falling off again as hath already been observed He became so strangely elated that nothing then to be done could give satisfaction to his ambitious and unlimited desires But here I shall also observe that notwithstanding the strong factions into which these men were then divided had begot a perfect hatred of each to other as the many printed pamphlets then spread abroad do sufficiently shew Nevertheless for the utter eradicating of the Religion by Law establish'd in the Church of England which themselves had at first 3. May 1641. solemnly protested to maintain about this time they all agree'd together in framing an Ordinance for the establishing of Presbytery containing a particular form and order of Church-government in their congregational Classical Provincial and National Assemblies In which the Lay Elders constituted at that time in all the Parishes throughout the City of London are expresly nominated with direction for the setling of all others throughout England and Wales and limitation of their powers unto the sharp and rigorous penalties whereof all conscientious and orthodox Protestants of the Church of England were to be subject but the Independent brood consisting of all sorts of Schismaticks and Sectaries under the notion of Godly-men and tender conscienced to be at liberty ¶ And now to proceed As I have already taken notice that a personal Treaty with the King was voted by the Members at Westminster I shall here observe that all things being prepared for the same it began at Newport in the Isle of Wight upon the 18th of September the chief persons permitted to attend his Majesty there being these the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hertford the Earl of Lindsey and Earl of Southampton Gentlemen of his Bedchamber the Bishops of London and Salisbury Dr. Sheldon Dr. Hamond Dr. Oldsworth Dr. Sanderson Dr. Turner and Dr. Heywood Chaplains Sir Thomas Gardner Sir Orlando Bridgman Sir Robert Holburne Mr. Gessrey Palmer Mr. Thomas Cooke and Mr. Iohn Vaughan Lawyers The Members at Westminster imploying these the Earls of Northumberland Salisbury Middlesex the Viscount Say the Lord Wenman Denzil Holles and William Pierpont Esquires Sir Henry Vane junior Sir Harbotle Grymston Mr. Samuel Brown Sir Iohn Potts Mr. Crew Serjeant Glyn and Mr. Bulkley These other Divines for the King being afterwards added viz. Dr. Iames Vsher Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland and Dr. Ferne And for the Parliament Mr. Stephen Marshal Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Lazarus Seaman and Mr. Ioseph Caryll But withall as it is now most evident to the world that there was never any real purpose on the part of the Grandees at Westminster that the Treaty formerly at Uxbridge should take any good effect so was there less expectation here the King being then their prisoner and all his forces come to nothing for though they then gave way to this Treaty they were at that very time contriving and framing the formality of his absolute destruction of which the symptoms were visible enough during the whole continuance of that Treaty by sundry Petitions to the Members at Westminster all declaming bitterly against it Which Petitions as 't is well known were first fram'd by the Grandees themselves and then sent amongst the people to be subscribed according to their usual practice In most whereof it was desired that all Delinquents without exception might be brought to condigne punishment one whereof concluding thus from Psalm 149. ver 6 7 8 and 9. Let the high prayses of God be in the mouths of his Saints and a twofold Sword in their Hands to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishment upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the Iudgments written This Honour have all his Saints Besides it is farther to be observ'd that after the destruction of this Scottish-Army at Preston and the reducing of Colchester Cromwell went into Scotland where he not onely laid the plot with the Marquess of Argyle for the destruction of the King and extirpation of Monarchy but by his help in the contrivance of that unparalel'd murther agree'd in the formalities conducing thereto ¶ And now as to this Treaty in the Isle of Wight 't is sufficiently known that it was on His Majestie 's part totally and singly managed by himself against all those subtile persons above-mentioned the Houses at Westminster not permitting him to have any assistant therein either Divines or others Also that it was perform'd by him with so much judgment gravity meekness and curtesie as not onely much astonisht but made converts of some that had been his greatest Enemies and were then his Antagonists there Wherein to manifest his earnest desires for the peace of those distracted Realms he was contented to devest himself totally in effect of his own Regal power for life and to trust those insatiable men with the exercise thereof as is apparently to be seen by the particular Articles then assented to by him viz. 1. As to the Militia he consented thereto as 't was required by their Proposition 2. For Episcopacy though he could not consent to the utter abolishing thereof yet he offered that it might be regulated and reduced to the primative usage and so setled and continued in the Church And in order thereto that it might be enacted that the Bishops should not act without the Council and assistance of the Presbyters in the exercises of Ordination and Iurisdiction and therefore desired the consent of the Houses in the one that he might the more freely give his assent unto the other Offering to lessen the extent or multiply the number of the Diocesses as should be agreed upon by both Houses 3. As to Bishops lands that he could not consent to the alienation of them but offred what he had done before for satisfaction of the Purchasers and Contracters which was for the enjoyment of them for a certain time being therein seconded by the opinion of many Divines who differ in other things that the alienation of them would be no less than Sacriledge 4. That he would confirm their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines 5. That he would confirm the form of Church-government presented to him with the Directory and repeal those Statutes which enjoyn'd the use of Common Prayer and all this for three years provided that a consultation should be had between the Assembly of Divines and twenty of His Majestie 's nomination added to them in the mean time for the farther setling of the Church at the end of those three years and that Himself and His might have the use of the Comâ—â—prayer But for the new Articles of Religion His Majesty haveing not had time sufficient as yet for consideration of so weighty matters as concern Faith and Doctrine desired that that part of the Proposition might for the present be omitted 6. That he would confirm the Ordinance for â—wordsâ— better observation of the Lord's day provided that
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
B. Ib. p. 403. D. The second Parliament of K. Charles I. dissolved 15. Junii An. 1626. 2 Car. 1. Ib. p. 419. B. C A Loan of money required by the K. Ship-money required Privy Seals Ib. p. 420. A Benevolence proposed Ib. p. 422. An. 1626. Short View of the Life of K. â— Charles impr Lond. 1658. p. 46. An. 1627. Rushw. Coll. p. 428. E. p. 429. 27 Junii Ib. F. * 8 Nov. Ib. p. 469. Life of King Charles by Dr. Perenchef impr Lond. 1676. An. 1627. 3 Car. I. Rushw. Coll. p. 480. C. The third Parliament of K. Charles I. 17 Martii Ib. p. 481. D. Ib. p. 531. B. 26 Junii 1628. Ib. p. 644. B. Ib. D. Short View of the Life of K. Charles p. 26. Rushw. Coll. p. 647. C. Ib. p. 651. C. Ib. p. 656. C. An. 1628. * Febr. Ib. p. 670. F. Short view of the life of K. Charles p. 53. The third Parliament of King Charles the first dissolved 2. Martii Rushw. Coll. p. 672. A. Planting Schismatical Lecturers * Hist. of the Presbyterians by Dr. Heylin p. 11. 12. * Hist. of the life and death of Archbish. Laud. p. 9. Buying in impropriate Tythes for their support * Ib. p. 211. 212. Ib. p. 311 312. The absurdity and ill effects of them Their practising of military Discipline His Majesties Declaration printed at London An. 1639. p. 6. Ib. p. 7. Ib. p. 9. An. 1633. An. 1634. The Inland parts charg'd with Ships for defence of the Realm A usual mask for evil designs Hist. of Arch-Bishop Laud's life c. p. 92. 93. Multitudo ubi religione capta est potius vatibus quam Ducibus suis paret Curtius lib. 4. An. 1637. The Service-book sent into Scotland King Charles his large Declaration p. 16. Ib. p. 17. Ib. p. 18. 19. Ib. p. 19. Ib. p. 22. Ib. p. 23 24 25. 23 Julii 1637. Tumults at Edenborough by reason of the Service-book * Ib. p. 26 27. Ib. p. 31. 17. Oct. 1637. 1638. Ib. p. 35. 18. Oct. Ib. p. 37. Ib. p. 41. Ib. p. 47. * 19. Febr. 1638. Ib. p. 40. Tables of Advice erected The first Covenant by the Scots His Majesties Declaration Ib. p. 40. * Dated at Windsor 20 May 1638. The Marq. of Hamilton sent into Scotland to appease the people there Ib. p. 85. 86. Ib. p. 88. Ib. p. 96. 28. Junii Ib. p. 110. 111. 22 Sept. Ib. p. 137. Ib. p. 147. Ib. p. 156. 24 Sept. Ib. p. 188 189. Ib. p. 195. * 13. Oct. Ib. p. 197. Ib. p. 208. Ib. p. 210. Ib. p. 226. An. 1534. 25. H. 8. Holinsh p. 936. 937. Ib. p. 228. Ib. p. 229. 230. Ib. p. 224. 28. Oct. Ib. p. 248. Ib. p. 264. Ib. p. 281 282 283. Ib. p. 287. 27 Nov. Ib. p. 290. 29. Nov. The Assembly at Glasgow dissolved Ib. p. 294. Ib. p. 317. Episcopal Government abolish'd in Scotland Ib. p. 319. Ib. p. 366. * 18 Dec. Ib. p. 375. Ib. p. 402. Ib. p. 404. The Scots put themselves in Arms. The King raised an Army whereof he made the Earl of Arundel General 27 Martii 1639. * 28 Maii at the Birks The King's Declaration since the Pacification in the Camp near Barwick p. 3. 4. Ib. p. 17. * 17 Junii Articles of Pacification with the Scots * 20 Junii Ib. p. 17. Ib. p. 19. Ib. p. 20 * 2 Julii * 20 Julii Ib. p. 30. August Novemb. * Earl of Dumfermelyn Lord Lowdon * 5 Dec. Ib. p. 41. 18. Dec. Scots raise more forces Jan. 1639. Act. 34. Ib. p. 57. * The King's Declaration printed at Lond. 1639. Ib. p. 8. * Sir Henry Vane junior * Preface to the Memoires of the lives of James and William D. of Hamilton Impr. Lond. 1677. 1640. An. 1640. 13 Apr. The Short Parliament call'd The Short Parliament dissolved 5 Maii. 9 Maii. * 11 Maii. 11 Julii Ad. 38. * 17. Aug. The first Invasion of the Scots * 18 Aug. * 28 Aug. A grand Council of the Peers at York 24 Sept. 9. Oct. Treaty at Rippon The long Parliament began 3. No. Will. Lenthal of Lincolns Inn being Speaker * 9 Nov. * 11 Nov. The Earl of Strafford impeach'd of Treason * 13 Nov. * 18 Dec. * 19 Dec. * 21 Dec. * 14 Jan. * 5 Febr. * 11 Febr. * 28 Nov. * 11 Dec. * 15 Dec. * 16 Dec. * 29 Jan. * 10 Febr. * 11 Febr. 1641. * 10. Martii * 2. Febr. * 16. Martii Tryal of the E. of Strafford * 22. Martii * 23. Martii An. 1641. * 3. Apr. * 5. Apr. * 7. Apr. * 19. Apr. * 12. Maii * 3 Maii Pretended Plots and Conspiracies * 5 Maii. * 7 Maii. * 10 Maii. * 12 Maii. * 13 Maii. * 14 Maii. * 17 Maii. * 17 Junii * 24 Julii * 16 Aug. Posture of Defence Bill for perpetuating the Parliament * 7 Maii. * 9 Junii * Lord Say sworn Master of the Wards 17 Maii. Earl of Leicester made Deputy of Ireland 19 Maii Earl of Essex made Lord Chamberlain 29 Julii Oliver St. John made Sollicitor General The King went into Scotland * 2 Aug. * Will. Strode * 12 Aug. The grand Remonstrance * 19 Oct. * 20 Oct. * 31 Oct. Alderman Penington and others made a Committee for setting up Preaching Ministers 19 Dec. A. 1640. * Dr. Downing * Exact Col. p. 543. * 23 Oct. The Rebellion in Ireland * 22 Junii * 3 Julii * Sir William Parsons one of the Lords â—ustices in that Kingdom and Sir Adam Loftus Vice-Treasurer there persons experimentally known to have much adhered to and furthered the designs of these Rebellious contrivers in England that an Army of a thousand Scots was to arrive in Ireland to force the Catholicks to change their Religion and that Ireland could never do well without a Rebellion to the end the remnant of the Natives might be extirpated wagers being laid at the general Assizes by divers of them that within one year no Catholick should be left in Ireland * See his Majesties Answer to the two Papers concerning Ireland printed with the full and perfect Narrative of the Treaty at Uxbridge p. 212. * See the full Relation of the Treaty at Uxbridge p. 133. 136. * Impr. Londan 1658. p. 86. * 25 Oct. * 30 Oct. * 12 Nov. * 14 Nov. * 15 Nov. * 20 Nov. * Exact Coll. p. 1. * 22 Nâ— * 25 Nov. The King returned from Scotland * 26 Nov. * 27 Nov. * 29 Nov. 30 Nov. 1 Dec. * Exact Coll. p. 22. * 11 Dec. * 15 Dec. * Exact Coll. p. 532. * 19 Dec. * 26 Dec. * 27 Dec. * 28 Dec. * 29 Dec. * Exact Coll. p. 533. * 31 Dec. * 31 Dec. 1 Jan. 4 Jan. See the Articles against them Exact Coll. p. 34. * 7 Jan. * 8 Jan. The King with the Queen Prince and D. of York
p. 500. z Compare with this the Propositions to his Majesties Commissioners at Vxbridge concerning the War of Ireland Full Relation c. p. 95. a See the like demands by the Members at Westminster Exact Coll. p. 259. 465. b Ib. p. 502. c Ib. p. 503. d Ib. p. 508. e Compare with this the Expression of the Members at Westminster in their Petition to his Majesty 26. Martij 1642. Exact Coll. p. 123. f Ib. p. 118. g Compare with this the Protestation framed at Westminster 3 Maij. 1641. b Ibid. p. 523. i D'Aubignie Tom. 2. lib. 3. cap. 3. col 828. k Davilaeâ— 548. l Ib. p. 566. m Annal. Eliz. in An. 1589. p. 557. n Davilae p. 561. o Ib. p. 562. p Compare with this his Majesties Answer to the two Papers concerning Ireland Full Relation c. p. 215. Was not his Majesties Statua abused both at the Old Exchange in London and at Wincheâ—ster q Ib. p. 563. r Ib. p. 564. s Ib. p. 565. t Ib. p. 567. u Exact Coll. p. 503. x Davilae p. 568. y Ib. p. 569. z Was not the like done by our Men against his Majesty for Assenting to the Cessation in Ireland a Ib. p. 591. b Ib. p. 593. e Ib. p. 596 d Ib. p. 597. 599. e Ib. p. 601. f Ib. p. 603. g Ib. p. 606. 609. h Ib. p. 612. i Ib. p. 613. k Ib. p. 627. l Ib. p. 6â—8 m Ib. p. 629. n Ib. p. 6â—0 o Ib. p. 662. 663. p Ib. p. 669. q Ib. p. 676. r Ibid. p. 733. Such hath been the Pollicy of the Scots with us Anno. 1. 591. s Ib. p. 679. t Ib. p. 701. u Ib. 742. x Ib. p. 702. y Brigard Ib. p. 742. z Ib. p. 740. a Ib. p. 726. b Ib. p. 733. c Ib. p. 740. d Ib. p. 747. e Ib. p. 761. f Ib. p. 792. 851. g Ib. p. 724. b Ib. p. 811. 821. Thus did Cromwell here i Ib. p. 862. k Ib. p. 865. l Ib. p. 837. m Ib. p. 161. 866. n Ib. p. 867. o Ib. p. 868. p Ib. p. 879. q Ib. p. 845. r Ib. p. 743. s Ib. p. 901. t See their Solemn Leagus and Covenant u See the full Relation of the Treaty at Vxbridge p. 209. x Ib. p. 206. y D'avila p. 943. z Piere Mathew Lib. 2. Narrat 1. Sect. 4. a Du Tillet p. 242. b Davila p. 994. c Duplex Hist. p. 27. d K. Henry the 4th e K. Lewis the 13th Davila p. 629. f Du Tellet p. 263. g Davila p. 936. b Cokes Instit part 3. p. 35. i Numb 16. 31 32. 27. 3. k Reg. 11. 36. l Esther 6. 2 3. m Sam. 2. 18. 9. 14. n Ib. 17. 23. o Reg. 2 21. 26 27. p Sam. 2 16. 5 6. Et Reg. 1 2. 8. 4. 6. q Reg. b 16. 9. 18. r Act. Apost 5. 36 37. s Prov. 24. 21. THE INDEX A. ANabaptists of Germany their Tenets and Progress Page 2. Calvins Character of them 8. Dangerous to Church and State 9. Luthers Request to the Duke of Saxony in favour of them 4. Afterwards exhorts all Men to destroy them 6. St. Antholin 's Church in London made the grand Nursery of seditious Preachers 37. Articles of Pacification with the Scots 55. Articles of the Treaty at Edenburgh for bringing in the Scots Army 131. between General Monk and the Committee of Safety 480. Articles called The Agreement of the People 260. Articles assented to by the King at the Treaty at Uxbridge 291. Assembly at Glasgow dissolved 52. The Impious Saving of one of the Assembly of Divines 225. Apprentices of London force the House of Commons 248. Army marcheth towards London 251. B. BArons War in the time of King Henry the 3d parallel'd with that of King Charles the First 592. A Benevolence proposed for raising Money 32. Bishops voted to have no Voice in Parliament 68. Booth Sir George his Insurrection 470. Brook Lord slain 117. Buckingham Duke his Expedition to the Isle of Rhee 33. murdered by Felton 34. C. CAnterbury and other Cathedrals defaced 557. Carew Sir Alex. his ominous words 198. is beheaded ibid. Carnarvan Earl slain 187. Charles I. King pawns his Lands to the City of London 33. is denied entrance into Hull 91. his Messages to the Parliament for Peace 102 103 134 237 268. his Protestation at the Head of his Army 104. goes from Oxford to the Scots Army 209. is sold by the Scots 232. is brought from Newcastle to Holdenby 234. his Answer to the four dethroning Bills 271. last Scene of his Life 361. rejects the Proposals made to him on the Sunday before his death 372. is murdered 373. his Legacies to his Children and others 382. his Burial 383. Charles II. King his Care when in Exile to preserve the Duke of Glocester in the Protestant Religion 429. marches from Scotland to Worcester 400. proclaimed King at London 488. Cheapside Cross pull'd down 560. Church Livings plurality of them allowed by the Presbyterians 225. Colchester Men petition the Parliament against Bishops c. 85. Common Prayer abolished 193. Commissions of Array 97. Common-Council-men turned out 79. First Covenant by the Scots 46. Conference at Hampton-Court 14. Cromwel Oliver his Extraction and Education 458. his persidious dealing with the King 261. his pretended Revelation 366. his Speech in Parliament ibid. Preaches at White-hall 391. made General of the Army 397. his Answer to a Letter from the Governour of the Castle of Edenburgh 397. turns the Rump Parliament out of doors 405. made Lord Protector 414. The manner of his riding to Grocers-hall in State 418. calls a Parliament 423. The manner of his proceeding to Parliament ibid. his Speech at the opening the Parliament 424 426. dissolves his first Parliament 429. Second Parliament called 450. dissolved 455. his Death 457. Cromwel Richard calls a Parliament 462. is set aside and the Ramp Parliament restored 465. D DEclaration of the City of London 250. Declaration of the Scots Commissioners 258 271. Declaration of the Scots for a publick Fast. 246. of the Committee of Safety 482. Denbigh Earl slain 185. Directory established 193. E. EPiscopal Government abolished in Scotland 52. in England 122. Earl of Essex made Lientenant-General of the Kings Army going against the Scots 54. made Lord Chamberlain 71. made General of the Parliament Forces 98. Essex-Men petition to the Parliament in behalf of the King 282. Excise first began 120 123 127 132. F. FAlkland Lucius Visc. slain 187. Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine elected King of Bohemia 20. French Ambassador's Speech to Cromwel 421. French Holy League parallel'd with the Rebellion in England 600. G. GLoucester Duke the attempts made upon him by the Queen Mother at Paris to turn to the Romish Religion 429. Grenvil Sir Bevil slain 186. Gurney Lord Major of London is deposed by the Rebels 101. H. MArquess of Hamilton sent into Scotland to appease
Subscription of those Lords and other loyal persons then attending him at York for levying Horse in his own defence as also for safeguard of the two Houses of Parliament and the Protestant Religion they order'd that ten thousand pounds of the money which had been brought in upon the Propositions unto Guild-Hall should be forthwith laid out to buy Horses and that ten thousand Foot should be speedily raised in London and the parts adjacent to be employ'd according to the direction of the Parliament As also that Arms should be taken out of the Tower for their present occasions to be disposed of by authority of Parliament Likewise that the ten thousand men so raised should be forthwith listed under Officers trained entred into pay and march into any part of the Kingdom by direction and authority of Parliament And of this Army thus speedily to be raised they appointed that the Earl of Essex should be General with whom they voted that they would live and dye Likewise to the end that this great affair might yet carry a specious shew to the world they set forth two more Declarations in the name of both Houses Whereby they pretended their whole endeavour to be for his Majesties Honour and Safety the regaining the ancient Laws Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom so much invaded setling the Protestant Religion in peace and purity c. Taxing the King with endeavour of a change in Religion and Government as also with breach of his solemn Protestations and Imprecations and that he had already begun a war against them being seduced by Jesuitical Counsel and Cavaliers who had designed all to slavery and confusion which gave them occasion thus to raise Forces for defence of Religion and Laws And having given authority to the Earl of Warwick to command his Majesties Navy at Sea they made an Order for him to take provisions for the same out of the Kings stores at Chatham notwithstanding his Majesties command to the contrary Likewise for the better increase of their Army they made Orders for encouragement of Voluntiers within this Kingdom and dominion of Wales to exercise and discipline themselves in a military manner which promises of the Authority of both Houses for their indemnity As also that the Earl of Essex should go on to make all speedy preparation for the raising of Forces according to his Commission appointing Commissioners out of the Common-Council of London to assist him in raising Voluntiers within that City and the Liberties thereof And lastly that a Declaration should be published to satisfy the people concerning their proceedings herein as also to stir them up to afford all speedy aid towards the raising of Forces upon the Propositions for the intent aforesaid and for removing the evil Counsellers from his Majesty How forward and active the Londoners were to promote this Rebellion can hardly be imagined people of all sorts pouring out their Treasure as if it had been for the most advantageous purchase in the world thronging in with their Plate and Rings and not sparing their very Thimbles and Bodkins Neither were they backward in the adventure of their lives five thousand of them listing themselves under the Earl of Essex the next day in Moor-Feilds Which with the other Voluntiers then in readiness amounted to near ten thousand men being forthwith committed to Officers and distributed into Regiments were ordered to be daily exercised and to have constant pay But all these Forces and preparations were raised and made for the King's safety and preservation as 't was pretended though at the same time certain Provisions of Wheat and Wine for his Majesties own Table passing by water towards York were seized by Sir Iohn Hotham and that seizure approved of by the Houses at Westminister with encouragement to do the like upon occasion And as they took all care to hinder the King's good Subjects from the sight of his Declarations and Proclamations lest they should continue stedfast in their old obedience to his Majesty and the Laws as is evident from their imprisoning the Lord Mayor of London as also of the Mayors of Salisbury and St. Albans for the publishing of them according to their duties so were they not slack in spreading and divulging their own as is apparent from their frequent dispersing them And therefore though they had often vented the like before yet now again to remind the people of what was in hand they set forth another bitter Declaration whereby they taxed the King with a design to alter the Government both in Church and State and that the time for effecting thereof was then come to ripeness as did appear by the preparation of Arms made by his Majesty as they alleadged Scandalizing him with giving countenance to the Rebellion in Ireland and therefore declared that they were necessitated to take up Arms for the defence of all these which must otherwise perish The King therefore observing that in pursuance of their Votes and Declarations they had thus form'd a powerful Army and that they had already beseig'd the Town of Porstmouth did set forth a Proclamation declaring the Earl of Essex and all his adherents Traitors with pardon to such as should return to their obedience within six days But this gracious offer was so much contemn'd that so soon as it came to their notice they publish'd a Declaration in the name of both Houses of Parliament containing many shameful invectives against his Majesty declaring all such to be Traitors that were Contrivers or Countenancers of this last Proclamation of August the ninth And that if his Majesty would disband his Forces abandon those wicked Counsellers and hearken to the wholsome advice of his great Council they would endeavour to make him and his posterity as great and rich as any Prince that ever sway'd the Scepter CHAP. XII BUt what this specious offer meant the King by woful experience being sufficiently sensible and of all other helps in small hope publish'd another Proclamation declaring his purpose to erect his Standard-royal at Notingham upon the twentieth of August requiring the aid and assistance of all his Subjects on the North of Trent and twenty miles Southwards for suppressing the power of those Rebels which were then on their march against him And therewithall a Declaration setting forth their evil practises and proceedings from the beginning of that Parliament But the Rebels for so I shall now call them having brought their work to this height and for their better support therein having seized on an hundred thousand pounds of the money rais'd by Act of Parliament for the service of Ireland having also deposed Sir Richard Gurney Lord Mayor of London as also committed him to the Tower and by their own authority set up another they sent Forces into several parts of this Realm viz. into Kent putting them into Cotham-House as also into the Block-house
