in their Act for confirming the sale of Sir Iohn Stowells Estate though he were relieved by the Court of Articles And however he was as vile as could be imagined so was his expression yet he knew not but that man was left to be a Tryal upon them whether they would do Justice or not 3. That they had a Principle amongst them of destroying and pulling down though nothing were set up in the stead and that this was especially manifested in their Vote for removing the Chancery and total alteration of the Laws 4. That though they called their selves a Parliament yet they Acted most unlike unto it and that appeared in their endeavours to destroy propriety in attempting to take off the Power of Patrons to present to Church Livings 5. That they would destroy the Ministry it self which appeared by their Vote on Saturday before and that for these Considerations they could not satisfie themselves to sit any longer and so be guilty of bringing confusion and desolation upon the Nation But if any would yet be so hardy as to continue there he would say unto them in the words of the Prophet Ephraim hath joyned himself to Idols let him alone This being seconded and after him pressed earnestly by some others much startled the Anabaptists then present who spoke fiercely against it Insomuch as those who had appeard for their Dissolution fearing lest by delaying time in Speeches more of the Anabaptists might come in and out-Vote them moved that all who were for their Dissolution should rise and walk out Whereupon the Speaker and divers other forthwith went out of the House But Squib Moyer St. Nicholas and some more of that Gang to the number of about Twenty sate still and having placed Mr. Moyer in the Chair fell to protesting against what the rest had done professing in the presence of the Lord that their Call of God to that place was the Principal Motive that drew them thither and that they apprehended their said Call was chiefly for promoting the Interest of Iesus Christ. Whereupon they continued there until Colonel Goffe with some Musketeers came and asked them What they sate there for Whereunto it was Answered to seek the Lord But perceiving what the Issue thereof was like to be they nevertheless departed and Subscrib'd an Instrument whereunto some others had set their Hands before for surrender of their Power into the Hands of their Master Cromwel Which Instrument so signed being brought to His Excellency he lifted up his Eyes with seeming great admiration and at first with no less modesty faintly refus'd it but at length after assiduous and importunate sute earnestly representing to him the welfare of the Nation inculcating to him also how zealous a Patriot he had ever been for the People he was at last overcome though unwillingly to receive it ¶ This Pageant therefore being thus formally over the next work was his assuming to himself the sole Dominion and Rule a thing which sew could think it safe for any of them to aspire unto considering what had been acted by him and his Party utterly to eradicate Monarchique Government But as the Common Water-men look always the contrary way to that they Row so did this Grand Impostor The contrivance thereof being secretly laid by himself and Major General Lambert who had an aime in time to succeed him in the Government Lambert was the man that dealt with the Principal Officers of the Army to carry on this design with all subtilty imaginable Whereupon he first told them how much the Governing by a single Person would conduce to the General quiet and advantage of the Publick and next to the peculiar Interest of each of them in particular in case it were bounded with sober limitations and not to be by the Title of King For an expedient therefore they resolv'd on the name of Protector and of a formal Instrument wherein should be contained the Rules of his
Laws and Liberty of the Subject to establish Popery and to set up an arbitrary Government for prevention whereof both Houses and the whole Realm should enter into a solemn Covenant never to lay down Arms so long as the Popish-party for so they called the King's forces were on foot and Papists and Delinquents protected from the Justice of the Parliament but to assist the Forces rais'd by authority of the two Houses of Parliament against the Forces rais'd by the King Which solemn Oath and Covenant thus drawn up was then taken by both Houses and within ten days following throughout all the Parishes of London And because the poor Country-people might throughout England be all caught upon one day they passed an Order of both Houses that a Public Thanksgiving should be made throughout the whole Kingdom on Thursday the thirteenth of Iuly following for the discovery of the late Plot at which time this Oath and Covenant should be tendred to every man in the several Parishes Also to secure the Pulpit-men the more cordially to them and to make them the more active in stirring up the people upon all occasions they made an Ordinance for calling an Assembly of Divines in order to the setting up of the Presbyterian Government Which Assembly was to consist of ten of the House of Lords and twenty of the House of Commons whose names are therein express'd and the rest Ministers all of the Presbyterian gang excepting three or four whom though for the more credit of that Convention they nominated there was little reason to expect any of their company The Preamble of which Ordinance runs thus Whereas amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this Nation none is or can be more dear unto us then the purity of our Religion And for that as yet many things remain in the Liturgy Discipline and Government of the Church which do necessarily require a farther and more perfect Reformation than as yet hath been attained And whereas it hath been declared and resolved by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that the present Church-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and other Eccleastical Officers depending upon the Hierarchy is justly offensive and burthensome to the Kingdom a great impediment to Reformation and growth of Religion and very prejudicial to the State and Government of this Kingdom and that therefore they are resolved that the same shall be taken away and that such a Government shall be setled in the Church as may be most agreeable to God's holy word and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the Church at home and neerer agreement with the Church of Scotland and other reformed Churches abroad c. be it ordained c. 'T was no marvail indeed that they at Westminster bestir'd themselves so hard for by this time the success of his Majesties Armies was such that he had by God's blessing regained the greatest part of the North and West parts of this Realm and did daily so increase in strength that to uphold their Cause they bethought themselves of calling in their Brethren the Scots for aid Wherefore having prepared a Declaration to discover another dangerous Plot to extirpate the Protestant Religion in England Ireland and Scotland they agreed that some of their Members viz. the Lork Grey of Wark Sir William Ayrmia and Mr. Darley should go into Scotland to desire help from thence and prepare Instructions for them with Letters of Credence with promise that they should have allowance for the charge of such forces as they should send and that the debts they already owed them should be paid out of the lands of the Papists and Prelatical party in Northumberland Cumberland and Bishoprick of Durham Which Commissioners did accordingly set forwards upon the xxith of Iuly But about this time the Earl of Essex their General made complaint to them by Letters for want of Horse Arms c. and proposed to them a Treaty for peace Whereunto answer was soon made by the resolution of their House of Commons who debated the same that by their late Vow and Covenant they had bound themselves never to lay down Arms so long as the Papists for so they call'd the King's forces which were then in Arms against them should have protection from the Justice of the Parliament sending him word that they would recruit his Troops according to his desire And to complement their Western General Sir William Waller whose heartiness to the Cause suted so well with theirs they ordered five thousand pounds to be sent down to him and given as a Largess to his Souldiers the more to encourage them in that service But the certain charge of their Rebellious Armies did so vastly increase as was truly foretold by Mr. Green Chairman to their Committee for the Navy upon the sixth of December before viz. that the maintenance of the Lord General 's Army would for the ensuing year amount to above a million of Money that of the Navy having been two hundred and forty thousand pounds for the year passed and that without delay they must of necessity settle a round and constant Tax for maintenance thereof they therefore passed an Ordinance for Excise or new Impost upon Wine Beer Ale Cider Perry Raisins Figs Currans Sugar Spices wrought and raw Silks Furrs Hats Laces Lether Linnen of all sorts Thread Wier c. and for sweetning its relish with the people gave it out that part of its income should pay Debts for which the Public faith was engaged Moreover to raise men as well as money their Western-Army being then destroy'd at Round-way-down the Citizens had a meeting at Grocer's Hall where they made new Subscriptions to set up Sir William Waller again For the better furthering whereof there were new Petitions framed from London Westminster and Southwark and presented to the House of Commons that all the Kingdom might rise as one man against the Common Enemy and that the Parliament would give power to a Committee to list so many of the Petitioners as were willing to go out in their own persons as also to take the Subscriptions of others for the raising a considerable Body of Horse and Foot and that the like course might be taken throughout the Kingdom by a confiding Committee In pursuance whereof both Houses made an Ordinance for raising seven thousand Horse in London Middlesex and the Counties adjacent to be commanded by the Lord Kymbolton afterwards Earl of Manchester and of Eleven hundred Horse in the Counties of Bedford Buckingham Northampton and Hertford to be commanded by Sir Iohn Norwich In Norfolk and Suffolk Eleven hundred by Sir Miles Hobart in Surrey Sussex Southampton and Berkshire fourteen hundred by Colonel Richard Norton And all these thus to be rais'd to resist the Insolencies of the King's Army Certain it is