the Almighty's providence and protection began his march from Shrewsbury upon the xijth of October Which was no sooner known but that they feircely pursued him having order for that purpose from the Houses at Westminster to march against his Majesties Army and fight with them and to rescue the persons of the King Prince and Duke of York So that on Sunday the xxiijth of October being in view of the King's forces they put their Army in order near Kineton in Warwickshire and bid his Majesty Battel by a signal thereof given with their great Ordinance wherewith they made five shot at his Army before any fire was given on the other part But then began a sharp encounter which continued near three hours Wherein God so preserv'd his Majesty that instead of being utterly destroy'd by these violent Rebels who reckoned all their own their invincible Army as they esteem'd it was so bruis'd and shattered that instead of farther pursuing the King it retreated eight miles backwards where the Souldiers secur'd themselves many days by the advantage of the River Avon under the protection of the Town and Castle of Warwick Of which Battel I purposely omit the Description Nor shall I herein make any farther mention of the course of this war it being a work fit to be handled by it self by some more able pen than in a breif Chronologick way to point at the times of the most memorable Battels and Seiges as also to the Towns Castles and other fortified Places first possess'd or afterwards forcibly gained by either party But instead thereof shall observe the wonderful providence of Almighty God whereby notwithstanding these matchless Conspirators who had by so many subtile artifices arrived to that strength and power and made seizure of his Majesties Forts Ports Navy Magazine and Revenue insomuch as the Lord Say in a publick meeting at Oxford of the Gentry and others thither summon'd by him in September preceding told them upon his Honour that the King had neither Money Power nor Credit his Subjects every where being also not a little tainted with the most Antimonarchical principles that by their seditious Preachers or otherwise could possibly be infused into them Yet that in the space of two months he could be enabled to meet them in open Battel having no Amunition but what came to him from Forreign parts through many perillous adventures the Ports being block'd up by his own Royal Navy then under their command nor having Arms or Moneys but what he obtained by extraordinary difficulties From this day forward purposing to make some brief Remarks upon the ensuing practises of these monstrous men in carrying on that barbarous war to the great devastation and spoil of this late flourishing Kingdom And to shew how opposite all their Actions were to those plausible pretences whereby they did at first most subtilly delude and ensnare a multitude of well-meaning people viz. Religion Laws Liberty and property of the Subject as also Priviledge of Parliament CHAP. XIII TO the end therefore that their party might not be disheartened they always took care not only to suppress any bad tidings but to puff up the people with strange imaginations of Victories and Conquests by producing of forged Letters counterfeit Messengers and the like as was manifest by their commitment of sundry persons to prison which came from Kineton-Battel and reported the very truth of the King's success there viz. Captain Wilson Lieutenant Witney and Mr. Banks who were all sent to the Gate-honse to receive punishment by Martial-Law As also one Mr. Iohn Wentworth of Lincolns-Inne and Sir William Fielding Knight giving twenty pounds to one man by order of the House who came and reported that most that were kill'd in the Battel were of the King's side and that the Earl of Essex commanded him to tell his friends that he with his own hands carried away the King's Standard But to undecieve the world as to the number on both sides slain which were then confidently given out to be five thousand most certain it is that upon strict enquiry from the adjacent Inhabitants who buried the Bodies and took particular notice of the distinct numbers put into each Grave it appears that there were not one thousand complete there interred As the remaining part of the Parliament-Army after this Battel finding not themselves in a condition to encounter the King again without new Recruits and therefore made a fair retreat no less than eight miles backward as hath been observed so did some of them before the fight standing doubtful of the success forbear to adventure themselves therein amongst which the afterfamous Oliver Cromwell was one if some of the most eminent persons of his own party who were in the fight bely him not who being Captain of a Troop of Horse in the General 's Regiment came not into the Field but got up into a Steeple within view of the Battel and there discerning by a Prospective-glass the two Wings of their Horse to be utterly routed made such hast to be gone that instead of descending the Stairs by which he came up he swing'd down by a Bell-rope and ran away with his Troop The King soon after holding a soft march towards Oxford Banbury-Castle then garrisoned by the late Earl of Peterborough's Regiment of Foot and Broughton-house the cheif Seat of that great Rebel the Lord Sa yielded upon Summons as he passed But the Rebels that they might not seem to receive a foil in this first great Action the Citizens of London were summon'd to Guild-Hall where the Earls of Pembroke and Holland the Lord Say and Wharton with Mr. Strode made large Speeches to hearten them telling their great Victory at Kineton Battel But the conclusion was to crown their work as their phrase was by farther and speedy Supplies of Men Money and all other assistance To which shadow of their victory to give the better gloss a public Order was made that a gratulatory Present of five hundred pounds should be sent from the Houses to the Earl of Essex for his good service already done in the war And lest any of the deluded people should return to their obedience upon his Majesties gracious Proclamation of pardon they ordered that those Proclamations should not be published But though all these Rebellious forces were hitherto rais'd by voluntary contributions and free offers of many to engage themselves personally in this blessed Cause most of the common sort being really satisfied that they should only go and fetch up the King to his Parliament out of the hands of his Evil Counsellers and a few inconsiderable Cavaliers for by that name they call'd all the Royalists and then return triumphantly without fighting this unexpected brush at Kineton-field could not silence those who had lost their Husbands Children and Friends Seeing therefore their farther Voluntary assistances came in but slowly the Houses at Westminster made an Order
York as also by fourty three Dukes Marquesses Earls Vicounts and Barons of the House of Peers and cxviii members of the House of Commons there present many others by reason of distance of place sickness and imployments elsewhere in his Majesties service and for want of timely notice of that Proclamation of Summons not being then come thither But the effect which this their Letter produced was in the first place to be cryed throughout the Streets of London in scorn as the Petition of the Prince and Duke of York for peace and a meer frivolous answer or Paper in form of a Letter directed to the Earl of Forth then General of the King's forces wherein was inclosed a printed paper called a National Covenant of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and two other Papers the one called a Declaration of both the Kingdoms and the other a Declaration of the Kingdom of Scotland In that their General 's Letter it was pretended that because there was no address to the two Houses of Parliament nor acknowledgment of them it could not be communicated to them whereas it was notoriously known that he did so far impart it as that a Committee of theirs advised and fram'd the answer Besides it plainly appears by the penning thereof that they all concurr'd in the Resolution therein mention'd whereby 't is clear enough that this was but an excuse or shift to avoid any Treaty And what could that printed Covenant and two Declarations inclosed signifie but to shew that before they would admit of a Treaty all the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford must join in that Covenant with them for the absolute extirpation of Church-government here without nay tho against the King's consent submit the Lives Liberties and Estates of themselves and all others who according to their allegiance had assisted his Majesty to the mercy of those members then sitting at Westminster as also to admit of and justifie that invasion of the Scots according to the plain sense of their Declaration But notwithstanding all this the Lords and Commons at Oxford continuing still sollicitous for an happy peace for avoiding delay or cavil about Names or Titles or descants upon words humbly besought his Majesty to send Messengers with Instructions to desire a Treaty for peace Whereunto he readily assenting two persons were by him nominated and a Letter written to the Earl of Essex for their safe conduct Which Letter had in substance this Answer viz. that if they would first agree that those Lords and Commons sitting a Westminster were the Parliament and the King 's only Council that those Gentlemen should have a safe conduct This being therefore taken into consideration it was thought fit to desire his Majesty to write his royal Letters to the Earl of Essex himself and therein to inclose a Letter superscribed To the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster Which his Majesty accordingly did and thereby desired that a convenient number of fit persons might be appointed and authorized to meet with all convenient speed at such a place as they should nominate with an equal number of fit persons appointed and authorized by him to treat of the ways and means for setling the present distractions of the Kingdom and procuring a happy peace In answer whereunto they insisted that themselves thus sitting at Westminster were the Parliament convened according to the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and that those loyal persons members of the Parliament who were come to his Majesty at Oxford according to his royal Proclamation had deserted their Trust and levyed war against the Parliament and in sum did intimate that what they should do herein must be with the concurrent advice of the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland according to their late solemn League and Covenant calling his Majesties earnest endeavours for Peace but Professions and their own feigned pretences most real intentions letting fall by way of menace that his Majesty could not be the least and last sufferer Hitherto as a consequence of this second Invasion by the Scots I have given a brief touch of his Majesties farther incessant endeavours for obtaining a happy peace with these violent spirited men by an amicable Treaty Which taking no effect by reason they then saw such a likelihood through the aid and assistance of those their dear Brethren to carry all powerfully before them I shall look back a little and take notice not only how their heavy oppressions upon the people by many farther grievous Impositions were carried on but how they proceeded in their advancing the Scepter of Iesus Christ in this Realm for so they called their Presbyterian Discipline Wherein I observe that within six days next after this their Invasion the Members at Westminster passed an Ordinance for regulating the Vniversity of Cambridge by Edward Earl of Manchester then their Chancellour that is to say for turning out all loyal persons from their Headships and Fellowships in any of the Colleges there and for removing scandalous Ministers id est all orthodox men throughout the several associated Counties of Essex Norfolk Suffolk Hertford Cambridge Huntington and Lincoln That the Welch also might be the sooner brought under the yoke they soon after made another Ordinance whereby they impower'd Sir Thomas Middleton Knight to take Subscriptions for raising of Forces in the six Counties of North-wales and give the public faith for such moneys as should be raised to that purpose CHAP. XVIII HAving thus taken notice of the Transactions in their Parliament at Westminster I come now according to my designed method to the Militarie-business of this year 1643. In which I find that the King having gained ground in the North and West his farther success in sundry parts was not unsutable thereto for Sir Hugh Cholmley of Whitby in Yorkshire who at first had been a most confiding man thought it now time to declare for the King So likewise did Captain Brown-Bushell Governour of Scarborough Castle in that County who then delivered it up for his Majestie And within few days after their great Northern Champion Ferdinando Lord Fairfax was routed by the Earls of Newcastle and Cumberland at Bramham-moore in that County which great defeat so startled the Members at Westminster that they forthwith solicited the ayd of their Brethren the Scots In the neck of this also Prince Rupert upon a sharp encounter near Bermicham a seditious and populous Town in Warwick shire with a strong party of the Rebels commanded by Colonel Greaves worsted them with the loss of the Loyal William Earl of Denbigh who there received his deaths wound Soon after that also another party of them commanded by Iohn son and heir to the famous Sir Iohn Hotham their trusty Governour of Hull was routed near Ancaster in Lincolnshire And Litchfield close which they had got after the unsuccessfull attempt thereof by the Lord Brooke was without much adoe
rendred to Prince Rupert by Lieutenant Colonel Russell Subsequent to these I shall onely enumerate the rest in order of time Iames Earl of Northampton routed another stout party of them at Middleton Cheney in Northampton shire And about ten days following Sir Ralph Hopton obtain'd a clear victory over the Dehonshire and Cornish Rebels at Stratton in Cornwall the Earl of Stanford and Major General Chudleigh being Commanders in chief of them In which Battle were taken seventeen hundred Prisoners thirteen brass piece of Ordnance seventy Barrels of powder and store of other provisions by reason whereof the greatest part of the West except Plymouth and some other Port-Towns was reduced to obedience and in consideration of this signal service the said Sir Ralph Hopton soon after viz. 4. Sept. 1643. was advanced to the dignity of Lord Hopton of Stratton aforesaid The next month also ensued Prince Rupert's Victory over the Rebels at Chalgrave-field in Oxfordshire Commanded by Colonell Iohn Hampden who there received his deaths wound that being the very field wherein he first put in Execution the Parliaments Ordinance for the Militia of that County as a president to the rest of England and the Earl of Newcastle taking Howley house in Yorkshire soon after defeated the Lord Fairfax at Adderton Heath in that County At the beginning of Iuly likewise a party of Horse and Dragoons Commanded by Colonel Middleton coming to surprize Sir Charles Lucas in his Quarters at Padbury near Buckingham were by him routed And the Earl of Newcastle valiantly assaulting Bradford in Yorkshire took it by storm Sir Thomas Fairfax who was Governour there fleeing thence by night whereupon Hallifax and Denton house Sir Thomas Fairfax his seat were quitted by the Rebels Burton upon Trent also in Staffordshire was taken by the Lord Iermyn upon the Queens passage from Burlington in Yorkshire towards Oxford Near which time was the great fight at Landsdown in Somerset shire where the Lord Hopton had the better of the Rebels though the Valiant Sir Bevill Grenevill was there slain The Lord Wilmot and Earl of Carnarvon likewise routed Sir William Waller and Sr. Arthur Haselrigg at Roundwaydown in Wiltshire Prince Rupert also having taken Burleigh house in Rutland marcht to Bristol and after a short Siege of that City had a surrender thereof from Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes the then Governour In the next month likewise was Dorchester in Dorset shire rendred to the Earl of Carnarvon and the Isle of Portland reduced to His Majesties obedience Hereupon Weymouth and Melcombe in com Dorset submitted These great successes encouraged the King to come before the City of Gloucester the most considerable Garrison in all that part of the Realm which so startled the Earls of Bedford and Holand and the Lord Paget that they came in to the King but not long after being less apprehensive of danger fell off again to their own party Soon after this Beverley in Yorkshire was taken by the Earl of Newcastle Biddiford◠Appleford and Barnstaple in com Devon were also rendred The City of Exeter was likewise taken by Prince Maurice and Sir William Waller one of their active Generals routed at Winchester Near Auburne also in Wiltshire a strong party of them was worsted by Prince Rupert But soon after this the Earl of Essex with his whole Army met his Majesty near Newbery in Berkshire where after much slaughter neither could boast of the victory though the Earls of Carnarvon and Sunderland with Lucius Viscount Falkland then one of the Kings principal Secretaries of State there lost their lives the noise whereof did not a little avail the Rebels it giving them much reputation with all their party In October the next month Dertmouth in Devon-shire was rendred to Prince Maurice and shortly after Hawarden-Castle in Flint-shire yielded to the King's obedience Arundell-Castle also in Sussex was rendred to the Lord Hopton Beeston castle in Cheshire taken Likewise Lapley house in Stafford-shire Grafton house in Northampton-shire and Crew house in 〈◊〉 shire Towards the end of Ianuary also Sir Thomas fairfax and Colonel Milton were routed by Prince Rupert at Drayton in Shropshire Hopton Castle in Shropshire and Wardour Castle in Wiltshire were likewise taken And upon the relief of Newark in Nottinghamshire besieg'd by Sir Iohn Meldrum a Scot with seven thousand men Gaynesborough Lincolne and Sleford all in Lincolnshire were quitted by the Rebels And Sturton-castle in Staffordshire about this time taken ¶ These being the most remarkable Actions on the King's part for this year 1643. I come now to observe what success the Rebels who were not idle had the same year In April therefore the Earl of Essex came before Reading in Berkshire and soon obtain'd it by surrender Colonel Feilding being then Governour thereof Siege being also laid to Wardour-castle in Wiltshire it was rendred So likewise was Monmouth in Monmouth shire And at Wakefield in Yorkshire His Majesties forces encountring the Rebels were worsted Soon after which Taunton and Bridgwater both in Somersetshire were also delivered up to them But notwithstanding all this they were not without their fears and therefore dispatcht the Lord Grey of Warke together with Mr. Henry Darley and Sir William Armine both trusty Members of their House of Commons by special order into Scotland earnestly to sollicite the dear Brethren of that Realm to their assistance Shortly after this they took Gaynesborough in Lincolnshire and attempted Basing house in Hantshire without effect But in September the Earl of Essex with more help from the zealous Londoners approaching Gloucester with a great strength caused the King to raise the siege which he had laid to that rebellious place In the same month also was Lynne in Norfolk yielded to the Earl of Manchester and shortly after the City of Lincoln taken by him forcibly Arundel-castle in Sussex likewise in Ianuary following yielded to Sir William Waller Whereupon being recruited with more forces he was constituted Major General of Kent Surry Sussex and Hantshire But that which proved to be instar omnium was that grand Invasion of the Scots which on the 22d of Ianuary crossed the River Tine with their numerous Army to the assistance of these Rebels as hath been already observed For at that time all the North of England beyond Trent excepting Hull in York shire and some few inconsiderable places being by the Marquess of Newcastle for so he had been lately made reduced to the King's obedience as also the West by Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews excepting Poole and Lime in Dorset shire and Plymouth in Devonshire the Members sitting at Westminster became so startled that some of the leading-men prepared for quitting the Realm But this great ayd from
Children with their disposal in Marriage to the vile affections and humours of this hypocritical Generation ¶ That their confidence likewise in carrying all before them with power and force through the aid of the Scots might the more appear I shall now represent unto you Presbytery Triumphant for a while For within six days after they had sent these insolent propositions to the King they voted down the reverend Liturgy by Law establish'd in the Church of England And for a farther encouragement to those their dear brethren on whose assistance they did so much relie which emboldened them to make those high demands they passed an Ordinance for raising the Sum of sixty six thousand six hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence for their supply by way of Loane from such persons as should not voluntarily or proportionably lend according to their estates Which Loane was to be paid out of the Sequestrations of Delinquents But to make the more specious ostentation to the world that all their Actions wholly tended to the Glory of God the publick good and nothing to their own private interests they farther voted 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 Next they passed an Ordinance for the utter abolishing the Pious Liturgy commonly called the Book of Common Prayer complied by divers reverend Divines of which some died Martyrs and for the establishing a Directory as they call'd it for the worship of God in the room thereof whereby every conceited person was left at liberty unto his own frothy fancy in framing certain Prayers whereunto the Congregation were to say Amen a thing so absurd and destructive to the true and real service of God as that there needs no observations upon it And the day following to glorify their doings the more they adorn'd their House of Commons with that whole suit of Hangings which were placed in the Quire of the Collegiate Church at Westminster and some other taken out of the King's wardrobe And having proceeded against the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury whose memory as a stout Champion for the Church of England against her fierce assaylants the Romanists on the one side and Schismaticks on the other and for his many other great and pious works much beseeming a person of that place will be precious to succeeding ages by arraigning him before themselves upon articles of high Treason as they call'd them wherein they charg'd him with labouring to overthrow the Fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdome subverting the Religion establish'd to set up Papistry and Superstition they did by an Ordinance passed the very same day with that for abolishing the Book of Common Prayer condemn him to suffer death as a Traytor for the quicker dispatch whereof they brought down the Lords to sit with the Commons and afterwards beheaded him on Tower-hill After which they admitted of a Treaty with certain Commissioners nominated by the King upon those Propositions so sent by them as hath been observed Which Treaty being by them limited to twenty days began at Uxbridge on Thursday the 30th of Ianuary To take notice here of the particular passages in this treaty considering that they are so exactly set forth in print will not be needfull The truth is that though these Grandees at Westminster did then make shew to incline unto a happy composure of all things by that amicable expedient to the end that by this plausible pretence they might the more captivate the people they really intended nothing less as may appear not onely by those unjust and insolent demands whereupon they did so stifly insist which amounted to the uter subversion of the Religion by Law establisht getting the power of the sword into their own hands and carrying on the war in Ireland according to their depraved wills and pleasures but by that seditious and impudent Sermon preach'd in Uxbridge Church upon the first day of that Treaty it being the Market-day there by Mr. Christopher Love after executed by themselves on Tower-Hill who besides many passages therein scandalous to the King's person and derogatory to his Honour stirring up the People against the Treaty and sharply incensing them against his Majesties Commissioners said that they came with Hearts full of bloud and that there was as great a distance betwixt that Treaty and peace as betwixt Heaven and Hell For which malicious expression though complaint was made and Justice demanded no redress could be had Besides when the King's Commissioners desired to treat with them concerning his Majesties speedy return to Westminster they utterly refused so to do though they had ever given it out to the world that the sole reason for raising their Armies was to bring the King to his Parliament CHAP. XIX AS to the military passages of this year the chief on the Kings part were these Longford house in Com. Salop. was rendred by the Rebels to Prince Rupert As also Longe-castle in the same County Likewise Stopport in Cheshire Lathom house in Lancashire being besieged by Sir Thomas Fairfax was relieved by Prince Rupert whereupon Leverpoole and Bolton both in that County were soon taken by him Borstall-house in Oxfordshire taken by Colonell Gage Colonell Shuttleworth defeated at Blackburn in Lancashire by Prince Rupert Sir William Waller with his forces routed at Cropredy-bridge in Oxfordshire the Earls of Northampton and Cleveland being both in that action And York after nine weeks siege by the Scots the Lord Fairfax and Earl of Manchester assisting them reliev'd by Prince Rupert In the next month Lestithiel in Cornwall being then taken by the King the Earl of Essex forfook his Foot and fled in a Cock-boat from Foy to Plymouth with the Lord Roberts the foot then under the command of Major general Skippon delivering up their Arms Ammunition and Artillery and engaging themselves thenceforth never to bear Arms against the King Basing house also being again besieged by the Rebells was reliev'd by Colonel Gage The Earl of Northampton likewise rais'd the siege of Banbury-Castle which had continued from the 19th of Iuly And the next month following the King raised the siege of Donington-Castle in Berkshire as also that of Basing But as to further success on the King's part within the compass of this year 1644. I do not find any thing of note saving the defeat given to Colonel Rosseter near Melton Moubray in Leicestershire by Sir Marmaduke Langdale in his passage from Oxford towards Pontfract And his relief of Pontfract-Castle then besieged by the Lord Fairfax ¶ I now come to the Actions on the Rebels part in this year 1644. wherein they had