the better of the day viz. in the Fight at Bramden Heath near Ailesford in Hantshire where Sir William Waller worsted the Lord Hopton the Lord Iohn Stuart being there mortally wounded In the Battle at Marston-moore in Yorkshire the victory was chiefly gain'd by the valour and skilfull conduct of Cromwel Lieutenant general to the Earl of Manchester as hath been already observed with the Earl of Manchester's Horse in the left Wing drawn out of the Eastern association shortly after which the City of York was delivered up to him on honorable terms by Sir Thomas Glemham then Governour there And in October Newcastle after a long siege of many months given up to the Scots In which month happened also the second Battel at Newbery in Berkshire where great slaughter was on both sides In which it was observed that none of the Rebels fought more fiercely than those who at the delivering up their Arms in Cornwal as hath heen already mentioned did then engage never more to fight against the King Upon the ill success of this Battel for so the members at Westminster esteem'd it the Parliament party having double in number to the King it was that the Earl of Essex their General became suspected of carelesness or discontent so that much debate happened amongst them concerning that point The Independent party therefore having a design to be rid of him to make the more specious ostentation that all their Actions wholly tended to the Glory of God and the publick good and nothing to their private Interest being then more predominant than the Presbyterian prevailed in making a Vote that no Member of either House should during that war enjoy or execute any office or command Military or Civil which had been granted or conferred on them by either House or by any authority derived from either House and that an Ordinance should be drawn up accordingly By which device that party did not only lay aside this their great General but outed many eminent Presbyterians from divers beneficiall offices both in the Treasury Garisons and other considerable imployments placing in their stead those of their own party Whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax was constituted General of all their forces and a new modelling of the Army voted but with no small difficulty the Presbyterians much opposing it so that the Independents were necessitated to make use of their old trick in getting petitions out of several Counties ere their Ordinance to that purpose could pass In pursuance of which vote his Commission but the clause in the solemn League and Covenant for preservation of his Majesties person omitted therein Sir Thomas Fairfax with great formality received Col. Oliver Cromwell though a member of the House of Commons being then made his Lieutenant general with whom they did specially dispense in that point of Self-denial Which being accomplish'd and the whole party not a little elated by this second Invasion of the Scots to their aid they began to cry aloud for Justice upon delinquents whereupon Sir Alexander Carew one of the Knights of the Shire for Cornwall tasted sharply thereof For this Sir Alexander having been a most confiding man and in that respect constituted Governour of Plymouth-fort at length discerning the greatest part of the West reduced to his Majesties obedience began rationally to consult his own safety and to make his peace with the King by the delivering up of that strong hold but his intention therein being discovered before the business could be fully effected he was condemn'd to death by a Council of War held at Guild-Hall in London and on the twenty third of December beheaded on Tower Hill with the very same Ax by which the noble Earl of Strafford lost his life Which notable accident is not fit to pass without a special remark for most certain it is that upon voting the Bill in the House of Commons for putting that great man to death the most Loyal Sir Bevill Grenevile the other Knight for Cornwall sitting by Sir Alexander and much abhorring that unjust procedure against a person whose life the known Laws of the Land could not touch express'd himself thus to Sir Alexander Pray Sir let it never be said that any Member of our County should have a hand in this fatal business and therefore pray ye give your vote against the Bill To whom Sir Alexander instantly replyed If I were sure to be the next man that should suffer upon the same Scaffold with the same Ax I would give my consent to the passing of it How exactly this was verified is sufficiently known Nor is it less worthy of note that about this time also they reckoned with their trusty Governour of Hull Sir Iohn Hothum and likewise with Iohn his eldest son who had been Prisoners in the Tower of London from the month of Iuly 1643. though formerly much magnified for refusing to give the King entrance there as hath been already observed whose great crimes were that when they discern'd the Earl of Newcastle powerfull in the North the Queen also safe landed at Burlinton with Arms and Ammunition and the strength of the Rebels not a little declining in all parts and therefore deeming it best to make their peace with the King in time they privately treated with the Earl of Newcastle or his Agents for the delivery up of that Garison but so unwarily as that their design was discovered whereupon they had sentence of death passed upon them on the seventh of December by the Earl of Manchester and others then sitting at Guild-Hall in London which was accordingly executed on his son upon the first of Ianuary next ensuing and on himself the morrow following And not many days after being thus flesht with bloud they brought the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to the same block as hath been already observed Soon after which the Tide running swiftly on their side Shrewsbury was surprized by their forces nothing of moment thenceforth being acted by the Royallists other than a defeat which Colonel Massey received by Prince Rupert near Ledbury in Herefordshire and the taking of Leicester by the King which proved fatal to him as we shall see anon all going thenceforth to wrack on his Majesties part For at the very entrance of this year Donington-castle was yielded up to them Soon after which Cromwel having defeated some of the King's forces near Iâ—ip-bridg in Oxford shire and upon summons got Blechington house within few weeks after General Fairfax came with his whole Army before Oxford whereupon Godstow house was quitted by the Royallists Evesham in Worcestershire taken and Gaunt-house in Oxfordshire yieldded up All this while Fairfax continuing before Oxford but hearing that the King was somewhat considerable after the taking of Leicester he raised his siege and march'd towards him Both Armies therefore meeting near Navesby in Northampton shire upon their first encounter
to Moral Honesty but wholly guided by those whimsical Fantasies which were by their Ring-leaders called the Revelations and Inspirations of God's Holy Spirit it was referred to a Committee to consider of a way for the Raising of Pensions and allowances out of Deans and Chapters Lands to maintain certain Itinerant Preachers who were Authorized to go up and down and spread abroad their Antimonarchical Doctrine whereby the Rabble might be set up and comply with the Souldiery against the Nobility and Gentry Clergy Lawyers and all orderly Government But upon better consideration fearing that the Liberty might in time overwhelm them with confusion and give such a countenance to the Levellers of whose help they had made no small use for the King's Destruction as would bring upon them inevitable ruine Cromwel moved in their Parliament that the Presbyterian Government might be setled promising his endeavours thereto and that the secured and secluded Members might be again invited to return into the House They likewise imploy'd divers of their Preachers of which Mr. Marshal Mr. Nye Mr. Carrel Mr. Goodwyn and Hugh Peters were the chief to cajole others of their own Coat together with the Citizens and expulsed Members with certain Discourses and Proposals telling them that the Presbyterians did differ with the King in point of Civil Interest which was much more irreconcileable than the Interest of Church Government whatsoever shew was made to the contrary Also that it was the Presbyterians who first made War against the late King brought him low and prepared him to receive his deadly blow from the Independants and therefore that the King would look upon them as equally Guilty with the Independants and endeavour equally to cut them off their design being thereby to cast the Presbyterians into utter despair and so to bring them in point of self Preservation to joyn with their Interests for common defence And to carry on their work with the more shew of Sanctity they ordered that a strict Fast should be kept to humble themselves and implore God's Forgiveness for the Ingratitude of the People who did not sufficiently acknowledge with Thankfulness Gods Great Mercies upon this Land in Freeing them from Monarchy and bestowing Liberty upon them by changing Kingly Government into a Free State or Republick To sweeten likewise the affections of the Vulgar towards them they made most specious pretences of paying all the publick Debts and raising Three Hundred thousand Pounds for supplying the necessities of the Common-wealth as they term'd it without any charge or burthen to the people and to that end passed an Act for abolishing all Deans and Chapters and for sale of their Lands And the better to fortifie themselves and their Usurped Dominion they fram'd another Act whereby they declared certain particulars to be Treason viz. 1. If any man should maliciously affirm their present Government to be Tyrannical usurped or unlawful or that the Commons in Parliament were not the Supream Authority of the Nation or that should endeavour to alter that their Government 2. If any should affirm their Council of State or Parliament to be Tyrannical or unlawful or endeavour to Subvert them or stir up Sedition against them 3. For any Souldiers of their Army to contrive the death of the General or Lieutenant General or endeavour to Raise Mutinies in the Army or to Levy War against the Parliament or to joyn with any to Invade England or Ireland to Counterfeit their Great Seal or kill any Member of their Parliament or any Judge or Minister of Justice in their duty Soon after this they framed and passed another Act declaring England with all the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging to be a Free State and to be Governed by the Representatives of the People in Parliament without any King or House of Lords Which Act was Proclaimed in the City of London by Alderman Andrews then Lord Mayor Alderman Pennington Wollaston Fowkes Kenrick Byde Edmunds Pack Bateman Atkins Viner Avery Wilson Dethick Foote then attending him The Londoners being by that time brought unto so much Vassalage by these insolent Regicides as that in obedience to a Vote made by their servile Parliament they were constrain'd to invite that wicked Conclave to a Thanksgiving Dinner whereat all of them were to rejoyce together for bringing the Grand Delinquent to punishment that is to say for the Murther of the King for the greater honour of that day the Lord Mayor met the Speaker and the other Members of Parliament at Temple-Bar and there resigning the Sword to him received it again and carryed it before him to Christs Church Whence after a Canting Sermon he conducted them to Grocers-Hall and entertain'd them in the quality of a Free State the Cooks having every one of them an Oath to prepare for those Saints nothing but wholsome Food Being therefore thus seeming firmly setled in their Tyrannical Dominion they went on in passing sundry other Acts in their Pseudo-Parliament of which the Ruling Grandees