himself in a Chayr of State where he had great Thanks given him by the Speakers of both Houses Which being done a publick day of Thanksgiving was appointed for this happy restoration of them to their old Seats again Sir Thomas Fairfax voted Generalissimo of all the Forces and Forts throughout England and Wales and Constable of the Tower of London and the Common-Souldiers one month's gratuity besides their pay And on the next day following the whole Army marcht triumphantly through London with their Train of Artillery and soon after demolish'd the Lines of Communication environing that great City CHAP. XXV AND now that the Fugitive-members were thus brought again to the House the chief business was to make null and void all that was acted by those that sate in their absence But in debating thereof the Presbytereans held up most stoutly insisting with great courage on the validity of them Insomuch as the Speaker finding it difficult for the Fugitives to carry the Votes by strength of Reason or Number shew'd forth a Letter from the General of the Army accompanied with a Remonstrance full of high language and not without threats against those that sate whilst the two Speakers were with the Army calling them Pretended Members and laying to their charge in general Treason Treachery and breach of Trust and protesting that if they should presume to sit before they had cleared themselves that they did not give their assents to some certain Votes they should sit at their peril and that he would take them as Prisoners of War and try them at a Council of War Which Letter though it did not a little startle the Presbyterean-Members yet were they loath to leave the House having sate there so long as absolute Dictators In order therefore to their continuance within those walls it was earnestly moved by some of them that the Speaker should command a general meeting of the whole House upon the next day and declare that they should be secured from danger as also that no more than the ordinary Guards might then attend the House But these motions were violently opposed with shrewd menaces by the Independent-Members the Speaker also declyning to put any Question therein and adjourning till the morrow so that the Presbytereans were left to come again at their peril Which hazzard of their safety occasion'd a very thin House the next day many of that party absenting themselves and of those which came 't was observ'd that some tackt about to the other side and some sate mute At last a Committee was appointed to bring in an Ordinance of Accommodation as they called it but more properly the Ordinance of Null an Voide which damn'd all the Votes Orders and Ordinances passed in the House from the xxvjth of Iuly that the Apprentices forc't the Members then sitting to vote and do as they required untill the sixth of August that those Members which fled to the Army were brought in Triumph again to the House Which Ordinance within few days was passed And soon after that another wholsome one for establishing of well affected Ministers in sequestred Livings But though this Ordinance of Null and Voide was thus passed the Independent-party thought not themselves secure enough and therefore erected a Committee of Examinations to enquire into and examine who they were that had been active in procuring the City Petition and Engagement to be subscribed or instrumental in that force upon the House on the twenty sixth of Iuly before mentioned or in any other endeavour to raise forces Which Committee hunted so close after them that had been busy therein that Sir Iohn Maynard Knt. of the Bath a Member of the House of Commons Iames Earl of Suffolk Theophilus Earl of Lincoln Iames Earl of Middlesex Iohn Lord Hunsdon George Lord Berkley William Lord Maynard and Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham were all of them impâ—ached of High Treason in the name of the Commons of England for levying war against the King Parliament and Kingdome Sir Iohn Maynard being thereupon committed to the Tower and the Lords to the custody of the usher with the Black-rod And to the end that this now predominant-party might the more engage the Common people to joyn with them upon occasion Agitators were imploy'd into several Counties for getting Subscriptions to Petitions against Tythes Inclosures and Copy-hold-sines which were uncertain ¶ Being thus entring upon one of the last Scenes in this most woful Tragedy I must look back a little and from what hath been said summarily observe first that however specious and plausible the Protestations Vows and Declarations of these monstrous men have otherwise been their chief design originally was to destroy and extirpate Monarchy in all His Majestie 's Realms and Dominions Secondly that when by the assistance of the giddy-multitude deluded and captivated with many glorious promises they had got the sway of all into their Hands they most traiterously murthered the King in his politick capacity setting him totally aside as to Authority and Rule and inhumanely burying him alive by a severe and barbarous imprisonment most insolently tooke the Reynes of Government into their own usurping power Next that as Ambition and Avarice eagerly incited some Grandees of the faction to shoulder out the rest from sharing with them in the spoyl they had got though no less active than themselves in accomplishing the general ruine the like haughty and covetous desires prompted others to be no less solicitous for their own temporal advantage So that as the Reformation of miscarriages and corruptions in Government was at first cryed up by the Presbyterean-Brethren and nothing in sted thereof exercised but oppression and destruction So likewise under as fair and plausible pretences the power was soon wrested from that seeming Holy Generation by the more Seraphick-Saints of the Independent Tribe who captivating the Souldierie at last as the Presbytereans had done the people at first by their splended allurements with an imaginary Happiness got the King by that means into their own cruel Hands and then subjugating the City of London which had been both Mother and Nurse to that Imparallel'd Rebellion made the remainder of their Task the less difficult And as this grand work was originally begun by the Presbytereans under the Popular name of a Blessed-Parliament by which subtile Enchantment the vulgar were at first most cunningly abused and pursued to the utter subversion of the King 's regal power So was it carryed on by the Independent to the last as by and by shall be manifested untill it became thoroughly compleated in the horrid murther of his royal person towards the perpetration of which prodigious Fact I shall now briefly shew by what degrees and steps they did most audaciously proceed CHAP. XXVI HAving thus subjugated the City and purg'd the two Houses at Westminster as is already observed they then put on a Presbyterean-cloak for a while and
Independents of the Army to gain the whole and absolute power of rule into their hands having printed and published several Declarations Remonstrances Manifestos and Proposals besides Petitions of their own framing whereunto they got subscriptions in many places insinuating to the people their willingness to redress publick Greivances to be the Restorers of Peace the Laws and Liberties of the Subject to be setlers of Religion maintainers of the priviledges of Parliament Callers to accompt of all Committees Sequestrators Treasurers c. and to be their deliverers from Excise and other Taxes but above all preservers of all true Interests Restorers of the King to his just Rights and Prerogatives with Honour Freedom and Safty to his person without which they professed there could be no setled peace or happiness in this Nation And in pursuance of their undertakings having made Addresses to His Majesty with more tolerable overtures than any that he could obtain from the Members sitting at Westminster they after a while made private proposals to him sutable meerly to their own Interests but wholy derogatory to his Regal power the Religion established by Law as also to the Liberties and Properties of the Subject Whereunto when they saw that the King could not with his Conscience and Honour assent they enterteined new designs against his Person and Government ushering them in by the help of a Levelling-party who in pursuance thereof obtruded clamourous Petitions against any farther Treaty with His Majesty and demanded exemplary Justice from the Members at Westminster against him which through the influence that the Army had on them considering how the Houses had been garbled were entertain'd with Thanks Hence was it that when those Propositions of 13. Nov. anno 1647. were brought into the House from His Majesty whereby he pressed them so earnestly for a personal Treaty the four Dethroning Bills were sent to him to be first signed before they would admit thereof And upon his refusal to yield unto them those Destructive Votes of no more Addresses to him were passed The miserable condition of his Majesty and in him of all his loyal Subjects being therefore thus evidently seen by most men who beheld nothing but slavery and oppression thenceforth to be their portion did so awaken them that from Essex there came a Petition by many thousands to the Members at Westminster for a personal Treaty with the King as the most proper means to a well grounded peace After that another from Surrey a multitude of that County accompanying it to Westminster Which relisht so ill with the Grandees that they sent the Guards to beat them away whereupon divers were wounded and some slain Nor had the Kentish-men better success for having by their Grand Jury in the name of the whole Shire fram'd a petition for peace the Committee of that County being jealous that the people would take Heart thereat prohibited the same by printed papers published in all the Churches branding it to be seditious and tumultuous saying that they would hang up two in every Parish that were promoters of it and sequester the rest And when the people seeing themselves opposed in that their modest way of Application resolved of farther consideration therein by a general meeting and to come arm'd for their own defence a party of Horse was first sent in amongst them and afterwards the whole Army under the Command of their General Fairfax whereupon some of them fled into Essex where Sir Charles Lucas and divers of that County joyned with them as also the Lord Capell at Colchester with some Horse which necessitating the rest for their own defence to make to Sandwich and some Castles on the coast thereabouts the Army advanc't after slew and took divers of them prisoners and sequestred the estates of all that desired peace Weever a hot-headed Independent having mov'd in the House of Commons that all Kent might be sequestred because they had rebell'd and all Essex because they would rebel But notwithstanding the strength of their Army and severity against those who did not submit to their oppressive power the Scots having rays'd an Army which was then ready to march into England in pursuance of the ends of the Covenant as hath been observed there were many others in sundry parts of the Nation as well Presbytereans as Royalists discerning no better fruits to themselves of those successes which the Independents then had than oppression and slavery boldly made attempts in order to the rescue of His Majesty out of their cruel hands and to free the whole Kingdome from their farther Tyranny Of these the first was by Sir Nicholas Kemish who got with some forces into Chepstow-castle The next was that of the valiant Sir Marmaduke Langdale who shortly after surprized the strong town of Barwick After this Col. Laughorn Poyer and Powell having raysed eight thousand men in Pembrokeshire secured Lenvy-castle with the town and castle of Pembroke and declared in those parts for the settlement of the King and Kingdome Sir Philip Musgrave also upon the like fair hopes took Carlisse About the same time likewise part of the royal Navy consisting of twenty great Ships of War under the command of their Vice-Admiral Batten revolted and came in to the Prince in Yarmouth road Pontfrait-castle being within few days after surprized by the Royalists and the Earl of Holland with the Lord Francis Villers in Arms with two thousand men near Kingston upon Thames And to make the expectation more secure Duke Hamilton with a powerfull Army of the Scots entring England published a Declaration consisting of these heads 1. That the King should be brought to London to treat in person with the two Houses of Parliament 2. That all those who had a hand in or contrived the carrying of the King from Holdenby should be condignly punished 3. That the English Army should be disbanded 4. That Presbytery should be settled 5. And that the Members of Parliament which were forcibly secluded from the House should be re-seated there After which within few days Major Lilburne Brother to Iohn Governour of Tinemouth-castle in the Bishoprick of Durham declared for the King But the fruits of all these fair hopes were soon blasted for as that Castle was shortly after storm'd by Sir Arthur Haslerig and Lilburne with his men put to the Sword So was Chepstow-castle by Col. Eure and Sir Nicholas Kemish kill'd in cold bloud The Earl of Holland also with the Lord Francis Villers were encountred by Colonel Rich Major Gibbons and Sir Michael Livesey totally routed the Lord Francis Villers slain the Earl himself pursued to St. Ives in Huntingdon-shire and there taken Laughorne Poyer and Powell were likewise defeated by Cromwell and Colonel Horton And Sir Iohn Owen who was in Arms about that time in Northwales vanquisht by Major General Mitton The Navy also brought in by Batten fell off to the Earl of Warwick Duke
â—henceforth they should not be oppressed with any violence And that when they had thus at few words declared the cause of their enterprize they would then command their Neighbours to arm and come unto them immediately and help them If not then would they threaten to come upon them with all their force But having gotten the power and Arms into their hands they committed divers horrid outrages insomuch as Luther exhorted all men that they would come to destroy them as wicked Theeves and parricides in like case as they would come to quench a common fire having most shamefully broken their faith to their Princes taken other mens goods by force and cloak all this abomination and wickedness with the cover of Christianity which saith he is the vilest and unworthiest thing that can be imagined In Suevia and Franconia about forty thousand Pesants took Arms rob'd a great part of the Nobility plunder'd many Towns and Castles Muncer being their chief Captain so that the Princes of the Empire Albert Count of Mansfeild Iohn Duke of Saxony and his Cousen George Philip the Lantgrave of Hesse and Henry Duke of Brunswick were necessitated to raise what power they could and having offered them pardon upon submission and delivering up their principal Leaders which was refused marcht against them But Muncer preparing for Battel encouraged his followers crying out to them to take their weapons and fight stoutly against their Enemies singing * a Song whereby they call'd for help of the Holy Ghost The success of which Battel was that the Rebels at the first onset were soon put in disorder and above five thousand slain on the place and that Muncer fled and hid himself but being found and brought to the Princes was with his fellow Phifer beheaded at Mulhuse And about the year 1535 Iohn of Leyden a Taylor by trade and of this Tribe preaching the Doctrine of Rebaptization so much infected the inferior sort of people by the means of private Conventicles that his followers grew numerous and exercised violence against those that were not of their Sect. At last robbing their adversaries and gathering together in great Troops they possest themselves of the strongest part of the City of Munster declaring that all such as were not rebaptized ought to be accounted Pagans and Infidels and to be killed His Companions were Rosman and Cnipperdoling who gathered together to that City great numbers of the base sort of people and seeing their strength chose new Senators of their own Sect making Cnipperdoling the chief who taught that the People might put down their Magistrate And albeit that the Apostles had no commandment to usurp any jurisdiction yet such as were their Ministers of the Church ought to take upon them the right of the Sword and by force to establish a new Common-wealth Hereupon they spoil'd the Suburbs and burnt the Churches so that the Bishop of Munster who was Lord of the City and forced out beseiged them the neighbour Princes giving assistance which seige continuing long the famine grew to be such as that the beseiged miserably perished in great numbers and at length the beseigers forcing their entrance by assault slew many took the Ring-leaders and having put them to death hang'd their Bodies in several Cages of Iron on the highest Towers of that City Thus far Sleidan It is not unworthy observation that divers of these German Phanatiques to the end they might at that time be the better known to those of their own Sect did cut their hair round as Petrus Crinitus an Author of good credit in his Book de Bello Rusticano Tom. 3. pag. 209. averreth From which example there is no doubt but that these of ours took their pattern whence they were generally called Roundheads Concerning these men the testimony likewise of Mr. Iohn Calvin may I presume be here not unfitly produced as well for other respects as for that he lived in that time Olim Fanatici homines saith he ut sibi applauderent in sua inscitia jactabant Davidis exemplo spernandas esse omnes literas sicut hodie Anabaptistae non alio praetextu se pro spiritualibus venditant nisi quod omnis scientiae sint expertes Brainsick men in times past would take example from David to despise all learning as now our Anabaptists who only hold themselves inspired with gifts because they are ignorant of all literature And he addeth Cum sub specie studii perfectionis imperfectionem nullam tolerare possumus aut in corpore aut in membris Ecclesiae tunc Diabolum nos tumescere superbia hypocrist seducere moneamur Whereas under the colour of a desire of perfection we can tolerate no imperfection either in the body or the members of the Church then may we be admonished that it is the Devil which pusseth us up with pride and seduceth us with hypocrisy And in another place he further saith Quia nulla specie illustriori seduci possunt miseri Christiani c. Because silly Christians who with a zeal to follow God cannot by any more notable shew be seduced then when the word of God is pretended the Anabaptists against whom we write have that evermore in their mouths and always talk of it There is an undoubted Tradition that upon the suppressing of this pernicious Sect in Germany many of them fled into the Netherlands and that thence â—â—70 Ships laden with some got into Scotland where they first propagated their mischievous Principles Which within a short time spreading hither have not a little endangered the utter ruine of Church and State For that they soon after arrived here to a considerable increase it may very well be concluded from what the same person hath expressed in an Epistle of his written to Edward Duke of Somerset then Protector to King Edward the sixth in these words Amplissime domine Audio esse duo seditiosorum genera c. Sir I hear there are two sorts of seditious men among you who lift up the head against the King and state of the Kingdom the one are a sort of Giddy-headed men who promote their sedition under the name of the Gospel The other are so hardned in the superstitions of Antichrist that they cannot endure a revulsion of them and both these must be restrained by the revenging Sword which the Lord hath put into your hand since they rise up not only against the King but against God himself who hath placed the King in his Royal Throne and made you Protector of his person and his Royal Majesty CHAP. II. ANd as this evil Generation became at that time first transplanted hither upon the dissipating of those German Sectaries so had it shortly afterwards much furtherance in its growth from some persons of more able parts and of no mean quality who having embraced the Reformation here in the time of King Edward the sixth to avoid the storm in Queen Mary's Reign fled beyond Sea where
speech to both Houses did again put them in mind of their engaging his Father in that war for recovery of the Palatinate upon promise of their assistance in a Parliamentary-way and that they themselves then appointed a Council of war and Treasurers He also acquainted them with the expence of the three Subsidies and three Fifteens then given And further expressed that he had thus reassembled them upon the death of his royal Father to receive their farther advice and aid for proceeding in that wherein by their Councils his Father was engaged as also that they had granted unto him two Subsidies then ungathered which were far short of setting forth the Navy at that time preparing And the Lord Conway and Secretary Cook did then more particularly declare unto the House of Commons the state of Affairs as they at that time stood manifesting that much more then the two Subsidies already given though not paid had been disbursed Moreover that the Fleet was then at Sea hastening to their Rendezvouz the Army at Plymouth expecting their Commanders his Majesties Honour Religion and the Kingdoms safety engaged That the King had certain advice of his Enemies intentions to infest his dominions in Ireland and the English Coasts and of their increase of Shipping in all parts as also that the present charge of his Army and Navy did amount to above four hundred thousand Pounds The Lord Treasurer likewise representing to them the late Kings debts Viz. To the City of London 120000l besides Interest For Denmark and the Palatinate 150000l For his Wardrobe 40000 l. All which did then lye upon his Majesty And that his then Majesty was indebted to the City of London 20000l That he had laid out upon his Navy 20000 l. For Count Mansfeild 20000l For Mourning and his Father's Funeral Expences 42000 l. For Expences concerning the Queen 40000 l. And that the pay of the Navy during the time intended for that present Expedition with the setting forth thereof would amount to 300000 l. But the Commons instead of that calm and temperate Consideration of the present Exigencies which his Majesty expected fell into very high debates and alledg'd that the Treasure was misimploy'd that evil Councils guided the King's designs that his Necessities grew by improvidence that they had need to petition the King for a straight hand and better Council to manage his affairs and that though a former Parliament did engage the King in a war yet if things were managed by contrary designs and the Treasure misimploy'd that Parliament was not bound by another Parliament to be carried blindfold in designs not guided by second Councils Adding that it was not usual to grant Subsidies upon Subsidies in one Parliament and no grievance redressed Notwithstanding which objections it was earnestly pressed by some Members of the House that two Subsidies and two Fifteens might be given his Majesties Honour and the Necessity of Affairs requiring it as it then appeared out of Considerations which had been frequently represented But these motives little avail'd for instead of hearkening thereto the Commons then publish'd a plausible Declaration wherein they solemnly protested and vowed before God and the world with one Heart and Voice that they were all resolv'd and did thereby declare that they would ever continue most loyal and obedient Subjects to their most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles and that they would be ready in convenient time and in a Parliamentary-way freely and dutifully to do their utmost endeavours to discover and reform the Abuses and Grievances of the Realm and State and in like sort to afford all necessary Supply to his most excellent Majesty upon his present and all other his just Occasions and Designs The King therefore plainly perceiving that the House did not incline to any Supply and that in their debates they reflected upon some great persons near unto him dissolved that Parliament upon the twelfth of August Which done he resolved that the Fleet should speedily put to Sea and entred forthwith into a League with the United Provinces against the Emperour and King of Spain for restoring of the Liberties of Germany But being in great and present Want of moneys he issued out Letters under his Privy-Seal for borrowing to supply those Necessities and summon'd another Parliament to meet upon the sixth of February ensuing which was four days after his solemn Coronation Soon after the sitting of which Parliament the Earl of Pembroke at a Conference of both Houses represented how the affairs of Christendome stood before the breach of the Treaties with Spain and how at that present as also the condition of the Palatinate and likewise the King of Denmark's engagement in the quarrel with the forwardness of the Swedes and contract with the Hollander and that the Fruits of all these would be lost unless a speedy Supply were resolved on But notwithstanding all this the Commons still delay'd the giving of any Supply which occasion'd the King by a Letter to the Speaker to press them again thereunto and to remind them of their promises withall assuring them that he would willingly apply fit and seasonable remedies to such just Grievances as they should present unto him in a dutiful and mannerly way without throwing an ill odour upon the present Government or upon the Government of his Father Unto which Letter they made a specious general answer intimateing that they really intended him Supply and accordingly voted three Subsidies and three Fifteens but gave them not Not long after this His Majesty by the mouth of the Lord Keeper took notice to the House of Commons of a seditious expression made by Mr. Clement Coke one of their members as also of Dr. Turner's unparliamentary carriage in reference to the Duke of Buckingham likewise of suffering his Council of State to be censured and traduced in their House by persons whose Years and Education could not judge of things that forreign business had been entertain'd in the House to the hindrance and disadvantage of his Majesties Negotiations yea that upon the first day of his Inauguration they suffered his Council Governours and Servants to be parallel'd with the times of most Exception that their Committees had also presumed to examine the Letters of his Secretaries of State nay his Majesties own Letters and sent a general Warrant to his Signet Office commanding his Officers there not only to produce and shew the Records but their Books and private Notes which they made for his Majesties service Next he told them that they had been made acquainted with the greatness of his Majesties affairs both at home and abroad with the strong preparations of the Enemy with the Importance of upholding his Allies strengthening and securing both England and Ireland besides the encountring and annoying the Enemy by a powerful Fleet at Sea and the charge of all And that this being calculated unto them they had professed unto his Majesty by the