had the chief benefit viz. 1. To encourage the Purchasers of Deans and Chapters Lands by the sale of them at Ten years Purchase in case of ready Money or doubling what was due to those as should so purchase 2. Another for the sale of the Goods and Personal Estate of the King Queen and Prince 3. A Third for sale of the Crown Lands with particular Instructions to sell them at Thirteen years purchase 4. Soon after this they passed another Act for Coyning of new Money with direction for the form of the stamp to be thereon 5. Another declaring what Offences should be thenceforth adjudged Treason viz. to express or publish their Government to be Tyrannical or that the Commons in Parliament were not the Supream Authority 6. And for the quicker riddance of Deans and Chapters Lands they added farther Power and Instructions to the Trustees for the sale of them 7. Next to reward their Bloody President Bradshaw who gave Judgment of Death upon the King they passed another Act for settling Two thousand pounds per annum upon him And that there might be a known mark of distinction betwixt themselves and others they passed an Act for the Subscribing an Engagement whereby every man should promise to be true and Faithful to the Government then established without a King or House of Lords or in case of refusal to have no benefit of the Laws But the Crown-lands so doom'd to be sold went but slowly off they therefore passed another Act to constitute a Committee to remove obstructions in the sale of them Nor was all this sufficient to satisfie their greedy appetites or was evident enough from the aim they had to devour all the Gleabe and Tithes throughout the whole Kingdom To which purpose they passed an Act whereby they nominated certain Commissioners to receive and dispose of all Rents Issues and profits of all Rectories
to carry on this great work under the specious Mask of Religion and pretended Revelations those standing him in such stead upon all his attempts as that there were not a few that really believ'd whatever he undertook could not easily miscarry Upon the Twentieth of April therefore attended with strong Guards he entred the Parliament-House with Fleetwood his great Confident commanding some few of his attendants to tarry without Where without moving his Hat or going to any Seat he first addressed his Speech to the Chief Justice St. Iohn telling him that he then came to do that which grieved him to the very Soul and what he had earnestly with Tears pray'd to God against Nay that he had rather be torn in pieces than do it But that there was a Necessity laid upon him therein in order to the Glory of God and the good of this Nation Whereunto St. Iohn answered that he knew not what he meant but did pray that what it was which must be done might have a happy Issue for the General Good Then Cromwel turning towards the Speaker told him how long under colour of Service to the Publick they had sate and acted there and that in stead thereof themselves and their Kindred Engrossing all places of great profit had upon their own Pride and Luxury consum'd the Wealth of the Land Which being said he gave a stamp with his Foot and bad them for shame be gone and give place to honester men Whereupon a Member standing up and modestly saying that it stood not with common Justice to cast so general an aspersion upon them all without any Proof he in wrath taking Sir Henry Vane Junior by the Cloak said thou art a Iugling Fellow and told Allen the Goldsmith that he had inricht himself by Cousening the State for which he should be call'd to account and commanded those of his Guard who at the signal of that stamp were entred the Door immediately to turn them out of the House Colonel Harrison accordingly pulling the Speaker out of his Chair It was observed that as they went out of the House he pointed at Harry Martin and Tom Challoner and said Is it fit that such Fellows as these should sit to Govern Men of vicious Lives the one a noted Whore-Master and the other a Drunkard Nay he boldly upbraided them all with selling the Cavaliers Estates by bundles and said they had kept no Faith with them This as it was one of his greatest Adventures so was it the most grateful to the People of all that ever he did it being no less than the quelling of that many-headed Monster which glutted with unmeasurable Rapine and Innocent Blood had been not a little dreadful to the greatest part of Europe Having therefore so happily remov'd this Block yet still keeping close the main end of his design under the shadow of ruling by a Civil Power after much pretended seeking of God he selected certain Persons to manage the same as a Council of State whose Names were as followeth 1. Himself as General of the Army 2. The Lord L'isle Son to the Earl of Leicester 3. Lieutenant General Fleetwood 4. Major General Lambert 5. Major General Harrison 6. Major General Desborow 7. Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. 