and three Fifteens which were by the late Parliament resolv'd on to have been given to the King setting forth a Declaration to manifest the reasons of his requiring that Loan Soon after which he sent away six thousand Foot-Soldiers under the command of Sir Charles Morgan and others for the service of the Vnited Provinces Moreover to heighten and increase these his wants about this time a most unlucky occasion hapned which in short was this that the French Priests and Domestics of that Nation which came into England with the Queen were grown so insolent and had put so many affronts upon the King that as the French King had sent back all the Spanish Courtiers which his Queen brought with her his Majesty was forc'd to send them home But that King not looking on this Example and knowing upon what ill terms our King stood both at home and abroad first seized on all the Merchants Ships which lay in the River of Bourdeaux and then brake out into open war so that the King was constrain'd to make use of those Forces against the French which were design'd to have been used against the Spaniard and to comply with the desire of the Rochellers who humbly sued for his protection and defence but the Fleet set forth for that purpose being encountred with great Tempests was forc'd to return without doing any thing farther then shewing his Majesties good will and readiness to assist them CHAP. IV. BUT the next year the King having made new Preparations for a war with France to manifest what ground he had for it declared that the House of Austria conspiring the ruin of all those of the Reform'd Religion through Christendom as he said plainly appear'd in the wars of Germany had such an influence upon the Councel of France as to prevail with the French to obstruct the landing of Count Mansfield's Army contrary to promise with whom they should have join'd Forces for the relief of the Palatinate and the German Princes the failure wherein proved the ruin of that Army the greatest part whereof perished Furthermore that having by his mediation prevail'd for a Peace between the French King and his Protestant Subjects and engaged his Word that the Protestants should observe the Articles of Agreement nevertheless the King of France contrary to those Articles block'd up their Towns Garrisons and Forts committing many spoils upon them though they had done nothing in violation of the Edict of Peace Whereupon the Duke of Buckingham in order to the relief of the Palatinate being made Admiral and Commander in Chief of the Land-Forces on the 27th of Iune set out from Portsmouth the Fleet consisting of an hundred Sail whereof ten were of the King 's Royal Navy having aboard six or seven thousand Land-Soldiers and towards the later end of Iuly appear'd before Rochel Where attempting to gain the Isle of Rhee which lay before that Town and imbarr'd their Trade his unskilful conduct therein was such that he was forc'd to a retreat with the loss of many valiant men and not a little of his Honour the more full relation of which ill success I refer to our Historians This Expedition proving thus unhappy his Majesties necessitous condition forc'd him to pawn much of his Lands to the City of London for an hundred and twenty thousand pounds which he then borrowed and also to borrow thirty thousand pounds more of the East-India Company But all this being not sufficient to support the charge of the Fleet notwithstanding these former great discouragements still hoping by a Parliament to obtain some reasonable Supply in these his pressing Necessities he call'd another Parliament to begin on the seventeenth of March next following At the meeting whereof he told them None there but knew that common danger was the cause of that Parliament and Supply at that time the Chief end thereof Likewise that if to maintain their own advices and as the case then stood for the following thereof the true Religion Laws and Liberties of this State and the just defence of its true Friends and Allies were not sufficient then no Eloquence of men and Angels could prevail the particular dangers being laid open by the Lord Keeper Hereupon after some time spent in debate of these things five Subsidies were voted and the Petition of Right assented to by his Majesty After which the Parliament was first prorogued from the 26th of Iune till the 20th of October And then by Proclamation till the 20th of Ianuary At which meeting the Clergy also gave the King as many Subsidies In the interim of which Prorogation the Duke of Buckingham who had formerly been the Darling of that Parliament which made use of him to King Iames for breaking the match with Spain being now grown odious and in this Parliament represented to be the chief cause of all their Grievances not only by reason of the losses at the Isle of Rhee but for many other respects as in the Annals of that time may at large be seen hoping as well to regain the honour he lost in the last year's attempt in that Isle as a better opinion of the People design'd another Expedition to Rochel In order whereunto being Commander of the Royal Fleet ready to set sail from Portsmouth he was there desperately murther'd by one Iohn Felton a discontented Officer of the last years Army upon the 23d of August who gave no other reason for that his barbarous and bloody Act then that the Duke had been declared an Enemy to the Commonwealth in a Remonstrance tendred to the King by the House of Commons in the former Session But I proceed notwithstanding this fair shew of an hopeful accordance there were not a few turbulent-spirited men both in the Parliament and elsewhere who sought all advantages for breaking thereof divers Merchants refusing to pay Tonnage and Poundage in regard it had not been granted to the King by a special Act since the death of his Royal Father King Iames. Whereupon his Majesty first sent for those Merchants to the Council-Table and after by a Speech to both Houses told them he expected they should pass the Bill for it But instead of complying therein the Commons publisht a Declaration concerning Religion alledging that they must prefer it before all other business Whereupon the King whose urgent Necessities for want of the Supply expected pressed hard upon them issuing out a special Commission for taking of Tonnage and Poundage Against which the Commons not only protested but some of their Members behaved themselves therein so disobediently and seditiously to the contempt of his Regal authority that fearing they should be dissolved before they had vented their own passions in that particular they lockt the doors of the House of Commons kept the Key and held the Speaker by strong hand in his Chair till they had thunder'd out their Anathema's not
the Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws of his Kingdom of Scotland he did not only agree to the same but should always protect them to the utmost of his power they yielding him in the mean time such civil and temporal obedience as could be justly required of loyal Subjects Upon this Petition therefore Articles of Pacification were concluded on at Barwick whereby his Majesty was contented not only to confirm whatsoever his Commissioner had promised in his name but that all Ecclesiastical matters should be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirk Likewise matters Civil by the Parliament and other inferior Judicatories establish'd by Law Moreover that for setling the distractions of that Kingdom he was willing to grant a free general Assembly to be kept at Edenborough the sixth of August ensuing and after that a Parliament the twentieth of August for ratifying what should be concluded in the Assembly being graciously pleased to declare that upon disbanding of their Forces dissolving all their pretended Tables restoring his Forts Castles and Amunition c. To his good Subjects their Liberties Lands Goods c. detained since the late pretended general Assembly he would recall his Fleet retire his Land-forces and make restitution to them of their Ships and Goods arrested c. Which Agreement was entertained by them with so much outward acceptance that by the Subscriptions of the chiefest of them it was promised they would ever in all things carry themselves like humble loyal and obedient Subjects But instead of performance of their parts at the very publishing the Articles in their Camp a Protestation was made dishonourable to his Majesties Government to the further encouraging of the People in their disobedient and mutinous ways And at the same time they delivered into the hands of some of the English Nobility and spread among others a scandalous Paper intituled Some conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland wherein were contained such untruths and seditious positions and so contrary to what was concluded in the Articles of Pacification that howsoever they pretended a desire of peace yet they intended nothing less and instead of disbanding their Forces within forty eight hours after publication of those Articles they kept great parts of them together and held in pay almost all their Officers continuing their unlawful meetings and conventicles to the great vexation and trouble of all such his Majesties good Subjects as did not adhere to their rebellious Covenant and Act of the pretended Assembly at Glasgow keeping up all their Fortifications Yea such was the fury of the People animated by that Protestation with divers scandalous Papers and seditious Sermons that they deterred his Majesties good Subjects from going to their dwellings threatning them with loss of their lives if they repaired to their own Houses labouring also to pervert them in the choice of the Commissioners for the general Assembly appointed by anticipating their voices in making them swear to and subscribe the approbation of the same Assembly at Glasgow and Acts thereof deterring others from repairing thereto So that by these new disorders the peace and quiet of his Subjects was greatly disturbed great Insolencies being offer'd to the Earl of Kinnowl his Majesties high Treasurer as also to Sir Iames Hamilton Justice-general and other his Majesties Councellors and good Subjects so that the King sorbore to come to Edenborough such of his Loyal Subjects as attended his Person and adhered to him being branded by them with the vile aspersion of Traitors to God and their Country and threatned to be proceeded against with censures accordingly And lastly shaking off all respect due to sacred Majesty protested that all members of the Colleges of Iustice and Leiges were not to attend the Session and that all Acts Decrees and Sentences therein past against any of them should be null void and ineffectual contrary to the King 's express Warrant for the down-sitting thereof and the heavy damage of his good Subjects who were thereby frustrated of Justice And having laid these insolent and seditious foundations for a Parliament it could not be expected but that the structure must be full of confusion as indeed it proved their Actions and demands favouring of nothing but undutifulness and disloyalty for they stuck not to deny to his Majesty the most essential and inherent Prerogatives of his Crown striving by all means to change and alter the constitutions of the Parliament and frame of Government Likewise to restrain his power in point of coinage custody of Castles grants of Honour and Commissions-Justiciary or Lieutenancy And his Majesty by his Commission having allow'd them the liberty of convening and meeting until a certain day for distributing of their pretended charges amongst such as should willingly condescend thereunto they did not only without Warrant continue their Conventicles and Tables since that Commission expired contrary to the positive Laws of that Kingdom the Act of Pacification and their own acknowledgment in petitioning for the aforesaid Commission but urged that all those his good Subjects who adhered to him in defence of his Royal authority against their rebellious commotions should be made equal if not more liable to the defraying of their pretended charges Which might imply his Majesties countenance and justification of all their Rebellions and Treasons The King therefore discerning their persistance in such unsufferable demands return'd to England signifying to the Earl of Traquier his Commissioner that it did evidently appear unto him that their aim was not now for Religion as they always pretended but rather the alteration of the Government of that Kingdom and withall the total overthrow of Royal authority commanding his said Commissioner to prorogate the parliament till the second of Iune next following Notwithstanding which Prorogation they continued their sitting at Edenborough and sent their Deputies over into this Kingdom to make Remonstrance of their doing without knowledg of his Commissioner Whereupon his Majesties Commissioner came over and acquainting him with those Insolencies also by his command relating them at his Council-board the King there proposed to the consideration of the Lords then present whether it were not more sit to reduce them to their duty by force than give way to their demands so much prejudicial to his Honour and safety Which being unanimously voted in the affirmative his Majesty resolved to call a Parliament soon after In which Interim the Scots lost no time but making fair pretences by their Remonstrance protested against this Act of Prorogation and declared that the same was contrary to the Constitutions and practise of all precedent Parliaments contrary to the liberties of that Kingdom and repugnant to the Articles of the late Pacification and that it was ineffectual and of no force to hinder their proceedings professing that it was never their intention to deny his Majesty any part of that civil and temporal obedience which is due
in the House tending thereto first by a Proposal of four then five nay six were mention'd and the motion not dislik'd told them peremptorily that it was in vain for them to think of less than twelve in regard he knew under that number would not be accepted And having by that sinister dealing kept such distance betwixt his Majesty and his good Subjects was by some other of the faction so seconded with a hideous representation of their Grievances together with dangerous Innovations in Religion and fears of introducing Superstition besides certain motions as did not without cause put strange apprehensions in the Queen of peril to her person or at least some others very near unto her that his Majesty was constrain'd to dissolve that Parliament And taking consideration of the Scots rebellious Insolencies which every day increased proposed the business of money to his Privy-Council who contributed a considerable sum to his aid his domestic-Servants and Officers making good addition thereto The Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland speedily hasting into that Kingdom where he call'd a Parliament raised an Army of eight thousand men with money to maintain them and within the space of six weeks return'd into England That the meeting of these Members of Parliament from all parts of the Realm being many of them men of turbulent Spirits and principles totally Antimonarchical gave opportunity for those contrivances which afterwards were put in Action there is nothing more sure For in the first place they took care to infuse Fears and Iealousies into the people every where that the Government was then design'd to be Arbitrary and Popery like to be introduced to promote which Scandals many seditious Preachers took no small pains in their Pulpits especially in and about London Whereupon several tumultuous meetings were made in divers parts of the Suburbs and a Paper set up in the night at the old Exchange animating the Apprentices to sack Lambeth House Which took such effect that two nights following it was beset with above five hundred of the rascal multitude and an attemt made thereon though without success some of them being taken and imprisoned in Southwark But here they rested not for within a few nights after they broke open the White-Lion and King's-bench Prisons and let out their fellows The Scots also having made such preparations for a second Rebellion continued likewise their Parliament according to the Fundamental Laws as their phrase was having enacted a Band to be subscribed by all men before the first of September to maintain it to be a free and lawful Parliament whereupon they form'd another Army and knowing certainly what store of well-wishers they had in this Kingdom as also how easy the work was like to be made through the subtile contrivances of the factious party here from whom they were sufficiently instructed and animated by private Invitations and large promises invaded this Realm passing the Twede at Barwick But the King being slow to believe what they designed was not so forward as to encounter them upon the Borders his Army which he rais'd that Summer lying at that time about New-Castle of which the Earl of Northumberland was made General who alledging himself to be then ill in health staid in London His Majesty therefore having certain advertisement that the Scots were ready to enter Northumberland intended to have made the Earl of Strafford General who declin'd it out of an honoured respect to the Earl of Northumberland but being much pressed in regard of this present occasion desired to serve as Lieutenant general under him and had his Commission accordingly On Thursday the twentieth of Aug. the King set forwards from London towards the North and on Munday following the Earl of Strafford having in that short time fitted himself for his journey posted from London by Coaches and arriving at York the Wednesday after though then much troubled with the Stone rode to Topcliffe on Fryday At that time the Lord Conway was General of the Horse and at Newcastle with the Army Where by reason of the General 's and Lieutenant-General's absence he had the cheif command thereof but made such slender resistance that the Scots forc'd their passage over the River of Tine at Newburne that very Friday and entred Newcastle without opposition himself then retreating with the Army towards York and in some confusion And now that the Scots had thus possess'd themselves of Newcastle they began to strengthen that place and bring all those Northern-parts under contribution Which strange passages made most men amazed scarce any man knowing whom to trust or speak freely to Much labour indeed there was to make the people believe that all this did work for their good and that the Scots were their surest friends this being the certain way to have a Parliament and that the undoubted cure of all things amiss both in Church and State And truly such a burthen was Ship-money then esteem'd to be and some few other extraordinary Impositions so wanton were many grown being surfeited with that plenty which long peace had produc'd that the Scots then had not a few well-wishers in all parts of this Realm their piety and goodness being so cried up by the whole Puritan-party His Majesty therefore in this difficult Labyrinth took resolution to summon a meeting of the Peers at York a course which had anciently been used especially when exigencies were so great that the Convention of a Parliament could not be staid for and at the meeting of this grand Council represented to them the present danger of this Invasion with desire of their advice touching the maintenance of his Army as not safe to be disbanded whilst the Scotish-Forces were on foot as also what course was fittest to be taken to get them out Whereupon without long deliberating a Treaty was determin'd on and for that end sixteen of the Lords then present were assign'd on the King's part to meet with Eleven of the Scots with power to compose and conclude all differences Whereunto the Scots assented upon condition that the King should first revoke his Proclamation whereby he had declared them Traitors COMMISSIONERS Of the English these Francis Earl of Bedford William Earl of Hertford Robert Earl of Essex William Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Warwick Iohn Earl of Bristol Henry Earl of Holland Thomas Earl of Berkshire Philip Lord Wharton William Lord Paget Edward Lord Kymbolton Robert Lord Brook Iohn Lord Paulet Edw. L. Howard of Escrick Thomas Lord Savile Francis Lord Dunsmore Of the Scots these Iohn Earl of Rothess Ch. Earl of Dumfermeling Iohn Lord Lowdon Sir Patrick Hepburne of Waughtone Sir Will. Douglas of Cavers William Drummond of Riccarton Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edenborough Alexand Wedderburn Clerk of Dundee Hugh Kennedy Burgess of Aire Alexander Henderson Archibald Iohnstone Which Treaty began at Rippon upon the ninth of October but what good effect it was like to produce we
now plainly see Eleven of those sixteen English Lords which were chosen on his Majesties part being afterwards Actors or Assisters in the late war against him The first demand there made by the Scots Commissioners being no less then forty thousand pounds a month for maintenanne of their Army during the Treaty Which tho not directly granted was so far yielded to as that the Assessment impos'd by them upon the Countie of Northumberland Bishopric of Durham and Town of Newcastle should stand good for the raising of Eight hundred and fifty pounds a day allowance for the space of two months to begin upon the sixteenth of that instant October And that there should be a cessation of Arms the Scots Army to be confin'd on the North part the River Tese and the English to the South thereof CHAP. VII WHich footing thus gotten by the Scots in the North gave no small encouragement to their well-wishers in the South especially in London who in contemplation also of the ensuing Parliament which by his Majesty was summon'd to meet upon the third of November following were not a little animated in divers bold Enterprizes for scandalous papers and Libels were frequently thrown in the streets against the Bishops Yea so bold were the multitude grown by the example of the Scots in an 1637 and through the incitation of many Citizens and others of note who would not then shew themselves that on the 22th of October a rabble of no less than Two thousand Brownists and the like Sectaries entred St. Paul's Cathedral where the high Commission Court then sat tore down all the Benches and cried out No Bishop No High Commission To the consideration of which Parliament begun on the third of November accordingly did the King represent the safety and security of this Realm earnestly desiring that care might be speedily taken for riddance of the Scots which had thus invaded the North and to satisfy their just Grievances promised his hearty concurrence desiring that his Army might not be suffer'd to disband for want of pay before the Rebels for so he then call'd the Scots were put out And that they would lay aside all suspicions to the end it might become a happy Parliament resolving to cast himself wholly upon the love and affection of his English Subjects But the house of Commons consisting of the same or persons worse affected then those in April before the prevalent party purging the House of divers persons whom they concieved would not comply with their destructive enterprises for such they either finding fault with their Elections or making them criminals as to some public Grievances though others of a deeper guilt were not touch'd whose offences might make them obnoxious to their power or obsequious to their designs went slowly on with what his Majesty had proposed to them for the busy-party who were the great Actors in the ensuing Tragedy then fell to contrivance about the accomplishment of their long desired work To which purpose the Treaty at Rippon was soon after remov'd to Westminster to the end that there they might have the Scots Commissioners at hand and the power of the Londoners to assist them for it had been impossible without the conjunction and help of the Prevalent and factious party in that City ever to have accomplish'd the ruine of the establish'd Government and destruction of the King as they afterwards did In order whereunto the first step they made was the entertaining Petitions of Grievances from all parts of the Realm which made such a noise as if the Subjects of England had suffered under the greatest slavery and oppression that had ever been heard of and being devised and framed by themselves were receiv'd with such great acceptance as that the People began to shew no small expressions of Joy in their new Reformers Who to win them the more besides the Impeachment of the Earl of Strafford which was within two days following whom they had made sufficiently odious by representing him to be one of the greatest causes of their oppressions and an especial Enemy to Parliaments expell'd divers Projectors and Monopolists out of the House of Commons impeach'd the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely and Lord Keeper Finch for Treason against the State having in order thereto by libellous Pamphlets and Pictures rendred them hateful to the People Damn'd that hideous Grievance of Ship-money by vote Pass'd a Bill for a Triennial Parliament as also impeach'd Justice Berkley of High Treason for his activeness in the business of Ship-money And to try how safely they might adventure to strike at the establish'd Government of the Church which might make the easier way for ruine of the State they brought Pryn Burton and Bastwick in triumph to London who had been censured in the Star-Chamber for Libels against the Hierarchy countenancing a Petition exhibited to them by Alderman Penington against Episcopacy and Church-Discipline Yet that there might be no doubt of their zeal and dutiful affection to the King they sent a Message to his Majesty to desire leave that they might advance and settle his Revenue offering to make him the richest King in Christendom And having thus gain'd a strong confidence with the people what blessed Patriots they were like to be that they might also seem as zealous for God's cause they exhibited a Remonstrance in the name of both Houses to his Majesty grounded upon divers Petitions which they had subtilly procured from all parts of the Realm of the increase of Popery Also that the danger thereof might the more amaze the world they then began to open their Cabinet of Plots and Conspiracies four of the House of Commons imparting to the Lords a a discovery of an horrid design by many thousands of Papists in England Ireland and Wales Moreover because of the great complaint of Innovation in Religion increase of Popery and growth of Superstition they appointed Commissioners for removing Rails from about all Communion-Tables throughout the Realm Likewise to the end that the Bishops might the better attend their Spiritual functions they voted that none of them should have voice in Parliament nor meddle in temporal affairs And to assure the Scots whose Army they as yet thought not fit to part with till their work was brought to more maturity they gave them three hundred thousand pounds towards a supply of their losses and Necessities Which signal favour got them the stile of Brethren and thanks from the Scotish-Commissioners who seem'd so tender of our good that they desired the Treaty might be accelerated and the Kingdom eased of the burthen of the two Armies by their returning home The next thing wherewith they went in hand was the Trial of the Earl of Strafford for 't was resolv'd he must be cut off being a person of such integrity to the King and known abilities To which purpose
the Parliament House crying No Bishops and calling them the limbs of Antichrist And on the same day to accompany so good a work they presented to the King by the hands of the Earl of Holland their grand Remonstrance of the Grievances of the Kingdom which had been ordered to be brought into the House the twelfth of August past thereby to blast all those gracious condescentions which they had obtained from him before Whereunto his Majesty soon after made a full and clear Answer and publish'd his Royal Declaration thereupon for the satisfaction of all his good Subjects to the end they might not be deluded by those undutiful false and scandalous aspersions cast upon his Government by that malicious Libel And soon after for the better prevention of any more such dangerous tumults and uproars at or near the Houses of Parliament he directed his special Writ according to the Statute unto the Sheriffs of London to place a Guard at Westminster But the House of Commons deeming this Guard thus legally placed by the King no way conducing to their Design presently voted it to be a breach of their priviledges and an offence of an high nature and thereupon not only order'd that the said Watch should be discharg'd but that the Justices of Middlesex for their obedience to his Majesties commands herein should be question'd whereupon Justice Long was committed to the Tower That there was a most factious party in the City of London which were great Instruments in raising the ensuing Rebellion is plain enough Nor is it less observable that they acted their parts therein by colour of Authority viz. by outing all the Common-Council which were men of worth and bringing men of desperate fortunes in their rooms Wherein they had such furtherance by the help of the multitude who aim'd at their own advantage by any change of Government that they then introduced Fowkes Ryley the Boddies-maker Perkins the Lord Say's Taylor Normington the Cutler Mills the Brick-layer and divers other such mean fellows instead of Mr. Drake Mr. Roger Clarke Sir George Bynion Mr. Roger Gardner and several other worthy Citizens whose loyalty they well knew could not be corrupted These being the principal agents in all the Tumults which stood them in much stead for accomplishing of their chiefest aims And therefore plain it was to be seen what design they had when they urged the passing of the Bill for not Adjourning or Dissolving of that Parliament without their own consents having such a party in the City to back them upon all occasions Having thus dissolv'd the Guard so appointed by his Majesty there came another Tumult of the Citizens to Westminster Whereupon some Members of the House of Commons making complaint of the danger whereunto they were subject by those riotous people and how that already they had been assaulted and evil intreated by them at the very door of the House desired that some course might be taken for restraining and punishing them for the same But instead thereof divers spoke in justification of them and commended their affections saying they must not discourage their friends this being a time to make use of them all And Mr. Pym added God forbid that the House of Commons should proceed in any sort to dishearten the people for obtaining their just desires in such a way And accordingly there was a paper delivered by some or other to the Minister that preach'd at Christ-Church the Sunday following desiring that Prayer might be made to God to assist the Apprentices with strength to root out Superstition and to extirpate the Innovations of the Bishops and Clergy After which matters were every day carried with a more high hand than before the Tumultuous people having as apparent countenance from the House as before they had private encouragement Insomuch as the Lord Mayor of London came to Whitehall and acquainted the King that he discerned if Sir Thomas Lunsford whom he had newly made Lieutenant of the Tower were not removed the Apprentices would rise and pull him out So that his Majesty to prevent such an insurrection took the Keys from Sir Thomas Lunsford and constituted Sir Thomas Byron in his room with whom the factious Spirits were as ill satisfied tho they knew not well what to object against him till at last Lieutenant Hooker the Aquavitae-man and Nicholson the Chandler complained in the Common-Council that since Sir Iohn Byron came to be Lieutenant of the Tower the Mint to the great prejudice and dishonour of the Kingdom stood still Yea so insolent were these tumultuous people grown that upon the Kings Proclamation grounded upon a Penal Law to dissipate them in contempt thereof they came early the next morning in greater numbers than ever divers of them being arm'd with Swords and Halberts and towards the evening assaulted the great Church at Westminster threatning to pull it down So that the Bishops thenceforth thought it not safe for themselves to come any more to the House The News whereof so pleased those unruly people that on the morrow they came again crying No Bishops notwithstanding another Proclamation issued out by the King to restrain them And in their return making a stand before Whitehall said that they would have no more Porter's Lodge there but would speak with the King when they pleased Which rebellious uproar caused his Majesty forthwith to place a Guard for his own safety at the Court-gates But the main cry of danger was by the House of Commons as if they themselves had been the only men in peril of their lives and therefore to make the greater shew of their own fears they order'd that Halberts should be brought into their House for defence of the Members and then they made a noise of new discoveries of farther dangerous conspiracies one by a Letter from France intimating great intelligence held betwixt England and Rome and no small likelihood of dreadful plots in agitation against this Kingdom Also of another Letter at the same time found in a Jesuit's Study of great troubles which should befall this Realm And the more to amuse the people they adjourn'd to sit in a Committee at Guild-Hall to draw up a Remonstrance of the many dangers this Kingdom had undergone within the space of three years Where being met another Letter pretended to be brought from Italy was read discovering divers Plots by the Papists here Whereupon they consider'd about drawing up of another Remonstrance laying open the peril of the Spanish Fleet the coming over of the Queen-Mother the Pope's Nuncio as also several other Plots in agitation by the Jesuits and a Romish-party Which subtil practices being set on foot by some particular persons of both Houses through whose influence chiefly others were guided caused his Majesty out of a desire to prevent the ensuing calamities which he clearly foresaw must by these means inevitably follow to demand the persons of the Lord
whose endeavours were to kindle that combustion in England which they had in so great a measure effected in Ireland and which nothing could do as they said but the granting that Petition Which Petition together with an Ordinance of both Houses setting forth a most dangerous and desperate design upon the House of Commons and many discoveries importing fears of rebellious Insurrections by Papists and other ill affected persons in this Kingdom they then exhibited Whose answer thereunto being that for the City of London and other Corporations which by any antient Charters had power of ordering the Militia he conceiv'd it unfit to alter their government but that he could not consent to the indefinite time propounded for this Posture Whereupon they forthwith voted this Answer to be a flat denial and that his Majesties advisers thereto were Enemies to the State and mischeivous Projectors against the defence of the Kingdom Also that this denial was of such dangerous consequence that it would hazard the peace and safety of all his Kingdoms unless some speedy remedy were applyed by the Parliament And immediately dispatch'd another Petition to his Majesty then at Theobalds wherein they protested that if he did not speedily pass his assent to the satisfaction of their desires they should be inforced by authority of both Houses to dispose thereof and that they did accordingly so resolve to do Farther voting that the Kingdom should be forthwith put into a Posture of defence by Authority of both Houses that the Navy should be speedily rigg'd and a Declaration of their just Fears and Jealousies speedily drawn up with the grounds of their former votes for putting the Kingdom into a Posture by authority of both Houses to clear the Parliament of all mistrusts And to carry out all this under colour of the Peoples desires New Petitions were brought from several Counties viz. one from Staffordsh pretending such dread of the Papists rising there that every man was constrain'd to stand upon his Guard not daring to go to Church unarm'd Others from Worcestersh Berksh Norfolk Norwich Lynne Royston Salop all of them earnestly desiring this Posture of Defence And the very next day the Ordinance for ordering the Militia of the Kingdom by authority of both Houses sent to his Majesty 22 Febr. was assented to by the Lords and thereupon new Lieutenants were assign'd throughout all England and Wales And having in a grand Committee at Merchant-Taylers Hall contrived the Declaration mention'd in their Votes of March the second wherein they made a very great noise of a design to alter Religion in this Kingdom and that the wars with Scotland and Ireland were framed to that end they presented the same to his Majesty at Newmarket within few days after voting the King's Commissions of Lieutenancies in the several Counties illegal as also that there was an urgent and inevitable Necessity for putting his Majesties Subjects into a Posture of Defence and that the Ordinances of both Houses for the Militia being obliging to the People ought to be obeyed by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom And lastly that the Earl of Warwick should be appointed Vice-Admiral of his Majesties Ships And having now by these their exorbitant courses together with the Tumults so much endangered his Majesties Royal person that he was forced for safety of himself and the Prince to retire into the North they voted that they would go on with their former Votes concerning the Militia Also that when the Lords and Commons in Parliament should declare what the Laws of the Land be to Question it was a high breach of the Privilege of Parliament After this within few days they sent a Petition to York which was there presented to his Majesty by the Lord Willoughby of Parham and others wherein they alledged that his Majesties denial to their petition for disposing the Militia was a great hinderance to their other proceedings and justified the Tumults at Westminster by taxing his Majesty with denial of such a Guard to them as they might confide in aspersing his Government for many continued Acts of violation of Laws c. And to keep the people still awake by allarming them with new dangers they caused Letters to be read in the House which were said to come from Amsterdam intimating intelligence from Denmark of a great Army ready prepared there to be transported for England and to land at Hull upon some dangerous enterprize The like Letter pretended to come from Newmarket then produced and another from France Whereupon having receiv'd a Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London in which great Thanks was given to the House for ordering the Militia of the City as they had done with their resolutions therein signified to obey the same As also another from the Cinque-Ports desiring that those places might be strongly guarded and fortified and the Kingdom put into a Posture they ordered that every of his Majesties Forts and Castles should be presently fortified with an Hundred men of the Trained Bands next adjoining to them and ten pieces of Ordinance to each place Also that no Forces should be admitted into Hull without the consent of the Lords and Commons and that Instructions should be sent thither for the farther fortifying of that place Likewise upon another pretended discovery made by one Mr. Cartwright and the Speaker of the House of Commons that they were advertised by Letters from France of an Army preparing there to come for England or Ireland the Lords sent a message to the Commons to let them know that they had designed the Earl of Warwick Vice-Admiral of the Fleet. Whereupon both Houses joyn'd in a Message to the King to inform him of the grounds and reasons of their sending out that Earl as Vice-Admiral without his Majesties consent The King therefore discerning that they had got the Royal Navy into their hands thought it high time to make sure of his Magazine which had been laid up at Hull about two years before part for the service of Ireland and the rest for the security of the North and accordingly rode from York thither for the disposal thereof But when he came to the Gates of that Town Sir Iohn Hotham a member of the House of Commons being a confiding man with the factious party there and by their contrivance got privately thither with Souldiers refused him entrance affirming that in so doing he had the authority of Parliament to bear him out For which insolent act he was declared traiterous by his Majesty and by a special Message so signifyed to both Houses with demand of Justice against him according to the Laws But instead thereof they forthwith not only publish'd a bold Declaration with Votes and order of assistance in the name of both Houses of Parliament justifying Hotham therein
aid from any man nor protection from Heaven when he willingly should fail in these particulars Which pious intentions of his thus declared were of no small advantage to him at that time his Army increasing daily beyond expectation The Rebels therefore hearing which way the King moved beâ—t their course speedily towards him making their Head-quarter in and about Worcester from the four and twentieth of September till the nineteenth of October following Near to which place upon their approach some few Troops of his Majesties under the command of Prince Rupert most happily defeated a far greater number of the Rebel 's principal Cavalry Colonel Sandys Major Douglas and other Commanders with divers other being there slain six Cornets of Horse taken and all this with the loss but of one man Which being the first notable encounter that his Majesties forces had with them and so successful did not a little amaze most of the Rebels party Lest therefore the truth thereof being divulged should dishearten their friends in London and other remote parts they not only caused divers printed Papers to be spread about bragging of it for a special victory but that it might gain the more credit ordain'd a public Thanksgiving in London for the same And to hinder his Majesty from the assistance of his good Subjects under one pretence or other though they had cryed out against his raising an Army by the help of Papists to destroy the Protestant Religion they were not ashamed to make a public Order that if any Papist would bring in considerable sums to them upon the Propositions it should be accepted of As by these subtile devices they had rais'd the flames of Rebellion to this height and deprived the King of all visible means here for the quenching thereof so did they use their utmost endeavours to prevent any help that might be obtained for him from forreign parts as appears by their negotiation with the States of the Vnited Provinces wherein they imploy'd one Walter Strickland with a special Declaration to them complaining of the Prince of Aurange for countenancing the Lord Digby in his making warlike Provisions in those parts for the King's use and in favour of that Lord and other wicked Counsellers and Incendiaries to have licensed experienced Officers and Souldiers to resort into this Kingdom in aid of his Majesty against the Parliament Scandalizing the King also that his Councils were corrupted by a Jesuitical faction and that he had drawn his sword for the destruction of his people desiring therefore that his Majesty might have no manner of Supplies from thence and withall insinuating how near a relation there was betwixt that model into which they aimed to cast this Government and the State of those Provinces and that therefore they expected assistance from them Nor did they rest here as is evident from those Instructions which were brought up by a Committee to be sent into Holland for this Mr. Strickland upon the 29th of February an 1643 by which he was to represent to the States of those Provinces that the Parliament of England did only strive for Reformation of that Religion and State they live in and therefore desired those States that they would now afford them their Brotherly assistance as they had formerly assisted them As also that they would enlarge their union to other Princes and lend them some money upon the public faith of both Kingdoms and the rather because they made Reformed Churches the pattern of their endeavours Neither could they be silent at home but the more to stir up the people inculcated to them that the King had raised an Army by the help of Papists the corrupt part of the Clergy the Delinquent Nobility and Gentry and some notable Traitors beyond-Sea that they had liberty to rob and spoil all sorts of people as also to exact Money and Plate from Corporations by threatning Fire and Sword to the refusers that he had hired a Scotchman to murther Sir Iohn Hotham that by violent oppressions he had exhausted the parts about Shrewsbury and that the Cavaliers were hungry for the wealth of London and the fruitful Counties adjacent that if he should prevail there was no expectation but that all would be exposed to the malice and rapine of his ravenous Souldiers and all honest and religious mens throats cut And therefore that the means of curing and preventing these dangers must be by Loan and contribution to the Earl of Essex's Army which was not inferior in number to the King 's besides better armed full pay'd c. but above all well encouraged and instructed in the Cause by the labour of many Godly and painful Divines and therefore that all Trained Bands Voluntiers c. in all places should assist the Lord General c. Whereunto they added these ensuing Votes viz. 1. That such persons as should not contribute to the charge of the Common-wealth in this time of Necessity should be held sit to be secured and disarmed 2. That the Fines Rents c. of Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans c. and of such notorious Delinquents who had taken up Arms against the Parliament or had been active in the Commission of Array should be sequestred for the use and service of the Common-wealth 3. That the King's revenues should be brought into the several Courts and other places where they ought to be paid in and not issued out until farther order was taken by both Houses of Parliament And to sum up all they set forth another Declaration and Protestation wherein they did in the presence of Almighty God protest and declare to this Kingdom and the whole World that no private passion or respect nor evil intention to his Majesties person no design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authority had engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms c. that they had professed their Loyalty by several Remonstrances that they had passed by ignominious Slanders c. that for the avoiding of blood they had directed the Earl of Essex by himself or others to cause an humble Petition to be delivered to his Majesty to return in peace to his Parliament that his Majesty had refused to yield safe conduct for the delivery thereof that he was engaged to the Popish-party for suppression and extirpation of the true Religion and exposing the wealth of this Kingdom to be plundered and spoil'd by Cavaliers c. contrary to his solemn Oaths Protestations and Execrations and therefore that they resolved to enter a solemn Oath and Covenant to defend this Cause with the hazard of their lives against the King's Army And that they expected help from the Brethren of Scotland herein His Majesty therefore having in a very short time and beyond expectation raised an indifferent Army though his wants of many accomodations were very great finding no means of Peace or Safety but by the hazard of Battel which the Rebels eagerly sought casting himself wholly upon
set forth a new Declaration in the name of both Houses of Parliament shewing the necessity of a present Subscription of Money and Plate for a farther supply of the Army Suggesting that his Majesties Popish-Army would proceed with Fire and Sword to root out their true Religion and all that professed it if there were not a good provision of Treasure to maintain and support the Army rais'd by the Parliament To which new Contributions for the better drawing on of others they themselves also subscrib'd And after ordered that such Citizens as had refused to pay the twentieth part should be removed to several Prisons viz. Yarmouth Colchester Norwich c. giving authority that the Collectors made by their Ordinance of the xxixth of November for Assesments should have power to break open Chests Trunks c. and to sieze Money Goods c. for satisfaction of their Taxes And at the same time appointed a Committee for sequestring the lands and estates of all such persons as had assisted the King in his just defence and preservation according to their duty and allegiance calling it a maintaining a war against the Parliament But all this being as yet not enough they passed an Ordinance to incite the City of London to a free contribution towards the sum of sixty thousand pounds for the service of the Army the Houses declaring that they were in good hopes it would be the last money they should have occasion to desire of the City in that kind And therefore that they might be as good as their words and not come often to them in a borrowing way they passed another Ordinance for imposing a Tax for the maintenance of their Army throughout the whole Kingdom of Thirty three thousand three hundred forty eight pounds a week whereof ten thousand pounds weekly was assessed upon the City of London besides Westminster and the Suburbs And to the end that the well affected who had gone forth in their Army rais'd for the defence of the Parliament Religion Laws and Liberties of the Subjects of England for those are the words of the Preamble should be the better encouraged to continue in their service they passed another Ordinance for assessing of all the Parishes in England to the relief of their maimed Souldiers with the Widows and Fatherless children of such as were or should be slain on their part CHAP. XIV I Now come to the military Actings of this present year 1642. In which I find that the Marquess of Hertford and Sir Ralph Hopton Knight of the Bath afterwards Lord Hopton had rais'd considerable forces on the King's behalf in the West and that the Earl of Newcastle afterwards Marquess in the North Colonel Charles Cavendish brother to the Earl of Devonshire Spenser Earl of Northampton and some other persons of quality had done the like in sundry other parts so that with what strength his Majesty himself then had after the taking up of his Winter-Quarters at Oxford the Royalists had possessed themselves of Banbury-Castle in Oxfordshire of Reading and Farringdon with the Castles of Wallingford and Denington in Berkshire of Chichester and Arundel-Castle in Sussex of Winchester and Basing-house in Hantshire of the Castles of Devises and Wardour in Wiltshire of the Castle of Sherbourne in Dorsetshire of some Port-Towns in Devonshire of the Castle of Pendennis and other places in Cornwall of Taunton and Bridgwater in Somersetshire of Sudley-Castle in Glucestershire of the City of Worcester of the the Town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire of Dudley-Castle and Close of Lichfeild in Staffordshire of Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire of the City of Chester of Monmouth in Monmouthshire of Lincoln and Gaynesborough in Lincolnshire of Lynne in Norfolk of the City of York and Castle of Pontfract in Yorkshire of Latham-house in Lancashire and of Newcastle in Northumberland As also that by their activeness there were taken from the Rebels before the entrance of the ensuing year these following places viz. Marlborough in Wiltshire by the Lord Wilmot Colonel Ramsey a Scot and five hundred of his men being there made prisoners Tadcaster in Yorkshire about the same time Liskard and Saltash in Cornwall Belvier-Castle in Lincolnshire Cirencester in Gloucestershire Malmesbury in Wiltshire and Grantham in Lincolnshire Whereunto may be added the safe landing of the Queen 12 Febr. at Burlington in Yorkshire with Arms and Amunition brought from Holland for his Majesties service On the Rebels part I am also to observe that besides the Earl of Essex their Generalissimo they had divers other Petty-Generals viz. Ferdinando Lord Fairfax in the North the Earl of Stanford and Sir William Waller in the West Edward Earl of Manchester Basil Lord Feilding eldest son to the Earl of Denbigh Colonel Brown the Woodmonger Sir William Brereton Baronet Sir Iohn Gell Knight Colonel Massey c. all active men in their respective stations As to the places of strength throughout England besides the Royal Navy given up into their hands by Algernon Earl of Northumberland whom the King had made Admiral of his whole Fleet they had the City and Tower of London all the Eastern-Counties with the Ports and Castles thereto belonging the strong Town of Hull in Yorkshire and in it all his Majesties Magazine of Arms Artillery and Amunition prepared for his Scottish Expedition Manchester in Lancashire in Cheshire Ludlow Bridg-North and Wemme in Shropshire Stafford in Staffordshire the Cities of Bristol and Gloucester the Towns of Leicester and Northampton the City of Coventry with the Castles of Warwick and Kenilworth all in Warwickshire the City of Lincoln the Towns of Notingham and Derby and indeed what not excepting those places I have mention'd wherein the Royalists had first set foot Besides which they took by force the City of Winchester Leedes in Yorkshire the City of Chichester in Sussex about the same time and Sudeley-Castle in Gloucestershire Not much of Action in the Field or otherwise can be expected until the ensuing Spring of the year so that all I find of note was only that at Liskard near Bodmin in Cornwall where Sir Ralph Hopton routed a strong Party of the Rebels in those parts and took above twelve hundred Prisoners Likewise that attempt upon Litchfield-close in Stafford shire made by Robert Lord Brook wherein he lost his life the manner whereof is not a little remarkable which in short was thus This Lord being strangely tainted with fanatic Principles by the influence of one of his near Relations and some Schismatical Preachers though in his own nature a very civil and well homour'd man became thereby so great a zealot against the establish'd Discipline of the Church that no less than the utter extirpation of Episcopacy and abolishing all decent Order in the service of God would satisfy him To which end he became the leader of all the power he could raise for the destruction of the Cathedral
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
the King had the better but Prince Rupert having routed the one Wing of the Rebells Troops follow'd the Chase so far that the Foot being left open to the other were by the conduct of Cromwell put into a total confusion by which means Fairfax became master of the Field and regained Leicester within four days Whereupon he marched to the Relief of Taunton in Somersetshire then besieg'd by General Goring taking Highworth in Wiltshire in his passage To accompany these sad misfortunes Carlisle in Cumberland that great and strong Garison was delivered up to the Scots after two and forty weeks siege And General Goring having Intelligence of Fairfax his advance towards Taunton drew off and was worsted by him near Langport in Somersetshire After which nothing but loss and ruin every day ensued as will appear by these following instances which I have thought fit here briefly to enumerate Pontfract castle delivered to General Poyntz after three months siege that Garison thence marching to Newark Bridgwater taken by General Fairfax after his Victory at Langport Scarborough likewise after a long siege by Sir Matthew Boynton delivered up to him by Sr. Hugh Cholmley upon honourable conditions The City of Bath also within few days following was likewise rendred Soon after this the Scotish Army marching Southwards making miserable spoil in their passage took Canon Frome a Garison of the King 's in Herefordshire and then sate down before Hereford Where having lost many of their men they drew off on the second of September and returned Northwards Sherborne-castle also which had beed stoutly defended by Sir Lewes Dive was taken by storm Nunney-castle in Somersetshire thereupon yielding to Colonel Rainsborough Whithin few days ensuing General Fairfax therefore came before Bristol and on the tenth of September had it delivered up to him In the next month the King's forces at Rowton heath in Cheshire received a great defeat wherein the Lord Bernard Stuart lost his life Hereupon the Lord Digby with the remainder of the Horse was sent towards Scotland there to joyn with the Noble Marquess of Montrosse The Castle of Devises was soon after taken by Cromwell The Castles likewise of Raby in the Bishoprick Skipton and Sandall in Yorkshire were then also delivered up Basing house taken by Sir Hardres Waller and Colonel Mountagu and in it the Marquess of Winchester it being his chief seat Tiverton in Devonshire taken by Fairfax Sir Gilbert Talbot being then Governour there Hereupon though it was winter time the Rebels laid siege to the City of Exeter at a distance that being the chiefest place of strength in all the West About this time also Fairley-castle in Wiltshire and Lacock house were given up Likewise Chepstow castle in Monmouth shire and Berkley-castle in Glocester shire The Lord Digby also marching toward Scotland to joyn with Montrosse was defeated at Sherborne in Yorkshire by Colonel Copley and Colonel Lilburne whereupon he was constrain'd to flee into the Isle of Man and thence into Ireland Soon after this Bolton castle in Yorkshire yielded Likewise Beeston castle in Cheshire Shelford-house also in Notingham-shire was taken by storm Colonel Stanhope son to the Earl of Chesterfield being Governour of it and there slain Lathom house in Lancashire which had stoutly held out two years siege by the magnanimous Countess of Derby was then likewise rendred The City of Hereford was also surprized by Colonel Birch and Colonel Morgan by a Stratagem of a counterfeit Constable coming with Countrymen to break the Ice in the Trenches having an Ambuscado near at hand Wormleighton house in Warwickshire burnt Dertmouth storm'd and taken by General Fairfax Sir Hugh Pallord being then Governour there Belvoir castle yielded to Generall Poyntz Sir Gervase Lucas the Governour and his Officers being conveigh'd to Litchfield The City of Chester which had endured a long siege and thrice attempted to be reliev'd was by the Lord Byron the then Governour yielded upon Articles to Sir William Brereton who commanded in chief as Major general in those parts Whence he went to Litchfield close which also soon after rendred upon the like Articles In the same month of February Torrington in Devonshire was taken by storm Lanceston Saltash and Liskard all in Cornwall quitted Likewise Mount-Edgcombe and Foy. Whereupon the Prince with the Lord Culpeper and other persons of quality set sayle to the Isles of Scilley The Lord Hopton therefore discerning no hope of aid accepted of fair conditions and disbanded his Army St. Maws-castle being as a conclusion given up thereupon Whence with the Lord Wentworth he hasted into Scilley Hereupon Sir Iacob Astley created Lord Astley about two years before with whom being an old and expert souldier the remaining part of the King's foot forces were left marching to joyn with the Horse about Farringdon in Berkshire being set upon near Stow on the woulds in Gloucestershire by Raynsborough Fleetwood and Sir William Brereton was so much overpowered by their conjunct strength that he with all his men after a sharp dispute and some loss were made Prisoners this being the last encounter that the Royallists were able to make with those insolent Rebels Soon after which the Garison of Ashby de la Zouch in Leicester shire was delivered up by the valiant Lord Loughborough which closed up the military Actions for this present year CHAP. XX. I Shall now return to the Grandees at Westminster and take notice of the effects which these their great successes in the Camp did this year produce in their Counsels and further practices In the observation whereof I find that the Presbyterian party thereupon grew so highly elated that nothing less was by them Resolved on than the setting Iesus Christ on his Throne as their phrase was that is to say to make an absolute establishment of their Church Discipline As a preparatory whereto they passed another Ordinance for the publick use of their Directory with a Penalty upon such as should use the Common Prayer and forty shillings forfeiture upon every one each time officiating that did not use that Directory as also that all the Common-Prayer-Books should be carried in to the Committees of each County by them to be disposed of as the Parliament should direct The King therefore discerning the increase of his peoples calamities again endeavoured to remedy them by renewing his desires of Peace and to that end under his own Royal Hand wrote a Letter to the Speaker of their House of Peers desiring a safe-conduct for the Duke of Richmond and some others whom he purposed to send with Propositions to the Members at Westminster and to the Commissioners there from the Parliament of Scotland for the foundation of a happy and well grounded Peace Whereunto obtaining no Answer he added a second Importuning them earnestly to hearken to that