8. Sir Charles Wolfesley Bar. 9. Sir Anthony Ashley Couper Barronet 10. Sir Iames Hope of Scotland 11. Colonel Hewson of Ireland 12. Colonel Norton 13. Colonel Mountagu 14. Colonel Benet 15. Colonel Stapeley 16. Colonel Sydenham 17. Colonel Tomlinson 18. Colonel Iones 19. Alderman Tichburne 20. Mr. Strickland 21. Mr. Carey 22. Mr. Howard 23. Mr. Broughton 24. Mr. Laurence 25. Mr. Holister 26. Mr. Comptney 27. Mr. Major 28. Mr. St. Nicholas 29. Mr. Moyer 30. Mr. Williams of Wales And to the end that there might be the less suspition of his affecting the Rule with the advice of his Officers he made choise of no less than an hundred and four Godly-men unto whom he committed the whole sway of the Realm who were accordingly summon'd by a special Letter to each of them under his Hand Berks. Samuel Dunch Vincent Goddard Thomas Wood. Bedf. Nathaniel Taylor Edward Cater Buck. George Fleetwood George Baldwin Cambr. Iohn Sadler Thomas French Robert Castle Samuel Warner Chesh. Robert Duckenfeild Henry Birkinhead Cumb Northumb. Bishoprick of Durch Westmor Charles Howard Robert Fenwick Henry Dawson Henry Ogle Corâ—w Robert Benet Francis Langdon Anthony Rows Iohn Bowden Derb. Iervas Benet Nathaniel Barton Devon George Monke one of Lanc the Generals at Sea Iohn Carew Thomas Sanders Christopher Martin Iames Erisey Francis Rows Richard Sweet Dorset William Sydenham Iohn Bingham Essex Ioachim Mathews Henry Barington Iohn Brewster Christopher Earle Dudley Tempâ—er Glouc Iohn Crostes Wiliam Neast Robert Holmes South Richard Norton Richard major Iohn Hildesley Hertf. Henry Lawrence William Reeve Heref. Wroth Rogers Iohn Herring Hunt Edward Mountagu Stephen Phesant Kent Lord L'isle Thomas Blount William Kenrick William Cullen Andrew Broughton Lanc. William West Iohn Sawrey Robert Cunliss Leic. Henry Danvers Edward Smith Iohn Prat. Linc. Sir William Brownlow Richard Cust. Barnabas Bowtell Humphrey Walcott William Thompson Midd. Sir William Roberts Augustine Wingfeild Arthur Squib Monm Philip Jones North. Sir Gilbert Pickering Thomas Brooke Norf. Robert Iermy Tobias Freze Ralph Wilmer Henry King William Barton Nott. Iohn Odingsells Edward Clud Oxon. Sir Charles Wolseley Bt. William Draper Dr. Ionathan Godard Rutl. Edward Horseman Salop. William Boterel Thomas Baker Staff George Bellor Iohn Chetwood Suff. Jacob Caley Francis Brewster Robert Dunkon John Clerke Edward Plumsted Somer Robert Blake another of the Generals at Sea John Pyne Dennis Hollyster Henry Henley Surrey Samuel Highland Laurence March Suff. Anthony Stapeley William Spence Nathaniel Studdey Warr. John St. Nicholas Richard Lucie Wilts Sir Anth. Ashley Couper Baronet Nicholas Greene. Thomas Eyre Wigorn. Richard Salway John James Yorksh. George Lord Evre Walter Strickland Francis Lascells John Anlaby Thomas Dickenson Thomas St. Nicholas Roger Cotes Edward Gill. Lond. Robert Tichburne John Ireton Samuel Moyer John Langley John Stone Henry Barton Prais-god Barebone Wales Bushey Mansell James Philips John Williams Hugh Courtney Richard Price John Browne Scotl. Sir James Hope Alexander Bredy John Swinton William Lockart Alexander Jeffreys Ireland Sir Robert King Colonel Iohn Hewson Col. Henry Cromwel Colonel Iohn Clerke Daniel Hutchenson Vincent Gookin Afterwards these following were Elected into them Lord General Cromwel Major General Lambert Major General Harrison Major General Desborough Colonel Matthew Tomlinson Of these many were Illiterate and of mean condition divers Fanatick Sectaries and of that kind the most busie and mischievous yet here and there mixt with confiding men and such whose Interest was firmly trusted with Cromwels Being thus chosen and sent for they first met together in the Council-Chamber at White-Hall Whence after a Grave Speech made to them by Cromwel expressing that he had thus called them together to consult of the great affaires of these Three Kingdoms they adjourned themselves to the
viz. at Dunbar and Worcestrer it will not be amiss to take notice of somewhat concerning his Carcase which was wholly preternatural viz. that notwithstanding it was Artificially Embowelled and Embalmed with Aromatick Odours wrapt also in six-fold Cerecloth and put in a sheet of Lead with a strong wooden Coffin over it yet did it in a short time so strangely ferment that it burst all in pieces and became so noysom that they were immediately necessitated to commit it to the Earth and to celebrate his Funeral with an empty Coffin Which solemnity was performed from Somerset-House in the Strand unto King Henry the Sevenths Chappel at Westminster with that Grandeur and State upon the 23. of November following that it did equalize the greatest and most glorious of our Kings amongst which they laid the Corps of this infamous Regicide CHAP. XXXIX HEre should I go on in the path of my Story but because that reports have been so various and uncertain touching his Parentage and course of life before he became an Actor in this unparallel'd Rebellion it will not be improper to make a short digression and as briefly as may be to say somthing of both That his Extraction by the Fathers side was from Sir Richard Williams Kt. a Gentleman of eminent note in the Court of King Henry the VIII and son to Morgan ap William a Welchman by Sister to Thomas Lord Cromwel Earl of Essex the chief Agent in those days for the dissolution of the Monasteries is not to be doubted Who being by his Uncle preferred to the service of King Henry was for that cause and no other called Cromwel as is apparent enough from Testimonies of credit however some have fancyed otherwise which Sir Richard thereupon writing himself Cromwel alias Williams was then in such Favour and Grace with the King that having received the dignity of Knighthood for his Heroick behaviour at a Tilting in 32. Hen. VIII he had also the great Abby of Ramsey the Nunnery of Hinchinbroke with the Priories of Sautrey and Huntington given to him upon the disposal of the Monastery Lands All which he left unto Sir Henry Cromwel Kt. his Son and Heir Who making Hinchinbroke his principal Seat as more pleasantly situate than Ramsey is left Issue Sir Oliver Cromwel made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Iames and Robert Cromwel a younger Son with some other Children Which