cleared and those difficulties explained to him which he then conceived to be destructive to his just regal power in case he should give a full consent to those Propositions as they then stood Engaging himself to give his chearful assent to all such Bills as should be really to the good and peace of his people and to prefer the happiness of this Kingdome before his own particular And as a farther means to work a confidence in them of his own sincerity in these things he offered again to trust them with his own person conjuring them as they were Christians and Subjects and as they were men who desired to leave a good name behind them so to receive and make use of that his Answer that all issues of bloud might be stopped and those unhappy distractions peaceably setled But as his former gracious and frequent offers so this could not then find any acceptance at all with them by reason that it tended to the composure of those lamentable distractions which tended to the utter ruine of the King and Realm their aims at first and continued resolutions still being to share the spoyl which by their strength and power they had most unjustly got Nay in stead of any kindness or comfort which he might rationally expect from their many and most solemn promises and protestations they perpetually tormented his pious Soul with incessant importunities to take their hypocritical Covenant and sent for several of their most rigid Preachers to terrify him with their Kirk-censures upon his refusal thereof In which sad and disconsolate condition I shall for a while leave him and take a short view of the transactions betwixt the Members sitting at Westminster and those at Edenborough with their respective Commissioners The principal work being now done here in England by the help of the Scots the Grandees here as well as others began to be weary of their dear Brethren and for the sooner riddance of them passed a Vote that a Message should be sent to the Scottish Army that in regard they were not usefull in this Kingdome for the present and that the payment thereof would be a great burthen thereto they should with all convenient speed return into their Country But the Scots never intending to be loosers by their journey hither knowing full well how to make the best use of those advantages they then had gave their dear Brethren very good words telling them in their answer to the demands made in pursuance of that Vote that their earnest desires were the setling of Religion and Church Government which as it was the principal ground of their engagement in this Cause so would the perfecting of it be their chiefest joy and Glory of both Kingdomes it being the constant resolution of that Kingdome against all opposition to strengthen and cherish the Brotherly kindness between the Kingdomes and Peace setled with Truth and those things performed by the Honourable Houses which by Treaty they were obliged unto to recall their Army with as great alacrity as they were ready to send the same into England for the assistance of their Brethren And in another Letter speaking of the Arrears due to their Army they had these words This Kingdome lyeth under the burthen of great and vast expence in raising and entertaining of Armies and hath with the lives of many precious men set their own Houses on fire to quench the flame of yours And seeing by the seasonable assistance afforded by this Kingdome to you and by the late successes wherewith God hath blessed your Armies you are in a great measure freed of your troubles and are in a far better capacity to pay the moneys due to our Armies in England and Ireland than you were at any time since the beginning of these Wars we demand of the honourable houses to make payment of the summs of money duly owing to this Kingdome ¶ The state of things standing thus made the Game now to be play'd betwixt these great Masters not a little difficult to each the chief business of the then predominant party at Westminster being to gain the person of the King into their own hands and in case he should not upon the matter totally quit his Regal power to them by taking their Covenant and assenting to those their destructive propositions before-mentioned then to keep him close prisoner and exercise the same power without him And the design of the Scots not onely to use the like Regal-power in Scotland but to get a large sum of mony to boot considering that having the King in their hands the Grandees there were able to make their own terms on the behalf of themselves as to Riches and Honours There was therefore no means unessayed by each for accomplishing their respective ends But the Arguments and debates about this business continuing no less than six months before all things were fully agree'd I shall reserve my observations upon them till then and in the mean time take notice of what else did occur that is most remarkable in order to the carrying on their main work and divide the same into two parts the one touching their attempts upon the King in relation to the Covenant and Propositions the other towards the advancement of the Scepter of Iesus Christ for by that title they called their Presbyterean Doctrine and Discipline As to the first About the beginning of September Iames Duke Hamilton Lindsey Earl of Craford the Earl of Cassiles and some others from the Estates of Scotland came to Newcastle to the King and there earnestly solicited him to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions To second which motion there was a petition presented to His Majesty from the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland for Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant and uniformity of Church government denouncing God's anger upon him and the hazard to lose the Hearts of his good subjects in case he assented not thereto Soon after which Mr. Andrew Cant Mr. Robert Blayre and Mr. Iames Douglass came thither also to press him to the same purpose To torment him likewise yet more one of these violent men I mean a rigid Presbyterean-preacher besides many rude and uncivil expressions in his Sermon there before the King called for the 52. Psalm to be sung by the congregation which beginneth thus Why do'st thou Tyrant boast abroad thy wicked works to praise Whereupon His Majesty instantly stood up and called for the 56. Psalm beginning thus Have mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour Which the people readily sung waving the other Nay the fierceness of these Scottish-presbyters against His Sacred Majesty was such as that upon certain Proposals made to those of them who were Commissioners from the general Assembly viz. If the King shall come into Scotland and that the Kingdome of England shall exclude him of the Government there for his leaving them without granting the Propositions Whether or not
Army and all being done to give them for the pains hazzard and charges which the said Army should undergo a due recompence by way of Brotherly Assistance Towards the performance of which agreement though these Grandees did manifest that besides much free Quarter the Scots-Army had monthly received nineteen thousand and seven hundred pounds and for the last year ending ultimo Octobris seventy two thousand nine hundred seventy two pounds two shillings and eleven pence for the Customes and other Impositions upon coals onely the Brethren nevertheless having then the better end of the staff in their hands as being possess'd of the King delivered in unto them an account of Arrears besides losses of no less than a Million of money their free Quarter reckoned but with a kind intimationâ— that they would accept of a less sum in gross for a full discharge of all Whereupon a Committee being appointed to treat with them thereon and times of payment they then stoop'd to the one half viz. five hundred thousand pounds whereof two hundred thousand pounds to be paid upon the departure of their Army and the rest within twelve months Much dispute indeed they had about this business yea some high words but at length four hundred thousand pounds was the sum agree'd on the one half in hand upon delivery up of the King Which sum without more ado stop'd the mouths of those Vultures and put a period to all this hot contest All their Oaths and Obligation whereon they had so much insisted meerly to heighten the price of their Sovereign being then set aside as 't is notoriously known Being therefore thus sold and delivered to the Earls of Pembroke Denbigh and Lord Mountagu of Boughton Sir Iames Harington Sir Iohn Holand Sir Walter Earl Sir Iohn Cook Iohn Crew Esq and Major General Brown Commissioners from the Members at Westminster to be carried to Holdenby-House in Northamptonshire his Majestie hoped that he might have two of his own Chaplains admitted to attend him in this sad and disconsolate condition having not one servant of his own about him but that request would not be granted though again seconded ¶ Thus did the bonny Scots part with their native King leaving those Northern countries miserably beggar'd by many grievous Taxes imposed on them by their Army and most lamentable oppressions by Free-Quarter Which burthens were so heavy that the Inhabitants of Cleveland by their petition to the Members at Westminster and Letter therewith sent complained that their oppressions were greater than those who suffered by the Turks both their persons and Estates those under the Turk being quit for a fifth part whereas they in one year did pay their whole Revenues seven times over We are say they in their Letters the absolutest slaves that ever was read of for they assess us at their pleasures leavy as they please If they bid us go and ride none dare refuse The Kill us in hot bloud beat us in cold c. In a word our stock is already wasted our little corn we had ill gotten in by reason of the great moisture we are now thrashing it for the Scots We are eating our last bread Who have been able to get away are gone c. The perfect Diurnal further adds The Country puts up many complaints Bedall a little Town in Yorkshire of 57 li. old Rent and Ayscough a lesser Village of 42 li. have put up their several complaints that they have in less than five months last past paid to the Scots Army quartering upon them almost two thousand pounds besides former Billettings and Taxes by which sad sufferings some have left their Houses others at the point of leaving theirs also Lâ—tters from Richmundshire did likewise intimate that two Constableries of that County the Rent whereof amounted to no more than ninety nine pounds per annum were assessed by the Scottish Army and paid in Free Quarter no less than nineteen hundred pounds in four months But having made such a fair Market of the King leaving those Countries thus harrassed they march'd back over Tweed upon the eleventh of February ¶ Hereupon the Grandees at Westminster having to the view of the World finish'd their great work by getting the person of the king into their power they imployed Phillip Earl of Pembroke Basill Earl of Denbigh Edward Lord Mountagu of Boughton Sir Iames Harington Sir Iohn Holand and Sir Iohn Cook Baronets Sir Walter Earl Knight Iohn Crew Esq and Major General Brown as already hath been observed to bring his Majestie from Newcastle to Holdenby in Northampton shire Who coming to Newcastle upon the 22. of Ianuary after their stay there till the last day of that month they set forwards on the Journey and on the sixteenth of February got to holdenby where they kept him under a strict restraint Colonel Richard Greaves a most confiding Presbyterean having the chief command of his Guards not suffring any of his own servants to come near him no not so much as one Chaplain for performance of such divine offices as common charity could not have denyed to the greatest criminal though often and earnestly moved by his Majestie thereto Which being done they thought of nothing more than singing a Requiem to their Souls In order whereunto in the first place they concluded on the new modelling of their Army lest the tender Independent who grew up apace might otherwise overtop his Presbyterean-parent and therefore resolv'd to cull out those who were not Covenant-proof and send them for Ireland there to encounter as well with hunger and cold as other miseries and hardships of war Then to disband others and make a new establishment consisting of such onely as were pure Covenanters and firm to the good old Cause And next to the end that with more plausibility to the people and security to themselves they might have the full sway of all their drift was to extoâ— the King's consent he being then their prisoner 〈◊〉 this their new designed Dominion For the accomplishment whereof according to their wonted praâ—â—â—ses they caused a petition to be exhibited to the two Houses at Westminster by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London Wherein was contained a subtil insinuation of their desires that God would bring his Majestie 's Heart nearer to his chief and greatest Council the Parliament and that he would be perswaded to joyn with them in the National League and Covenant and give satisfaction in the Propositions which the Parliaments of both Nations should make unto him for the full assurance of his People for the future and firm establishment of the Peace and Vnion of the Kingdomes in Church and Commonwealth In which Petition it was also desired that for security to the Parliament and City such as had been in opposition to the Parliament id est loyal to the King might be removed out of the City and kept at a
Laws of the Land and to the Liberties and Properties of the People Whereof one was that he should pass an Act for keeping on Foot their Army during the pleasure of such as they should nominate to be entrusted with the Militia with power from time to time to recruit and continue them to the Number of Forty Thousand Horse and Foot under their present General and Officers and that the Council of War should have power to make choise of new Officers and Generals from time to time as occasion should happen and they think fit as also to settle a Tax upon the People by way of Land-rate for supporting the same Army to be Collected and levyed by the Souldiers themselves And for the establishing a Court-Marshal of extraordinary extent But so soon as His Majesty had read some few of those Tyrannous Proposals he threw them aside saying that he would rather become a Sacrifice for his People than thus betray their Laws Liberties Lives and Estates with the Church the Common-wealth and Honour of the Crown to so intolerable a Bondage of an Armed Faction And such a Sacrifice they really made him upon the Tuesday following which was the Thirtieth of Ianuary having the more to affront and deject him had it been possible built a Scaffold for His Murther before the Great Gate at White-Hall whereunto they fixed several Staples of Iron and prepared Cords to tye him down to the Block had he made any resistance to that Cruel and Bloody stroke To which place they then brought him on Foot from St. Iames's attended by Guards of Souldiers having filled all the Streets from Charing-Cross to Westminster with Troops of Horse and Companies of Foot Whereon being ascended with the Greatest Christian Magnanimity imaginable he told them that they were in a wrong way to the Kingdoms Peace their design being to do it by Conquest in which God would never prosper them Farther declaring to them that the right way thereto would be first to give God his due by regulating rightfully the Church in a National Synod freely call'd and freely debating Secondly the King his Successor his due wherein the Laws of the Land would sufficiently instruct them Thirdly the People theirs in such a Government whereby their Lives and Gods might be most their own It was for that quoth he I come now hither for would I have given way to an Arbitrary sway to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to have come here Telling them farther but praying God it might not be laid to their Charge that he was the Peoples Martyr And then most Christianly forgiving all praying for His Enemies he meekly submitted to the stroke of the Axe It is not unworthy of Observation and therefore not finding a more proper place for it I have thought fit to insert it here that some of those most Impious Regicides who sate and gave judgment of Death upon this Blessed Martyr when after the happy Restoration of our present Soveraign they were brought to their Tryals for that unparallel'd Murther stuck not in justification of themselves to plead that they were not within the compass of Treason as it is declared by the Statute of 25. E. 3. For that questionless said they must intend private Persons Councilling Compassing or imagining the Death of the King but you know said they that the War was first stated by the Lords and Commons the Parliament of Enlgand and by virtue of their Authority was raised they pretending by the Laws that the right of the Militia was in them whereupon accordingly they rais'd a Force making the Earl of Essex General and after that Sir 〈…〉 This therefore they insisted on for a legal Authority because said they that this Parliament was called by the King 's Writ and that the Members thereof were chosen by the People Adding that the Persons which acted under that Authority ought not therefore to be question'd as Persons Guilty because if that which they acted was Treason then the Lords and Commons in Parliament began the Treason Having thus finisht their Grand and long designed work they permitted the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hertford the Earl of Southampton and Earl of Lindsey to Interr his Corps in the Collegiate Chapel within the Castle at 〈◊〉 refusing him Burial with his Ancestors in the Church of Wesâ—minster under colour of preventing such confluence of People which out of a superstitious respect might resort to his Grave reserving that place therein which had been built by King Henry the Seventh purposely for the Sepulture on himself and his Posterity for the Bones of his chiefest Murtherers Some of which being afterwards accordingly there deposited have since been Translated and laid more properly under the Gallows Being thus come to the Period of this incomparable Prince's Life I may not omit to take notice that the time was when these Monsters of men did publickly declare that they would make his Majesty a Glorious King which now we see most truly verifyed though not as they then seem'd to intend it So Glorious indeed as Mortal man never was more First In that he suffered as an Heroick Champion for the Rights of the Church the Laws of the Land the Liberties and Properties of the Subject and Priviledges of Parliament in stoutly to his utmost withstanding the conjunctive Power of his Rebellious Subjects which under the colour of asserting these most Trayterously assaulted him in divers sharp Battels Next by his cheerful undergoing the many hardships of a destructive War and a tedious Imprisonment Thirdly by his patient enduring the many insolent affronts of this subtile false cruel and most implacable Generation in their Barbarous manner of conventing and Condemning him to Death and to see his most blood-thirsty Enemies then Triumph over him And that no part of true felicity might be wanting to him they have made him Glorious in his Memory throughout of the World by a Great Universal and most durable Fame and Glorious by his enjoyment of an Immortal Crown with the Blessed Saints Martyrs and devout Confessors in the highest Heavens CHAP. XXXI AND here having made a mournful stop for a while to contemplate the unspeakable loss of this excellent Prince and the direful actings of these matchless Conspirators I begin to consider that the Presbyterians may possibly take much exceptions at this Historical Narrative in regard that by the Life of the King was not taken away by them but by that Sect which are usually called Independants Whereunto I answer that it is not denyed but that he was actually put to death by those who in common discourse do pass under that name But whether the Presbyterians can clear themselves from the Guilt of his Murther as I know not how to excuse them so am I somewhat doubtful thereof For in the First place I would ask whether they were not the men which Originally put themselves in Armes
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
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
to posterity he should sooner be willing to be rolled to his Grave in blood and buryed with Infamy than to give consent to the throwing it away And therefore that he had caused a stop to their entrance into the House till such time as they should subscribe a Recognition thereof and did submit thereto And that if things were not satisfied as were then reasonably demanded he for his part should do that which becom'd him seeking his Council from God The truth is that which principally emboldened him to be thus peremptory with them was the strength of the Souldiery which were generally of his side and which the adverse party knew full well So that of the whole number of those Members though there was not above sixty that did at first subscribe the Recognition yet the greatest part of the rest after private consultations together being well aware that by taking their best advantages upon all occasions within the House they might do him more mischief than they could any way to otherwise came in by degrees and formally signed the same But as those who were his chief Confidents did strive all they could to carry on affairs for his peculiar Interest according to the frame of that Government whereby he was so advanced to that place and Title sure it is that the rest by those rubs and obstructions which they cast in his way did make all their endeavours totally fruitless So that after well near five Months expectance and nothing at all done he was necessitated to dissolve that his first and once hopeful Parliament I should here have concluded this years Transactions but that I cannot omit to relate a very pregnant Instance how timely our now gracious Soveraign King Charles the second did adhere to the Protestant Religion professed in the Church of England even in those days when there was so little hopes to see it ever restored the Rebels in this Realm being then so prosperous that the greatest Potentates courted their alliance but even then so fervent was his Majesties zeal thereto that by his great and effectual care he prevented the perverting of his Brother the Duke of Gloucester to that of the Church of Rome In the relation of which there are so many considerable circumstances whereof very little publick notice hath been taken that contrary to the designed brevity of this History I shall give a full account of the same partly taken from a Relation Printed at London in an 1655 and partly from the certain information of persons of undoubted credit yet living who were present at the transacting thereof His Majesty understanding that there was a firm League very far advanced betwixt the French King and Oliver Cromwell withdrew himself this year into Germany out of France where till then he had ever resided since his happy and miraculous escape from Worâ—ester and designing to take the Duke of Gloucester with him was prevailed with by the Queen his Mother to leave him with her at Paris upon promise she would not permit any force to be put upon him to change his Religion but that he should be attended by those Protestant-Servants himself had placed about him and have free liberty to resort to the publick Service of the Church of England at the King's Chappel in Sir Richard Brown's House then his Majesties Resident at Paris But about the beginning of November in this year the Duke under pretence of weaning himself from the company of some young French Gallants who being in the same Accademie were grown into a more familiar conversation with him than was thought convenient was removed to Abbot Mountague's House at his Abby near Potoiso And after a few days Mr. Lovel his Tutor going to Paris for one day only on business designedly contrived as was suspected by Abbot Mountagu during his absence was most vehemently pressed by the Abbot to turn Roman-Catholick with all the motives spiritual or temporal he thought might prevail upon him having at that time no Protestant near him to advise with but Mr. Griffin of his Bed-Chamber a young Gentleman since dead but his Fame for his servent zeal to the Protestant Religion and faithful service to his Master yet living who deported himself with greater prudence than could with reason have been expected for one of so tender years assisted only by so young a second for both their ages did but some few years exceed thirty replying to their Arguments with great ingenuity evidencing no little zeal for his Religion For he told the Abbot he admired how he durst make this attempt upon him knowing how the Queen his Mother had engaged to the King his Brother that no change in his Religion should be endeavoured Also that for his own part he was resoly'd not to incur the Kings displeasure by neglecting the observance of his command which was not to listen to any Argument for change of his Religion Likewise that as to the specious proposals of making him a Cardinal and promising to advance him to be King of England he did with indignation and contempt deride and reject them complaining withal how disingeniously he was dealt with to be thus assaulted in the absence of his Tutor whom the King had placed over him and who he doubted not could easily refute all their Arguments which in truth at his return to Ponroise he did so fully that it was thought convenient to remove the Duke back thence to Paris where he was permitted to resort to the Kings Chappel and enjoy the free exercise of his Religion though not long For after some little time the Queen his Mother did own the attempt made on him to have been done with her approbation and declared she could not but labour to have her Son shew'd the right way to Heaven and though she had promised he should not be forced by her yet to have that way proposed to him she thought requisite And that he might the easier be prevail'd upon his Protestant Tutor was put from him and he himself hurryed out of Paris in such hast that he might be deprived of the Assistance and Advice of any Protestant that he could not though he earnestly beg'd it prevail to stay till he might get some warmer Cloaths and convey'd to Mr. Crofts afterwards Lord Croft's his House but under the direction of Abbut Mountagu none of his Servants but young Mr. Gryffin being permitted to attend him The News whereof did deeply afflict all the loyal-Protestant Exiles then in Paris but no man was more passionately concern'd than that Eminent sufferer for his loyalty to the Royal Family and Zeal to the Protestant Religion the late Lord Hatton Who as soon as he understood how violently this young Prince was Persecuted for his Religion he consulted with that famous Confesfor for the Church of England Dr. Iohn Cosens late Bishop of Durham but at that time Dean of Peterborough and Chaplain to his Majesty then residing in Paris and drew up what Arguments and
and Poundage contrary to an express Act made also that very Parliament So likewise a new Imposition called Excise upon Victuals and all other Commodities against which they themselves had much declaimed And to countenance these grand Oppressions voted that an Ordinance of Parliament was as binding to the Subject as an Act of Parliament Thereupon ordaining that such Persons as ought to pay any Rents Debts c. due to those who are assessed and refused so to do should be Discharged against the Landlord or Creditor And at length became so bold as that their new Lord Mayor Isaac Pennington chalenging a Sturgeon which was taken above London-Bridge and it being answered that it belonged to the King or Lord Admiral Replyed you Malignant Rogue I would have you to know that there is neither King nor Admiral that hath any Power in London but my self Add thereunto their Ordinance for keeping Michaelmas Terme at Westminster notwithstanding his Majesties Proclamation And another Constituting the Earl of Warwick Governour and Lord Admiral of all the Islands in America Inhabited or Planted by the King's Subjects Another declaring the King's Broad-Seal Invalid and Commanding Obedience to all Writs c. to be issued under a new great Seal made by themselves And Sequestring all Offices of those Clerks in Westminster-Hall which were with the King The authority given to the Earl of Manchester by another Ordinance to deprive and displace all Masters and Fellows of Colledges and Halls in Cambridge and all other Clergy-Men within the Association as he should think convenient The Ordinances for seizing the Kings Queens and Princes Revenew for cutting down their Woods For Commanding all Men to pay nothing to his Majesty the Queen and Prince which was due and ought to have been paid to them for those are the words also the Commitment of Laughern and Vivian to Colchester-Goal for denying to pay two Thousand Pounds which was due to the Prince from them though the Receiver was Plundred of the Money And when it was told Mr. Strode Chair-Man to the Committee for raising Money that no more Money could be advanced their Purses having been so drain'd already he Replyed that they must have no denial for their Money was demanded by the Supream Court of Iudicature adding that those were times of necessity Another of the Members sticking not to say shortly after that if it would advantage their Cause he thought it lawful to unvote whatsoever had passed since the beginning of that Parliament Besides which grievous Impositions upon the Subjects Estates they stuck not at the like to their Persons upon pain of Death restraining all Persons for going from London to the King or Queen And for a farther Testimony of their dealing with the People in point of their Proprietie take their Governour of Abington's Answer viz. Coll. Browne to no less than Seven-score poor People which came thither to him at one time wringing their hands and begging for some small Pittance of what he had caused to be taken from them in the Villages thereabours which was no less than all their Goods even to part of their wearing Apparel which was thus with Tears in his Eyes Alas good People it is not in my Power to help you For if this were done by meet Rudeness of my Souldiers I could say something but you have not lost a Pin but according to the Command of both Houses of Parliament who injoin'd us to spare nothing Therefore said he whispering to one or two of them if you have any thing left 't is your best course to Convey it away quickly for the Parliament hath Commanded me to take all I can carry and burn up the rest before the King comes These and the like as by many Instances might be made apparent have been their Practises in violating the Laws of the Land with the Liberties and Properties of the Subject however Fair and Specious their Promises were otherwise until they had got Power into their hands being at length not ashamed to discover their full Intentions by those Propositions which they tendred to His Majesty at Oxford upon the 23d of November 1644. And whereupon a Treaty was had at Uxbridge Where it was judiciously observ'd by his Majesties Commissioners That after a War of near three Years for which the Defence of the Protestant Religion the Liberty and Property of the Subject and the Priviledges of Parliament were made the cause and Grounds in a Treaty of full twenty days nor indeed in the whole Propositions upon which the Treaty should be there was nothing offered to be treated on concerning the Breach of any Law or of the Liberty or Property of the Subject or Priviledge of Parliament but only Propositions for the altering a Government Established by Law and for the making of new Laws by which all the old were or might be Cancelled there being nothing insisted upon on the part of his Majesties Commissioners which was not Laws or denied by them that the other demanded as due by Law The next and last particular for which they made such great Pretences is the Priviledge of Parliaments Having therefore under that colour justified most of their pernicious Actions let us take notice how consonant to Justice Reason or common Honesty their Practices upon this point have been Did they not soon after the beginning of that Unhappy Parliament without any president found a Close-Committee consisting of eight persons whereof no less than seven were principal Contrivers of the ensuing Rebellion And in the business of the Earl of Strafford was not their Bill for his attainder twice read and voted in one day and fifty-five of the Members Posted for not assenting thereto whose Names to their lasting Honour I have here added 1. George Lord Digby 2. Iames Lord Compton 3. Richard Lord Buckhurst 4. Sr. Robert Hatton 5. Sr. Thomas Fanshaw 6. Sr. Edward Alford 7. Sr. Nicholas Slanyng 8. Sr. Thomas Danby 9. Sr. George Wentworth 10. Sr. Peter Wentworth 11. Sr. Frederick Cornwallis 12. Sr. William Carnaby 13. Sr. Richard Wynn. 14. Sr. Gervace Clifton 15. Sr. William Widdrington 16. Sr. William Pennyman 17. Sr. Patricius Curwen 18. Sr. Richard Lee. 19. Sr. Henry Slingesby 20. Sr. William Portman 21. Mr. Gervase Hollies 22. Mr. Sidney Godolphin 23. Mr. Cooke 24. Mr. Coventrey 25. Mr. Benjamin Weston 26. Mr. William Weston 27. Mr. Selden 28. Mr. Alford 29. Mr. Llhoyd 30. Mr. Herbert 31. Captain Digby 32. Serjeant Hyde 33. Mr. Tailor 34. Mr. Gryffith 35. Mr. Scowen 36. Mr. Bridgman 37. Mr. Fettiplace 38. Dr. Turner 39. Capt. Charles Price 40. Dr. Parry a Civilian 41. Mr. Arundell 42. Mr. Newport 43. Mr. Holburne 44. Mr. Noell 45. Mr. Kirton 46. Mr. Pollard 47. Mr. Price 48. Mr. Trevanion 49. Mr. Iane. 50. Mr. Edgcombe 51. Mr. Chichley 52. Mr. Mallorey 53. Mr. Porter 54. Mr. White Secretary to the Earl of
with the best speed for Mercy but could not break out being hurried along the Storm with the giddy Multitude Publick motion depends on the Conduct of Fortune private on our carriage We must beware of running down steep Hills with weighty Bodies they once in motion suo feruntur pondere Stops are not then voluntary But Leicester at that instant with the King and out of the storm might have escaped if his Courage and Hope had not made him more resolute by misfortune so that he could neither forsake his followers nor his Ambition Thus making adversity the Exercise of his Virtue he came and fell Let us now in the next place observe what ready Instruments the Londoners then were to promote that Rebellion of the Barons with their just recompence for so doing And next the Miserable Actors in that Bloudy Tragedy Mathew of Westminster a credible Historian of that time tells us that after the King encompassed with Forces of his Enemies in the Tower of London was constrain'd to yield unto those Ordinances which were made at Oxford by the Rebellious Barons The Queen being very much troubled endeavoured to pass from the Tower to Windsore-Castle where the Prince then lay with considerable Forces was Interrupted by the Londoners Reproach't with their Opprobrious Clamours and basely driven back with Stones and Dirt which they threw at her from London-Bridge And the same Year the King returning with his Army from Dover-Castle which the Barons held against him might have Surprized Montfort in Southwarke which doubtless had prevented that deluge of Bloud that afterwards was spilt but that the Londoners with all their Power came out to his aid and rescued him And having thus link'â— himself with the Rebellious Barons the same Author will inform you what were the Fruits of all their specious Pretences for putting themselves in Arms against their Soveraign Violationes Ecclesiarum depredationes macerationes personarum Ecclesiasticarum Christianorum Iudoeorum coedes incendia sine delectu conditionis aut sexus oetatis aut ordinis the Violation of Churches Robbing and Killing all manner of Persons Christians and Iews Fire and Sword without any distinction of Sex Age or Order Nay so violently Zealous were they for the Cause that in the Battel of Lewes these Londoners desired that they might undergo the first shock of the Fight and the hazard thereof And though it was the King's Unhappiness to lose the day at that time Yet got those Citizens nothing thereby For the Valiant Prince Edward charging them with extraordinary courage put them to the Rout and pursued their Rear divers Miles But the next Year following the Scene being chang'd by the happy overthrow of all those Barons in the Battail of Evesham the King by the Advise of his Parliament held at Winchester seized the Liberties of these Rebellious Citizens and Committed the chiefest of them to Prison whose Redemption afterwards raised him no small Sum of Money and to awe them the more demolished their Bulwarks and fortified the Tower of London against them En quo discordia Cives preduxit miscros Now for Montfort Earl of Leicester the principal Actor in this great Rebellion his Haughtiness was such after the Battail of Lewes that having the King and Prince his Prisoners he not only seized all their Castles into his own hands but disdaining Clare Earl of Gloucester by whose Assistance he become thus powerful he disposed of the whole Kingdom according as he listed his Sons also Committing many intolerable Outrages So that Clare whose discontents inclined him to return to his Duty consulting with the Lord Mortimer how to pull down the pride of that insolent Rebel contrived a means for the Prince's Inlargement Which succeeding accordingly by his clear escape from Dereford to Wigmore-Castle gave that Life to the rest of the Loyal Party that with incredible celerity they raised a Gallant Army wherewith after he had Surprized the Earl of Oxford and many other of the most eminent Rebels with no less than thirteen Banners at Renelworth he encountred Montfort himself and his whole Army the next day near Cvesham aud giving them Battel suddainly put a Period to their Usurped Authority In which fight that great Rebel with his Eldest Son Henry being slain his Head Hands and Feet were cut off by the fury of the Souldiers And though his Body through the Charity of others was Buryed in the Abby the Common People out of high Indignation towards him who had been the Chief Instrument of Mischief to the whole Realm dig'd it up and carried it to a more remote place esteeming it unworthy of Christian Burial by Reason it had been so much infected with the Leprosy of Rebellion Neither did the judgment for his Iniquities terminate here but pursued his two other Sons Guy and Simon who being escap't out of Prison got into France and there endeavouring to bring in Forrein Forces ended their Days in Misery As for his Complices most of them perished in that Battail at Evesham And the rest excepting one were taken Prisoners and disherited But afterwards through the King 's Special Favour restored to their Lands upon several Fines according to the Measure of their Offences CHAP. XLVII THE Holy League in France is so exact a Pattern of ours in England as we have just reason enough to conceive that the Contrivers of this Rebellion did borrow the Plott from thence All the main parts and many of the Material Circumstances being the same in both Only the Scene is changed and the Actors divers The full Story of that League would require a Volume having been written at large by several Authors of note in sundry Languages viz. By Thuanus in Latine by D'aubigny and others in French But by none better than Caterino D'avila in Italian in that unparallell'd History of the Civil-Wars of France Out of whose relation especially I shall present to the Reader a brief view of so much as concerns our present purpose without filling the Margin with Attestations from other Authors where they concur with him Aud but rarely making use of them by way of Supplement In the draught of this Parallel I shall endeavour to observe the same method as in the former First laying down the Original of that League Then the manner by which the Faction grew to that heigth of greatness as they quite overtop'd and almost trampled upon the Crown What use they made of this Usurped Power quite contrary to their Pretences And lastly how they fell from their vast hopes and failed of their Ambitious ends As also by the way take notice of some such eminent Persons and Circumstances as may seem to have the neerest Resemblance with these of our times What hath been already observ'd of the main design of our Covenanters viz. That it was long a working under ground before it appeared in its true shape of
Rebellion That the first Seeds of it were sown in Queen Elizabeth's time grew up in K. Iames and came to perfect ripeness in K. Charles his Reign is proportionably true of the Holy-League The first Platform of that was laid in the time of K. Charles the Ninth soon after the Reformation of Religion got footing in France It broke out in K. Henry the third's time and was at last suppressed by K. Henry the Fourth So that it infested the Reigns of three Kings no less than this of ours The cheif pretended occasion of it was the defence of Religion which the Ring-Leaders of that Faction did if not conceive themselves yet labour to perswade the People to be in danger of utter Ruine and Extirpation And that by reason of some Indulgence and Toleration granted by Charles the ninth and the Queen Mother and continued by Henry the third unto the Huguenots or Protestants who were as odious to them as Papists were with our Men though the truth was those Princes did as intirely detest the Religion of Protestants as the most zealous among ours can do the Papists And what they did in favour of them was meerly to preserve the Peace of the Kingdom Before the League was fully hatch't the State of that Kingdom was not much unlike this of ours before the late Troubles Some Grievances there were which waited upon it into the World For besides the Toleration of the Huguenots which distasted the Zealots the greatness of some new Men at Court bred an high discontent in divers of the Nobility And the heavy Taxes and Impositions upon the Common-People made them generally dissaffected with the present Government And this Variety of Malignant Humors rising from several Springs all met in the same Stream and bent their course to the same common end Innovation and Subversion of the Establish't Government A Parliament for so I shall take leave to call the general Assembly of the three Estates in France not according to the modern use of the Word in that Country from whence this Kingdom borrowed at first the name and thing but in compliance with our own Language was thought to be a sure Remedy at a pinch for â—etling the publick Distractions And though such Assemblies had been long intermitted in that Realm and the Kings of later time were grown out of love with them as conceiving that while they who represent the whole Nation are convened together with such Supream Power the Royal Authority in the mean time remained little better than suspended Yet upon a consultation had with a Council of Peers like that of ours at York and a motion from them to that purpose Francis the second was content to call a Parliament at Drleans which was quietly Dissolved by his Death before the States had done any thing but only shew'd their Teeth against the Protestants taking a solemn Protestation for Defence of their Religion and by that excluding all others from any Vote in that Assembly By the like exigence was Henry the third driven to have recourse to the like Remedy which proved indeed worse than the Disease For after his Intimation of a Parliament to Commence at Bloys the Duke of Guise and his Allies laid the Foundation of the League who being the most Popular and Powerful Subjects in the Kingdome sought by that means to augment their own greatness and secure the State of Religion which was so straitly twisted with their Interests This Duke besides his Ambition which prompted him sufficiently to those Turbulent Undertakings has formerly received some disgust at Court not much unlike that of Philip Earl of Pembroke for the Keys of the Pallace were taken from him and bestow'd upon the King of Navarr With which disgrace he was extreamly vexed and his Brother the Cardinal much more though they cunningly Dissembled and made a shew as if nothing troubled them but the Toleration of and connivence at Calvinisme by that means veiling their own Passions and Private Interests with an honest Cloak and colour of Religion So by little and little the Factious among the great ones were confounded with the differences in Religion and instead of Male-Contents and Guisards they put on the name of Catholicks and Huguenots Parties which under colour of Piety ministred so much the more Pernicious Fewel to all the Succeeding Combustions and Troubles The League was ushered in with Declarations Remonstrances and Protestations to the same effect and much in the same Language with this of our Covenanters We the Princes Noblemen Gentlemen and Commons Parties to that League profest that nothing but pure Zeal and Sincere Devotion which we bear to the Honour of God his Majesties Service the Publick Peace and Preservation of our Lives and Estates together with the Apprehension of our utter Ruine and Destruction hath necessitated us to this Resolution which we are constrained to put on for which we cannot any way be taxed or traduced for Suspition of Disloyalty Our Councils and Intentions having no other Design but meerly the Maintenance and Advancement of the Service of God Obedience to his Majesty and Preservation of his Estate And perceiving by what is past that our Enemies have not nor ever had any other aim but to Establish their Errors in the Kingdom to extirpate Religion and by little and little to undermine the King's Authority and totally alter the Government we can do no less in discharge of our Honours and Consciences than withstand the Sinister Designs of the Supream Enemies of God and his Majesty by a common Covenant and Association it being no more than time to divert and hinder their Plots and Conspiracies for all Faithful and Loyal Subjects to enter into a Holy Union and Conjunction which is now the true and only means left in our Hands by God for restoring of his own Service and Obedience to his Majesty The chief Heads of the League to which they swore were either altogether or in Proportion the same with those in our English Covenants viz. 1. To Establish Religion the Law and Service of God in its Pristine State according to the form and usage of the Catholick Roman-Church there as of the Protestant Reformed-Church here 2. As our Covenanters swore in the second Article to extirpate all Popery Heresy c. So did the Leaugers Renounce and abjure all Errors contrary to their Religion 3. As our Men in the third Article swore to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and Liberties of the Kingdom and to preserve the King's Person and Authority but with a Reservation in the Preservation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdon So did they to preserve Henry the third of that Name and his Successors the Most Christian Kings in the State Splendour Authority Right Service and Obedience which are due unto him from his Subjects but with this Abatement according as is contained in
for that end promising to refer all difference to his Holiness Which when the Legate moved to the Duke of Maine he refused to hearken to it alledging it to be but a shift of the King to gain time in regard he found himself at present unprovided and unarmed All hopes of accommodation therefore fayling the King being persuaded that he had used all means possible on his part and that not without descending far below the honour of his person began to alter his Opinion And to the end he might not be surprized without assistance by the Power of his Enemies the urgency of his necessities constraining him perforce to look about for some Supplies he began to hearken to an accord with the King of Navarre a Professed Protestant Certain it is that in his own Inclination he was ever averse from such an accord his nature being incompatible with all Commerce with the Huguenots But there being an evident necessity that he could not then do otherwise all his Councillers with one voice told him he must needs resolve and side with one Party unless he would stand alone in the midst of his Potent Enemies one on one side the Loyre and the other on the other side having possess'd themselves of all What Moneys what Friends what Armies what Forces had he sufficient to grapple with such Factions at the same time T is clear which way soever he could turn himself he must have one Enemy before his Face and another behind his back His Kingdom also being divided and Forrein Princes likewise divided betwixt two Religions he a new Example should have both averse both Enemies to him would he continue in this distraction without Forces without Moneys While one side Invades one part another side another part of the Regal Authority He is now what he was always affraid of in the midst of two Violent Torrents He did as much as man could do for Peace He forgot his own Honour to be reconcil'd with the Seditious and gave the Rebels and Despisers of his Authority that satisfaction which they little deserved With unheard of Patience he endured all the Injuries of the People the Invectives of their Preachers the Villanous Insolencies of the Factious Commons and the bold Decrees of the Sorbon submitting his Royal Majesty to the inordinate desires of the Reliques of the Guises He did that which never King before him would have endured to have done What could he do more unless to please the Spaniards he would patiently wait without providing any defence till he were miserably torn in Pieces by his Enemies and the like outrages Committed upon his Person as had been already done to his Statua's both in Paris and Tholouse It is more then time therefore that he shew he hath the Heart of a Lyon and making use of the King of Navarr's Assistance de Inimicis suis vind care Inimicos suos to revenge himself of his Enemies by his Enemies this being no new nor unheard of Course His Brother K Charles many times and himself sometimes when Necessities were less pressing had made Peace with the Huguenots Why should he not therefore seek all just means to restrain the Seditious to recover his own Power and now at last to restore Peace and Rest to his Kingdom Upon this then followed several adverse Declarations of the King 's justifying his own Proceedings The like by the Duke of Mayne in behalf of the League After these Instigations of his Councillers the King beginning to incline to an accommodation with the King of Navarr and the Huguenots Though all his followers desired that he should not come to an accord with them yet such was the obstinacy of the Duke of Mayne and the Leaguers and such the State of the Realm by reason of the present Seditions that none of them could blame him though they all abhorr'd it Seeing therefore that of necessity he must take up some resolution and that his Affairs were in danger of utter ruine if he did not he concluded a Truce for one Year with the King of Navarr upon these Conditions 1. That the publick Exercise of the Catholick Religion should be restored in all places under the Command of the Huguenots without Exception 2. That the Clergy should be restored to their Means and the Prisoners which they had in their hands should be set at Liberty 3. That the King of Navarr should be obliged to serve him in Person with four Thousand Foot and twelve Hundred Horse wheresoever he should be Commanded 4. That all Cities Countries and places of his Party should observe all the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom obey the Courts of Justice and the Kings Magistrates and receive such Orders as the King had or should hereafter give them On the other side it was agreed that the King of Navarr should have the City of Samur and keep it as a free pass for him upon the River Loyre but be bound to yield it up again at the Kings Pleasure How fully applicable is this to the Cessation made in Ireland by his Majesty Hereupon the King set forth a Declaration against the Duke of Maine and his Adherents who had caused the Cities to revolt and were then up in Arms intimating to them that if they did not return to their Obedience within the space of XV. days and forbear to trouble the Realm by making Levies as also not lay down Arms they should incurr the Crime of Rebellion and all their Goods be Confiscate Like to this was his Majesties Proclamation against the Earl of Essex from York 9. Aug. 1642. Which Writings were attended with Actions sutable as his Majesty did set on foot his Commissions of Array the King granting out Commissions to several Governours in sundry Provinces for making of Levies and drawing the People together in Arms. Nevertheless he still continued his Inclinations to Peace and having excused the Truce which he was necessitated to make with the King of Navarr and promised to persevere constant in the Catholick Religion he intreated the Pope's Nuncio once more to trye the Mind of the Duke of Maine and by conferring with him in Person to labour him to an Accommodation in regard that neither by the Duke of Loreyne's means to whom he had Written nor the Dutchess of Nemurs who had been imploy'd to that purpose he could at all work upon him to lend the least Ear to any Treaty for Peace And to make it evident to the World how desirous he was to be free'd from the necessity of an accord with the Huguenots he delivered to the Cardinal a Paper Written with his own Hand wherein was contained what things he would be content to grant to them of the League Offring to make the Prince of Loreyne Governour of Metz Tul and Uerdun to Marry the Inheritrix of Bullion with the Cities of Games and Sedan to the Count of Vaudemont To the Duke of Mayne he was content to