Robert though he was by the countenance of his elder Brother made a Justice of Peace in Huntingtonshire had but a slender Estate much of his support being a Brew-House in Huntington chiefly managed by his Wife who was Sister to Sir Robert Steward of the City of Ely Knight and by her had Issue this our famous Oliver stiled Protector of England Scotland and Ireland as hath been observed In his Youth he was for some time bred up in the University of Cambridg where he made no great proficiency in any kind of Learning but then and afterwards sorting himself with Drinking-Companions and the ruder sort of people being of a rough and blustering disposition he had the name of a Royster amongst most that knew him and by his exorbitances so wasted his Patrimony that having attempted his Uncle Steward for a supply of his wants and finding that by a smooth way of application to him he could not prevail he endeavoured by colour of Law to lay hold of his Estate representing him a person not able to govern it But therein failing for lack of better mantenance his aim was for New-England purposing there to fix as is very well known Observing therefore that most of those unquiet Spirits who were refractory to the Church-Discipline by Law Establisht here were the principal persons which had stored that new Plantation and that none but such Schismaticks were welcome guests thither for his better furtherance from those of that gang and the fairer acceptance upon his arrival there through the recommendation of those Godly Brethren he forthwith quitted his old Companions and betook himself to the acquaintance of the pretended Holy Tribe most formally canting in their demure Language and affected tone and frequenting the Sermons of the fiercest Boutefeus Amongst which as a blessed Convert in whom they much gloried he gained in short time a very high Reputation So that having better Natural parts than the most of that Sect and confidence enough to put forth himself upon any fit occasion he was especially made choice of by those who ever endeavoured the undermining of Regal Authority to be their Orator at Huntington unto the late Kings Commissiones of Sewers there in opposition to His Majesties most commendable design for the general drayning of that great and vast level of the adjacent Fenns In which adventure his boldness and Elocution gained him so much credit as that soon after being necessitated through his low condition to quit a Country Farm which he held at St. Ives and betake himself to mean Lodgings in Cambridg the Schismatical party there chose him a Burgess for their Corporation in that unhappy Long-Parliament which began at Westminster upon the third of November 1640. Wherein he bestirred himself with as much violence and heat as any Schismatical Bankrupt did in that mischievious Convention being well aware that a general imbroilment of the Kingdom by an intestine War might be of advantange to such necessitous and desperate people Whereupon in short time he did accordingly obtain his long desired ends for being one of the first of those who put themselves in Arms against the King he was made a Captain of Horse in the Earle of Essex's Regiment and afterward Lieutenant General to the late Earl of Manchester In which service his great strength of Reason accompanyed with no less Courage soon gained him such experience in the Discipline of War as that taking strict care for the well Arming of his men and preventing their disorder upon any hot pursuit such success attended him upon all occasions as at length gained him the Reputation of a skilful Commander by reason whereof he arrived to much higher advancements Where soon discerning the general humour of the Souldier and that many of them were possessed with conceited Revelations some expecting a personal Reign of Christ here on Earth fancying themselves the men who were to make way for his coming and to that purpose that they were to destroy the wicked and possess their Estates he chiefly applyed himself to the humor of those desperate Fanaticks and by his subtle arts in Praying Preaching Groaning and Howling amongst them got himself no less Credit than Mahomet of old did with his Followers And so by degrees ascending those steps of Command and Power whereof instance hath been given in the precedent Story raised himself at last to the highest pitch of Soveraignty as hath already been observed CHAP. XL. I Now proceed to Richard his Son Proclaimed Protector upon his death as hath been said Whose Title was for a
stiled a great Teacher in Israel who being in private conference with Obediah Sedgwick and one Alliston and askt by Alliston whether it were possible to end the War by a Treaty No said he we will never Treat unless we may have all granted which we formerly demanded Nay if the King should grant that now we should not agree For if the King had put down Bishops and Cathedrals at first we would have given him all their Lands But should he do it now we would not give him any of their Revenues For we must have both Church-Lands and Delinquents Estates also and all little enough to pay the Parliaments Debts and Recompence those who have Suffered for us and reward such as have laboured in our Cause Whosoever therefore observes their Demands by those Propositions presented to His Majesty at Oxford and the Passages of the Treaty at Uxbridge thereupon will find that their Commissioners did not much swerve from Mr. Marshals Principles And now I mention this Treaty for Peace at Uxbridge I cannot but take notice of a Memorable Accident First That whereas the Buckinghamshire-men