yield the Government of the whole Countrey of Burgundy with the nomination of all under-Governours there and that to pass to his Son after him To the young Duke of Guise the Inheritance of Champaine St. Desir and Rocroy for Security of his Person with Thirty Thousand Crowns a Year of Ecclesiastical Revenue for one of his Brothers To the Duke of Nevers the Government of Lyons To the Duke D'Aumarle Saint-Esprit du Rae for his security To make his Brother General of the Foot with Twenty Thousand Franks a Year To the Duke of Elleboef the Government of Poictiers To these and others divers large pensions and preferments so desirous was he to purchace his Peace at any rate Which Propositions were not much unlike his Majesties Instructions to his Commissioners for the Treaty at Uxbridge and wrought as little with the Leaguers But this Paper of the King 's wrought nothing at all the Duke of Mayne meeting with the Legate refusing peremptorily to hearken to any Agreement pretending that he could not accept of any Conditions without calling all the Estates of the League and all the Princes of his Family together to have their Consent Which he said indeed because he thought himself by much Superior in force to the King and because both the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy had promised to assist him with Men and Money The News of the Truce which the King had made with the King of Navarr no sooner arrived at Paris but 't is incredible what Malice they thereupon conceiv'd against him and all his Followers what exorbitant Demonstrations they made of it even by their publick Ordinances prohibiting any Prayers to be used for him in the Service of the Church as had been ever done for all the Kings of France which the Catholick Church many times and Piety allows particularly on Good-Friday even to Hereticks Idolaters and Infidels Nor is it possible to account the innumerable quantity of Libels Declarations and Pamphlets Printed and Published against him beyond all bounds of Reason and Modesty To conclude the noise of Arms did soon drown that of their Libels and Seditious Sermons And many Battails were Fought in which the King had the better and came Victorious before that proud City of Paris But in the Seige of it he was basely Murthered by Iaques Clement a Dominican Fryer 1. Aug. 1589. After this Untimely Death of that King Henry the 3 d. the Crown of France with its Troubles descended upon the King of Navarr Henry the 4 th Who being acknowledged by the Catholick Nobility in the Camp they swore Allegiance to him he mutually promising to maintain and defend the Catholick Roman-Religion to the utmost of his Power and not to endeavour any alteration in it And likewise to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament the three Estates of France in their wonted Power Priviledges Immunities Prerogatives c. without any prejudice or innovation whatsoever But all this had little Operation on the Leaguers they persisting in their wonted Obstinacy and Rebellion though he omitted not any means to win them to peace and reconcilement For first he sent unto them that Villeroy might come to Treat with him but was refused Then he imploy'd a private Gentleman to Paris to whom the Duke of Maine would not give Audience but appointed that he should deliver his Message to Villeroy Which was that the King had expresly commanded him to assure the Duke of his Majesties good Inclinations to peace as also to represent unto him how necessary it was for the publick good what great account he made of the Dukes person how much he desired to make him his Friend and to have him near at hand that he might afford him an honourable share in his favour sutable to his Condition Likewise that the Duke might then lay aside the vain hopes of seeing the King abandoned by his Subjects considering in what a good condition he did at that time stand Desiring therefore that he would propose some Conditions his Majesty being ready to gratify him in any thing he might This hath somewhat of his Majesties Letter to the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel Whereunto the Sum of the Answer which the Duke gave Commission to be made was in this somewhat more civil than that of the Earl of Essex that he had no private Quarrel with the King whom for his own part he did highly Honour and Reverence but his Religion and his Conscience would not suffer him to enter any Treaty with him For if quoth he my Deceased Brethren took up Armes in the Kings Life time upon a suspition of danger Now that the Necessity is more urgent and the danger present I cannot lay down those Armes which I have taken up without sinning against the Memory of my Deceased Brethren Essex might have urged his Father and my own Conscience and that Solemn Oath which I took the Covenant forsooth That I engaged my Faith and Consecrated my Life to the publick Cause when I accepted the Charge of Lieutenant General of the State and that I could not resolve upon any thing without the publick Convention of all of my Party Some there were who urged this Duke of Mayne to usurp the Title of King of France but others on better grounds dissuaded him The King therefore in these great Distresses Summon'd a general Convnention of the Estates to meet in October at Tours the chief City of his Party But his Army mouldring away and he with those left him not above six Thousand Foot and fourteen Hundred Horse retired to Diepe and there fortifyed Whereupon the Duke of Mayne pursued and put the King in danger but lost the Opportunity of a Victory and at the Battail of Arches was forc't to retreat with loss though his Forces were Superior by much to the Kings Which success in that Battail upon the addition of four Thousand English and a Thousand Scotts then sent to Diepe by Queen Elizabeth so encourag'd the King that he presently Marcht towards Paris and came before it upon the last of October 1589. Which unexpected Approach stroke no small Terror into the Multitude especially the Ladies seeing him come on such a suddain ready to assail that proud City and at a time when they were perswaded he would have had enough to do to defend himself Also that in regard of the weakness of his Forces he would either by that time have been subdued or driven out of the Realm For the Duke of Mayne when he went against the King at Diepe by way of ostentation of his Forces before the People writ to Paris that within a few Days he would either bring the King Prisoner or force him to flye into England with shame enough And now the City not well provided and out of hopes of relief their Mindes were full of Fears and Vexation But upon the Duke of Mayne's Approach the King rose from before Paris having first
the People there 46. his Declaration 284. is beheaded 388. Haselring Sir Arthur his Motion in Parliament 465. Hampden Collonel slain 186. Hewson kills some of the Londoners 482. Conference at Hampton-Court 14. Hewit Dr. John beheaded 456. Mr. Hookers Books corrupted by the Presbyterians 38. Hotham Sir John denies the King entrance into Hull 91. He and his Son beheaded 99. Hypocrisie its Fruits 1. I. JAmes King enters into a War for the recovery of the Palatinate 20. his Death 24. Jesuites Tenets 16. Independency its Original 227. Their Tenets 281. 409. Instrument of Government read to Cromwel at his inauguration 414. K. KIneton Battel 108 109. Kentish Men petition the Parliament in behalf of the King 282. L. LAmbert routed at Daventry 487. Lambeth-house beset 62. Laud Arch-bishop beheaded 194. Holy League and Covenant 119. 121. Solemn League and covenant 128. Schismatical Lecturers planted in London and Corporate Towns 36. Buying in Impropriate Tyths for their support ibid. The absurdity and ill effects of their Doctrine 38. 95. 392. 469. 565. Leicester's Earl may to get the Bishops Lands 14. made Deputy of Ireland 71. Representation of the Ministers of Leicester-shire 471. A Loan required by King Charles I. 31. Londoners their forwardness to promote the Rebellion 99. 119. 123. 234. 286. 584. are dejected upon the approach of Fairfax 's Army 252. Iustice Long committed to the Tower 79. Certain seditious Expressions in Mr. Love 's Sermon at Uxbridge 576. M. BAttel at Marston-Moor 189. Five Members of Parliament demanded by the King 81. General Monk advances towards England 481. his Speech to the Rump Parliament 485. voted Lord General 487. his Descent and variable Fortune 488 Secluded Members re-admitted 487. N. NAmes of the secluded Members 363. of those that subscribed a Protestation against a Treaty with the King at the Isle of Wight 365. of the Persons present at the Treaty 289. of the High Court of Iustice for Trial of the King 367. of the Members who assented not to the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford 583. of Cromwels Council of State 406. of his House of Lords 455. of the Rumpers 467. of the secluded Members ibid. of the Rumper's Council of State 468. of the Committee of Safety 477. Navesby Fight 200. Newbery first Battle 187. second Battle 197. O. OAth for adjuring the King 471. taken by Members of Parliament 485. Order for raising an Army by the Parliament 98. Ordinance for the Militia 89. Ordinance for calling an Assembly of Divines 121. The Self-denying Ordinance 193. 197. Ordinance for Sale of Bishops Lands 225. Ordinance for Trial of the King 366. P. FIrst Parliament of King Charles I. 2◠dissolved 27. Second Parliament called ibid. dissolved 31. Third Parliament called 34. dissolved 35. The short Parliament called and dissolved 61. Long Parliament began 66. dissolved 487. Bill for perpetuating the Parliament 70. Their Declaration concerning the Five Members 83. Their insolent Propositions to the King after their Victory at Marston-Moore 191. Invite the Scots to their assistance 112. Their Oppressions of the People 112. 114. 124. 127. 129. 130. 131. 391. 474. House of Peers abolished 385. 389. Peters Hugh his Revelation 365. Petition of the County of Norfolk 386. of Grievances 66. for putting the Kingdom into a posture of Defence 85. for putting the Militia into the Hands of the Parliament 86. of the poor Tradesmen in London 87. Petitions for a free Parliament suppressed 482. Popish Priest slain on the Parliament side at Edge-hill Fight 564. Presbyterian Tenets 17. 400. Arts and Devices to raise Rebellion 19. Their actings against the Protestant Religion 554. against the Laws of the Land and Liberty of the Subject 577. Their Doctrine and Practise 565. Their violating the Priviledges of Parliament 582. Their averseness to Peace 588. Their practise for reducing the King to necessities 20. 238. Their Protestations and Declarations 206. Presbytery triumphant 193. 203. Plots and Conspiracies pretended by them 69. 76. 81. 90. 121. 129. Whether the Presbyterian or Independant were the chief Actors in the Murder of the King 375. Proposals of the Parliament for bringing in Money and Plate 95 96. Propositions sent to the King at New-Castle 217. Prides Purge 363. Privy Seals 27. 32. Puckering Speaker of the Commons his Speech against the Puritans 13. Puritans their Principles 10. and Discipline 11. petition King James against the Liturgy of the Church of England 14. R. THe Recognition subscribed 429. The Grand Remonstrance 71. presented to the King 78. Captain Rolfe employed by the Parliament to poison the King 285. Rumper's Declaration 466. are excluded by Lambert 477. are re-admitted 483. S. SAlmatius his Opinion touching the Murder of King Charles 377. Scots put themselves in Arms. 54. raise more Forces 58. Their first Invasion 62. Their second Invasion 189. 132. Their third Invasion 380. Their Letter to the Major c. of the City of London 214. Their Answer to the English Commissioners about delivering up the King 230. Their Letter and Declaration to the two Houses of Parliament 258. 271. Great Seal of England altered 370. Service Book sent into Scotland 42. 58. Sheriffs of London refuse to publish His Majesties Proclamation 72. Ship-money required 32. Inland Parts charged therewith 42. Sir Henry Slingsby beheaded 456. Spencer Earl of Northampton slain 118. Earl of Strafford impeached of Treason 67. his Trial and Death 68. Star-Chamber Court suppressed 70. Earl of Sunderland slain 187. T. TReaty in the Isle of Wight 689. Treaty at Rippon 65. removed to Westminster 66. Tumults at Edenburgh by reason of the Service-Book 44. in St. Pauls Cathedral 65. at Westminster 78 79 82. justified by the Parliament 90. V. VAne Sir Henry being sent into Scotland incites them to Rebellion 60. his sinister dealing with the King 61. Virgin of Hereford-shire her Revelation 367. Uxbridge Treaty 194. 291. 737. Votes of no more Addresses to the King 275. W. WAlsingham a favourer of the Sectaries 9. Walton upon Thames the Sermon of a Soldier there 390. Weever an Independent his Motion in the House of Commons 283. Winchester Cathedral defaced Worchester Cathedral defaced 558. Y. YOrk Grand Council of the Peers there 64 A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS Printed at the Theater in Oxford With several others And sold in London by Moses Pitt at the Angel against the Great North-door of St. Pauls-Church 1681. IN FOLIO BIble for Churches with Chronology and an Index The English Atlas Vol 1st containing the description of the North Pole as also Muscovy Poland Sweden and Denmark The second Vol. of the Atlas containing Germany The third Vol. containing the 17 Provinces both in the Press 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 five Pandectae Canonum S. S. Apostolorum Conciliorum ab Ecclesiâ Graecâ receptorum nec non canonicarum S. S. Patrum Epistolarum una cum Scholiis antiquorum singulis annexis Scriptis aliis huc spectantibus quorum plurima è Bibliothecae Bodleianae aliarumque MSS. codicibus nunc primum edita
they should by the power of Conquest utterly destroy him that they disdained to vouchsafe him any answer at all thereto CHAP. XXI THE torrent of Rebellion thus violently bearing all down before it what Garrisons remained were necessitated soon after also to submit viz. the port Town of Barnstaple in Devonshire upon the seventh of April and the Fort there some few days after Ruthin-castle also in Flintshire then yielded to Colonel Mitton Corfe castle in Dorset shire about the same time being given up The City of Exeter likewise Sir Iohn Berkley Knight afterwards Lord Berkley of Stratton being at that time Governour thereof who delivered it upon honourable Articles wherein amongst others the most loyal Sir Iohn Stowel Knight of the Bath was included though afterwards dishonourably and barbarously used Soon after which Saint Michael'smount in Cornwall was taken by Colonel Hamond Dunster castle also in Somerset shire and Woodstock house near Dxford then also submitting All the West therefore being thus cleared except Pendennis castle there could be no less expected than a siege of Oxford His Majesty therefore considering that having used all means possible by his frequent gracious Messages wherein he had offered unto them all they had before desired and that he expected nothing but what themselves since the beginning of those unhappy wars had offered to procure a personal Treaty with them for a safe and well grounded peace And having in stead of a dutiful and peaceable return to those his Messages received no Answer at all or such as argued nothing would satisfy them but the ruine not onely of himself his posterity and friends but even of Monarchy it self Considering likewise that his field-forces were shattered and reduc'd to nothing his Garrisons almost all lost or besieged and that a strong Army under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax their then General was advancing towards Oxford there to besiege him together with the Duke of York All the great Officers of State and many other of his most eminent and faithfull Subjects In this his most sad and unhappy condition revolving whether he had better cast himself upon the English-Army or the City of London or rather his native Subjects the Scots who had at that time besieg'd Newarke upon Trent with a great and numerous Army Having received very good assurance as he then believ'd that himself and all that did adhere to him should be safe in their Persons Honour and Consciences in the Scotch Army And that they the Scots would really and effectually joyn with him and such other as would come in unto him and joyn with them for his preservation and would imploy their Armies and Forces to assist him to the procuring of an happy and well-grounded peace for the good of his said Majesty and his Kingdomes in the recovery of his just rights Necessity being then his Councellour he adventured upon their fidelity who first began his troubles trusting that God might make them a means honourably to compose them and thereupon went out of Oxford disguised in the night time with two persons onely accompanying him viz. Mr. Iohn Ashburnham one of the Grooms of his royal Bedchamber and one Mr Hudson a Divine his Guide From Oxford they first rode to Henley upon Thames Thence to Brainford Thence near to London and so to Harrow on the Hill there being then a general muster of the City forces in Hide Park where he was expected the Earl of Essex being at that time in the Field and his Majestie almost perswaded to adventure himself into their hands But relying wholly on the Scots who had promised so fair as before is observed he waved those thoughts and rode to St. Albans so to Harborough in Leicestershire where he expected the French Agent who had so treated with the Scots on his behalf as I have already observed with some Horse to meet him and conduct him to Southwell the then Head quarters of the Scottish-Army But missing him there he thence passed to Stanford on the edge of Lincolnshire and so to Downham in Norfolk whence Mr. Hudson was sent to the Agent and upon his return went directly to Southwel where he arrived the 5 th of May and put himself into the hands of Alexander Lesley their General resolving to use his best endeavours by their assistance and with the conjunction of those forces in Scotland under the Marquess of Montrose and such of his well affected Subjects of England as would rise for him to procure if it might be an honourable and speedy peace with those who had hitherto refused to give ear to any good means tending thereto Being thus gone siege was immediately laid to Oxford by General Fairfax soon after which several other places of strength were surrendred by the King 's special direction viz. Newark the eleventh of May which had been besieg'd by Poyntz and Rosseter the Scots assisting from December before The Castle of Banbury likewise after a siege of ten weeks by Colonel Whalley And on the thirteenth of May the Scots having not patience to attend the voluntary surrenders of any more places of strength began their march towards Newcastle in Northumberland taking the King along with them Where being arrived and quartering their Army thereabouts they instantly pressed his Majestie to send Orders to the Marquess of Ormund in Ireland and all other the Governours of his Garisons in England to give up all the Towns and Castles then remaining to such as should be appointed to receive them for the Houses of Parliament Telling him that otherwise they neither could nor durst continue him in their protection To which necessity his Majestie was constrain'd to submit but nothing was by them more earnestly insisted on than that the Marquess of Montross should lay down Arms who with a small strength at first had acted in Scotland to admiration for besides many victories of less note he had twice beaten the Marquess of Argyle out of the Field follow'd him home and wasted his Country with Fire and Sword and vanquisht Bayley one of their best Souldiers made himself also Master of the Castle of Edenborough releasing divers of his Friends who had been seized on and imprisoned there when he first took up Arms. But instead of those Aids which he hoped for he was unexpectedly set upon by David Lesley who was sent from the Scottish Army in England with six thousand Horse to oppose the farther progress of this most valiant persons fortune However he began to make head again and was in a way of fair success when he receiv'd the Kings command to disband viz. 31 May 1647. To which he readily conforming took Ship and put himself into a voluntary Exile After which time of this their perfidious dealing with the King 't is observable that they never prospered But I proceed briefly to point out the times of surrender of the rest of his
Majesties Garrisons In the same month of May Dudley castle in Staffordshire was delivered up to Sir William Brereton by Colonel Leveson and soon after Carnarvon Town and Castle to Major General Mitton and Major General Langhorn the Lord Byron being then Governour there Likewise Ludlow in Shropshire to Sir William Brereton and Borstall house near Oxford Oxford it self also soon followed Sir Thomas Glemham being then Governour As also Farringdon in Berkshire Sir George L'isle being Governour Next Lichfield close in Staffordshire Then the City of Worcester besieg'd by Colonel Whalley and Colonel Raynsborough Colonel Washington being Governour Also Wallingford castle Colonel Blague being Governour Gotherich Castle likewise in Hereford shire and Pendennis-castle in Cornwall whereof Iohn Arrundel of Trerise was Governour Conway Castle in Flintshire being storm'd by Major General Mitton In the next month after a long siege by General Fairfax Sir Trevor Williams and Colonel Langhorn Ragland castle in Monmouth shire was yielded to them And soon after the Isles and Castle of Scilly were given up As also the Castles of Denbigh and Holt Whereupon Generall Fairfax advanced triumphantly towards London And on the first of February next following the Scots having effectually received the whole Sum of two hundred thousand pounds for which they sold the King they marcht over Twede into Scotland His Majestie having thus cast himself upon the loyalty of those touching whose large professions and protestations to him I have already taken notice let us now behold the blessed Fruits of Presbytery by the subsequent Practises of these Zelots which doth amply make good what King Iames long since declared of that Sect viz. that no deserts could oblige nor Oaths or Promises bind them For notwithstanding those their solemn Oaths and Protestations they most perfidiously acted contrary to them hastning thereby that farther ruin which soon afterwards befel the Church of England and at length terminated in the wofull murther of their native Sovereign as is notoriously known to the World carrying on all this under the colour and veile of their Solemn League and Covenant In order whereunto the first thing observable is a plausible Letter directed to the Committee of Estates at that time residing with the Scotch Army wherein they tell them that their earnest desire being to keep a right understanding between the two Kigndomes did move them to acquaint them with that strange providence wherewith they were then surprised together with their carriage and desires thereupon and to endeavour to improve his Majesties being there to the best advantage for promoting the work of Vniformity for setling of Religion and Righteousness and attaining of Peace according to the League and Covenant and Treaty c. affirming that they had a Witness from Heaven and that there was nothing more in their desires than in all their resolutions and proceedings to adhere to the Covenant and Treaty ¶ What hopes this specious Letter might give his Majestie for promoting his earnest endeavours for such an happy peace as he desired is hard to say considering what relation it had to the Solemn League and Covenant but his former assurances in order to his coming to them as I have already observed being such as they were he became so confident thereupon as that shortly after he sent unto the two Houses at Westminster his xi th Message whereby because they had made so great a noyse of setling Religion That together with the Militia and the War of Ireland being the chief things insisted on in their former Propositions he recomended to them the advice therein of those Divines in both Kingdomes whom they had assembled at Westminster And for the Militia offred that he would be content to settle it as they themselves proposed in the Treaty at Uxbridge viz. that all persons who should be trusted therewith might be named by the two Houses of Parliament for the space of seven years and after that time to be regulated as should be agreed on by his Majestie and his two Houses of Parliament And touching Ireland that he would do whatsoever was possible for him to give full satisfaction to them And that if those his free offers would not serve then he desired that al such of their Propositions as were then by them agree'd on might be speedily sent to him he being resolved to comply with them in every thing that might conduce to the happiness of his subjects and removing all unhappy differences which had produced so many sad effects Farther offring that all his forces should be forthwith disbanded and Oxford with the remainder of his other Garrisons rendred into their hands upon honourable conditions and dismantled But to this gracious Message as to his former they turn'd a deaf ear there being then another Game to be play'd which was the getting of the King's person out of the Hands of the Scots suspecting as they had cause that those their dear Brethren would make no little advantage thereof Notwithstanding the Votes at Westminster that he should be disposed of as they should desire and direct Concerning which Votes at Westminster and debates of both Houses thereupon it will not be amiss here to take notice how they alledg'd that the Scottish Army in England was theirs id est under their pay Also that the King ought to be near to his Parliament whereby they might have recourse to him and obtain such things as should be most necessary for the Kingdomes Likewise that by Covenant they were sworn to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament but to detein the King from his Parliament was altogether inconsistent with the Covenant Of which Votes the Scots seem'd to take little notice but in stead thereof and for diversion amused the Members at Westminster with several Letters which they caused to be written to them one from the general assembly of the Kingdome of Scotland wherein they told them that their success against the Enemy id est the King's Forces did lay a strong obligation upon them to improve the power put into their Hands for the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ and bringing forth the head-stone of his House And therefore did earnestly intreat and beseech them in the Bowels of Christ to give unto him the glory due to his name by a timeous establishment of all his Ordinances in full integrity and power according to the Covenant c. Saying that the Searcher of Hearts knew how they desired to keep their Covenant c. concluding with their desires to the Parliament to endeavour all the ends of the Covenant The other to the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster wherein they expressed their Thanks for their constant endeavours and labours in the work of setting up the Ordinances of Christ desiring that they would go on in the sedulous promoting of that blessed work The third was to the Lord Mayor