were the first of all the Counties in this Kingdom that came in a Tumultuous manner to Westminster 11 Ian. 1641. with a Petition on the behalf of the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members which gave Countenance to the many Exorbitant Practises that after ensued and had Thanks returned them by the two Houses So were they the first County that Attempted to Petition for Peace But coming towards Uxbridge in great Numbers for that purpose were by Authority of the Commissioners there from those at Westminster met by a Regiment of Horse and Forced to return home with their Petition Sir Iohn Lawrence one of the Principal of them with others being sent up to Westminster and Committed to Prison for going about to Exhibite such a Malignant Petition as they call'd it CHAP. XLVI HAVING now done with these Observations let us see what Resemblance that great Rebellion of the Barons above four hundred Years since had with this Touching which I shall chiefly make use of what that Learned Antiquary Sir Robert Cotton Kt. and Barronet who died many Years since hath written thereof in that brief discourse of his Intituled A short view of the long Reign of K. Henry the third No other disquiet did the State then feel but such as is Incident in all Malice to Authority The Commons greedy of Liberty the Nobility of Rule The greatest in trust for publick Affairs being still shot at by the aspiring of those that doom themselves less in Imployment than they are in Merit That the Surfeit of a long Peace perchance having let in some abuses from whence the Commons to whom days present seem ever worst commend the foregon Ages they never remembred and condemn the present though they know neither the Disease thereof nor the Remedy To these Idle and usual Humours fell in some of the Young and Noble Spirits who being as truely ignorant as the rest first by sullying the Wisdome of the present and greatest Rulers making each casual mishap their Errors seem to decipher each Blemish in Government and then by holding certain imaginary and phantastick Forms of Common Wealths flatter their own Belief and Ability that they can mould any State to these general Rules which in particular Applications would prove Idle and Gross Absurdities Amongst this Unequal Medley there were of the Nobility Richard Earl of Pembroke Gloucester and Hartford Darlings of the Multitude Some for the merit of their Fathers whose Memories they held Sacred as Pillars of publick Liberty and Opposers of encroaching Monarchy These by force would effect what the other did effect by Cunning. The Lords still frustrate of their Malicious ends began to sow on these late grounds of the Peoples Discontents quaerelas ambiguos de principe sermones quoque alia turbamenta Vulgi and took it up a fashion to endeare and glorify themselves with the sensless Multitude by depraving the King's Discretion and Government Neither was the Church without a busy part in this Tragick Work For Walter Bishop of Worcester and Robert of Lincoln to whom Mountfort and his Faction praecordialiter adhaerebant were far engaged In such Designs Church-men are never wanting and the distast of the present Government as well in the Church as Common-Wealth will ever be a knot of Strength for such Unquiet Spirits who as well frame to themselues some other form of Government than the present in the Church as in the Temporal State as that which with the giddy Multitude winneth best Opinion and did at this time sute the Peoples Humours so much distasting the new Courts of the Clergy their Pomp c. A fair Pretext was it to those Factious Bishops to use their bitter Pens and Speeches so far against Religious-Orders Ceremonies and State of the Church that one of them incurred the Sentence of Excommunication at Rome and Treason at home For he injoined the Earl of Leicester in remissione peccatorum ut causam illam meaning his Rebellion usque ad mortem assumeret Asserens pacem Ecclesiae Anglicanae nunquam sine gladio materiali posse firmari It was not the best Doctrine that this Man could plant by Liberty or War when the first Church rose by Fasting and Prayer True Piety binds the Subject to desire a good Soveraign but to bear with a bad one and to take up the burthen of Princes with a bended Knee rather in time so to deserve Abatement than resist Authority To Suppress these Troubles and supply the King's Extremity a Parliament was called much to the liking of those Lords who as little meant to Relieve the King as they did to quiet the State their end at that time being only to open at home the Poverty of their Master to lessen his Reputation abroad and to breath out their own Passions freely whilst those times of Liberty permit Here they began to tell him he had wronged the Publick State in taking to his Private Election the Iustice Chancelour and Treasurer that should be only by the Common-Council of the Realm They blame him c. to have hurt the Common-Liberty by Non-Obstantes in his Patents to make good Monopolies for private Fauourites c. And that Sir Robert Passelew had torn from the Borderers of his Forest under pretence of Incroachments or Assarts great Sums of Money And therefore they wonder that he should now demand relief from his so pill'd and poled Commons Upon new grant of the great Charter admittance to his Council of some Persons Elected by the Commons c. They spare him such apittance as must tye him to their Devotion for a new supply Thus Parliaments which before were ever a Medicine to heal up any Rupture in Princes Fortunes are now grown worse than the Malady saith from thence more Malignant